Trần Thanh Phong
South Vietnamese general (1926–1972)
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Trần Thanh Phong (19 January 1926 – 1 December 1972) was a Major general in the South Vietnamese Army of the Republic of Vietnam (ARVN).
Trần Thanh Phong | |
|---|---|
Military ID card of General Phong | |
| Born | January 19, 1926 |
| Died | December 1, 1972 (aged 46) near Tuy Hoa Air Base |
| Military career | |
| Allegiance | |
Branch | Army of the Republic of Vietnam |
Service years | 26 October 1955 – 1 December 1972 (Army of the Republic of Vietnam) |
Rank | Major general |
| Commands | I Corps |
Military career
Phong served as the commander of I Corps, which oversaw the northernmost part of the country, from 20 May to 30 May 1966, when he was replaced by Lieutenant General Hoàng Xuân Lãm. He was one of five different I Corps commanders in two months,[1] as Prime Minister Nguyễn Cao Kỳ struggled to find a leader of whom he approved while the Buddhist Uprising was taking place.[2]: 138
In 1967 Phong served as Director of Operations (J-3) on the Joint General Staff (JGS) and was a rival of JGS Chairman Cao Văn Viên.[2]: 265 On 9 September following the South Vietnamese presidential election, new President Nguyễn Văn Thiệu began consolidating power and promoted Phong to JGS chief of staff.[2]: 268
He subsequently served as the head of the pacification program, head of the Republic of Vietnam National Police and finally as deputy commander of Military Region II.[3]
During the 1972 Easter Offensive MR II senior advisor John Paul Vann suggested putting Phong in charge of the defense of Kontum, but Phong's sister-in-law, the wife of Prime Minister Trần Thiện Khiêm, intervened and vetoed the job as too dangerous.[2]: 484
He was killed on 1 December 1972 when the Republic of Vietnam Air Force plane he was travelling on crashed in bad weather on approach to Tuy Hoa Air Base. Four other South Vietnamese and two USAID officials were also killed in the crash.[3]
Awards and decorations
South Vietnam :
Grand Officer of the National Order of Vietnam
Military Merit Medal
Army Distinguished Service Order, First Class
Air Force Meritorious Service Medal
Gallantry Cross
Hazardous Service Medal
Armed Forces Honor Medal, First Class
Vietnam Staff Service Medal, Second Class
Training Service Medal, First Class
Civil Actions Medal, First Class
Good Conduct Medal, First Class
Vietnam Campaign Medal
Military Service Medal, Second Class
Air Service Medal
Navy Service Medal
Chuong My Medal, First Class
Cultural and Educational Service Medal, First Class
Psychological Warfare Medal, First Class
USA :
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