Nguyễn, Cao Kỳ

Nguyen Cao Ky was born September 9, 1930 and he fought with the French forces that opposed the Vietnamese Liberation Movement. When the country was partitioned in 1954, he joined the Vietnamese Air Force and became commander after the 1963 overthrow of Ngo Dinh Diem. Nguyen Cao Ky was one of three rulers who led South Vietnam after another coup in 1965. In 1971 he failed to win an election against incumbent President Thieu, so he returned to the Air Force. He escaped from Vietnam in 1975 and settled in the United States. Nguyen Cao Ky was a favorite with American advisors because of his strong anti-Communism.

Colonel George Budway was Commander of the Tan Son Nhut Air Base in South Vietnam from April, 1965 until May, 1966. During this time he formed a friendship with Nguyen Cao Ky, Defense Minister and future leader of South Vietnam. Colonel Budway and journalist Charles J. V. Murphy collaborated with Nguyen Cao Ky in conducting a number of interviews in which all three participated in covering various aspects of Nguyen Cao Ky’s life and his participation in the South Vietnamese government and its defense forces until 1966.

...