Trần Ngọc Tám
Trần Ngọc Tám  | |
|---|---|
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| Born | 12 March 1926 | 
| Died | 4 August 2011 (aged 85) | 
| Allegiance | South Vietnam | 
| Branch | Vietnamese National Army Army of the Republic of Vietnam  | 
| Rank | Lieutenant general | 
| Commands | II Corps III Corps  | 
Lieutenant General Trần Ngọc Tám (12 March 1926 – 4 August 2011) was an officer of the Army of the Republic of Vietnam.
Tám was born on 12 March 1926.[1]
Military career
He served as the commander of II Corps, which oversaw the Central Highlands region, from 1 October 1957 until 13 August of the next year, when he was replaced by Major general Tôn Thất Đính. He was the first commander of II Corps.[2] He served as the commander of III Corps, which oversaw the region of the country surrounding Saigon from 4 April 1964 until 12 October of the same year, when he was replaced by Major general Cao Văn Viên.[2][3]
On 8 June 1964 he told his subordinate commanders that the government was losing the war. Over the past two months, the ARVN had lost 489 dead in III Corps compared to 328 VC. He blamed the officer corps' lack of aggressiveness, knowledge, and leadership for the situation.[4]: 182–3
Tám later served as Chairman of the Free World Military Assistance Organisation.
Tám died on 4 August 2011, at the age of 85.[1]
Honours
National honours
 Commander of the National Order of Vietnam
 Army Distinguished Service Order, First Class
 Air Force Distinguished Service Order, Second Class
 Navy Distinguished Service Order, First Class
 Gallantry Cross
 Hazardous Service Medal
 Wound Medal
 Armed Forces Honour Medal, First Class
 Leadership Medal, Level Unknown
 Staff Service Medal, First Class
 Training Service Medal, First Class
 Civil Actions Medal, First Class
 Good Conduct Medal, Second Class
 Vietnam Campaign Medal
 Military Service Medal, Second Class
 Air Service Medal, Honour Class
 Navy Service Medal, Second class
 Chuong My Medal, First Class
 Administrative Service Medal, First Class
 Public Health Service Medal, First Class
 Social Service Medal, First Class
 Rural Revolutionary Development Medal
 Veterans Medal, First Class
Foreign honours
 France :
 Knight of the Legion of Honour
 War Cross for foreign operational theatres
 Philippine :
 Commander of the Order of Sikatuna
 Commander of the Legion of Honour
 South Korea :
 Order of Military Merit, Eulji Cordon Medal
 Order of National Security Merit, Gukseon Medal
 Thailand :
 Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the Crown of Thailand
 Taiwan :
 Grand Cordon of the Order of the Cloud and Banner
 USA :
 Officer of the Legion of Merit
 Francoist Spain :
 Grand Cross of the Cross of Military Merit (White Decoration)
References
- ^ a b "Trung Tướng Trần Ngọc Tám qua đời, hưởng thọ 85 tuổi". Saigon Echo. 10 August 2011. Retrieved 7 April 2023.
 - ^ a b Tucker, Spencer C. (2000). Encyclopedia of the Vietnam War. ABC-CLIO. pp. 526–33. ISBN 1-57607-040-9.
 - ^ Arthur J. Dommen The Indochinese Experience of the French and the Americans 2002 "Another 1,450,000 piasters were delivered to Generals Duong Van Minh, Le Van Kim, Ton That Dinh, Nguyên Huu Co, Tran Ngoc Tam, Nguyên Khanh, and Do Cao Tri. In addition, General Minh received another $6,000 found in a suitcase ..."
 - ^ Birtle, Andrew (2024). Advice and Support: The Middle Years, January 1964–June 1965. Center of Military History, United States Army. ISBN 9781959302056.
 This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
 
