Đỗ Kiếm, writing as Kiem Do (Hanoi, 1933) is a former officer of the Republic of Vietnam Navy, who was serving as Deputy Chief of Staff (Operations) when Saigon fell in 1975. He secretly organised the evacuation of over 30,000 refugees aboard 32 naval ships.[1] Kiem's efforts were ultimately successful, preventing those 32 vessels and everyone aboard from falling into the hands of North Vietnamese forces.
Đỗ Kiếm | |
|---|---|
| Born | 1933 (age 90–91) Hanoi, French Indochina |
| Allegiance |  Republic of Vietnam |
| Service | Republic of Vietnam Navy |
| Years of service | 1955–1975 |
| Rank | Captain |
| Battles / wars | Vietnam War |
| Other work | High school teacher, cost engineer |
After transferring the Republic of Vietnam's last naval vessels to the control of the U.S. Navy, Kiem moved to the United States where he has resided since, having been granted citizenship after requesting political asylum. He worked as a teacher and cost engineer before his retirement in 1997.
Early life
editKiem was born in Hanoi, and by the age of 13 was a scout for the Viet Minh, fighting for Vietnam's independence from French colonial rule. Following the end of the First Indochina War, Kiem was sent to France to be trained at the École Navale in Brest.[2]
Career
editKiem was the commander of the submarine chaser Van Don (HQ-06) during the 1963 coup.[3] He later served as the Commandant of the Vietnamese Midshipman’s School, Chief of Staff of the Mobile Riverine Force, District Commander of the IV Naval Zone, and Deputy Chief of Staff (Operations).[4]
With the help of Richard L. Armitage, Kiem secretly organised the evacuation of the Republic of Vietnam Navy fleet of 32 ships accompanied by several cargo ships and fishing boats with over 30,000 naval personnel and their families aboard. This fleet left Saigon on 30 April 1975, and the next day rendezvoused with USS Kirk off Côn Sơn Island to be escorted to the Philippines.[5][6]
After settling in the United States after receiving political asylum, Kiem taught high school math and science, studied in the MBA program at the University of New Orleans, and worked as a cost engineer for the Louisiana utility company Entergy for more than twenty years.
Retirement
editSince retirement in 1997, he has been active as a leader in the New Orleans Vietnamese community and has lectured frequently on the Vietnam War at local universities and before veterans groups.
Kiem's wartime memoirs, co-authored with Julie Kane, was published in May 1998 and entitled Counterpart: A South Vietnamese Naval Officer's War.
Family
editHe and his wife of thirty-nine years Thom Le Do, have five children, and six American-born grandchildren.
References
edit- ^ Shapiro, Joseph; Bartlett, Sandra (1 September 2010). "At War's End, U.S. Ship Rescued South Vietnam's Navy". NPR. Retrieved 13 May 2013.
- ^ "Counterpart : A South Vietnamese Naval Officer's War". Mobile Riverine Force Association. 2013. Archived from the original on 8 March 2013. Retrieved 13 May 2013.
- ^ Hovis, Bobbi (2011). "U.S. Navy Nurse in Saigon, 1963, During Vietnam Conflict". history.navy.mil. Archived from the original on 3 May 2013. Retrieved 13 May 2013.
- ^ "2009 Honorary Chair". Louisiana Folk. Spring 2009. Retrieved 13 May 2013.
- ^ North, Don (28 June 2011). "How to Steal a Navy and Save 30,000 Refugees". historynet.com. Retrieved 13 May 2013.
- ^ "Frequent Wind". USS Kirk FF-1087 Association. 2013. Retrieved 13 May 2013.
External links
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