Duong Van Minh
South Vietnamese commander
Died when: 85 years 171 days (1025 months)Star Sign: Aquarius
Duong Van Minh (Vietnamese: [z??? van mi??]; 16 February 1916 – 6 August 2001), popularly known as Big Minh, was a South Vietnamese politician and a senior general in the Army of the Republic of Vietnam (ARVN) and a politician during the presidency of Ngô Ðình Di?m.
In 1963, he became chief of a military junta after leading a coup in which Di?m was assassinated. Minh lasted only three months before being toppled by Nguy?n Khánh, but assumed power again as the fourth and last President of South Vietnam in April 1975, two days before surrendering to North Vietnamese forces.
He earned his nickname "Big Minh", because at approximately 1.83 m (6 ft) tall and weighing 90 kg (198 lb), he was much larger than the average Vietnamese.
Born in Ti?n Giang province in the Mekong Delta region of southern Vietnam, Minh joined the French Army at the start of World War II, and was captured and tortured by the Imperial Japanese, who invaded and seized French Indochina.
After his release, he joined the French-backed Vietnamese National Army (VNA) and was imprisoned by the communist-dominated Viet Minh before breaking out.
In 1955, when Vietnam was partitioned and the State of Vietnam controlled the southern half under Prime Minister Ngô Ðình Di?m, Minh led the VNA in decisively defeating the Bình Xuyên paramilitary crime syndicate in street combat and dismantling the Hòa H?o religious tradition's private army.
This made him popular with the people and Di?m, but the latter later put him in a powerless position, regarding him as a threat.
In 1963, the authoritarian Di?m became increasingly unpopular due to the Buddhist crisis and the ARVN generals decided to launch a coup, which Minh eventually led.
Di?m was assassinated on 2 November 1963 shortly after being deposed. Minh was accused of ordering an aide, Nguy?n Van Nhung, to kill Di?m.
Minh then led a junta for three months, but he was an unsuccessful leader and was heavily criticized for being lethargic and uninterested.
During his three months of rule, many civilian problems intensified and the communists made significant gains. Angered at not receiving his desired post, General Nguy?n Khánh led a group of similarly motivated officers in a January 1964 coup.
Khánh allowed Minh to stay on as a token head of state in order to capitalize on Minh's public standing, but retained real power.
After a power struggle, Khanh had Minh exiled. Minh stayed away before deciding to return and challenge General Nguy?n Van Thi?u in the presidential election of 1971.
When it became obvious that Thieu would rig the poll, Minh withdrew and did not return until 1972, keeping a low profile.
Minh then advocated a "third force", maintaining that Vietnam could be reunified without a military victory to a hardline communist or anti-communist government.
However, this was not something that Thi?u agreed with. In April 1975, as South Vietnam was on the verge of being overrun, Thieu resigned.
A week later, Minh was chosen by the legislature and became president on 28 April. Saigon fell two days later on 30 April, and Minh ordered a surrender to prevent bloody urban street fighting.
Minh was spared the lengthy incarceration meted out to South Vietnamese military personnel and civil servants, and lived quietly until being allowed to emigrate to France in 1983.
He later moved to California, where he died.
Related People
South Vietnamese commander
.jpg?width=300)
South Vietnamese commander
South Vietnamese commander