Peter M. Chow, a Vietnam War veteran and recipient of the Bronze Star Medal, has been invited by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs to serve as an advisory committee member for the LMU Digital Veterans Legacy Project (LDVL). Led by Loyola Marymount University (LMU), he will be involved in documenting the biographies of Asian-American veterans and sharing their stories of contribution and sacrifice for the nation.
Representing the National Organization of Asian American Veterans (NOAAV), Mr. Chow wrote a letter to Dr. Denise Rosier, the Project Director at the National Cemetery Administration (NCA), expressing his commitment to supporting the collaborative project. He also took responsibility for coordinating with Chinese and Asian-American veteran organizations and communities, becoming an integral part of the project.
Mr. Chow is dedicated to assisting Loyola Marymount University (LMU) and Los Angeles National Cemetery (LANC) in achieving their goals through the National Organization of Asian American Veterans. As a member of the project's advisory committee, he will participate in regular meetings, contribute to the development of digital products, and provide recommendations to the project team. He will also be involved in the review process of research projects conducted by college and high school students and offer input on the products. These products include books, short films, illustrations, educational manuals, and electronic databases, all of which are accessible to the public and tailored to the learning objectives of high school students.
The Vietnam War veteran will help guide the final products, with a focus on veterans from marginalized or underrepresented groups whose stories have been overlooked. He will actively recruit members from the American Veterans 628 Association and participate in research projects at the West Los Angeles National Cemetery. He will ensure that research data, stories, activities, and products align with the performance indicators set by the National Cemetery Administration.
As a decorated veteran, Peter Chow has never wavered in his commitment to serving his country and caring for his fellow comrades. He joined the U.S. Army in New York in 1969 and underwent basic military training at Fort Gordon in Georgia. Soon after, he was assigned to the 1st Infantry Division stationed in Augsburg, West Germany, where he participated in NATO joint military exercises, honing his combat and survival skills.
In 1970, he was deployed to the vicinity of Quảng Trị Province in Vietnam with the U.S. 5th Mechanized Infantry Division. Operating at the frontlines of the Vietnam War, his unit conducted numerous night patrols outside the base, which was one of the most perilous positions due to the high risk of enemy ambushes. During the intense Battle of Khe Sanh, Peter Chow, driving an M-113 armored personnel carrier, narrowly avoided being struck by two 40-pound explosive mines. The following year, in recognition of his valor in combat, he was awarded the Army's Bronze Star Medal. After an honorable discharge, he safely returned to the United States from Vietnam.
Peter Chow's ancestral roots trace back to the Zhoushan area in Ningbo City, Zhejiang Province. He was born in Shanghai in 1950, and both his grandfather and father served as officials in the Shanghai Customs of the Republic of China. Throughout his life's journey, Peter Chow has deeply understood the challenges faced by Chinese and Asian immigrants in establishing themselves in the United States. In particular, he recognized the increased threats to Asian communities due to the surge in anti-Asian sentiment and related violent incidents during the COVID-19 pandemic. In 2019, Peter Chow founded the National Organization of Asian American Veterans (NOAAV), aiming to provide a fair and just service platform for Chinese and Asian-American veterans, assisting them in navigating the challenges of the present times.
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