Dang Van Quang

Lieutenant General Đặng Văn Quang (21 June 1929 – 15 July 2011) popularly known as Fat Quang, was an officer of the Army of the Republic of Vietnam who served as a special advisor to President Nguyễn Văn Thiệu of South Vietnam.

Biography Quang started as a non-commissioned officer (NCO) in the French colonial army and was later promoted to Emperor Bảo Đại’s aide-de-camp, then commander of his personal Imperial Guard. He also was in charge of managing resources for Thiệu. This led to his promotion to Brigadier general.

He commanded the 21st Division from 1 June 1964, until 20 January 1965, when he was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant general, receiving two further stars.

He then served as the commander of IV Corps, which oversaw the Mekong Delta region of the country, replacing Thiệu, who went on to become head of state. COMUSMACV General William Westmoreland considered him to be "an excellent corps commander and leader." According to common rumors, Quang had "a virtual monopoly on the economic life of the Delta," ran a "brisk trade in rice and opium," and had amassed a small fortune through official corruption. His senior adviser, Colonel George Barton, denied the allegations but admitted that Quang's wife and brother ran a club that catered to both Vietnamese and Americans.

On 23 November 1966, at the urging of Prime Minister Nguyễn Cao Kỳ he was replaced as IV Corps commander by Major General Nguyen Van Manh. However following the Battle of Ban Me Thuot in March 1975 he failed to inform the CIA of Thiệu's plan to abandon the Central Highlands, jeopardizing the evacuation of Americans and their South Vietnamese staff. He was accused of being the most corrupt officer in South Vietnam. As the North Vietnamese overran the South in 1975 Đăng was reported to charge a US$5,000 bribe for the issuance of an exit visa, rising to US$20,000 as the Fall of Saigon drew closer. Following a visit to Canada in 1975 he was barred from returning to the US until 1989 when he was cleared of all drug charges.

He died on 15 July 2011 at the age of 82.

Honour