It was a major milestone on Friday for a man who has seen his fair share of them. Chat Tran of Vietnam became an American citizen during a naturalization ceremony at the Philadelphia Field Office. Yet Tran has another reason to celebrate. Today is his birthday, his 102nd to be exact.
Chat grew up in Ho Chi Minh City, formerly known as Saigon, where he worked as a rice farmer, according to his 16-year-old great grandson Chris Tan who accompanied him at the ceremony. Chris says his great grandfather has lived in America for 11 years.
“My dad actually brought him here,” said Chris. “He’s been living here for a while. I’m very proud and honored to witness this event. It’s very valuable and it’s once in a lifetime. He’s been looking forward to this for a very long time.”
Chris also told the media the family, who lives in Juniata Park, was planning a surprise party for Chat later that day.
Amazingly, Chat is not the oldest person to become an American citizen. The oldest on record was 117, according to the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services.
