Duong Van Minh
President of the Republic of Vietnam

In office 28 April 1975 – 30 April 1975
Preceded by	Nguyen van Thieu
Succeeded by	none
Born photo is confirmed fair use from website of Tran Van Ba http://www. ... April 28 is the 118th day of the year (119th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 247 days remaining. ... 1975 (MCMLXXV) was a common year starting on Wednesday. ... April 30 is the 120th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (121st in leap years), with 245 days remaining. ... 1975 (MCMLXXV) was a common year starting on Wednesday. ...	16 February 1916 My Tho province
Died	5 August 2001 Pasadena, California

Dương Văn Minh (February 16, 1916 – August 6, 2001), known popularly as "Big Minh," led the South Vietnamese army under Prime Minister Ngo Dinh Diem. In 1963, he became leader of South Vietnam after a coup in which Diem was assassinated. Duong's rule lasted only two months, but he briefly led South Vietnam again in 1975 before surrendering the nation to Communist forces. February 16 is the 47th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar. ... 1916 (MCMXVI) was a leap year starting on Saturday (link will take you to calendar). ... My Tho is a river, capital city and municipality in Tien Giang Province in southern Vietnam. ... August 5 is the 217th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (218th in leap years), with 148 days remaining. ... 2001: A Space Odyssey. ... Pasadena is the name of several places: In the United States: Pasadena, California Pasadena, Maryland Pasadena, Texas In Canada: Pasadena, Newfoundland Pasadena is also the name of a submarine in the United States Navy, the SSN 752 Pasadena, the third naval vessel to bear that name and the first submarine... This article is becoming very long. ... February 16 is the 47th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar. ... 1916 (MCMXVI) was a leap year starting on Saturday (link will take you to calendar). ... August 6 is the 218th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (219th in leap years), with 147 days remaining. ... 2001: A Space Odyssey. ... This is a Vietnamese name; the persons family name is Ngô, but should be properly referred to as Diệm. ... 1963 (MCMLXIII) was a common year starting on Tuesday (the link is to a full 1963 calendar). ... Official language Vietnamese Capital Saigon Last President Duong Van Minh Last Prime Minister Vu Van Mau Area  - Total  - % water 173,809 km² N/A Population  - Total  - Density 19,370,000 (1973 est. ... 1975 (MCMLXXV) was a common year starting on Wednesday. ... This article is about communism as a form of society and as a political movement. ...

He got the nickname “Big Minh” because being 6 feet (1.83 m) tall and weighing 200 pounds (91 kg), he dwarfed all the other Vietnamese soldiers. It is also to distinguish him from another military general of South Vietnam, Tran Van Minh. General Tran Van Minh (Trần Văn Minh) was born on August 19, 1923 in Saigon, Vietnam. ...

Biography

Duong Van Minh was born on February 16, 1916 in My Tho province in the Mekong Delta. He was a Buddhist. He went to Saigon where he attended a top French colonial school, where King Norodom Sihanouk of Cambodia had also studied. February 16 is the 47th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar. ... 1916 (MCMXVI) was a leap year starting on Saturday (link will take you to calendar). ... My Tho is a river, capital city and municipality in Tien Giang Province in southern Vietnam. ... View of the Mekong before sunset The Mekong is one of the worlds major rivers. ... A replica of an ancient statue found among the ruins of a temple at Sarnath Buddhism is a philosophy based on the teachings of the Buddha, Siddhārtha Gautama, a prince of the Shakyas, whose lifetime is traditionally given as 566 to 486 BCE. It had subsequently been accepted by... Ho Chi Minh City (Vietnamese: Thành phố Hồ Chí Minh) is the largest city in Vietnam and is located near the Mekong River delta. ... Time in office: Apr. ...

He began his military career in the 1940s when he joined the French colonial army. He was one of only 50 Vietnamese officers to be commissioned. Most of the Vietnamese resented the French presence, and eventually fought back against them, defeating them at the battle of Dien Bien Phu in 1954. (see Indochina War) // Events and trends World War II was a truly global conflict with many facets: immense human suffering, fierce indoctrination, and the use of new, extremely devastating weapons such as the atomic bomb. ... Combatants France, Vietnam (loyalist), Hmong mercenaries. ... 1954 (MCMLIV) was a common year starting on Friday of the Gregorian calendar. ... The Indochina War was an almost thirty year war in Vietnam between 1946 and 1975, affecting the three Indochinese nations, namely Vietnam, Cambodia and Laos. ...

In 1954 he joined the new South Vietnamese military. In 1956 he defeated the armed religious sect, Hoa Hao, that threatened the South Vietnamese regime, and the drug-dealing pirate organisation Binh Xuyen. This got him the respect of the United States, and Minh was sent there to study, where he attended the U.S. Command and General Staff College at Fort Leavenworth in Kansas, despite his poor English. 1956 (MCMLVI) was a leap year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Hòa Hảo (Chu Nom: 和好) is a Buddhist religious tradition founded in 1939 by Huynh Phu So, a native of the Mekong River Delta region of southern Vietnam. ... Binh Xuyen was a powerful Vietnamese criminal organization. ... Leavenworth is the largest city and county seat of Leavenworth County, in the U.S. state of Kansas. ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ...

He was a military adviser to President Ngo Dinh Diem from 1962 to 1963. This is a Vietnamese name; the persons family name is Ngô, but should be properly referred to as Diệm. ... 1962 (MCMLXII) was a common year starting on Monday (the link is to a full 1962 calendar). ... 1963 (MCMLXIII) was a common year starting on Tuesday (the link is to a full 1963 calendar). ...

Ngo Dinh Diem was a very unpopular leader, and in 1963 the United States of America informed Minh that the U.S. wouldn't mind if Diem were to be overthrown. Minh was the second highest ranking general at the time, and he led the coup to overthrow Diem at the end of 1963. 1963 (MCMLXIII) was a common year starting on Tuesday (the link is to a full 1963 calendar). ...

On November 2, 1963, Diem and his brother Ngo Dinh Nhu were executed (by Minh's bodyguard commander) after surrendering. Minh took over the government under a military junta on November 6. He was a favourite of the Americans at the time, playing tennis and sharing war stories with the U.S. Ambassador, General Maxwell Taylor, and impressing Secretary of Defence Robert S. McNamara. November 2 is the 306th day of the year (307th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 59 days remaining. ... 1963 (MCMLXIII) was a common year starting on Tuesday (the link is to a full 1963 calendar). ... Ngô Ðình Nhu Ngô Ðình Nhu, born in Vietnam, was the younger brother and chief political advisor of South Vietnams first President, Ngô Ðình Diệm. ... A military dictatorship is a form of government wherein the political power resides with the military; it is similar but not identical to a stratocracy, a state ruled directly by the military. ... November 6 is the 310th day of the year (311th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 55 days remaining. ... A tennis net Tennis is a game played between either two players (Singles) or two teams of two players (Doubles). Players use a stringed racquet to strike a hollow rubber ball covered with felt over a net into the opponents court. ... General Maxwell Davenport Taylor (August 26, 1901 – April 19, 1987) was an American soldier and diplomat of the mid-20th century. ... The United States Secretary of Defense is the head of the United States Department of Defense, concerned with the armed services and The Secretary is appointed by the President with the approval of the Senate, and is a member of the Cabinet. ... Robert McNamara in 1964 Robert Strange McNamara (born June 9, 1916), American businessman and politician, was United States Secretary of Defense from 1961 to 1968. ...

Minh is said to have preferred playing mah-jongg and giving tea parties to fighting the Viet Cong or running the country. His military junta lasted only a couple of months before it was overthrown by General Nguyen Khanh on January 30, 1964. Duong Van Minh went into exile in Bangkok, Thailand. He still had many American friends, particularly in the CIA, who gave him support during this period, including paying for his dentist bills. In return he wrote a hawkish article about Vietnam for the respected Foreign Affairs quarterly in 1968, condemning the Viet Cong and disparaging any possible coalition government with the Communists. This article helped end his exile and get him back into Vietnam with the support of the U.S. in 1968. Mahjong (Traditional Chinese: 麻將; Simplified Chinese: 麻将; pinyin: Májiàng; Cantonese: Màhjeung; or Chinese: ; pinyin: Máquè; Cantonese: Màhjeuk; other common English spellings include mahjongg, majiang, and hyphenated forms such as mah-jong or mah-jongg) is a game for four players that originated in China. ... A Viet Cong soldier, heavily guarded, awaits interrogation following capture in the attacks on Saigon during the festive Tet holiday period of 1968. ... Nguyen Khanh Nguyen Khanh (1927-) was a former Chief of State and Prime minister of South Vietnam. ... January 30 is the 30th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... 1964 (MCMLXIV) was a leap year starting on Wednesday (the link is to a full 1964 calendar). ... The Bangkok Skytrain at sunset on Thanon Narathiwat Ratcha Nakharin with Empire Tower at the back. ... The CIA Seal The Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) is an American intelligence agency, responsible for obtaining and analyzing information about foreign governments, corporations, and individuals, and reporting such information to the various branches of the U.S. Government. ... 1968 (MCMLXVIII) was a leap year starting on Monday (the link is to a full 1968 calendar). ...

Once back in his home country, Minh opposed general Nguyen Van Thieu who was still supported by the United States. Minh was going to run against Thieu in the 1971 election but he withdrew because it became obvious to him (and most other observers) that the elections were rigged. Thieu was then the only candidate in this election. Minh kept a low profile after this. President Nguyen Van Thieu Nguyen Van Thieu, (April 5, 1923 – September 29, 2001) was a former General and President of South Vietnam. ... 1971 (MCMLXXI) was a common year starting on Friday (the link is to a full 1971 calendar). ...

Minh was regarded as a potential leader of a “third force” which could come to a compromise with the North to avoid an armed takeover. His brother, Duong Van Nhut, was a leading general in the North Vietnamese army. In 1973, Minh proposed his own political program for South Vietnam, which was a compromise between the proposals of Thieu and the Viet Cong. Thieu and the United States however, were strongly opposed to any sort of compromise. He is known to have had contact with the North Vietnamese government, but it carefully avoided either endorsing or condemning Minh. DÆ°Æ¡ng Văn Nhut was a high-ranking general in the North Vietnamese army during the Vietnam war. ... The Democratic Republic of Vietnam (DRVN), or less commonly, Vietnamese Democratic Republic (Vietnamese: Việt Nam Dân Chủ Cá»™ng Hòa), also known as North Vietnam, was proclaimed by Ho Chi Minh in Hanoi, September 2nd1945 and was recognized by the Peoples Republic of China and the... 1973 (MCMLXXIII) was a common year starting on Monday. ...

In late April 1975, when it was obvious South Vietnam was going to lose the war, President Thieu fled to Taiwan and handed over power to Vice-President Tran Van Huong. President Tran Van Huong prepared for peace talks with North Vietnam but when his meeting failed he handed over power to General Duong Van Minh. 1975 (MCMLXXV) was a common year starting on Wednesday. ... Combatants Republic of Vietnam United States Republic of Korea Thailand Australia New Zealand The Philippines National Front for the Liberation of South Vietnam Democratic Republic of Vietnam People’s Republic of China Democratic Peoples Republic of Korea Strength US 1,000,000 South Korea 300,000 Australia 48,000... President Trần Văn Hương Trần Văn Hương (Chữ Nôm: 陈文香) was born in 1902-(d. ...

Minh became President a few days later on April 28, 1975, promising to seek reconciliation with the North. He was unsuccessful in his efforts at conciliation, largely because by this point the military situation of the South Vietnamese government, such as remained of it, was entirely untenable and the North felt no compulsion to negotiate with him. Saigon fell on April 30, 1975. Minh announced that South Vietnam was surrendering unconditionally, when he went on national radio and television at 11 AM on April 30. He announced “The Republic of Vietnam policy is the policy of peace and reconciliation, aimed at saving the blood of our people. We are here waiting for the Provisional Revolutionary Government to hand over the authority in order to stop useless bloodshed.” April 28 is the 118th day of the year (119th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 247 days remaining. ... April 30 is the 120th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (121st in leap years), with 245 days remaining. ... 1975 (MCMLXXV) was a common year starting on Wednesday. ...

When the Communist troops entered the Independence Palace in Saigon, they found Minh and his Cabinet sitting around the big oval table in the Cabinet room. As they entered, Minh looked at Bui Tin and said, “We have been waiting for you so that we could turn over the government.” Another Communist officer replied “You have nothing left to turn over.” Ho Chi Minh City (Vietnamese: Thành Chí Minh) is the largest city in Vietnam, located near the delta of the Mekong River. ... Colonel Bui Tin Colonel Bui Tin was born near Hanoi in 1927, and was educated in Hue. ...

Later in the afternoon he went on radio again and said, “I declare the Saigon government is completely dissolved at all levels.” Ho Chi Minh City (Vietnamese: Thành Chí Minh) is the largest city in Vietnam, located near the delta of the Mekong River. ...

After his official surrender to Communist troops he was summoned to report back. After a few days he was permitted to return to his villa. He lived there for the next 8 years in seclusion, where he continued to raise birds and grow exotic orchids. Subfamilies Apostasioideae Cypripedioideae Epidendroideae Orchidoideae Vanilloideae For genera, see list of Orchidaceae genera. ...

Life in Exile

Duong Van Minh was allowed to emigrate to France in 1983, where he lived near Paris. He has two sons living in France (Minh Duc Duong and Minh Tam Duong). In the last few years of his life he lived in Pasadena, California, U.S.A. with his daughter, Mai Duong. As he aged, he found he needed a wheelchair for mobility. 1983 (MCMLXXXIII) was a common year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar. ...   City flag City coat of arms Motto: Fluctuat nec mergitur (Latin: Tossed by the waves, she does not sink) Coordinates Time Zone CET (GMT +1) Administration Country France Région ÃŽle-de-France Département Paris (75) Subdivisions 20 arrondissements Mayor Bertrand Delanoë  (PS) (since 2001) City Statistics Land area... Pasadena is a city in Los Angeles County, California, United States. ... This article is becoming very long. ... United States is the current Good Article Collaboration of the week! Please help to improve this article to the highest of standards. ... The international symbol of access depicts a person in a wheelchair A wheelchair is mobility device that takes the form of a chair on wheels, used by people for whom walking is difficult or impossible due to illness or disability. ...

On 5 August 2001, Duong Van Minh was at his home in Pasadena when he fell. He was taken to Huntington Memorial Hospital in Pasadena and he died the next night at age 86. August 5 is the 217th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (218th in leap years), with 148 days remaining. ... 2001: A Space Odyssey. ... Huntington Hospital (formerly Huntington Memorial Hospital) is a 525-bed hospital in Pasadena, California. ...

Both supporters of the old South Vietnamese government and supporters of the current Vietnamese government have mixed feelings about Duong Van Minh, in large part due to his surrender.

External links

• General Duong Van Minh Dies at 86