Uncle Huy Character Analysis in The Happiest Refugee

Second eldest brother to Anh’s mother. During the Vietnam War, he served as a paratrooper and fought alongside American and Australian troops. He narrowly escapes death when he misses a boat he was meant to board during the war, which he then watches explode before his eyes. After the war, Uncle Huy and his brother Thanh are sent to a Communist re-education camp, from which they are rescued by their brother-in-law Tam. Huy makes the journey of escape from Vietnam to Australia with Anh’s family. In Australia, he becomes a priest.

Uncle Huy Quotes in The Happiest Refugee

The The Happiest Refugee quotes below are all either spoken by Uncle Huy or refer to Uncle Huy . For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:

).

One sunny afternoon my father walked into the remote re-education camp dressed as a high-ranking communist officer. He marched right through the front door of the commanding officer’s room.

“These two men need to come with me,” he demanded. The commanding officer was bewildered. He was afraid to disobey such a high-ranking official so he did not resist. My father then walked my uncles out of the camp, right through the front gate.

Related Characters: Anh Do (speaker), Tam / Anh’s Father, Uncle Thanh , Uncle Huy

Related Symbols: The Re-education Camps

Page Number and Citation: 8

Explanation and Analysis:

The school had two mottos. First: “Men for Others”—done deal as far as Mum was concerned. Here was a school that was going to teach her boys to look after others and, if she hadn’t drummed it into us enough at home, we’d get another dose at school. The other motto was: “Born for Greater Things.” Boom! Dad’s happy.

Related Characters: Anh Do (speaker), Anh’s Mother, Tam / Anh’s Father, Khoa, Uncle Huy

Page Number and Citation: 65

Explanation and Analysis:

Uncle Huy Quotes in The Happiest Refugee

The The Happiest Refugee quotes below are all either spoken by Uncle Huy or refer to Uncle Huy . For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:

).

One sunny afternoon my father walked into the remote re-education camp dressed as a high-ranking communist officer. He marched right through the front door of the commanding officer’s room.

“These two men need to come with me,” he demanded. The commanding officer was bewildered. He was afraid to disobey such a high-ranking official so he did not resist. My father then walked my uncles out of the camp, right through the front gate.

Related Characters: Anh Do (speaker), Tam / Anh’s Father, Uncle Thanh , Uncle Huy

Related Symbols: The Re-education Camps

Page Number and Citation: 8

Explanation and Analysis:

The school had two mottos. First: “Men for Others”—done deal as far as Mum was concerned. Here was a school that was going to teach her boys to look after others and, if she hadn’t drummed it into us enough at home, we’d get another dose at school. The other motto was: “Born for Greater Things.” Boom! Dad’s happy.

Related Characters: Anh Do (speaker), Anh’s Mother, Tam / Anh’s Father, Khoa, Uncle Huy

Page Number and Citation: 65

Explanation and Analysis: