Lam Nguon Tanh

Rear Admiral Lam Nguon Tanh (Vietnamese: Lâm Ngươn Tánh) (born 1928, Sadec, Vietnam) last was Chief of Naval Operations of the Republic of Vietnam Navy during the Vietnam War. In 1974, he took part in the Battle of Hoang Sa between China. [http://www.vietquoc.com/hoangsa.htm]

He gained asylum in the United States after the Fall of Saigon in April 1975 and worked as a naval architect at the Naval Surface Warfare Center, Dahlgren, Virginia. A devout Anti-Communist, he continues to work with Vietnamese exile groups.

Highlights of naval career

Saigon Merchant Marine Academy, 1948

The Republic of Vietnam Naval Academy, 1952

United States Naval Postgraduate School in Monterey, California, 1958

United States Naval Shipyard Management School in Pearl Harbor, 1960

United States Naval War College in Newport, Rhode Island, 1965

United States National Defense Management College in Monterey, California, 1973

Commander of RVN Navy Eastern Riverine Forces Command

Commander of RVN Navy Sea Forces Command and Fleet Command

RVN Navy Chief of Staff (two terms)

Commander of RVN Naval Shore Establishments and Schools Command

Commandant of the Saigon Naval Shipyard

Deputy to the Deputy Chief of General Joint Chief of Staff for Navy Operations

Commandant and Founder of the RVN Armed Forces Political Warfare College

Vice-Chief of Naval Operations

Chief of Naval Operations

His honors include the National 4th Degree Honor Medal of the Republic of Vietnam.

Activities in exile

In April 1975, Rear Admiral Lam and his wife left Vietnam after the fall of Saigon. They eventually settled in King George, Virginia. Rear Admiral Lam served the U.S. Defense Department (Department of Navy) for more than 20 years as a naval architect at the Naval Surface Warfare Center in Dahlgren, Virginia.

From 1981-1985, he was Secretary General of the Republic of Vietnam Veterans Association.

Frm 1989-1991, he founded the Vietnamese Navy General Association and was the first-term Chairman.

Since 1997, he has served as the Minister for Foreign Affairs of an exiled anti-communist organization The Government of Free Vietnam.

In 2000, he became the Deputy Prime Minister in-charge of National Defense.

In August of 1997, he founded the Free Vietnam Coalition Party and serves on the Member Central Leadership Council.

He is the founder of Vietnamese Navy General Association and First Term Chairman. [http://www.generalhieu.com/lntanh-2.htm]

In 2005, he was elected as Prime Minister of The Government of Free Vietnam.

External links

* [http://www.vietquoc.com/hoangsa.htm The Paracel Islands (Hoang-Sa) Sea Battle]
* [http://www.gfvn.org/splash.html Government of Free Vietnam] Official Site
* [http://www.gfvn.org/ra_mat_cp/le_ra_mat1.htm Inauguration Ceremony of The Government of Free Vietnam] (Photos)