A theft and vandalism case at San Jose’s Vietnamese Heritage Garden has sparked anger after a large bronze statue and several flags were ripped from the “Thank You, America” monument.
The San José Police Department said the incident happened early on June 21 at the Vietnamese Heritage Garden on Roberts Avenue. Investigators believe two suspects entered the area between 3:00 a.m. and 4:30 a.m., tampered with the monument, stole several flags, and removed an approximately 9-foot-tall bronze statue of a South Vietnamese soldier.
Police later recovered the stolen statue the same day near the Coyote Creek Trail and Highway 280. Investigators also located a stolen commercial truck believed to have been used during the crime. The truck had reportedly been stolen days earlier from a business on Monterey Road.
The statue is part of the “Thank You, America” monument, which honors the bond between South Vietnamese soldiers and American service members. The monument features two bronze soldiers standing side by side — one American and one South Vietnamese — and was created as a symbol of gratitude from Vietnamese refugees and Vietnamese Americans to the United States.
Community members reacted with sadness and anger, saying the monument is not just public art but a memorial to sacrifice, freedom, and the refugee journey. Local leaders said the statue represents the history of Vietnamese families who fled persecution and rebuilt their lives in America after the Vietnam War.
San Jose is home to one of the largest Vietnamese communities outside Vietnam, making the monument especially meaningful to residents. The “Thank You, America” artwork was created by Vietnamese American sculptor Tuan Nguyen and installed as part of the city’s public art collection.
Although the statue was recovered, police said the suspects have not yet been identified. The department released surveillance images and video in hopes that members of the public can help identify the people involved.
Authorities are asking anyone who recognizes the suspects, witnessed the incident, or has information about the stolen truck or monument theft to contact San José police. Anonymous tips can also be submitted through Silicon Valley Crime Stoppers.
The case remains under investigation, and officials say even small details from witnesses or nearby surveillance cameras could help detectives solve the crime.
