Huỳnh Văn Cao

Major General Huỳnh Văn Cao (26 September 1927 – 26 February 2013) was a major general in the Army of the Republic of Vietnam.

Life
In 1950, he graduated from Military school in Huế. He then attended College of Tactics and graduated in Hanoi in 1952. He went to the United States and attended Command and General Staff College and he graduated in 1958.

He was the commander of the Army of the Republic of Vietnam (ARVN) 7th Division. He worked with Lieutenant Colonel John Paul Vann, most notably during the Battle of Ap Bac. He served as Senate First Vice President in the government of South Vietnam.

After the Fall of Saigon, he was left behind in South Vietnam and imprisoned until 1987. He came to the United States in 1990. He was a contributing writer for the Vietnam Magazine and the author of Vietnam: Today & Tomorrow.

Personal life
He was married and had ten children and more than 19 grandchildren. He is remember for the quote "President Nixon can support President Thieu, but President Nixon cannot force the Vietnamese people to support President Thieu."

Military positions

 * Platoon Leader, 1950–51
 * Company commander, 1951–52
 * Battalion commander, 1953–54
 * Chief of the Special Staff, Presidency 1955-57
 * Commander, 13th Infantry Division, 1957–58
 * Commander, 7th Infantry Division and Tien Giang Tactical Zone, 1959–62
 * Chief negotiator, Vietnamese Delegation to Meeting with Cambodian Delegation on Vietnam-Cambodia Borders, March 1964
 * General commissioner, Popular Complaints and Suggestions Office, 4 May 1964
 * Chief, General Political Warfare Department, 1965–66
 * Commanding General, First Corps, 16–30 May 1966

Political career

 * Chairman, Social Democrat Bloc, Senate, 1967–1968
 * Chairman, foreign Affairs and Information Committee, Senate, 1968
 * First Deputy Chairman, Senate, 1970–1971
 * Senator, 1971–1975

Decorations and awards

 * Commander of the National Order of Vietnam
 * Officer of the National Order of Vietnam with Gallantry Cross with Palm
 * Knight of the National Order of Vietnam with Gallantry Cross with Palm