In this Vietnamese name, the surname is Đỗ. In accordance with Vietnamese custom, this person should be referred to by the given name, Kiếm.
Đỗ Kiếm, writing as Kiem Do (Hanoi, 1933) is a former officer of the Republic of Vietnam Navy, who was serving as Deputy Chief of Staff (Operations) when Saigon fell in 1975. He secretly organised the evacuation of over 30,000 refugees aboard 32 naval ships.[1] Kiem's efforts were ultimately successful, preventing those 32 vessels and everyone aboard from falling into the hands of North Vietnamese forces.
After transferring the Republic of Vietnam's last naval vessels to the control of the U.S. Navy, Kiem moved to the United States where he has resided since, having been granted citizenship after requesting political asylum. He worked as a teacher and cost engineer before his retirement in 1997.
Kiem was the commander of the submarine chaserVan Don (HQ-06) during the 1963 coup.[3] He later served as the Commandant of the Vietnamese Midshipman’s School, Chief of Staff of the Mobile Riverine Force, District Commander of the IV Naval Zone, and Deputy Chief of Staff (Operations).[4]
With the help of Richard L. Armitage, Kiem secretly organised the evacuation of the Republic of Vietnam Navy fleet of 32 ships accompanied by several cargo ships and fishing boats with over 30,000 naval personnel and their families aboard. This fleet left Saigon on 30 April 1975, and the next day rendezvoused with USS Kirk off Côn Sơn Island to be escorted to the Philippines.[5][6]
Since retirement in 1997, he has been active as a leader in the New OrleansVietnamese community and has lectured frequently on the Vietnam War at local universities and before veterans groups.
Kiem's wartime memoirs, co-authored with Julie Kane, was published in May 1998 and entitled Counterpart: A South Vietnamese Naval Officer's War.
Familyedit
He and his wife of thirty-nine years Thom Le Do, have five children, and six American-born grandchildren.
Referencesedit
^Shapiro, Joseph; Bartlett, Sandra (1 September 2010). "At War's End, U.S. Ship Rescued South Vietnam's Navy". NPR. Retrieved 13 May 2013.
^. Mobile Riverine Force Association. 2013. Archived from the original on 8 March 2013. Retrieved 13 May 2013.
^Hovis, Bobbi (2011). . history.navy.mil. Archived from the original on 3 May 2013. Retrieved 13 May 2013.
^"2009 Honorary Chair". Louisiana Folk. Spring 2009. Retrieved 13 May 2013.
^North, Don (28 June 2011). "How to Steal a Navy and Save 30,000 Refugees". historynet.com. Retrieved 13 May 2013.
^"Frequent Wind". USS Kirk FF-1087 Association. 2013. Retrieved 13 May 2013.
kiem, this, vietnamese, name, surname, Đỗ, accordance, with, vietnamese, custom, this, person, should, referred, given, name, kiếm, Đỗ, kiếm, writing, hanoi, 1933, former, officer, republic, vietnam, navy, serving, deputy, chief, staff, operations, when, saigo. In this Vietnamese name the surname is Đỗ In accordance with Vietnamese custom this person should be referred to by the given name Kiếm Đỗ Kiếm writing as Kiem Do Hanoi 1933 is a former officer of the Republic of Vietnam Navy who was serving as Deputy Chief of Staff Operations when Saigon fell in 1975 He secretly organised the evacuation of over 30 000 refugees aboard 32 naval ships 1 Kiem s efforts were ultimately successful preventing those 32 vessels and everyone aboard from falling into the hands of North Vietnamese forces Đỗ KiếmBorn1933 age 90 91 Hanoi French IndochinaAllegianceRepublic of VietnamService wbr branchRepublic of Vietnam NavyYears of service1955 1975RankCaptainBattles warsVietnam WarOther workHigh school teacher cost engineer After transferring the Republic of Vietnam s last naval vessels to the control of the U S Navy Kiem moved to the United States where he has resided since having been granted citizenship after requesting political asylum He worked as a teacher and cost engineer before his retirement in 1997 Contents 1 Early life 2 Career 3 Retirement 4 Family 5 References 6 External linksEarly life editKiem was born in Hanoi and by the age of 13 was a scout for the Viet Minh fighting for Vietnam s independence from French colonial rule Following the end of the First Indochina War Kiem was sent to France to be trained at the Ecole Navale in Brest 2 Career editKiem was the commander of the submarine chaser Van Don HQ 06 during the 1963 coup 3 He later served as the Commandant of the Vietnamese Midshipman s School Chief of Staff of the Mobile Riverine Force District Commander of the IV Naval Zone and Deputy Chief of Staff Operations 4 With the help of Richard L Armitage Kiem secretly organised the evacuation of the Republic of Vietnam Navy fleet of 32 ships accompanied by several cargo ships and fishing boats with over 30 000 naval personnel and their families aboard This fleet left Saigon on 30 April 1975 and the next day rendezvoused with USS Kirk off Con Sơn Island to be escorted to the Philippines 5 6 After settling in the United States after receiving political asylum Kiem taught high school math and science studied in the MBA program at the University of New Orleans and worked as a cost engineer for the Louisiana utility company Entergy for more than twenty years Retirement editSince retirement in 1997 he has been active as a leader in the New Orleans Vietnamese community and has lectured frequently on the Vietnam War at local universities and before veterans groups Kiem s wartime memoirs co authored with Julie Kane was published in May 1998 and entitled Counterpart A South Vietnamese Naval Officer s War Family editHe and his wife of thirty nine years Thom Le Do have five children and six American born grandchildren References edit Shapiro Joseph Bartlett Sandra 1 September 2010 At War s End U S Ship Rescued South Vietnam s Navy NPR Retrieved 13 May 2013 Counterpart A South Vietnamese Naval Officer s War Mobile Riverine Force Association 2013 Archived from the original on 8 March 2013 Retrieved 13 May 2013 Hovis Bobbi 2011 U S Navy Nurse in Saigon 1963 During Vietnam Conflict history navy mil Archived from the original on 3 May 2013 Retrieved 13 May 2013 2009 Honorary Chair Louisiana Folk Spring 2009 Retrieved 13 May 2013 North Don 28 June 2011 How to Steal a Navy and Save 30 000 Refugees historynet com Retrieved 13 May 2013 Frequent Wind USS Kirk FF 1087 Association 2013 Retrieved 13 May 2013 External links edit nbsp Wikiquote has quotations related to Kiem Do The Paracel Islands Hoang Sa Sea Battle by Việt Nam Quốc Dan Đảng Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Kiem Do amp oldid 1162499187, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
