Ngô Du
Ngô Du | |
|---|---|
 Brigadier general Ngô Du in 1968 | |
| Born | January 1, 1925 Qui Nhơn,French Indochina |
| Died | February 14, 1977(aged 52) Sacramento,California |
| Allegiance | |
| Service/ | Army of the Republic of Vietnam |
| Rank | Lieutenant general |
| Commands | IV Corps II Corps |
| Battles/wars | Battle of Kontum |
Ngô Du(1925–1977) was a Lieutenant general in theArmy of the Republic of Vietnam(ARVN).
A Catholic fromQui Nhơnand the son of a government official, he was educated at a French Catholic boys' school inHuế.He held few combat commands and had few connections with theSouth Vietnamesepolitical elite. Du held low-key planning positions on theJoint General Staffuntil he was propelled into the role of acting commander of theIV Corps Tactical Zoneupon the accidental death of Brigadier GeneralNguyen Viet Thanhin 1970. In August 1970 Du was promoted to command of theII Corps Tactical Zonein theCentral Highlandsof South Vietnam.
In June 1971 27 ARVN colonels and majors in II Corps wrote to commanders in Saigon complaining of Du's corruption. Du claimed that the charges were made by his enemies and no action was taken against him.
During July 1971 allegations were raised in theUS Congressthat Du was deeply involved in the drug trade. Du's senior U.S. advisor,John Paul Vannacknowledged forthrightly that Du was corrupt and that, whatever his interest in drugs, his lifestyle far exceeded his legal income. Yet he was, said Vann, so amenable to American instruction that, to maintain respect for him within theArmy of the Republic of Vietnam(ARVN), his American advisers had even on occasion warned him to be more independent. On that account, said Vann, "Despite some obvious shortcomings, I would rate Ngo Dzu as second... [among] the eight corps commanders I have worked with." With Vann's rejoinder on record, the US dropped the issue and never pursued the allegations against Du.[1]
From his headquarters atPleiku,he and Vann commanded ARVN forces during theBattle of Kontum,part of the North VietnameseEaster Offensiveof 1972. His command abilities during the ensuing fighting, according to his American advisors, left a lot to be desired.[2]On 10 May 1972 he was replaced as corps commander by Major GeneralNguyễn Văn Toàn.Commenting on his replacement Vann said "All distant critics like to see a scalp fall, it makes them feel better. I am aware of criticism by members of the National Assembly from Binhdinh and Kontum Provinces of General Dzu's handling of the situation." Commenting on Toàn, Vann said "He'll either be better or worse than General Dzu or maybe similar."[3]
In January 1973 Du was appointed as the South Vietnamese representative to the Four-Party Joint Military Commission responsible for implementing theParis Peace Accords.South Vietnamese government and military officials stated that Du's appointment showedPresidentNguyễn Văn Thiệu's disdain for the commission. On 11 February 1973 Du was abruptly replaced on the commission due to his "physical condition".[4]
In a postwar interview with theRAND Corporation,Nguyễn Cao Kỳsaid of Du: "he's a coward; he's involved in all kind of smuggling and corruption, but still many Americans, when they come to me, they say, you know, Dzu is a" number one "type."[5]
Du escaped from Saigon in 1975. He died in California on 14 February 1977, at age 52.[6]
References
[edit]- ^Hammond, William (1996).The U.S. Army in Vietnam Public Affairs The Military and the Media 1968-1973.U.S. Army Center of Military History. p. 397.ISBN978-0160486968.
This article incorporates text from this source, which is in thepublic domain.
- ^Andrade, Dale (1995).Trial by Fire: The 1972 Easter offensive, America's Last Vietnam Battle.Hippocrene. pp. 311–2.ISBN9780781802864.
- ^Malcolm Browne (11 May 1972). "Saigon replaces Highlands commander".The New York Times.p. 19.
- ^Joseph Treaster (12 February 1973). "Saigon ousts its top man on Truce Commission". the New York Times.
- ^Hosmer, Stephen; Kellen, Konrad; Jenkins, Brian (1978).The Fall of South Vietnam: Statements by Vietnamese military and civilian leaders.RAND Corporation. p. 36.
- ^"Ngo Dzu Dies in California at 52".New York Times.15 February 1977.
External links
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