Tran Ngoc Tam

Lieutenant General Trần Ngọc Tám (12 March 1926 – 4 August 2011) was an officer of the Army of the Republic of Vietnam.

Tám was born on 12 March 1926.

Military career He served as the commander of II Corps, which oversaw the Central Highlands region, from 1 October 1957 until 13 August of the next year, when he was replaced by Major general Tôn Thất Đính. He was the first commander of II Corps. He served as the commander of III Corps, which oversaw the region of the country surrounding Saigon from 4 April 1964 until 12 October of the same year, when he was replaced by Major general Cao Văn Viên.

On 8 June 1964 he told his subordinate commanders that the government was losing the war. Over the past two months, the ARVN had lost 489 dead in III Corps compared to 328 VC. He blamed the officer corps' lack of aggressiveness, knowledge, and leadership for the situation.

Tám later served as Chairman of the Free World Military Assistance Organisation.

Tám died on 4 August 2011, at the age of 85.

Honours

National honours

Foreign honours