Ngô Du

Who is Ngô Du?

Ngô Du was a general in the Army of the Republic of Vietnam.

A Catholic from Qui Nhơn and the son of a government official, he was educated at a French Catholic boy's school in Huế. He held few combat commands and had few connections with the South Vietnamese political elite. Du held low-key planning positions on the ARVN Joint General Staff until he was propelled into the role of acting commander of the IV Corps Tactical Zone upon the accidental death of Brigadier General Nguyen Viet Thanh in 1970. In August 1972, however, Du found himself promoted to command of the II Corps Tactical Zone in the Central Highlands of South Vietnam. From his headquarters at Pleiku, he and his senior U.S. advisor, John Paul Vann, commanded ARVN forces during the North Vietnamese Easter Offensive of 1972. His command abilities during the ensuing fighting, according to his American advisors, left quite a lot to be desired. On 10 May 1972 he was replaced as corps commander by Major General Nguyen Van Toan.