Cao Văn Viên
Cao Văn Viên | |
|---|---|
| Chief of the Joint General Staff of the Republic of Vietnam Military Forces | |
| In office October 1, 1965 – April 26, 1975 | |
| Minister of National Defense | Nguyễn Hữu Có Himself Nguyễn Văn Vỹ Trần Thiện Khiêm |
| Preceded by | Nguyễn Hữu Có |
| Succeeded by | Đồng Văn Khuyên |
| Personal details | |
| Born | December 21, 1921 Vientiane, French Laos |
| Died | January 22, 2008 (aged 86) Annandale, Virginia, U.S. |
| Spouse | Tran Thi Tao (died 1991) |
| Children | 3, including Lan Cao |
| Awards | |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance | |
| Branch/service | |
| Years of service | 1949 – October 25, 1955 (Vietnamese National Army) October 26, 1955 – April 30, 1975 (Army of the Republic of Vietnam) |
| Rank | General (Đại Tướng) |
| Commands | Vietnamese Airborne Division; III Corps; Chairman, Joint General Staff, Vietnamese Armed Forces; Vietnamese Navy (acting) |
| Battles/wars | Battle of Kiến Phong (now Đồng Tháp Province) |
Cao Văn Viên (Vietnamese pronunciation: [kaːw˧˧ van˧˧ viən˧˧]; December 21, 1921 – January 22, 2008) was a four-star army general in the Army of the Republic of Vietnam during the Vietnam War. He rose to the position of Chairman of the South Vietnamese Joint General Staff. Considered one of "the most gifted" of South Vietnam's military leaders, he was previously called an "absolute key figure" and one of "the most important Vietnamese military leaders" in the U.S.-led fighting during the Vietnam War. Along with Trần Thiện Khiêm he was one of only two four-star generals in the entire history of South Vietnam.