Đặng Văn Quang

Lieutenant General Đặng Văn Quang (21 June 1929 – 15 July 2011) popularly known as Fat Quang, was an officer of the Army of the Republic of Vietnam who served as a special advisor to President Nguyễn Văn Thiệu of South Vietnam.

Đặng Văn Quang
Personal details
Born(1929-06-21)21 June 1929
Ba Xuyen Province, Cochinchina, French Indochina
Died15 July 2011(2011-07-15) (aged 82)
Sacramento, California, U.S.
Political party National Social Democratic Front
RelativesNguyễn Thị Mai Anh (niece)
Nguyễn Văn Thiệu (nephew-in-law)
Military career
Allegiance Republic of Vietnam
Service/branch
Years of service1949–1975
Rank Lieutenant General
Commands held21st Division (1964–1965)
IV Corps (1965–1966)
Other workSpecial Advisor on Military Affairs (1968–1969)
Advisor of National Security and Intelligence (1969–1975)

Biography

Quang started as a non-commissioned officer (NCO) in the French colonial army and was later promoted to Emperor Bảo Đại’s aide-de-camp, then commander of his personal Imperial Guard. He also was in charge of managing resources for Thiệu.[1] This led to his promotion to Brigadier general.

He commanded the 21st Division from 1 June 1964, until 20 January 1965, when he was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant general, receiving two further stars.[2]

He then served as the commander of IV Corps, which oversaw the Mekong Delta region of the country, replacing Thiệu, who went on to become head of state, until 23 November 1966, when at the urging of Prime Minister Nguyễn Cao Kỳ he was replaced by Major General Nguyen Van Manh.[2] He then became a special adviser to President Thiệu, serving as special advisor on military affairs from 1968 to 1969 and then as advisor of national security and intelligence from 1969 to 1975.

According to Frank Snepp, Quang became an important source of information for the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) inside the South Vietnamese government and was well rewarded for this.[3]: 14–5  However following the Battle of Ban Me Thuot in March 1975 he failed to inform the CIA of Thiệu's plan to abandon the Central Highlands, jeopardizing the evacuation of Americans and their South Vietnamese staff.[3]: 495 [4]: 206 

He was not popular with the people of South Vietnam and had a reputation for corruption.[5] He was accused of being the most corrupt officer in South Vietnam.[4]: 172  As the North Vietnamese overran the South in 1975 Đăng was reported to charge a US$5,000 bribe for the issuance of an exit visa, rising to US$20,000 as the Fall of Saigon drew closer.[5]

On 29 April 1975 he arrived at the U.S. Embassy where he was evacuated later that day.[3]: 495 

Quang was accused of being involved in the heroin trade, however, these allegations are disputed.[6]

He died on 15 July 2011 at the age of 82.[7]

Honour

References
  1. R.V. Scheide (4 December 2008). "The trial of General Dang". Sacramento News & Review. Retrieved 30 July 2021.
  2. Tucker, Spencer C. (2000). Encyclopedia of the Vietnam War. ABC-CLIO. pp. 526–33. ISBN 1-57607-040-9.
  3. Snepp, Frank (1977). Decent Interval: An Insider's Account of Saigon's Indecent End Told by the CIA's Chief Strategy Analyst in Vietnam. Random House. ISBN 0394407431.
  4. Veith, George (2012). Black April The Fall of South Vietnam 1973-75. Encounter Books. ISBN 9781594035722.
  5. Kelley, Michael (2002). Where we were in Vietnam. Hellgate Press. p. F-17. ISBN 978-1555716257.
  6. Merle Pribbenow (11 November 2009). "Drugs, Corruption, and Justice in Vietnam and Afghanistan: A Cautionary Tale". Retrieved 30 July 2021.
  7. Van Phu, Bui (June 7, 2011). "Đời bi kịch của một vị tướng VNCH" (in Vietnamese). BBC Vietnamese. Retrieved 29 August 2011.

Bibliography
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.