The General Consul in Bien Hoa sent the following cablegram to the US Embassy in Saigon on the subject of recent command changes in III Corps.
Note: Colonel Ngo Van Minh subsequently returned to his position of III Corp Chief of Staff and remained in this position until he was replaced by Brigadier General Le Trung Tuong sometimes in the beginning of April 1975 - perhaps April 3
R 060930Z DEC 73
BIEN HOA 636
E.O. 11652: GDS
TAGS: PINT, MILI, VS
SUBJ: MORE COMMAND CHANGES IN MR 3
1. MAJ. GEN. NGUYEN VAN HIEU WAS ASSIGNED DEC. 3 TO FILL VACANT POSITION OF MR 3 DEPUTY COMMANDING GENERAL FOR CORPS AFFAIRS (ARVN UNITS). POSITION HAS BEEN VACANT SINCE JUNE 1973 WHEN GEN. LE VAN HUNG DEPARTED TO BECOME CG, 21ST ARVN DIV. IN MR 4. HIEU WAS FORMERLY SECRETARY OF COMMITTEE FOR ELIMINATION OF CORRUPTION IN VICE PRESIDENT'S OFFICE. BG DAO DUY AN REMAINS AS DEPUTY CG FOR TERRITORIAL AFFAIRS (SECTOR, RF, PF, PSDF).
2. COL. VU NGOC TUAN REPLACED COL. NGO VAN MINH NOVEMBER 12 AS CHIEF OF STAFF AT MR 3. COL. MINH WAS ASSIGNED DEPUTY COMMANDER OF 18TH DIVISION, BUT DUE HIS LACK OF COMMAND EXPERIENCE, IT IS RUMORED HE MAY NOT LAST.
3. COL. NGUYEN CONG KHANH REPLACED COL. LE VAN TU AS MR 3 RDOC CHIEF NOVEMBER 30. HE WAS FORMERLY AN INSTRUCTOR AT ARVN WAR COLLEGE.
SIGNED BIRD.
This document was declassified/released by the State Department on June 30, 2005.
Nguyen Van Tin
30 September 2008