ABC7 News Interviewed Ly Tong in 2008 during his hunger strike to protest plans to re-name San Jose's Little Saigon.
Tong earned the name "Vietnamese James Bond."
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He flew for South Vietnam's Air Force, fighting alongside Americans, during the Vietnam war.
Many Vietnamese refugees consider Tong to be a freedom fighter.
He died Friday of lung failure at a San Diego hospital surrounded by his family.
Ly Tong was 74-years-old.