Tran Van Minh
Encyclopedia
Lieutenant General Sylvain Trần Văn Minh (born August 19, 1923, in Saigon
, French Indochina
) is a Vietnam
ese diplomat and a general of the Army of the Republic of Vietnam
. He was sometimes known as “Little Minh” to distinguish him from the huge Dương Văn Minh
.
In 1942, he passed the entry exam for the St Cyr/St Maxient Military Academy organized in Tong, Indochina. From 1943 to 1945, Lieutenant Minh served with the 9th R.I.C. During this period, he participated in operations in Central and North Vietnam, most notably in Cha Pa. After the Japanese coup of March 9, 1945, he accompanied General Alessandri's troops in the retreat to China. In 1946, he was part of the French troops that retook Dien Bien Phu. From there, he eventually made his way to Saigon, travelling on the Mekong River through Luang Prabang and Vientiane.
Deployed to the 22nd R.I.C. (1946-1947), he was in charge of protecting military convoys between Saigon and Dalat. Captain Minh became the Directeur des Etudes (Chánh Sở Nghiên Cứu - Director of Intelligence) for the Governor of North Vietnam, Nghiêm Xuân Thiện. 1950 found Lieutenant Colonel Minh in Paris studying at the War Academy (École de Guerre à Paris). Upon his return to Vietnam, he worked at the newly formed State of Vietnam's Ministry of Defense. Two years later, colonel Minh served on the Chief of Staff. During this time, he worked with General de Lattre de Tassigny in the "Vietnamization" of the Corps Expéditionnaire Français. After participating in Operation Atlante, he was promoted to Commander of the South Sector (Secteur Sud: My Tho, Can Tho, etc..).
In 1955, Colonel Minh was one of the French delegates at the Geneva Convention. After the accords were signed, he returned home to take command of the first military region in South Vietnam. Late 1955, he was promoted to Général de brigade (Major General). A year later, 33-year old Minh was promoted to Général de division (Lieutenant General). From 1957 to 1959, he served as Commandant
of the Dalat military academy
. In 1960, President Ngo Dinh Diem named him Inspector General
the National Defense, a post he held until 1963.
In 1964–1965, he was the Chief of General Staff
and in 1965, Minister of Defense. The last position he held was Ambassador
of the Republic of Vietnam to Tunis
, Tunisia
from 1971 to April 30, 1975.
Ho Chi Minh City
Ho Chi Minh City , formerly named Saigon is the largest city in Vietnam...
, French Indochina
French Indochina
French Indochina was part of the French colonial empire in southeast Asia. A federation of the three Vietnamese regions, Tonkin , Annam , and Cochinchina , as well as Cambodia, was formed in 1887....
) is a Vietnam
Vietnam
Vietnam – sometimes spelled Viet Nam , officially the Socialist Republic of Vietnam – is the easternmost country on the Indochina Peninsula in Southeast Asia. It is bordered by China to the north, Laos to the northwest, Cambodia to the southwest, and the South China Sea –...
ese diplomat and a general of the Army of the Republic of Vietnam
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...
. He was sometimes known as “Little Minh” to distinguish him from the huge Dương Văn Minh
Duong Van Minh
Minh was born on 16 February 1916 in Mỹ Tho Province in the Mekong Delta, the son of a wealthy landowner who served in a prominent position in the Finance Ministry of the French colonial administration...
.
In 1942, he passed the entry exam for the St Cyr/St Maxient Military Academy organized in Tong, Indochina. From 1943 to 1945, Lieutenant Minh served with the 9th R.I.C. During this period, he participated in operations in Central and North Vietnam, most notably in Cha Pa. After the Japanese coup of March 9, 1945, he accompanied General Alessandri's troops in the retreat to China. In 1946, he was part of the French troops that retook Dien Bien Phu. From there, he eventually made his way to Saigon, travelling on the Mekong River through Luang Prabang and Vientiane.
Deployed to the 22nd R.I.C. (1946-1947), he was in charge of protecting military convoys between Saigon and Dalat. Captain Minh became the Directeur des Etudes (Chánh Sở Nghiên Cứu - Director of Intelligence) for the Governor of North Vietnam, Nghiêm Xuân Thiện. 1950 found Lieutenant Colonel Minh in Paris studying at the War Academy (École de Guerre à Paris). Upon his return to Vietnam, he worked at the newly formed State of Vietnam's Ministry of Defense. Two years later, colonel Minh served on the Chief of Staff. During this time, he worked with General de Lattre de Tassigny in the "Vietnamization" of the Corps Expéditionnaire Français. After participating in Operation Atlante, he was promoted to Commander of the South Sector (Secteur Sud: My Tho, Can Tho, etc..).
In 1955, Colonel Minh was one of the French delegates at the Geneva Convention. After the accords were signed, he returned home to take command of the first military region in South Vietnam. Late 1955, he was promoted to Général de brigade (Major General). A year later, 33-year old Minh was promoted to Général de division (Lieutenant General). From 1957 to 1959, he served as Commandant
Commandant
Commandant is a senior title often given to the officer in charge of a large training establishment or academy. This usage is common in anglophone nations...
of the Dalat military academy
Military academy
A military academy or service academy is an educational institution which prepares candidates for service in the officer corps of the army, the navy, air force or coast guard, which normally provides education in a service environment, the exact definition depending on the country concerned.Three...
. In 1960, President Ngo Dinh Diem named him Inspector General
Inspector General
An Inspector General is an investigative official in a civil or military organization. The plural of the term is Inspectors General.-Bangladesh:...
the National Defense, a post he held until 1963.
In 1964–1965, he was the Chief of General Staff
General Staff
A military staff, often referred to as General Staff, Army Staff, Navy Staff or Air Staff within the individual services, is a group of officers and enlisted personnel that provides a bi-directional flow of information between a commanding officer and subordinate military units...
and in 1965, Minister of Defense. The last position he held was Ambassador
Ambassador
An ambassador is the highest ranking diplomat who represents a nation and is usually accredited to a foreign sovereign or government, or to an international organization....
of the Republic of Vietnam to Tunis
Tunis
Tunis is the capital of both the Tunisian Republic and the Tunis Governorate. It is Tunisia's largest city, with a population of 728,453 as of 2004; the greater metropolitan area holds some 2,412,500 inhabitants....
, Tunisia
Tunisia
Tunisia , officially the Tunisian RepublicThe long name of Tunisia in other languages used in the country is: , is the northernmost country in Africa. It is a Maghreb country and is bordered by Algeria to the west, Libya to the southeast, and the Mediterranean Sea to the north and east. Its area...
from 1971 to April 30, 1975.
External links
- Major General Tran Van Minh Military Service
- Republic of Vietnam Armed Forces Reunion 2003
- Vietnam War Bibliography: The ARVN and the RVN
- History of the Army of the Republic of Vietnam
- Hue Massacre Tet Offensive Photos
- Liberation of Giai Phong Dan Toi from Communist Viet Cong by Army of the Republic of Vietnam: Photos
- The Battle for Hue, 1968 by James H. Willbanks
- Declassified CIA document on General Minh's remarks