Nguyễn Viết Thanh

Lieutenant General Nguyễn Viết Thanh (1931–1970) was born in Long An, Vietnam.

In this Vietnamese name, the family name is Nguyễn, but is often simplified to Nguyen in English-language text. According to Vietnamese custom, this person should properly be referred to by the given name Thanh.

General Thanh served in the Army of the Republic of Vietnam (ARVN) and was commander of the 7th Division. Col. Sidney Bryan Berry, senior adviser to the 7th Division in 1965, had described Thanh as an "aggressive" commander with "sound tactical sense" who "knows when to commit his reserve" and "has a deep understanding of the war and his division." In 1967 he was rated by COMUSMACV General William Westmoreland as the best ARVN division commander. However, Civil Operations and Revolutionary Development Support (CORDS) advisers differed and in 1967 found "his personal cautiousness and reluctance to push the battalions [those in securing missions] into more offensive activities... difficult to understand," claiming that he discouraged the initiative and aggressiveness of his subordinates." CORDS chief Robert Komer agreed and in 1968 described Thanh as unaggressive, unimaginative, and "rather a xenophobe." All Komer's assistants noted worsening command and control problems at the lower tactical levels and a general confusion over the Division's roles and missions. Tactical advisers, they reported, claimed that the army units contributed little more that their "presence" to local security; were idle most of the time; and, when aroused, were content with "merely chasing the VC and showing the flag." Despite all the revolutionary development training, the regular troops were also back in the old "chicken-stealing business," foraging for food and living off the local peasantry."[1]:333

During the Tet Offensive Thanh and his family were captured by the Viet Cong who hoped to induce 7th Division troops to defect, however this didn't happen and Thanh and his family were released unharmed.[2]:60

Thanh was promoted to commander of IV Corps in 1968.[2]

For the Cambodian Campaign in May 1970, General Thanh was instructed to send four IV Corps' armored task forces to sweep into Cambodia. While flying 10km inside Cambodia Thanh's command helicopter collided with a U.S. Army AH-1 Cobra, killing all on board both helicopters.[2]:61

References
  1. Clarke, Jeffrey (1998). The U.S. Army in Vietnam Advice and Support: The Final Years, 1965-1973 (PDF). U.S. Army Center of Military History. ISBN 978-1518612619. This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
  2. Fulghum, David; Maitland, Terrence (1984). The Vietnam Experience South Vietnam on Trial: Mid-1970–1972. Boston Publishing Company. ISBN 0939526107.


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