Chief of the Joint General Staff (South Vietnam)

The Chief of the Joint General Staff (Vietnamese: Tổng Tham mưu trưởng) was the highest-ranking military officer of in the Republic of Vietnam Military Forces, who was responsible for maintaining the operational command of the military and its three major branches.

Chief of the Joint General Staff
Tổng Tham mưu trưởng (Vietnamese)
Emblem for the Joint General Staff
Flag of the Joint General Staff
Longest serving
Cao Văn Viên

October 1965–26 April 1975
Ministry of Defense
StatusAbolished
Member of Republic of Vietnam Military Forces
Reports toMinister of Defense
ResidenceCamp Trần Hưng Đạo
SeatJoint General Staff
AppointerPresident of South Vietnam
FormationMarch 1952
First holderNguyễn Văn Hinh
Final holderNguyễn Hữu Hạnh
Abolished30 April 1975

History

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The position was established with the creation of the General Staff of the Vietnamese National Army, in 1952. Following Vietnam's independence from France in October 1955, the title was changed to Chief of the Joint General Staff.

List of commanders

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Vietnamese National Army

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No. Portrait Name Took office Left office Time in office Ref.
1Hinh, NguyễnLieutenant General
Nguyễn Văn Hinh
(1915–2004)
March 195229 November 19542 years, 8 months[1]
2Tỵ, LêLieutenant General
Lê Văn Tỵ
(1903–1964)
29 November 195423 March 19583 years, 3 months[2]

Republic of Vietnam Military Forces

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No. Portrait Name Took office Left office Time in office Ref.
1Tỵ, LêArmy General
Lê Văn Tỵ
(1903–1964)
23 March 1958December 19624 years, 8 months.
-Khiêm, TrầnLieutenant General
Trần Thiện Khiêm
(1925–2021)
Acting
December 1962August 19638 months[3]
2Đôn, TrầnLieutenant General
Trần Văn Đôn
(1917–1998)
August 196310 January 19645 months.
3Khánh, NguyễnLieutenant General
Nguyễn Khánh
(1927–2013)
January 1964February 19645 months.
4Khiêm, TrầnLieutenant General
Trần Thiện Khiêm
(1925–2021)
February 1964October 19648 months.
(3)Khánh, NguyễnLieutenant General
Nguyễn Khánh
(1927–2013)
October 1964February 19654 months.
5Minh, TrầnLieutenant General
Trần Văn Minh
(1923–2009)
February 1965July 19655 months[4]
6Có, NguyễnLieutenant General
Nguyễn Hữu Có
(1925–2012)
July 1965October 19653 months.
7Viên, CaoGeneral
Cao Văn Viên
(1921–2008)
October 196526 April 19759 years, 6 months[5][6]
8Khuyên, ĐồngLieutenant General
Đồng Văn Khuyên [vi]
(1927–2015)
27 April 197528 April 19751 day.
9Lộc, NguyễnLieutenant General
Nguyễn Phước Vĩnh Lộc
(1923–2009)
29 April 197529 April 19750 days.
10Hạnh, NguyễnBrigadier General
Nguyễn Hữu Hạnh
(1926–2019)
30 April 197530 April 19750 days.

References

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  1. ^ Vo, Nghia M. (2011). Saigon: A History. McFarland & Company, Inc. p. 128. The newly-formed 30,000-man South Vietnamese army (SVA) was led by Lieutenant-General Nguyễn Văn Hinh, a naturalized French citizen and a Bảo Đại admirer. Hinh, son of former Prime Minister Nguyễn Văn Tâm, ...
  2. ^ Luận, Nguyễn Công (2012). Nationalist in the Viet Nam Wars: Memoirs of a Victim Turned Soldier. Indiana University Press. p. ?. General Lê Văn Tỵ was appointed joint general chief of staff, replacing General Nguyễn Văn Hinh. The remnants of the French supporters lost their foothold in the nationalist army.
  3. ^ Hammer, Ellen J. (1987). A Death in November: America in Vietnam, 1963. New York City: E. P. Dutton. p. 133. ISBN 0-525-24210-4.
  4. ^ FOREIGN RELATIONS OF THE UNITED STATES, 1964–1968, VOLUME II: VIETNAM, JANUARY-JUNE 1965
  5. ^ Butterfield, Fox. "The Communists Were Stunned, Too" The New York Times May 12, 1985
  6. ^ Holley, Joe. "Cao Van Vien, South Vietnam 4-Star General" The Washington Post January 30, 2008
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