He was born on 6 June 1929, into a family of landowners in Bến Tre, southwestern Vietnam. In 1949, he graduated from the Nguyen Dinh Chieu High School in Mỹ Tho with a partial Baccalauréat (Part I).
Military careeredit
In June 1951 he enlisted in the French Union Army and attended the 5th course Hoang Dieu at the Dalat Military Academy. On 24 April 1952, he graduated with the rank of second lieutenant. After graduation, he was selected to serve in the 3rd Vietnamese Parachute Battalion stationed in Hanoi. He was then transferred to the Vietnamese National Army. In late July 1954, he was promoted to Lieutenant and moved with his unit to the southern garrison in Nha Trang.
In late October 1955, after transferring to the ARVN, he was promoted to captain. In August 1957, he was appointed commander of the 6th Airborne Battalion. In October 1959, he was promoted to Major in office.
In mid-November 1961, he was appointed commander of the newly formed 2nd Airborne Task Force. In August 1963, he attended the United States Army Command and General Staff College at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas. In early 1964, he resumed his former position. In early 1965, he was promoted to lieutenant colonel and handed over the 2nd Airborne Task Force. He was then transferred to the position of chief of staff of the 25th Infantry Division.
In September 1966, he was promoted to colonel and appointed commander of the 10th Infantry Division (later renamed as the 18th Division). On 1 November 1967, he was promoted to brigadier general in office.
In 1967 Military Assistance Command, Vietnam (MACV) assessed that the three ARVN divisions surrounding Saigon, the 18th, 5th and the 25th Division had shown no improvement, and US advisers considered their commanders, Giai, Phạm Quốc Thuần (5th Division) and Phan Trọng Chinh (25th Division), flatly incompetent. The senior South Vietnamese military junta generals had repeatedly agreed on the need to replace them, but, for political reasons, had taken no action.[1]: 245–52
In September 1968 MACV rated Giai as inept and division advisers noted that the division was even a "laughing stock" to the Vietnamese. II Field Force, Vietnam commander Lt. Gen. Walter T. Kerwin Jr. appealed to COMUSMACV General Creighton Abrams for help, and the MACV commander reportedly "raised hell" with President Nguyễn Văn Thiệu over the matter, but Thiệu, perhaps feeling safer with old friends like Giai around the capital to keep a watch on his rivals, did nothing.[1]: 333–4
In August 1969 Giai was finally replaced as 18th Division commander by General Lam Quang Tho.[1]: 364
Giai was subsequently assigned to serve on the Joint General Staff. In August 1972, he was appointed commander of the Ranger Group located at Dao Ba Phuoc camp near Saigon. On 1 April 1974, he was promoted to major general in office.
On 5 May 1992 he was released from captivity. On 26 October 1993, he left Vietnam under the Orderly Departure Program sponsored by the U.S. Government. He was later reunited with his family in Garland, Texas.
He died on 21 February 2016 at his home at the age of 87.
^ abcClarke, Jeffrey (1998). The U.S. Army in Vietnam Advice and Support: The Final Years, 1965–1973(PDF). U.S. Army Center of Military History. ISBN978-1518612619. This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
May 04, 2024
Đỗ, kế, giai, june, 1929, february, 2016, south, vietnamese, major, general, 18th, division, army, republic, vietnam, arvn, major, general, giaiborn, 1929, june, 1929bến, tredied21, february, 2016, 2016, aged, allegiancerepublic, vietnamyears, service1951, 197. Đỗ Kế Giai 6 June 1929 21 February 2016 was a South Vietnamese major general who led the 18th Division of the Army of the Republic of Vietnam ARVN Đỗ Kế GiaiMajor general GiaiBorn 1929 06 06 6 June 1929Bến TreDied21 February 2016 2016 02 21 aged 86 AllegianceRepublic of VietnamYears of service1951 1975RankMajor GeneralCommands held18th Division Contents 1 Early life 2 Military career 3 Later life 4 Honour 4 1 National honours 4 2 Foreign honour 5 ReferencesEarly life editHe was born on 6 June 1929 into a family of landowners in Bến Tre southwestern Vietnam In 1949 he graduated from the Nguyen Dinh Chieu High School in Mỹ Tho with a partial Baccalaureat Part I Military career editIn June 1951 he enlisted in the French Union Army and attended the 5th course Hoang Dieu at the Dalat Military Academy On 24 April 1952 he graduated with the rank of second lieutenant After graduation he was selected to serve in the 3rd Vietnamese Parachute Battalion stationed in Hanoi He was then transferred to the Vietnamese National Army In late July 1954 he was promoted to Lieutenant and moved with his unit to the southern garrison in Nha Trang In late October 1955 after transferring to the ARVN he was promoted to captain In August 1957 he was appointed commander of the 6th Airborne Battalion In October 1959 he was promoted to Major in office In mid November 1961 he was appointed commander of the newly formed 2nd Airborne Task Force In August 1963 he attended the United States Army Command and General Staff College at Fort Leavenworth Kansas In early 1964 he resumed his former position In early 1965 he was promoted to lieutenant colonel and handed over the 2nd Airborne Task Force He was then transferred to the position of chief of staff of the 25th Infantry Division In September 1966 he was promoted to colonel and appointed commander of the 10th Infantry Division later renamed as the 18th Division On 1 November 1967 he was promoted to brigadier general in office In 1967 Military Assistance Command Vietnam MACV assessed that the three ARVN divisions surrounding Saigon the 18th 5th and the 25th Division had shown no improvement and US advisers considered their commanders Giai Phạm Quốc Thuần 5th Division and Phan Trọng Chinh 25th Division flatly incompetent The senior South Vietnamese military junta generals had repeatedly agreed on the need to replace them but for political reasons had taken no action 1 245 52 In September 1968 MACV rated Giai as inept and division advisers noted that the division was even a laughing stock to the Vietnamese II Field Force Vietnam commander Lt Gen Walter T Kerwin Jr appealed to COMUSMACV General Creighton Abrams for help and the MACV commander reportedly raised hell with President Nguyễn Văn Thiệu over the matter but Thiệu perhaps feeling safer with old friends like Giai around the capital to keep a watch on his rivals did nothing 1 333 4 nbsp Giai 2nd from right at Nui Dat in May 1969 In August 1969 Giai was finally replaced as 18th Division commander by General Lam Quang Tho 1 364 Giai was subsequently assigned to serve on the Joint General Staff In August 1972 he was appointed commander of the Ranger Group located at Dao Ba Phuoc camp near Saigon On 1 April 1974 he was promoted to major general in office Following the Fall of Saigon on 30 April 1975 he was sent to a re education camp for 17 years Later life editOn 5 May 1992 he was released from captivity On 26 October 1993 he left Vietnam under the Orderly Departure Program sponsored by the U S Government He was later reunited with his family in Garland Texas He died on 21 February 2016 at his home at the age of 87 Honour editNational honours edit nbsp Officer of the National Order of Vietnam nbsp Army Distinguished Service Order First Class nbsp Air Force Distinguished Service Order First Class nbsp Gallantry Cross nbsp Air Gallantry Cross Bronze Wing nbsp Hazardous Service Medal nbsp Life Saving Medal nbsp Loyalty Medal nbsp Staff Service Medal First Class nbsp Training Service Medal Second Class nbsp Civil Actions Medal First Class nbsp Good Conduct Medal Second Class nbsp Vietnam Campaign Medal nbsp Military Service Medal Second Class nbsp Air Service Medal Third Class nbsp Chuong My Medal First Class nbsp Administrative Service Medal Second Class nbsp Rural Revolutionary Development Medal Foreign honour edit nbsp USA nbsp Silver StarReferences edit a b c Clarke Jeffrey 1998 The U S Army in Vietnam Advice and Support The Final Years 1965 1973 PDF U S Army Center of Military History ISBN 978 1518612619 nbsp This article incorporates text from this source which is in the public domain Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Đỗ Kế Giai amp oldid 1189029793, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
