Andrew “Khen” Nguyen
Born on January 7. 1941 in Nha Trang, VietnamPassed February 4, 2025 in Indialantic, Florida
In the misty morning of Tuesday February 4th, 2025- Andrew Nguyen, originally born Nguyen Khen from Nha Trang, Vietnam- peacefully passed away at his home residence in Indialantic, FL at the age of 84.
Although his American citizenship has his birthday as July 20, 1941- his true birth date was the 7th of January, 1941. This was confirmed by family friends at his local church (Nha Tho Giao Xu Thanh Hai in Nha Trang) within the book that held the recorded names & dates of past baptisms (knowing he was baptized 3 days after birth helped to determine his real birthday). Before entering the United States, he was known as Andre Nguyen Khen. To his Airborne comrades, he was nicknamed Kinh Kha. Thus, he exuded the exact qualities that bestow those names, which was unsurmountable chivalry, magnanimity & exemplary leadership skills.
Andrew led a fulfilling life of resilience, strength, determination and survival. His favorite hobby with his brothers & friends was to go skin diving & spear fishing. He once entered a fishing competition and was instead, bit by a moray eel. Although it disqualified him- his brothers, friends & himself enjoyed a great meal afterwards with his unassuming catch. During summers, he’d run to the beach everyday & would catch so much fish to bring home, that his mother had no need to go and buy protein at the market. Those times were the most cherished moments of his younger days at home in Nha Trang.
When he began his military career, he graduated top of his class in Jungle Warfare school and was rewarded with a trip to Malaysia. While on that trip, several international friends had warned him of the impending collapse of the Vietnamese government / imminent war. Since they cared so deeply for his livelihood & wellbeing, it was suggested that he desert his position in the South Vietnamese Army by staying abroad and not returning back to VN, but he never once questioned or doubted his loyalty and returned home to fight with all his might in the Vietnam War. From Company Commander to a Major in the 3rd division of the Airborne forces of Army of the Republic of VietNam (ARVN), he saved many lives and survived countless battles. He even survived a helicopter crash in which he was only one of two survivors. An unfastened seatbelt is what he attributed to his survival in that instance.
After the fall of Vietnam in 1975, he was subsequently detained while wearing a suit and tie walking to his driver’s car on the way to work one morning. They imprisoned him twice in hard labor camp, for a total of 8 years. Fellow captives would cover his shifts so that he could sneak out into the jungle and gather sustenance to help share more nutrients to others. He believed that it was the bark of a cinnamon tree that may have saved his and many others lives because of the fact that it would provide a warmth, once steeped as a tea, that sustained him for their days there.
After having survived that atrocious ordeal, he escaped communist Vietnam by way of the ocean after spending 8 nights and 7 days on a boat with 265 people without a map. He reunited with Nguyen Thanh Thuy, known as Kathy Nguyen, on Tarampa Island Indonesia while at the refugee camp in 1984, whom would be his future wife. They officially and legally immigrated to the United States in 1986.
A few years later, without notice and upon complete surprise- on the 30th of November 1992, Khen Nguyen was awarded the Silver Star and the Army Commendation Medal with Valor. His gallantry in action was admirable and laudable in a way he didn’t expect, but he sure did appreciate.
Khen and Thuy remained happily married until her passing on the 10th of February in 2022. Together, they had one daughter- whom goes by Sandia. Andrew became the humble operator of Ocean Nails, which opened in Cocoa Beach and later relocated to Indialantic. Many clients would travel from out of town to come see him and hear his stories and even at times, to be serenaded in French. He spoke three languages fluently and always loved to enthrall listeners with sagas of his survival and singing his beloved melodies. Sandia always joked that she never got bedtime stories but rather, tales of war instead- which gave her the biggest sense of gratitude and appreciation for whom her parents were & how they got here.
Their life in the states began in California and ended on the other coast, in Florida- together, both in the same manner and same exact location in the residence they called home for over 25 years. His last wish fulfilled.
His extreme strength led him to survive in his later years with undiagnosed Parkinson’s Disease. It wasn’t until 5 days before his passing that we finally had the understanding, diagnosis and closure we needed to come to peace with his fate.
Khen / Andrew will be with family & friends one last departing time on Monday February 10, 2022 at Brownlie-Maxwell Funeral home in Melbourne, FL from 11 am- 1:00pm.
He is survived by his younger sister, nieces & nephew in Viet Nam. In the states, he is survived by three daughters, 5 grandsons and 1 granddaughter. Andrew was one of 6 siblings- 3 brothers & 2 sisters. His youngest sister still resides in Nha Trang at their familial home.
Love was always surrounding him, whether it be family, friends or even strangers. The radiant kindness & welcoming smile of his led to much inspiration and optimism that against many odds, survival of a strong soul will live on. It is with an abundance of thanks to his wisdom, ingenuity, worldly knowledge, lasting relationships, compassion for humanity & kindheartedness that we continue to live in the power of his legacy and hope that we, too, can defy the odds.