ISBN: 9781156211588

Purchase includes free access to book updates online and a free trial membership in the publisher's book club where you can select from more than a million books without charge. Excerpt: … More...

Purchase includes free access to book updates online and a free trial membership in the publisher's book club where you can select from more than a million books without charge. Excerpt: Major General Tôn Tht ính (born 1926) is a retired officer who served in the Army of the Republic of Vietnam (ARVN). He is best known as one of the key figures in the November 1963 coup that deposed and resulted in the assassination of Ngo Dinh Diem, the first president of the Republic of Purchase includes free access to book updates online and a free trial membership in the publisher's book club where you can select from more than a million books without charge. Excerpt: Major General Tôn Tht ính (born 1926) is a retired officer who served in the Army of the Republic of Vietnam (ARVN). He is best known as one of the key figures in the November 1963 coup that deposed and resulted in the assassination of Ngo Dinh Diem, the first president of the Republic of Vietnam (South Vietnam). A favourite of the ruling Ngo family, Dinh received rapid promotions ahead of officers who were regarded as being more capable. He converted to Roman Catholicism to curry favour with Diem, and headed the military wing of the Can Lao Party, a secret Catholic organisation that maintained the Ngos' grip on power. At the age of 32, Dinh became the youngest ever ARVN general and the commander of the II Corps, but he was regarded as a dangerous, egotistical and impetuous figure with a weakness for alcohol and partying. In 1962, Dinh was appointed commander of the III Corps, which oversaw the region surrounding the capital Saigon. He was given the post because Diem regarded him as one of his most loyal officers. This position meant that Dinh would be a critical factor in the success or failure of any coup. In late 1963, with Diem becoming increasingly unpopular, Dinh's colleagues recruited him into a coup by playing on his ego. They convinced him to ask Diem for a cabinet post, knowing that the president was adamantly opposed to military officers serving as ministers and would chastise him. Diem promptly rebuffed Dinh, who became upset and was lured into the plot. Diem and his brother and chief advisor Ngo Dinh Nhu were aware of a coup plot, but did not know of Dinh's involvement. Nhu planned a fake coup of his own in an attempt to trap his opponents and generate positive publicity for his family's regime. He put Dinh in charge of the fak. More: Books, , Can-Lao-Members~~Books-LLC, , , , , , , , , , General Books LLC<