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For the past 26 years Hollywood superstar Mark Wahlberg has believed he left a Vietnamese man blind in one eye after brutally assaulting him during his wayward teenage years.

He spent 45 days in jail for the attack but has now made a plea for the crime to be pardoned having turned his life around to become one of the most famous actors in the world.

His victim has never spoken about the vicious assault in 1988 but has broken a more than two decade long silence to reveal that the actor did not actually cause him any serious harm - and that until he was told by MailOnline, he had no idea his assailant had become a famous actor.

In his first ever interview since the attack Johnny Trinh revealed to Mail Online he was already blind in one eye after being injured while fighting the Communists in the Vietnam War.

Forgiveness: Johnny Trinh was assaulted by actor Mark Wahlberg in 1988. He said that he believed the actor should be allowed a fresh start - and that until MailOnline told him had no idea he was attacked by a celebrity

On the way to rehabilitation: Wahlberg as rapper Marky Mark in 1991, three years after the attack on Mr Trinh and a series of other crimes

Plea: The form pardon application by Mark Wahlberg in which he asks for the crime he committed at 16 to be wiped from his record

While Wahlberg's unprovoked assault left him shaken it did not cause any lasting damage.

'I was not blinded by Mark Wahlberg,' said 59-year-old Vietnamese-born Trinh.

'He did hurt me, but my left eye was already gone. He was not responsible for that.'

In an exclusive interview with Mail Online Trinh said he is happy for Wahlberg to be given a pardon saying: 'He was young and reckless but I forgive him now. Everyone deserves another chance.

'I would like to see him get a pardon. He should not have the crime hanging over him any longer.'

Trinh added that he would like to meet Wahlberg face to face to tell him he does not bear a grudge.

'He paid for his crime when he went to prison. I am not saying that it did not hurt when he punched me in the face, but it was a long time ago.

'He has grown up now. I am sure he has his own family and is a responsible man.'

When Mail Online tracked down Trinh - who was born Hoa but uses the name Johnny - to a duplex in Arlington, Texas, he had no idea his assailant went on to become one of Hollywood's most bankable stars.

Wahlberg, 43, has made no secret about his past as a teenage tearaway.

While Trinh's name was in court documents he has never spoken to the media about what took place.

Mark Wahlberg, who appeared on Late Night with Seth Meyers on Thursday evening, made no secret about his wayward teenage years

Trinh says he would like to meet Wahlberg, seen in a car in New York on Thursday evening, to tell him he does not bear a grudge

Married life: Johnny Trinh, on his wedding day to fellow Vietnamese refugee Hoa Du Trinh. The couple now live in Arlington, Texas, and had no idea who his assailant was

Family life: Mr Trinh, his wife Hoa and children Steven (foreground) and Tammy (right) outside a Buddhist temple in Arlington Texas, where they now live

Ordeal: Mr Trinh had to flee Vietnam when the Communist North overran the pro-American South, ending the Vietnam war. He became one of the 'boat people' 

The assault on Trinh took place in April 1988 when Wahlberg was 16.

He tried to rob a Vietnamese man carrying crates of beer to his store in Dorchester, near Boston, Massachusetts.

According to court documents Wahlberg approached Thanh Lam and smashed him over the head with a five-foot long wooden stick.

Wahlberg shouted at the Thanh calling him 'a f****** Vietnamese s****'.

Lam was knocked unconscious and Wahlberg fled empty handed.

Moments later he approached Trinh and told him 'Police coming, police coming, let me hide.'

After the patrol car left, he punched Trinh in the eye.

Trinh later identified Wahlberg and he was arrested and charged with attempted murder for the double assault.

He eventually pleaded guilty to a lesser charge of assault and was given a two year jail sentence with 21 months suspended.

Although 16 at the time of the attack he was charged as an adult. Court documents show that he pled guilty to both counts, meaning Trinh and the other victim did not have to give evidence.

Wahlberg was released after serving just 45 days at the Suffolk County Deer Island House of Correction.

He quit his life of crime, found fame as the rapper 'Marky Mark' and later embarked on an acting career that has earned him an estimated $200m fortune.

Films such as 'The Departed' and 'The Fighter' have made him the most bankable star in Hollywood. He reportedly earned $16m for the latest 'Transformers' film.

But he has always been haunted by his troubled past and has made no attempt to gloss over his years as a teenage thug.

But now the actor has written to the Governor of Massachusetts seeking a criminal pardon saying he is now a model citizen who is heavily involved in charity work, including the Mark Wahlberg Youth Foundation that helps at risk teens.

Scene of crime: Mr Trinh was grabbed by Wahlberg, who as fleeing another assault, then punched in the eye

One of the reasons for the pardon is thought to be the planned expansion of his restaurant chain 'Wahlburgers'.

'Everyone has an opinion and has a reason why they think I'm doing it,' the actor said on Wednesday at the New York premiere of his new movie 'The Gambler,' opening December 25.

'I've been working very hard to correct a lot of mistakes that I made since the day that I woke up and realized, 'You know what? I need to be a leader instead of a follower,'' he said.

However, some Asian Americans are wary of his motivation and wondering why he has never personally apologized.

 A group called 18MR, short for 18MillionRising.org, which promotes civic engagement among Asians and Pacific Islanders in the United States, has voiced its opposition to the pardon. So far almost 3,000 signatured have been collected.

With his criminal conviction he could be denied licenses to open restaurants in California and other states.

Having the crime expunged from his official record would allow Wahlberg to apply for licences that otherwise might have been refused.

It would also allow him to work for law enforcement. 

In his written plea he says: 'I am deeply sorry for the actions that I took on the night of April 8, 1988, as well as for any lasting damage I may have caused the victims.

'Since that time, I have dedicated myself to becoming a better person and citizen so that I can be a role model to my children and others.'

He goes on to say: 'Rather than ignore or deny my troubled past, I have used the public spotlight to speak openly about the mistakes I made as a teenager so that other do not make those same mistakes.'

Trinh, a father of two, said he is willing to forgive Wahlberg's 'mistake'.

He admitted he had forgotten all about the assault and had not even told his wife Hoa Du, 50, and children Tammy,21, and Steven,18, about the events of 1988.

Sitting on a cream leather sofa in his living room, Trinh admitted he had never heard of Wahlberg and had not seen any of his films.

He wasn't even aware of the name of his attacker from 26 years ago and had no idea he was one of Hollywood's biggest names until told by Mail Online.

Speaking in faltering English and with his 21-year-old daughter acting as an interpreter he recalled the assault on a street in Dorchester, near Boston.

Trinh had moved to the city from Illinois and was working as a machine operator.

Family guy: Wahlberg (above with wife Rhea Durham and three of his children and Kevin Hart) is now committed to multiple charities and attends church every day

New start? Mark Wahlberg and Rhea Durham attend 'The Gambler' premiere.  Wahlberg wants to become an LAPD reserve cop. But a felony conviction from his youth may block his attempt to become a volunteer

'I was on my way home from work. I just remember a man coming up to me, saying something and then he hit me hard in the face,' he said.

'He knocked me down and I got up and ran. I was scared that he was going to hit me again. I just wanted to get away.

'I had never seen him before and did not know why he wanted to hit me. The guy was crazy, he must have been out of his mind on drugs.

'It was very frightening at the time. I did not know why he would want to do this.'

Trinh said he did not have health insurance and did not seek hospital treatment.

While his left eye was bruised from the assault he did not lose the sight – having lost the use of his eye in 1975 five years before he came to the US.

Trinh was with a South Vietnamese army unit fighting with US forces against the Communist North when a grenade blew him up.

A piece of shrapnel lodged in his left eye and his right eye.

'Doctors had to take my eye out. I was given a false eye. Having one eye has affected what jobs I can do, but I did not lose my sight when I was punched by this man.'

Media reports for the last 26 years have asserted Trinh was blinded by Wahlberg with a single punch.

Even Wahlberg believes his assault on Trinh was so serious that he caused him lasting damage.

In his plea for a pardon to Deval Patrick, the governor of Massachusetts, the 43 year old star says: 'From later accounts of the incident, it is my understanding I might have caused serious injury to (names redacted).'

The revelation that Wahlberg did not blind former Vietnam War veteran Trinh will no doubt come as a huge relief to the 'Transformers' star.

Trinh's backing for a pardon will go long way to persuade officials that his request be considered favorably.

Officials from Massachusetts have written to Trinh to ask if he would like to travel to Boston to make a statement either agreeing with the pardon or speaking out against it.

Trinh said he cannot afford to fly to Boston but will make a written statement backing the actor.

'It is only right that he get the pardon. It was over 25 years ago and that is a lot of time.

'To be honest I have not really thought about it very much. I have just got on with my life with my family.

'Time moves on and it is something I have not dwelled on too much.'

Trinh's wife of 22 years was unaware her husband was the victim of the assault and his daughter Tammy said her father had never talked about the incident.

She admitted she was a fan of Wahlberg and was shocked to learn he carried out the assault.

'It is kind of surprising. My father has never once mentioned the assault and to hear it was Mark Wahlberg is kind of crazy.'

Trinh, who earns $9 an hour working in a clothing store printing logos on T-shirts, immigrated to the US in 1980.

Modest: Mr Trinh now lives with his family in a small home in Arlington, Texas, and earns $9 an hour printing logos on t-shirts. He says: 'Life has been tough.'

Family: Trinh's daughter Tammy (left) said of learning her father was attacked by a star: 'It is kind of surprising. My father has never once mentioned the assault and to hear it was Mark Wahlberg is kind of crazy.

He faced a perilous three day boat journey from Vietnam to Singapore after US forces left and Communist rulers took over the country.

'I could not stay because I fought with the Americans. I could have been killed and had to leave.

'The boat journey was terrible and we had no food, we all thought we were going to die, but made it to Singapore.'

Trinh said he spent several years in Singapore before his brother was able to sponsor him to enter the US.

He settled in Springfield, Illinois, where doctors were able to fit him with a new false eye.

Due to the shrapnel injury the left eye remains partially closed.

Trinh said a friend offered him work in Dorchester and he moved to live with him in 1988.

Trinh did not give evidence at Wahlberg's trial, as he pleaded guilty. He said he was not asked to make an impact statement and got on with his life.

Shortly after moving to Arlington he meet his wife Hoa Du and the couple were married in 1992.

Trinh said his life has been a struggle and a nail salon business he ran in Cedar Hills, Texas, went under in the recession.

'I have never had much money and it has been hard here,' said Trinh. He was also convicted of passing a forged cheque in 2010 and was on probation for two years.

By contrast since their fateful meeting on a darkened street in Dorchester Wahlberg's life has been one of fame and fortune.

The 45 days he spent in prison brought him to his senses.

He quit his addiction to cocaine, that began when he was 13 and with the help of a parish priest quit his life of crime and violence.

By 1992 he had achieved fame as the rapper Marky Mark and later became a Calvin Klein underwear model.

His breakout movie role came playing an adult film star Dirk Diggler in 'Boogie Nights.'

Other roles followed in films such as 'The Perfect Storm' , 'Three Kings' and 'Rock Star' but he became an A-list star in 2007 when he won an Oscar nomination for Best Supporting actor in 'The Departed' opposite Leonardo Di Caprio and Jack Nicholson.

Pardon? It will ultimately be up to newly elected Massachusetts Governor Charlie Baker (above) to decide whether or not Wahlberg should be pardoned 

The gangster film was set on the same streets where Wahlberg had grown up as one of nine children.

In 2011 he got his second Oscar nomination for 'The Fighter' – another film set in his hometown of Boston.

As well as acting Wahlberg branched out and produced TV hits such as 'Entourage' and 'Boardwalk Empire.'

Last year he starred in 'Lone Survivor' playing real life Navy SEAL Marcus Luttrell in a harrowing story of a mission in Afghanistan that went tragically wrong.

His latest film 'The Gambler' opens in the New Year and he has been named as a producer of a big screen remake of the 1970s TV series 'The Six Billion Dollar Man.'

Wahlberg, a devout Catholic, has been married to model Rhea Durham since 2009. They met in 2001 and have four children.

His charity work includes heading up the Mark Wahlberg Youth Foundation for at-risk teens, and supporting the Boys & Girls Clubs of America and The Good Shepherd Center for Homeless Women and Children.

In his plea for a pardon Wahlberg said having the criminal record expunged would 'be a formal recognition that I am not the same person that I was on the night of April 8th 1988.

It would be formal recognition that someone like me and receive official public redemption if he devotes himself to personal improvement and a life of good works.

'My hope is that, if I receive a pardon, troubled youths will see this as an inspiration and motivation that they too can turn their live around and be accepted back into society.

'It would also be an important capstone to the lessons that I try to teach my own children on a daily basis.'