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Daughter to join Webb, wife on Vietnam trip |
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By Mike Soraghan
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Posted: 05/24/07 07:14 PM [ET] |
When Sen. Jim Webb (D-Va.) travels to Vietnam in July, the trip will be a family affair.
Webb will be joined on the congressional delegation’s trip by his wife, Hong Le, and their daughter, Georgia, who was born in December.
It is not unusual for spouses to accompany lawmakers on such taxpayer-funded trips, but it is unusual for them to bring children.
Since Georgia is so young, Webb sought an exemption from the Pentagon, and received one from Deputy Defense Secretary Gordon England. Webb’s wife could not go unless the infant did, according to Webb spokeswoman Jessica Smith.
“Following proper procedures, the senator sought an exemption to allow their child to accompany them,” Smith said. “If the Department of Defense had problems with it, the senator would have dropped it.”
The Webbs, along with the senator’s foreign relations legislative aide, will fly commercial to Asia in July, with Hong Le and Georgia traveling at private expense.
They plan to visit Vietnam and three other countries that have yet to be determined. While in Asia, they will be flown around the continent on small military aircraft already stationed in the area, Smith said.
“So there will be no additional expense to the government to have dependents on board,” Smith said.
Hong Le Webb was born in Vietnam but fled the country as a child.
“She speaks fluent Vietnamese, so she’ll make valuable contributions to the success of the senator’s trip to Vietnam,” Smith said.
Webb’s website notes that the senator himself speaks the language. Webb fought in Vietnam as a Marine. He was awarded the Navy Cross, the Silver Star Medal, two Bronze Star Medals and two Purple Hearts. Since the late 1970s, according to his website, he has done extensive pro bono work with the Vietnamese.
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