Nguyen Van Minh
Encyclopedia
Nguyễn Văn Minh was a general in the Army of the Republic of Vietnam
(ARVN) during the Vietnam War
. Minh entered military service during the First Indochina War
in 1950 as an airborne officer serving in the French colonial forces. In November 1960, he supported a group of officers that staged an unsuccessful coup against President Ngo Dinh Diem
. Minh was then dispatched to An Giang Province, in the Mekong Delta
, and served as provincial chief until Diem's death in 1963.
The following year, he became deputy commander of the 21st ARVN Division in the IV Corps Tactical Zone. In 1965 Minh was promoted brigadier general and given command of the division. Upon the accidental death of the commander of III Corps, Lieutenant General Do Cao Tri
during the Cambodian Incursion
of 1970, Minh was promoted and became corps commander.
Although he had been an excellent divisional commander and was an able and energetic administrator, he was out of his depth when given an entire corps. In 1971, he commanded his unit during the Battle of Snuol
.
Minh did manage to convince President Thieu that An Loc
, not Tay Ninh
, was the major communist objective during the third phase of the North Vietnamese Easter Offensive (Nguyen Hue Offensive) of 1972. He successfully commanded his forces in the city's defense.
Army of the Republic of Vietnam
The Army of the Republic of Viet Nam , sometimes parsimoniously referred to as the South Vietnamese Army , was the land-based military forces of the Republic of Vietnam , which existed from October 26, 1955 until the fall of Saigon on April 30, 1975...
(ARVN) during the Vietnam War
Vietnam War
The Vietnam War was a Cold War-era military conflict that occurred in Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia from 1 November 1955 to the fall of Saigon on 30 April 1975. This war followed the First Indochina War and was fought between North Vietnam, supported by its communist allies, and the government of...
. Minh entered military service during the First Indochina War
First Indochina War
The First Indochina War was fought in French Indochina from December 19, 1946, until August 1, 1954, between the French Union's French Far East...
in 1950 as an airborne officer serving in the French colonial forces. In November 1960, he supported a group of officers that staged an unsuccessful coup against President Ngo Dinh Diem
Ngo Dinh Diem
Ngô Đình Diệm was the first president of South Vietnam . In the wake of the French withdrawal from Indochina as a result of the 1954 Geneva Accords, Diệm led the effort to create the Republic of Vietnam. Accruing considerable U.S. support due to his staunch anti-Communism, he achieved victory in a...
. Minh was then dispatched to An Giang Province, in the Mekong Delta
Mekong Delta
The Mekong Delta is the region in southwestern Vietnam where the Mekong River approaches and empties into the sea through a network of distributaries. The Mekong delta region encompasses a large portion of southwestern Vietnam of . The size of the area covered by water depends on the season.The...
, and served as provincial chief until Diem's death in 1963.
The following year, he became deputy commander of the 21st ARVN Division in the IV Corps Tactical Zone. In 1965 Minh was promoted brigadier general and given command of the division. Upon the accidental death of the commander of III Corps, Lieutenant General Do Cao Tri
Do Cao Tri
Lieutenant General Đỗ Cao Trí was a general in the Army of the Republic of Vietnam known for his fighting prowess and flamboyant style. Tri started out in the French Army before transferring to the Vietnamese National Army and the ARVN...
during the Cambodian Incursion
Cambodian Incursion
The Cambodian Campaign was a series of military operations conducted in eastern Cambodia during mid-1970 by the United States and the Republic of Vietnam during the Vietnam War. These invasions were a result of policy of President Richard Nixon whose decision it was to invade...
of 1970, Minh was promoted and became corps commander.
Although he had been an excellent divisional commander and was an able and energetic administrator, he was out of his depth when given an entire corps. In 1971, he commanded his unit during the Battle of Snuol
Battle of Snuol
The Battle of Snuol was a major battle of the Vietnam War, conducted by the Army of the Republic of Vietnam as part of Operation Toàn Thắng TT02...
.
Minh did manage to convince President Thieu that An Loc
An Loc
An Loc is a small town in Bình Phước Province in southern Vietnam, located approximately 90 km north of Saigon with a population of 15,000...
, not Tay Ninh
Tay Ninh
Tây Ninh is a town in southwestern Vietnam. It is the capital of Tay Ninh province, which encompasses the town and much of the surrounding farmland....
, was the major communist objective during the third phase of the North Vietnamese Easter Offensive (Nguyen Hue Offensive) of 1972. He successfully commanded his forces in the city's defense.