SAN DIEGO – Ensign Thu Tieu, who has family residing in Bac Lieu, Vietnam, serves the U.S. Navy at Amphibious Construction Battalion (ACB) 1, operating out of San Diego, California.
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| Photo by Mass Communication Specialist Seaman Joey Sitter, Navy Office of Community Outreach |
Tieu graduated from Phan Ngoc Hien High School in 2011. Tieu went to college in the United States, earning a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering from the University of Washington in 2020.
The skills and values needed to succeed in the Navy are similar to those found in Bac Lieu.
“Growing up, I learned to always be humble, to have an attitude where I’m eager to learn and to not be afraid to make mistakes,” Tieu said. “Mistakes are an opportunity to learn. When I look back at my failures, I see them as something to learn from. Don’t look at mistakes as something to drag you down.”
“I joined the Navy because I wanted to step out of my comfort zone and follow my wife,” Tieu said. “She is in the Navy. I wanted to join the CEC because I have a civil engineering degree and it fits my background. I was also seeking personal growth.”
ACB-1’s primary mission is to provide logistics over-the-shore support for Amphibious Ready Group, Marine Expeditionary Force and Maritime Prepositioning Force operations, including ship-to-shore transportation of combat cargo, bulk fuel/water and tactical camp operations.
With a combination of Seabee and fleet rates, ACB-1 is skilled at offloading equipment through Improved Navy Lighterage System (INLS) operations, as well as providing camp support, perimeter defense, and limited construction support. Fleet rates qualify as craft masters and deck engineers and are proficient in operating and maintaining INLS. Seabee rates such as builders, steelworkers, electricians, equipment operators, construction mechanics and engineering aides provide construction services. Additional deployable Seabee units include Naval Mobile Construction Battalions, Construction Battalion Maintenance Units, and Underwater Construction Teams, which all make up the U.S. Naval Construction Forces.
The U.S. Navy is celebrating its 250th birthday this year.
According to Navy officials, “America is a maritime nation and for 250 years, America’s Warfighting Navy has sailed the globe in defense of freedom.”
With 90% of global commerce traveling by sea and access to the internet relying on the security of undersea fiber optic cables, Navy officials continue to emphasize that the prosperity of the United States is directly linked to recruiting and retaining talented people from across the rich fabric of America.
Tieu has many opportunities to achieve accomplishments during military service.
“I’m proud of earning my Seabee Combat Warfare Specialist pin,” Tieu said. “This pin is extremely important for CEC officers in my community because it’s one of the major milestones we have to accomplish. It also proved that I qualified within that level of operations and proved that I have enough knowledge to lead sailors to accomplish future missions.”
Tieu serves a Navy that operates far forward, around the world and around the clock, promoting the nation’s prosperity and security.
“Being in the Navy means a life of dedication, teamwork and serving the nation that I am proud to be part of,” Tieu said.
Tieu is grateful to others for helping make a Navy career possible.
“I want to thank my mom, Hien Nguyen, my sister, Tho Tieu, my wife, Uyen Nguyen, and my wife’s family for always being supportive, always cheering for me, believing in me, and being proud of what I’ve done so far in the service and for my family,” Tieu added. “I also want to thank my daughter, Ann Tieu, for always being patient with me when I come home late and when I have to be away. I want her to know that I will always love her and treat her the very best.”