Huynh Van Cao

Major General Huỳnh Văn Cao was an officer in the the Army of the Republic of Vietnam. He was born on September 26, 1927.

Family

He is married and has ten children and more than 20 grandchildren.

Education

In 1950, he graduated from Military school in Hue. He then attended College of Tactics and graduated in Hanoi in 1952. He went to the United States and attended Command and General Staff College and he graduated in 1958.

Military service

He was the commander of the Army of the Republic of Vietnam (ARVN) 7th Division. [http://www.historynet.com/magazines/vietnam/3417961.html] He worked with Lieutenant Colonel John Paul Vann, most notably during the Battle of Ap Bac.

Political service

He served as Senate First Vice President in the government of South Vietnam. [http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,905427,00.html?iid=chix-sphere]

Exile

After the Fall of Saigon he was left behind in South Vietnam and imprisoned by the Communists until 1987. He came to the United States in 1990 and currently resides in Virginia with his family. He is a contributing writer on the Vietnam War in the Vietnam Magazine.

Military positions

* Platoon Leader, 1950-1951
* Company commander, 1951-1952
*Battalion commander, 1953-1954
*Chief of the Special Staff, Presidency 1955-1957
*Commander, 13th Infantry Division, 1957-1958
*Commander, 7th Infantry Division and Tien Giang Tactical Zone, 1959-1962
*Chief negotiator, Vietnamese Delegation to Meeting with Cambodian Delegation on Vietnam-Cambodia Borders, March, 1964
*General commissioner, Popular Complaints and Suggestions Office, May 4, 1964
*Chief, General Political Warfare Department 1965-1966
*Commanding General, First Corps, May 16-30, 1966

Political career

*Chairman, Social Democrat Bloc, Senate, 1967-1968
*Chairman, foreign Affairs and Information Committee, Senate, 1968
*First Deputy Chairman, Senate, 1970-1971
*Senator, 1971-1975

Decorations and awards

*Commander of the National Order of Vietnam
*Officer of the National Order of Vietnam with Gallantry Cross with Palm
*Knight of the National Order of Vietnam with Gallantry Cross with Palm

Quotes

*"President Nixon can support President Thieu, but President Nixon cannot force the Vietnamese people to support President Thieu." [http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,905427,00.html?iid=chix-sphere]

External links

* [http://www.generalhieu.com/hvcao-2.htm Major General Huynh Van Cao]
* [http://www.digitalhistory.uh.edu/learning_history/vietnam/escalate11.cfm Document 11. Telegram From the Embassy in Vietnam to the Department of State concerning Major General Huynh Van Cao]
* [http://www.historynet.com/magazines/vietnam/3417961.html The Battle at Ap Bac Changed America's View of the Vietnam War]
* [http://www.mosquitonet.com/~prewett/budcri262272.html VIETNAM - History, Documents, and Opinion]