Tran Quoc Binh was born in South Vietnam in 1978. He was the first U.S. Army Vietnamese-American killed in Operation Iraqi Freedom, Baghdad, Iraq in 2004.

During the Fall of Saigon, his father Van Tran a devout anti-communist was a Lieutenant in the Army of the Republic of Vietnam (ARVN). He chose to remain and protect his family and defend South Vietnam from the invading North Vietnamese Army and their Viet Cong Agents.

His father was captured and sent to a re-education camp, Binh helped his mother Thu Truong and younger sisters Katie and Kristie through this difficult time, and he grew to despise the practices of the Communist Regime of Vietnam.

In 1986, upon the release of his father their family secretly left the clutches of Communism through the jungle. Sergeant Tran Quoc Binh carried his sister Katie on his shoulders and led his other sister Kristie by the hand through the jungles in Vietnam.

They traveled through Cambodia and upon reaching Thailand they then traveled by boat to the Philippines. His father petitioned the United States Embassy in Manila, for political asylum.

In 1989, their family immigrated to the United States and resided in Mission Viejo, California.

He graduated in 1994, from Mission Viejo High School, and then attended Saddleback Community College studying to become a mechanical engineer.

He joined the United States Army before the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks on the United States. Upon completing his three years of active duty, he joined the California Army National Guard. His battalion the 81st Brigade Combat team was based in Camp Murray, Washington.

He was assigned to Detachment 3, Company B, 181st Support Battalion, located in San Bernardino, California, as an armored mechanic.

On November 7, 2004, he died from wounds received when an improvised explosive device exploded near his vehicle while conducting convoy operations.

His funeral was held at the Vietnamese Alliance Church in Midway City, California and was attended by over 400 people.

He was buried at Riverside National Cemetery, California.

On November 12, 2004, Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger issued a state decree that the California Capitol flags were to be flown at half-staff in honor of Sergeant Tran Quoc Binh.