John Paul Vann
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John Paul Vann (John Paul Tripp) was a retired Lieutenant Colonel in the U.S. Army. He was born in Norfolk, Virginia, July 2, 1924-1972.
Biography
He was a career Army officer who served during the Korean War and was then was assigned to Vietnam in 1962-1963, as an advisor and was forced from the Army because he was critical of the way that the war in Vietnam was being conducted.
He returned to South Vietnam as an official of the Agency for International Development (AID).
He then was assigned as the senior American advisor in II Corps Military Region, which put him in charge of all United States personnel in his region and advised directly the Army of the Republic of Vietnam Commander to the region. He was acting in that capacity when killed.
He was buried on June 16, 1972 in Section 11 of Arlington National Cemetery.
On June 18, 1972, President Richard Nixon awarded the Medal of Freedom, the nation's highest civilian citation, posthumously John Paul Vann, who served for 10 years as a top American adviser in South Vietnam.
A book was written about him named "A Bright Shining Lie" and was written by Neil Sheehan.
Quotes
- "If it were not for the fact that Vietnam is but a pawn in the larger East-West confrontation, and that our presence here is essential to deny the resources of this area to Communist China, then it would be damned hard to justify our support of the existing government,"
External Links
- Red Tanks, Troops Near Kontum (http://www.thebattleofkontum.com/stars/20.html)