27 moments
Birth in Phan Rang
· Phan Rang–Tháp Chàm, Ninh Thuận, Vietnam
Nguyễn Văn Thiệu was born in Phan Rang, then in French Indochina. Coordinates represent modern Phan Rang–Tháp Chàm.
Defection to Saigon
· Saigon, South Vietnam (now Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam)
After leaving the Việt Minh, Thiệu moved to Saigon and joined the French-associated State of Vietnam's forces. The article dates his conclusion that the Việt Minh were communist to August 1946; it does not give a day for his move.
National Military Academy graduation
· Vietnamese National Military Academy, Đà Lạt, Vietnam
Thiệu graduated from the National Military Academy at Đà Lạt and received a commission as a second lieutenant in the Vietnam National Army.
Battalion operation in his native town
· Phan Rang–Tháp Chàm, Ninh Thuận, Vietnam
As a major, Thiệu led a battalion operation that forced a Việt Minh unit to withdraw from Phan Rang. Coordinates represent the town rather than an identified combat site.
Head of the National Military Academy
· Vietnamese National Military Academy, Đà Lạt, Vietnam
Thiệu began a four-year tenure as head of the National Military Academy at Đà Lạt, a position through which he developed ties with younger officers. The source supports a four-year posting beginning in 1956; this card is dated to its start year.
Command of the 1st Division
· Huế, South Vietnam (now Thừa Thiên Huế, Vietnam)
Thiệu was transferred to command the ARVN 1st Division, headquartered in Huế. Coordinates represent Huế, the division's stated base.
Command of the 5th Division
· Biên Hòa, South Vietnam (now Đồng Nai, Vietnam)
Thiệu was appointed commander of the ARVN 5th Division, based at Biên Hòa. The preceding sentence dates the change of command to 8 December 1962; the appointment occurred twelve days later.
Johnson conference in Honolulu
· Honolulu, Hawaii, United States
As South Vietnam's chief of state, Thiệu made an official visit to Honolulu and conferred with U.S. President Lyndon B. Johnson on military and economic aid. The source gives a date range; the card is therefore dated to February 1966.
Tet visit to his wife's family
· Mỹ Tho, South Vietnam (now Tiền Giang, Vietnam)
During the opening of the Tet Offensive, Thiệu was away from Saigon at his wife's family home in Mỹ Tho. The Tet Offensive began in late January 1968; the source does not supply a day for his stay.
Johnson meeting in Honolulu
· Honolulu, Hawaii, United States
Wikimedia Commons · Public domain · file Thiệu arrived in Honolulu to meet President Johnson after postponing a planned mainland U.S. state visit.
Huế massacre memorial rites
· Huế, South Vietnam (now Thừa Thiên Huế, Vietnam)
Wikimedia Commons · Public domain · file Thiệu joined mourners at multi-faith rites for victims of the Huế Massacre. The source is a dated image caption and does not identify the precise venue.
State visit to Seoul
· Blue House, Seoul, South Korea
Thiệu visited South Korea with his wife and met President Park Chung-hee at the Blue House during a four-day official visit. The official Korean archive identifies Thiệu and his wife among attendees at the Blue House on this date.
Arrival for Taiwan state visit
· Taipei Songshan Airport, Taipei, Taiwan
Thiệu and his wife arrived in Taipei for a five-day state visit to Taiwan.
Tribute at Taipei Martyrs' Shrine
· National Revolutionary Martyrs' Shrine, Taipei, Taiwan
Wikimedia Commons · Public domain in the Republic of China because its term of copyright has expired there · file During his Taiwan visit, Thiệu visited the National Revolutionary Martyrs' Shrine and laid flowers in tribute.
Agricultural visit in Caotun
· Caotun, Nantou County, Taiwan
Thiệu and his delegation visited the Caotun Township Farmers' Association in Nantou County during the Taiwan state visit. Coordinates represent Caotun Township rather than the unlocated former farmers' association building.
Nixon meeting at Midway
· Midway Atoll, United States Minor Outlying Islands
Wikimedia Commons · No Copyright - United States · file Thiệu met U.S. President Richard Nixon at Midway Island, shortly after his East Asian state visits. Coordinates represent Sand Island, Midway Atoll.
Meeting Nixon at Independence Palace
· Independence Palace, Saigon, South Vietnam (now Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam)
Thiệu met President Nixon and U.S. officials at Independence Palace during Nixon's visit to Saigon. The document footnote states: “The meeting was held at Independence Palace.”
Meeting Vice President Agnew
· Saigon, South Vietnam (now Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam)
Thiệu met U.S. Vice President Spiro Agnew, Vice President Nguyễn Cao Kỳ, and Ambassador Ellsworth Bunker in Saigon. The Nixon Library finding aid identifies Saigon but not the specific meeting venue.
Meeting Vice President Agnew again
· Saigon, South Vietnam (now Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam)
Thiệu again met Vice President Agnew and other U.S. and South Vietnamese officials in Saigon. The Nixon Library finding aid identifies Saigon but not the specific meeting venue.
Visit to Military Regions 1 and 2
· Military Regions 1 and 2, South Vietnam
Before meeting the South Korean defense minister, Thiệu spent two days visiting troops in South Vietnam's Military Regions 1 and 2. The source dates the subsequent meeting to 11 February 1972 but does not identify individual troop locations or assign dates to each region. Coordinates are a representative central point between the two broad military regions.
Official visit to Washington
· Washington, D.C., United States
During his April U.S. visit, Thiệu traveled to Washington, D.C., after the San Clemente meetings with Nixon. The source gives a visit range and identifies Washington but does not specify the day or venue there.
Nixon meeting at San Clemente
· San Clemente, California, United States
Thiệu began an official U.S. visit with President Nixon at San Clemente, California. The Nixon Library page is dated 2 April 1973.
Exile residence in Tianmu
· Tianmu, Taipei, Taiwan
After leaving South Vietnam, Thiệu lived in Taiwan, first with his brother and then at a rented residence in Tianmu, Taipei. The source does not date the move within 1975 or identify the rented property's address; coordinates represent Tianmu.
Resignation at the presidential palace
· Independence Palace, Saigon, South Vietnam (now Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam)
Thiệu resigned the presidency amid South Vietnam's military collapse; the planned address and transfer of power were convened at the presidential palace in Saigon. The U.S. diplomatic record is headed “Saigon, April 21, 1975”; it describes the announced resignation address at the Palace.
Departure from Tan Son Nhut
· Tan Son Nhut Air Base, Saigon, South Vietnam (now Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam)
Four days after resigning, Thiệu departed South Vietnam aboard a C-118 aircraft bound for Taipei.
Golden-wedding stay in Hawaii
· Hawaii, United States
Thiệu and his wife were in Hawaii celebrating their fiftieth wedding anniversary when the September 11 attacks occurred. The source does not identify a Hawaiian island or venue; coordinates represent Honolulu.
Death in Boston
· Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston, Massachusetts, United States
Thiệu died after a stroke at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center in Boston.