Trần Ngọc Tám Explained

Trần Ngọc Tám
Birth Date:	12 March 1926
Allegiance:	South Vietnam
Branch:	Vietnamese National Army Army of the Republic of Vietnam
Rank:	Lieutenant general
Commands:	II Corps III Corps

Lieutenant General Trần Ngọc Tám (12 March 1926 – 4 August 2011) was an officer of the Army of the Republic of Vietnam.

Tám was born on 12 March 1926.^[1]

Military career

He served as the commander of II Corps, which oversaw the Central Highlands region, from 1 October 1957 until 13 August of the next year, when he was replaced by Major general Tôn Thất Đính. He was the first commander of II Corps.^[2] He served as the commander of III Corps, which oversaw the region of the country surrounding Saigon from 4 April 1964 until 12 October of the same year, when he was replaced by Major general Cao Văn Viên.^{[2] [3]}

Tám later served as Chairman of the Free World Military Assistance Organisation.

Tám died on 4 August 2011, at the age of 85.^[1]

Honours

National honours

• Commander of the National Order of Vietnam
• Army Distinguished Service Order, First Class
• Air Force Distinguished Service Order, Second Class
• Navy Distinguished Service Order, First Class
• Gallantry Cross
• Hazardous Service Medal
• Wound Medal
• Armed Forces Honour Medal, First Class
• Leadership Medal, Level Unknown
• Staff Service Medal, First Class
• Training Service Medal, First Class
• Civil Actions Medal, First Class
• Good Conduct Medal, Second Class
• Vietnam Campaign Medal
• Military Service Medal, Second Class
• Air Service Medal, Honour Class
• Navy Service Medal, Honour Class
• Chuong My Medal, First Class

Foreign honours

• :
  • Knight of the Legion of Honour
  • War Cross for foreign operational theatres
• :
  • Commander of the Order of Sikatuna
  • Chief Commander of the Legion of Honour
• :
  • Order of Military Merit, Eulji Cordon Medal
  • Order of National Security Merit, Gukseon Medal
• :
  • Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the Crown of Thailand
• :
  • Grand Cordon of the Order of the Cloud and Banner
• :
  • Officer of the Legion of Merit
• :
  • Grand Cross of the Cross of Military Merit (White Decoration)

Notes and References

1. News: Trung Tướng Trần Ngọc Tám qua đời, hưởng thọ 85 tuổi . 7 April 2023 . Saigon Echo . 10 August 2011.
2. Book: Tucker, Spencer C.. Encyclopedia of the Vietnam War. 2000 . ABC-CLIO. 1-57607-040-9. 526-33.
3. Arthur J. Dommen The Indochinese Experience of the French and the Americans 2002 "Another 1,450,000 piasters were delivered to Generals Duong Van Minh, Le Van Kim, Ton That Dinh, Nguyên Huu Co, Tran Ngoc Tam, Nguyên Khanh, and Do Cao Tri. In addition, General Minh received another $6,000 found in a suitcase ..."