New book by Naval Academy grad and Navy Special Operations Captain Hung Cao, US Navy ret: Call Me an American. A refugee from communism, he understands first-hand the dangers of Marxist ideology and retired from the Navy to fight against it here when he saw this same ideology creep into America and the military.
Book Description:
In Call Me an American, Captain Cao’s triumphant journey of sacrifice and perseverance in the face of overwhelming odds, speaks to the enduring power and promise of the American dream.
Deeply relatable and unapologetically honest, Captain Cao shares hard-fought lessons as a war refugee, combat veteran, and political candidate to remind readers that the fight to preserve our Republic begins with the same uniquely American values which are under attack today.
From failure to humility, from faith to victory, Call Me an American, is an anthem to the imperfectly exceptional country that provided him refuge from the destruction of communism.
From his childhood growing up in sub-Saharan Africa to his years fighting to preserve life as a Naval Officer in Special Operations, Captain Cao refutes the insidious narrative that the American dream is no longer accessible or achievable.
Instead, he uses his gift of storytelling to expose the lies threatening meritocracy, equality, and individual liberty.
Book on Amazon: Call Me an American
Endorsements:
“The impassioned words in Call Me an American are reflective of a great patriot whose life journey is a triumph of the human spirit in the face of tremendous adversity. Hung Cao’s journey—as a refugee, a United States Naval Officer on the battlefield, and now—should inspire every American to stand courageously for our great nation and her founding ideals in the face of an insidious, ideological agenda that seeks to destroy the American dream. Hung Cao reminds the reader of what is the exceptionalism that makes our country unique, that beacon of light to the world, which we all must fight for and defend. Call Me an American should be required reading for all, young and old alike.
—Mark R. Levin
“Hung Cao’s remarkable and inspiring story of how his family survived the defeat in Vietnam, overcame the adversity of having to flee communism, and established themselves in a new land of opportunity and freedom is a stunning tribute both to his family and to the America he served in the military. Hung Cao is the kind of energetic, intelligent, and courageous leader who will make America a better country. His book is a testimonial to those qualities.”
—Speaker Newt Gingrich
“Call Me an American is a brilliant clarion call for our nation’s future! Hung Cao—a shining example of a new ‘Greatest Generation’ rising up from decades of war—has given us a vision for American greatness. This book is essential reading for all those who truly care about the future of the USA. This is a road map for us, not just to survive, but to thrive. As we love our nation, as we love our children, as we love our way of life: read and heed!”
—Lt. Col. Dave Grossman USA (Ret.), Author of On Killing, On Combat, and On Spiritual Combat
“Hung Cao’s life is an example of the true American dream. From immigrant to decorated naval officer, Cao’s story, along with his love of God and country, will inspire every reader! His life experience brings a fresh perspective on what it truly means to be a ‘proud American.’”
—Pastor Gary Hamrick, Sr. Pastor, Cornerstone Chapel
About the Authors
Retired Navy Captain Hung Cao came to the United States as a refugee from Vietnam in 1975. After a few years in West Africa, Hung moved to Virginia as a child and is a proud member of the inaugural graduating class of Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology in Alexandria. He was commissioned as a Special Operations Officer (Explosive Ordnance Disposal and Deep Sea Diving) from the United States Naval Academy, and served with special operations in Iraq, Afghanistan, and Somalia. Hung’s non-combat assignments included balancing the Navy’s $140 billion budget at the Pentagon, working with Homeland Security, and the FBI Joint Terrorism Task Force. Hung received his Masters degree in physics from the Naval Postgraduate School, and fellowships at MIT and Harvard. He and his wife April are the parents of five beautiful children. After their thirteenth move across the United States, and around the world, Hung and April moved their family home to Purcellville, Virginia where they have been active in their community and church. Hung ran for Congress from Virginia’s 10th District in 2022, and is presently a candidate for the United States Senate from Virginia.
April Lakata Cao was born and raised in Northern Virginia. As a writer, she has devoted herself to encouraging families in faith as they strive daily to strengthen their relationships in parenthood and marriage. April was a proud contributing author to the award-winning book, Faith Deployed…Again (Green, J., Moody) and has been published in Focus on the Family’s Thriving Family Magazine along with numerous popular online publications. April has been a ghost writer for several Op-Eds published in the Washington Post and Washington Times. April finds great joy in being a wife to Hung and mother to five beautiful children. She began homeschooling ten years ago to better serve and support her children during the upheaval of military life and numerous combat deployments. After eleven moves in seventeen years, they settled and made a permanent home in Purcellville, Virginia. When she’s not writing, April serves as a first responder in her community. Her role as a volunteer Emergency Medical Technician compelled her to begin studying Social Work at Liberty University in order to meet the growing mental health needs in the field of Crisis and Trauma Intervention.
Powerful message in the fight against communism:
The rise of woke ideology instead of meritocracy (Opinion piece by Hung Cao in Washington Times, 23 Mar 2023)
The world is watching for the repercussions of the Silicon Valley Bank (SVB) fallout and how it will affect the worldwide market. The biggest question should be, “How did this happen?”
As we peel back the onion to determine the “root cause,” one underlying issue emerges; the rise of woke ideology instead of meritocracy.
Over the last decade, the United States has witnessed a concerning trend in which meritocracy in business, the military, and education is increasingly sidelined in favor of what we know as “woke” ideology.
This trend has grave consequences for our country’s future. It undermines the fundamental principles of fairness, equality, and opportunity that have made America the land of the free and the home of the brave.
Meritocracy is essential for fostering innovation, creativity, and economic growth, as it rewards individuals with the skills and knowledge necessary to succeed.
It is the foundation of the American Dream.
However, in recent years, the importance of meritocracy has been undermined by a growing focus on political ideology and equity.
This has led to a culture in which individuals are judged by the color of their skin rather than the content of their character– in direct opposition to Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s vision for the future.
This ideology goes against the American Dream that I immigrated to as a young boy and fought to protect as a man.
Instead of hiring a Chief Risk Officer, SVB left the position open for nearly a year and focused on hiring a Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) Officer.
SVB’s focus was on visibility days and awareness weeks instead of fulfilling the requirements of their investors, who saw the writing on the wall and pulled out their money.
It’s not just SVB. Companies prioritize diversity and inclusion initiatives throughout the financial industry over merit-based hiring practices.
While the diversity of thought and inclusion of all is undoubtedly important, they should not come at the expense of meritocracy. Consumers want the best product for the best value. When companies prioritize DEI, the consumer loses.
Similarly, in the military, we have seen the rise of identity politics, in which individuals are judged not on their competence but on their identity group.
This undermines the military’s effectiveness and the morale of our troops.
As a combat veteran, I can unequivocally say the enemy didn’t care if I was white, black, brown, or yellow. They targeted us all just the same. The enemy only cared that we wore the stars and stripes on our shoulders, representing freedom and democracy.
Schools should be the next in line to burn the DEI playbook. In the education system, we have seen the rise of “equity,” which aims to ensure equal outcomes rather than merit and achievement. This undermines the value of education and prevents students from learning the skills and knowledge necessary to succeed in the modern world.
At my alma mater, Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology, the change in entrance requirements from meritocracy to a lottery system caused a decrease of 20% in Asian students.
This new selection process based on equity caused some students not to have the necessary prerequisite skill sets to matriculate the tough curriculum successfully.
The consequences of prioritizing political ideology over meritocracy are dire. It leads to the polarization of society and the marginalization of talented individuals who do not conform to the prevailing political ideology.
SVB’s failure to focus on its core mission will cause thousands of businesses not to make payroll and destroy the plans of many entrepreneurs.
The military’s inability to focus on training and preparedness will put our national security at risk.
The failure of schools to teach our children the skills needed to succeed in the workforce will cause economic repercussions for generations.
We must get back to the basics.
We must return to meritocracy to provide economic opportunity, educate our future workforce, and defend our country.
By embracing meritocracy, we can create a society where hard work and talent are rewarded, our education focuses on ensuring the best and brightest rise to the top, and our military focuses on defeating our enemies rather than trying to solve societal issues.
It is time to reject the cancer of woke ideology and embrace the American spirit of innovation, hard work, and excellence.
Hung Cao, Honorary Chairman of Unleash America PAC and Senior Advisor at POLARIS National Security. Cao is a former congressional candidate from Loudoun County and a retired Navy Captain who served in special operations for 25 years.
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