Ahn `` Joseph '' Cao left Vietnam at 8 in a military transport plane at war 's end . He was sent to the United States, where he lived for several years before returning home and becoming an American citizen. Without parents , he faced language barrier , unfamiliar customs and loneliness . He was in New Orleans during Katrina ; decided to run for office to change things .
Ahn `` Joseph '' Cao left Vietnam at 8 in a military transport plane at war 's end . His mother stayed with his five siblings as father spent years in communist prisons . Without parents , he faced language barrier , unfamiliar customs and loneliness . He was in New Orleans during Katrina ; decided to run for office to change things .