VICTORIA, Texas Dr. Peter Nguyen, of Victoria, Texas, the medical director for WellMedicine, received a direct commission as a lieutenant commander in the U.S. Navy Reserve at Post Acute Medical (PAM) Rehabilitation Hospital. Nguyen, 54, joined Americaâs Navy to give back to the service that saved him and his familyâs life. Born in Thanh Hai Phan Thiet, Vietnam, Nguyen immigrated to America during the Vietnam War as a refugee at the age of nine. He grew up in Seadrift, Texas, and relocated to Louisiana where he completed high school. âMy family and I were rescued from the South China Sea as we were escaping from the communist invasion of South Vietnam,â said Nguyen, who serves as the president and chief of staff of PAM Rehabilitation Hospital. âWe were on the water for about a week and were running out of food and water. Everyone on the fishing boat was giving up and wanted to turn back to Vietnam. My late mother would not allow it and said if we die trying to flee communism at least we would die as free people.â