To^?ng Tho^'ng Nguye^~n Va(n Thie^.u


Bie^n kha?o va` Nha^.n DDi.nh
Jen W. Nguye^~n

Trong suo^'t cuo^.c chie^'n cho^'ng Co^.ng tu+` 1954 dde^'n 1975, nu+o+'c Vie^.t Nam Co^.ng Ho`a (VNCH) dda~ tra?i qua 3 nhie^.m ky` to^?ng tho^'ng. Nhie^.m ky` dda^`u tie^n do co^' To^?ng Tho^'ng Ngo^ DDi`nh Die^.m cha^'p cha'nh ke^? tu+` na(m 1955. Ta'm na(m sau ddo', tu+'c la` va`o na(m 1963, o^ng bi. sa't ha.i trong mo^.t cuo^.c dda?o cha'nh bo+?i qua^n ddo^.i chu? xu+o+'ng (qua su+. ho^~ tro+. bi' ma^.t cu?a Hoa Ky`). Nhie^.m ky` thu+' nhi` do To^?ng Tho^'ng Nguye^~n Va(n Thie^.u cha^'p cha'nh tu+` 1967 dde^'n 1971. Nhie^.m ky` thu+' ba ba('t dda^`u tu+` na(m 1971 cu~ng do o^ng Thie^.u cha^'p cha'nh. Cuo^'i tha'ng 4 na(m 1975, qua^n Co^.ng Sa?n Ba('c Vie^.t (CSBV) bao va^y thu? ddo^ Saigon, o^ng Thie^.u tu+` chu+'c va` trao quye^`n la.i cho Pho' To^?ng Tho^'ng Tra^`n Va(n Hu+o+ng.

Sau ca'i che^'t cu?a co^' To^?ng Tho^'ng Ngo^ DDi`nh Die^.m va`o na(m 1963, mie^`n Nam Vie^.t Nam bi. ro+i va`o co+n khu?ng hoa?ng chi'nh tri. ke'o da`i 4 na(m. Trong tho+`i gian na`y, mo^.t so^' tu+o+'ng la~nh trong qua^n ddo^.i la^`n lu+o+.t le^n ngo^i ca^`m quye^`n, nhu+ng kho^ng mo^.t ai dda^`y ddu? kha? na(ng dde^? le`o la'i con thuye^`n quo^'c gia trong co+n ba~o to^'. DDe^'n na(m 1967, co+n khu?ng hoa?ng chi'nh tri. co' the^? go.i la` cha^'m du+'t. Trong mo^.t cuo^.c ba^`u cu+? toa`n quo^'c, Trung Tu+o+'ng Nguye^~n Va(n Thie^.u dda~ ddu+o+.c ba^`u la`m vi. To^?ng Tho^'ng cu?a nu+o+'c Vie^.t Nam Co^.ng Ho`a. Thie^'u Tu+o+'ng (?) Nguye^~n Cao Ky`, ngu+o+`i ddu+'ng chung la' phie^'u vo+'i o^ng Thie^.u, dda~ ddu+o+.c ba^`u va`o chu+'c vu. Pho' To^?ng Tho^'ng.

Tru+o+'c khi tro+? tha`nh To^?ng Tho^'ng VNCH na(m 1967, o^ng Thie^.u dda~ tu+`ng giu+~ mo^.t va`i chu+'c vu. quan tro.ng trong qua^n ddo^.i. O^ng dda~ tu+`ng la`m tu+ le^.nh Su+ DDoa`n 5 Bo^. Binh, mo^.t su+ ddoa`n then cho^'t trong vu. la^.t ddo^? To^?ng Tho^'ng Ngo^ DDi`nh Die^.m va`o na(m 1963. O^ng Thie^.u cu~ng dda~ tu+`ng la`m Chu? Ti.ch Ho^.i DDo^`ng Qua^n Nha^n trong khoa?ng tho+`i gian tu+` 1965 dde^'n 1967 (tru+o+'c khi tro+? tha`nh To^?ng Tho^'ng). Sau khi dda('c cu+? chu+'c vu. To^?ng Tho^'ng, va(n pho`ng la`m vie^.c cu?a o^ng ddu+o+.c do+`i ve^` Dinh DDo^.c La^.p. Tu+` ddo' tro+? ve^` sau, trong ngo^i dinh thu+. na`y, cuo^.c ddo+`i chi'nh tri. cu?a o^ng dda~ pha?i tra~i qua nhie^`u co+n phong ba ba~o ta'p ma` kho^ng mo^.t ai, ke^? ca? chi'nh o^ng, dda~ co' the^? u+o+'c lu+o+.ng ddu+o+.c mu+'c ddo^. ta`n pha' hung ha~n cu?a no' o+? trong giai ddoa.n sau cu`ng.

Trong quye^?n Ho^` So+ Ma^.t Dinh DDo^.c La^.p xua^'t ba?n na(m 1986, ta'c gia? Nguye^~n Tie^'n Hu+ng co' ghi la.i va`i ha`ng ve^` tie^?u su+? o^ng Thie^.u nhu+ sau:

Nguye^~n Va(n Thie^.u xua^'t tha^n tu+` mo^.t gia ddi`nh do`ng do~i he^'t su+'c khie^m nhu+o+.ng. O^ng sinh nga`y 24 tha'ng Cha.p, 1924. Theo tha^`y tu+o+'ng so^' thi` nha(`m ddu'ng gio+` Ty', tha'ng Ty', va` na(m Ty' -- la` mo^.t tuo^?i co' ddie^`m to^'t theo tu+? vi. La` con u't trong mo^.t gia ddi`nh ba?y ngu+o+`i con, mo.i ngu+o+`i dde^`u go.i o^ng la` ca^.u Ta'm (theo tu.c mie^`n Nam, ngu+o+`i cha trong gia ddi`nh ddu+o+.c go.i la` Ca?, ngu+o+`i con dda^`u lo`ng la` Hai).

Cha cu?a o^ng, mo^` co^i tu+` na(m mu+o+`i mo^.t tuo^?i, dda~ so^'ng vo+'i mo^.t ngu+o+`i chu' o+? vu`ng que^, va` pha?i ddi cha(n bo` dde^? kie^'m a(n. O^ng Thie^.u ke^?: "O^ng cu. dda~ tha`nh mo^.t thu+' 'cowboy'. Ho^`i ddo', kho^ng co' ddu+o+`ng xa' nhie^`u, cho ne^n thu+o+`ng khi cu. da^~n dda`n bo` tu+` ti?nh na`y sang ti?nh kha'c dde^? ba'n, do.c ddu+o+`ng co' khi ma^'t dde^'n mo^.t nu+?a." Ve^` sau, cu. da`nh du.m ddu? tie^`n mua ddu+o+.c hai ma^~u ruo^.ng, ro^`i la^'y vo+., dde? con. Gia ddi`nh bo^'n trai, ba ga'i. Tu+` lu'c le^n na(m, o^ng Thie^.u dda~ ddu+o+.c me. giao cho ba'n ba'nh te't o+? ngoa`i cho+. la`ng. Me. o^ng dde^m dde^m na^'u ba'nh, sa'ng so+'m o^ng bu+ng thu'ng ra cho+. ba'n. O^ng ba'n ddu? tie^`n mua va^.t lie^.u cho no^`i ba'nh nga`y ho^m O^ng Thie^.u lu'c co`n la`m DDa.i Ta' Tu+ Le^.nh Su+ DDoa`n 5 Bo^. Binhsau, va` ddu+o+.c la~i chu't ddi?nh. Ho^`i nho? o^ng ra^'t me^ bo'ng tro`n, ne^n thu+o+`ng la'u li?nh dde^? da`nh chu't tie^`n kie^'m ddu+o+.c dde^? mo^~i chie^`u Chu? Nha^.t bo? cho+. ddi coi dda' bo'ng. Buo^?i cho+. ho^m ddo', o^ng la^'y ba'nh ra a(n va` co`n cho ba.n a(n nu+~a. Sau tra^.n dda', o^ng ve^` ddu+a ddu? so^' tie^`n ba'n ba'nh nga`y ho^m ddo' cho me., gio^'ng nhu+ mo^~i nga`y kha'c, ma` kho^ng he^` no'i vo+'i ba` la` o^ng dda~ ddi coi dda' banh.

O^ng ke^? la.i ra(`ng ho^`i co`n o+? trung ho.c, o^ng la` mo^.t ho.c sinh kha' xua^'t sa('c, ho.c ca? Pha'p la^~n Anh ngu+~. Sinh tru+o+?ng trong mo^.t gia ddi`nh co' truye^`n tho^'ng, o^ng dda~ ho.c ddu+o+.c cu?a cha o^ng nhu+~ng ddu+'c ti'nh cu?a Nho Gia. Cu. co`n da^.y cho o^ng lu'c na`o cu~ng pha?i ti'nh toa'n tru+o+'c cho ky~, cho+' lie^`u li~nh. Mo^.t ho^m cu. co' vie^.c pha?i ra ngoa`i Ba('c. Cu. be`n xa'ch ha(n go'i ddi ra ga xe lu+?a lu'c xa^?m chie^`u, ngu? dde^m ho^m ddo', ke^. cho muo^~i ca('n va` thu+`a bie^'t ma~i dde^'n tru+a ho^m sau xe lu+?a mo+'i kho+?i ha`nh. Khi cha ve^`, o^ng Thie^.u ho?i sao cu. ra ga so+'m the^'. Cu. dda'p: Ngu+o+`i cho+` xe chu+' xe dda^u co' cho+` ngu+o+`i." Chi'nh la` nho+` cha ma` o^ng dda~ ho.c ddu+o+.c ca'i ti'nh a(n cha('c tu+`ng bu+o+'c mo^.t, luo^n luo^n nghi ngo+` va` de` da(.t -- la` ca'c dda(.c ti'nh dda~ ddeo dduo^?i o^ng suo^'t cuo^.c ddo+`i.

Kinh nghie^.m ba?n tha^n o^ng ddo^'i vo+'i su+'c ma.nh cu?a My~ dda~ dde^'n vo+'i o^ng na(m 1954, ho^`i cuo^'i chie^'n tranh the^' gio+'i, khi co' nhie^`u ddo+.t phi co+ My~ dde^'n do^.i bom la`ng o^ng, lu'c a^'y ddang bi. qua^n ddo^.i Nha^.t chie^'m ddo'ng. O^ng co`n nho+' la` dd9a co' ra^'t nhie^`u thie^.t ha.i nha^n ma.ng, ma` o^ng dda~ tie^'p tay mo^.t toa'n cu+'u tro+. ddi bo+'i ti`m ke? so^'ng so't du+o+'i nhu+~ng ddo^'ng ga.ch vu.n. Cu~ng va`o khoa?ng tho+`i gian ngay tru+o+'c khi DDe^. Nhi. The^' Chie^'n cha^'m du+'t, o^ng gia nha^.t ma(.t tra^.n Vie^.t Minh chie^'n dda^'u cho^'ng Pha'p, va` tu+` ddo', ba('t dda^`y y' thu+'c ddu+o+.c su+. ta`n ba.o cu?a Co^.ng Sa?n Ba('c Vie^.t. Sau khi thoa't ly ma(.t tra^.n Vie^.t Minh va` cha.y va`o Saigon, o^ng ghi te^n gia nha^.p kho'a 1 si~ quan tru+o+`ng Si~ Quan Vie^.t Nam ta.i Hue^'.

Phu.c vu. trong qua^n ddo^.i Vie^.t Nam, o^ng ddu+o+.c tie^'ng la` mo^.t si~ quan tho^ng minh va` nhie^`u tham vo.ng. Ca^'p chi? huy ngang ha`ng co`n nho+' dde^'n kha? na(ng la`m ke^' hoa.ch ha`nh qua^n cu~ng nhu+ co^ng ta'c tham mu+ua cu?a o^ng. Na(m 1952, o^ng tha`nh ho^n vo+'i Nguye^~n Thi. Mai-Anh, con ga'i mo^.t ti'n ddo^` Co^ng Gia'o no^?i tie^'ng mie^`n Ta^y va` chi'nh o^ng sau ddo', na(m 1957, cu~ng chi.u le^~ ru+?a to^.i.

Khi cuo^.c dda?o cha'nh cho^'ng o^ng Die^.m bu`ng no^? na(m 1963, o^ng ddu+o+.c coi la` mo^.t ngo^i sao sa'ng ddang le^n trong qua^n ddo^.i. Ho^`i ddo', o^ng chi? huy Su+ DDoa`n 5 Bo^. Binh, ca(n cu+' ta.i Bie^n Ho`a, va` su+. u?ng ho^. cu?a o^ng dda~ ddu+o+.c coi la` to^'i he^. tro.ng cho vie^.c dda?o cha'nh tha`nh co^ng. Sau dda?o cha'nh, o^ng la` mo^.t trong nho'm si~ quan tre? tuo^?i ca^'p la~nh dda.o, na('m giu+~ ca'c ddi.a vi. then cho^'t trong qua^n lu+.c va` la`m a'p lu+.c buo^.c nho'm tu+o+'ng la~nh the^' he^. cu~ pha?i ve^` hu+u. Sau khi tu+o+'ng Nguye^~n Kha'nh bi. dda^?y ra kho?i qua^n ddo^.i va` cha'nh quye^`n va`o tha'ng Hai na(m 1965, o^ng Thie^.u va^.n ddo^.ng kho^n khe'o dde^? ddu+o+.c ba^`u la`m Chu? Ti.ch Ho^.i DDo^`ng Qua^n Nha^n, ro^`i Quo^'c Tru+o+?ng (Chu? Ti.ch U?y Ban La~nh DDa.o Quo^'c Gia) vo+'i Thie^'u Tu+o+'ng Nguye^~n Cao Ky` la` Thu? Tu+o+'ng (Chu? Ti.ch U?y Ban Ha`nh Pha'p Trung U+o+ng). Nhu+ va^.y o^ng Thie^.u dda~ do.n ddu+o+`ng dde^? ddu+o+.c cho.n ra tranh cu+? To^?ng Tho^'ng va`o tha'ng Chi'n na(m 1967, ho+n mo^.t na(m tru+o+'c cuo^.c tranh cu+? cu?a Nixon.

Trong suo^'t 8 na(m ca^`m quye^`n, o^ng Thie^.u dda~ tha^u ga(.t ddu+o+.c mo^.t so^' tha`nh qua? to^'t dde.p tre^n con ddu+o+`ng chi'nh tri.. O^ng dda('c cu+? na(m 1967, ta'i dda('c cu+? na(m 1971, va` trong hai nhie^.m ky` cu?a o^ng mie^`n Nam Vie^.t Nam dda~ ra^'t vu+~ng va`ng trong co^ng vie^.c xa^y du+.ng tha`nh lu~y cho^'ng la.i su+. xa^m la(ng cu?a qua^n Co^.ng Sa?n Ba('c Vie^.t. Tuy nhie^n, cu~ng trong khoa?ng tho+`i gian o^ng la`m To^?ng Tho^'ng, chi'nh o^ng cu~ng dda~ pha.m pha?i nhie^`u lo^~i la^`m he^'t su+'c quan tro.ng ma` ra^'t nhie^`u ngu+o+`i, tu+` da^n dde^'n qua^n, tu+` ddo^`ng minh dde^'n ke? thu`, dda~ kho^ng ngo+'t lo+`i le^n tie^'ng chi? tri'ch nhu+~ng vie^.c la`m na`y cu?a o^ng. Trong so^' nhu+~ng vie^.c o^ng la`m, co' 3 ddie^`u ma` o^ng dda~ la`m ddu'ng. Nhu+~ng vie^.c ddo' la`: 1) Nha^.n ddi.nh ve^` su+. do^'i tra' cu?a Co^.ng Sa?n qua ca^u no'i, "DDu+`ng nghe nhu+~ng gi` Co^.ng Sa?n no'i, ma` ha~y nhi`n ky~ nhu+~ng gi` Co^.ng Sa?n la`m," 2) giu'p Richard Nixon dda('c cu+? To^?ng Tho^'ng na(m 1968, va` 3) kho^ng cha^'p nha^.n su+. pha?n bo^.i ma^.p mo+` cu?a Hoa Ky` ddo^'i vo+'i mie^`n Nam Vie^.t Nam ke^? tu+` na(m 1973. Co`n trong nhu+~ng vie^.c do o^ng Thie^.u la`m, co' 3 lo^~i la^`m lo+'n nha^'t ca^`n pha?i no'i dde^'n: 1) Chie^'n lu+o+.c "DDa^`u Be' DDi't To" na(m 1975, 2) ca'ch thu+'c chi? huy "thie^'u ro~ ra`ng" ddo^'i vo+'i qua^n ddo^.i, va` 3) kho^ng ta.o du+.ng mo^.t chie^'n lu+o+.c cho^'ng Co^.ng la^u da`i cho mie^`n Nam Vie^.t Nam.

Ne^'u ai dda~ tu+`ng so^'ng vo+'i Co^.ng Sa?n va` hie^?u ro~ cha'nh sa'ch cu?a Co^.ng Sa?n, thi` se~ cha(?ng khi na`o que^n ddu+o+.c lo+`i tuye^n bo^' ba^'t hu? cu?a o^ng Thie^.u: DDu+`ng nghe nhu+~ng gi` Co^.ng Sa?n no'i, ma` ha~y nhi`n ky~ nhu+~ng gi` Co^.ng Sa?n la`m." Ba^'t cu+' ngu+o+`i Vie^.t Quo^'c Gia na`o, du` thi'ch hoa(.c ghe't o^ng Thie^.u, cu~ng dde^`u ddo^`ng y' vo+'i ca^u no'i na`y. DDie^?n hi`nh la` dda^`u na(m 1968, cha'nh phu? Ha` No^.i tuye^n bo^' ta.m tho+`i ngu+ng chie^'n mo^.t tho+`i gian nga('n trong di.p Te^'t Ma^.u Tha^n dde^? ddo^`ng ba`o Nam Ba('c ddu+o+.c a(n Te^'t bi`nh an. Nhu+ng trong dde^m giao thu+`a, ra.ng mu`ng 1 Te^'t, qua^n CSBV va` VC o+? mie^`n Nam mo+? cuo^.c to^?ng ta^'n co^ng o+? kha('p no+i tre^n toa`n quo^'c. Ha`ng tra(m nga`n ngu+o+`i vo^ to^.i dda~ bi. Co^.ng Sa?n ddu+a va`o mo^.t cuo^.c so^'ng tha?m kho^'c ddie^u linh. Na(m 1973, Ha` No^.i ky' ba?n Hie^.p DDi.nh Paris, mo^.t hie^.p ddi.nh ddi`nh chie^'n va` ca^'m chi? mo.i hoa.t ddo^.ng ta^'n co^ng qua^n su+. cu?a ca? hai mie^`n Nam Ba('c. Trong khi VNCH lo kie^'n thie^'t quo^'c gia, Ba('c Vie^.t la.i bi' ma^.t thuye^n chuye^?n bo^. ddo^.i va` vu~ khi' va`o Nam. Cuo^.c xa^m la(ng la.i tie^'p tu.c ke'o da`i dde^'n na(m 1975, chie^'c ma(.t na. cu?a Co^.ng Sa?n ro+'t xuo^'ng la`m nhu+~ng ngu+o+`i nhe. da. thu+'c ti?nh. DDe^'n lu'c ddo' ho. nga^~m nghi~ la.i lo+`i no'i ba^'t hu? cu?a o^ng Thie^.u ro^`i mo+'i bie^'t ra(`ng dda~ qua' muo^.n ro^`i.

Ve^` vie^.c o^ng Thie^.u giu'p Richard Nixon dda('c cu+?a To^?ng Tho^'ng va`o na(m 1968, ddo' la` mo^.t vie^.c ma` o^ng Thie^.u ne^n la`m. Va` o^ng dda~ la`m ddie^`u ddo' khi o^ng Thie^.u vie^.n co+' ke'o da`i tho+`i gian va` tu+` cho^'i kho^ng ky' va`o ba?n hie^.p ddi.nh ma` Hoa Ky` va` Ba('c Vie^.t dda~ soa.n tha?o. DDu+o+ng kim To^?ng Tho^'ng Hoa Ky` lu'c ddo' la` o^ng Lyndon Johnson. Chi'nh o^ng Johnson dda~ nhie^`u la^`n ga^y a'p lu+.c va` ba('t o^ng Thie^.u pha?i ddo^`ng y' vo+'i cha'nh sa'ch ho`a gia?i, va` ddo^`ng tho+`i pha?i ddo^`ng y' vo+'i nhu+~ng ye^u ca^`u do qua^n Co^.ng Sa?n ddu+a ra. O^ng Thie^.u khe'o le'o ke'o da`i tho+`i gian dde^? ti'nh toa'n the^m nhu+~ng nu+o+'c co+` chi'nh tri.. O^ng kho^ng ky' te^n va`o hie^.p ddi.nh ho`a bi`nh la` vi` o^ng kho^ng dde^? cho Ba('c Vie^.t co' co+ ho^.i mau cho'ng cha` dda.p va` xa^m chie^'m mie^`n Nam. The^m va`o ddo', o^ng Thie^.u cu~ng bie^'t ro~ u+'ng cu+? vie^n to^?ng tho^'ng cu?a DDa?ng Co^.ng Ho`a, o^ng Richard Nixon, la` mo^.t ngu+o+`i cho^'ng Co^.ng quye^'t lie^.t. Do ddo', ne^'u Nixon tha('ng, va` Johnson thua, thi` mie^`n Nam Vie^.t Nam se~ ddu+o+.c lo+.i i'ch nhie^`u ho+n tre^n bu+o+'c ddu+o+`ng cho^'ng Co^.ng phu+o+ng Ba('c. (To^?ng Tho^'ng Nixon sau na`y ga^y a'p lu+.c ddo`i VNCH pha?i ky' va`o Hie^.p DDi.nh Paris na(m 1973, va` su+. vie^.c na`y se~ ddu+o+.c ba`n dde^'n sau trong nhu+~ng chu+o+ng bi`nh lua^.n sa('p to+'i).

Trong nhu+~ng ddie^`u nha('c dde^'n be^n tre^n, co' le~ su+. kie^.n quan tro.ng nha^'t, ddu+o+.c li.ch su+? nha('c dde^'n nhie^`u nha^'t, va` cu~ng dda~ mang dde^'n cho To^?ng Tho^'ng Thie^.u nhu+~ng chi? tri'ch du+~ do^.i nha^'t, ddo' la` vie^.c o^ng ra le^.nh ru't bo? Qua^n DDoa`n 1 va` Qua^n DDoa`n 2 va`o mu`a Xua^n 1975, dde^? thie^'t la^.p mo^.t pho`ng tuye^'n vu+~ng cha('c ho+n cho Qua^n DDoa`n 3 va` 4 (chie^'n lu+o+.c "DDa^`u Be' DDi't To"). Lu'c ddo', Hoa Ky` dda~ lui binh kho?i Vie^.t Nam ddu+o+.c 2 na(m. Ca'c nguo^`n vie^.n tro+. qua^n su+. cu~ng bi. ca('t gia?m ga^`n nhu+ he^'t. Cha'nh phu? VNCH kho^ng co`n dda^`y ddu? dda.n du+o+.c, phu. tu`ng, xa(ng da^`u, su'ng o^'ng, phi co+, tru+.c tha(ng, chie^'n xa, hoa(.c ba^'t cu+' nguo^`n tie^'p lie^.u na`o kha'c dde^? cho^'ng la.i su+. xa^m la(ng cu?a qua^n Co^.ng Sa?n. Trong khi ddo', ddu+o+ng nhie^n Ba('c Vie^.t va^~n tie^'p tu.c nha^.n the^m ddu+o+.c nhie^`u vie^.n tro+. qua^n su+. tu+` Nga So^, Trung Co^.ng, cu`ng ca'c quo^'c gia thuo^.c kho^'i Co^.ng Sa?n DDo^ng A^u.

Tha'ng 1 na(m 1975, Co^.ng Sa?n Ba('c Vie^.t ta^'n co^ng ti?nh Phu+o+'c Long. Ca'c ddo+n vi. tru' pho`ng cu?a VNCH cho^'ng tra? ma~nh lie^.t la`m ddi.ch qua^n pha?i tung ddu+a the^m qua^n du+. bi. va`o tra^.n chie^'n. Qua^n Co^.ng Sa?n pha'o ki'ch nhu+ mu+a va` dda'nh ca'c tra^.n bie^?n ngu+o+`i nhu+ ra.. Sau 3 tua^`n le^~ ki.ch chie^'n, qua^n tru' pho`ng he^'t dda.n, Phu+o+'c Long tha^'t thu?. Co^.ng Sa?n Ba('c Vie^.t lie^`n gia ta(ng cu+o+`ng ddo^. xa^m la(ng ba(`ng ca'ch ta^'n co^ng thi. xa~ Ban Me^ Thuo^.t khoa?ng 2 tha'ng sau ddo' vi` bie^'t ro~ Qua^n DDo^.i VNCH dda~ bi. Hoa Ky` bo? ro+i va` ddang bi. thie^'u tho^'n ddu? mo.i thu+' ve^` ma(.t qua^n su+.. Nga`y 12.3.1975, Ban Me^ Thuo^.t tha^'t thu?. Vie^.c na`y dda~ la`m cho o^ng Thie^.u lo nga.i kho^ng i't. Vi` bie^'t ra(`ng qua^n ddo^.i kho^ng co`n ddu? phu+o+ng tie^.n dde^? pho`ng thu? mo^.t chie^'n tuye^'n qua' da`i o+? Qua^n DDoa`n 2, o^ng Thie^.u lie^`n thi ha`nh chie^'n lu+o+.c "DDa^`u Be' DDi't To": Ru't bo? Cao Nguye^n, mang qua^n ve^` ta'i pho^'i tri' o+? Qua^n DDoa`n 3, ro^`i sau ddo' se~ xem xe't ti`nh hi`nh va` mong ra(`ng nhu+~ng vu`ng dda~ ma^'t da^`n da` se~ ddu+o+.c chie^'m la.i.

Li.ch su+? sau na`y cho ra(`ng chi'nh quye^'t ddi.nh na`y cu?a o^ng Thie^.u dda~ ddu+a dde^'n su+. su.p ddo^? sau cu`ng cu?a mie^`n Nam Vie^.t Nam. Vie^.c na`y hoa`n toa`n kho^ng ddu'ng, hoa(.c co' the^? no'i la` chi? ddu'ng mo^.t pha^`n na`o. Ca'c gio+'i chu+'c truye^`n tho^ng vo^ y' thu+'c cu?a Hoa Ky` dda~ ddu+a ra mo^.t so^' nha^.n ddi.nh he^'t su+'c buo^`n cu+o+`i dde^? ddo^? he^'t tra'ch nhie^.m le^n dda^`u o^ng Thie^.u cu`ng Qua^n DDo^.i mie^`n Nam Vie^.t Nam. Thu+? ho?i, gia? su+? nhu+ lu'c ddo' Hoa Ky` kho^ng bo? ro+i Vie^.t Nam Co^.ng Ho`a, thi` lie^.u Co^.ng Sa?n co' co+ ho^.i na`o chie^'m ddu+o+.c Phu+o+'c Long va` Ban Me^ Thuo^.t hay kho^ng? Ca^u tra? lo+`i la` Kho^ng! DDie^?n hi`nh la` na(m 1972 khi Qua^n DDo^.i VNCH co' dda^`y ddu? vie^.n tro+. qua^n su+., ho. dda~ dda'nh cho qua^n Co^.ng Sa?n xa^y xa^?m ma(.t ma`y, lo`i khoai mi` o'i bo bo, dde^'n no^?i ca'c ca'n binh Ba('c Vie^.t thie^'u ddie^`u nhu+ xo^ dda^?y va` cha` dda.p le^n nhau dde^? nhanh cha^n cha.y kho?i chie^'n tru+o+`ng. Do ddo', ne^'u vi' du. Hoa Ky` kho^ng ca('t gia?m nguo^`n vie^.n tro+. qua^n su+. dde^'n mu+'c ddo^. ga^`n nhu+ kho^ng co`n gi`, thi` la`m gi` co' chuye^.n "DDa^`u Be' DDi't To" dde^? Cao Nguye^n ro+i va`o tay Co^.ng Sa?n.

DDa^y kho^ng pha?i la` mo^.t ly' thuye^'t nha(`m ba`o chu+~a lo^~i la^`m cu?a o^ng Thie^.u trong chie^'n lu+o+.c "DDa^`u Be' DDi't To." Nhu+ng ne^'u ba^'t cu+' ai muo^'n pha'n xe't quye^'t ddi.nh na`y cu?a o^ng Thie^.u, thi` tru+o+'c he^'t, ngu+o+`i ddo' ha~y dda(.t mi`nh va`o phu+o+ng vi. cu?a o^ng Thie^.u va`o tho+`i ddie^?m ddo' ro^`i ha~y tu+. ho?i mi`nh se~ pha?i la`m gi` ne^'u bi. Hoa Ky` bo? ro+i.

Tuy nhie^n, da^~u cho vie^.c ru't bo? Cao Nguye^n la` mo^.t quye^'t ddi.nh va.n ba^'t dda('c di~, nhu+ng o^ng Thie^.u cu~ng pha?i hoa`n toa`n chi.u tra'ch nhie^.m tre^n la~nh vu+.c ban ha`nh hie^.u le^.nh. DDa~ nhie^`u la^`n, nha^'t la` va`o tho+`i ddie^?m dda^`u na(m 1975 khi ti`nh hi`nh ba('t dda^`u dde^n to^'i, trong nhu+~ng buo^?i ho.p vo+'i ca'c vi. Tu+ Le^.nh Qua^n DDoa`n, o^ng Thie^.u dda~ nhie^`u la^`n thay ddo^?i quye^'t ddi.nh ve^` chie^'n lu+o+.c ma` o^ng cha(?ng he^` tho^ng ba'o cho thuo^.c ca^'p. Nhu+ vie^.c ru't qua^n kho?i Qua^n DDoa`n 1 ho^`i tha'ng 3 na(m 1975, o^ng Thie^.u muo^'n ru't hai Su+ DDoa`n Du` va` Thu?y Qua^n Lu.c Chie^'n (TQLC) tu+` Qua^n DDoa`n 1 ve^` Saigon (dde^? tie^'p vie^.n cho nhu+~ng no+i kha'c bi. nhie^`u a'p lu+.c cu?a Co^.ng Sa?n) nhu+ng o^ng chi? cho Tu+o+'ng Ngo^ Quang Tru+o+?ng (Tu+ Le^.nh Qua^n DDoa`n 1) bie^'t ra(`ng se~ chi? ru't Su+ DDoa`n Du` ma` tho^i, nhu+ng kho^ng he^` dda' ddo^.ng gi` dde^'n vie^.c muo^'n ru't luo^n ca? Su+ DDoa`n TQLC. Ro^`i o^ng Thie^.u cu~ng thay ddo^?i quye^'t ddi.nh "tu+? thu? Hue^', bo? Hue^', ro^`i tu+? thu? Hue^'..." nhie^`u la^`n nhu+ng la.i cha(?ng ho^.i y' vo+'i Tu+o+'ng Tru+o+?ng dde^? Tu+o+'ng Tru+o+?ng co' the^? pha't ho.a mo^.t chie^'n lu+o+.c qua^n su+. hoa`n ha?o.

Trong 8 na(m ca^`m quye^`n, tu+` 1967 dde^'n 1975, o^ng Thie^.u dda~ la`m gi` ddu+o+.c cho mie^`n Nam Vie^.t Nam? Ta'c gia? xin nha('c la.i lo+`i no'i cu?a o^ng ta: "DDu+`ng Nghe Nhu+~ng Gi` Co^.ng Sa?n No'i, Ma` Ha~y Nhi`n Ky~ Nhu+~ng Gi` Co^.ng Sa?n La`m." O^ng Thie^.u dda~ dde^? la.i trong li.ch su+? mo^.t ca^u no'i ba^'t hu? ma` ba^'t cu+' mo^.t con ngu+o+`i cho^'ng Co^.ng na`o tre^n the^' gio+'i cu~ng dde^`u pha?i ghi nho+' va` ho.c ho?i. Tuy nhie^n, co' le~ ca^u dda^`u tie^n trong lo+`i tuye^n bo^' na`y cu?a o^ng Thie^.u cu~ng ne^n pha?i ddu+o+.c su+?a la.i tha`nh, "DDu+`ng Nghe Nhu+~ng Gi` Ngu+o+`i My~ Hu+'a...", va` di.ch sang ca'c tie^'ng Ta^y, Ta`u, A^'n, Me^~, Latin, Y', DDu+'c, Cha` Va`, v.v. dde^? cho ha`ng nga`n "chi'nh kha'ch salon" tre^n the^' gio+'i co' the^? de^~ da`ng ghi nho+' va` ho.c thuo^.c lo`ng.


Nhu+~ng Su+. Kie^.n Quan Tro.ng Trong Na(m
2 tha'ng 1 Trong mo^.t tra^.n kho^ng chie^'n du+~ do^.i, ca'c phi co+ F-4 Hoa Ky` ba('n ha. 7 MIG-21 cu?a Ba('c Vie^.t. Phi'a Hoa Ky` kho^ng bi. to^?n ha.i na`o. (Edgar O'Ballance: The Wars In Vietnam, 1954-1973, tr.102).
8 tha'ng 2 To^?ng Tho^'ng Johnson gu+?i mo^.t bu+'c thu+ cho Ho^` Chi' Minh dde^` nghi. ngu+ng do^.i bom ne^'u Ba('c Vie^.t ngu+ng mo.i hoa.t ddo^.ng xa^m nha^.p mie^`n Nam. Ho^` Chi' Minh kho^ng tra? lo+`i. DDe^? dda'p la.i su+. im la(.ng la^u da`i na`y, Hoa Ky` tie^'p tu.c do^.i bom Ba('c Vie^.t va`o nga`y 13. (Edgar O'Ballance: The Wars In Vietnam, 1954-1973, tr.102).
15 tha'ng 2 Qua^n DDo^.i Nam Trie^`u Tie^n (DDa.i Ha`n) ha. 242 ca'n binh CS va` dda^?y lui mo^.t ddo+.t ta^'n co^ng cu?a ddi.ch qua^n o+? ti?nh Qua?ng Nga~i. (Edgar O'Ballance: The Wars In Vietnam, 1954-1973, tr.109).
19 tha'ng 2 Trong mo^.t tra^.n dda'nh ke'o da`i ga^`n 10 tie^'ng ddo^`ng ho^`, Qua^n DDo^.i VNCH ha. 746 bo^. ddo^.i Ba('c Vie^.t o+? ti?nh Qua?ng Nga~i. (Edgar O'Ballance: The Wars In Vietnam, 1954-1973, tr.109).
10 tha'ng 3 Phi co+ Hoa Ky` do^.i bom lo` luye^.n the'p o+? Tha'i Nguye^n, ca'ch Ha` No^.i 40 miles (64 km). (Edgar O'Ballance: The Wars In Vietnam, 1954-1973, tr.102).
24 tha'ng 3 Hai phi tru+o+`ng cu?a Ba('c Vie^.t ddu+o+.c du`ng la`m ca(n cu+' cho ca'c phi co+ MIG-21 bi. ma'y bay Hoa Ky` do^.i bom la`m hu+ ha.i na(.ng. (Edgar O'Ballance: The Wars In Vietnam, 1954-1973, tr.102).
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 Tin ti`nh ba'o cho bie^'t Ba('c Vie^.t co' khoa?ng tu+` 7,000 dde^'n 10,000 su'ng pho`ng kho^ng, va` tu+` 35 dde^'n 40 gia`n pho'ng ho?a tie^?n SA-2 (loa.i ho?a tie^?n cho^'ng ma'y bay). DDa so^' lu+.c lu+o+.ng pho`ng kho^ng cu?a qua^n Co^.ng Sa?n dde^`u ddu+o+.c bo^' tri' xung quanh Ha` No^.i va` Ha?i Pho`ng. (Edgar O'Ballance: The Wars In Vietnam, 1954-1973, tr.102).
24.4 dde^'n 5.5 Nhie^`u tra^.n dda'nh du+~ do^.i dda~ xa?y ra giu+~a Hoa Ky` va` qua^n CSBV tre^n ca'c ngo.n DDo^`i 881 va` 861 ga^`n vu`ng phi qua^n su+.. Sau 12 nga`y giao chie^'n co' 160 binh si~ My~ tu+? thu+o+ng va` 746 bi. thu+o+ng. Phi'a be^n Ba('c Vie^.t bi. to^?n tha^'t na(.ng ne^` vo+'i 570 xa'c che^'t tre^n tra^.n ddi.a. (Edgar O'Ballance: The Wars In Vietnam, 1954-1973, tr.106).
21 tha'ng 5 Qua^n DDo^.i VNCH ha. 250 ca'n binh Co^.ng Sa?n trong mo^.t la^`n cha.m tra'n vo+'i mo^.t tie^?u ddoa`n chi'nh quy Ba('c Vie^.t o+? ga^`n vu`ng phi qua^n su+.. (Edgar O'Ballance: The Wars In Vietnam, 1954-1973, tr.107).
tha'ng 6-7 Trong suo^'t hai tha'ng 6 va` 7, Ba('c Vie^.t gia ta(ng a'p lu+.c ta.i thi. xa~ Co^n Thie^.n (ca'ch vu`ng phi qua^n su+. khoa?ng 3 km ve^` phi'a Nam), Gio Linh (ca'ch vu`ng phi qua^n su+. khoa?ng 13 km ve^` phi'a Nam), va` vu`ng Khe Sanh. Nga`y 2 va` 3 tha'ng 7, mo^.t ddo+.t ta^'n co^ng cu?a qua^n Ba('c Vie^.t dda~ bi. dda'nh ba^.t tro+? la.i bo+?i ca'c phi vu. kho^ng ye^?m va` ha?i pha'o tu+` chie^'n ha.m Hoa Ky`. (Edgar O'Ballance: The Wars In Vietnam, 1954-1973, tr.107).
6 tha'ng 9 Mo^.t cuo^.c ta^'n co^ng cu?a qua^n Co^.ng Sa?n Ba('c Vie^.t va`o thi. xa~ Ta^m Ky`, ti?nh Qua?ng Ti'n, dda~ bi. cha^.n ddu+'ng bo+?i ca'c phi vu. kho^ng ye^?m. Trong tra^.n na`y, qua^n CSBV bi. thie^.t ma^'t 219 ngu+o+`i, trong khi ddo' be^n lu+.c lu+o+.ng tru' pho`ng co' 9 binh si~ VNCH tu+? tra^.n. (Edgar O'Ballance: The Wars In Vietnam, 1954-1973, tr.107).
27 tha'ng 10 Trung DDoa`n 88 CSBV ta^'n co^ng thi. xa~ So^ng Be', ti?nh Phu+o+'c Long, ga^`n bie^n gio+'i Vie^.t-Mie^n. Qua^n tru' pho`ng VNCH (chi? go^`m 1 tie^?u ddoa`n) dda~ cho^'ng tra? ma~nh lie^.t dda^?y lui 3 ddo+.t ta^'n co^ng cu?a ddi.ch qua^n. Qua^n Co^.ng Sa?n bo? cha.y sang Cam Bo^'t, ho. dde^? la.i 134 xa'c che^'t tre^n tra^.n ddi.a. Phi'a be^n VNCH co' 13 qua^n nha^n hy sinh. (Nguye^~n DDu+'c Phu+o+ng: Nhu+~ng Tra^.n DDa'nh Li.ch Su+? Trong Chie^'n Tranh Vie^.t Nam, 1963-1975, tr.159). (Phillip Davison: Vietnam At War, The History, 1946-1975, tr.468).
29 tha'ng 10 Qua^n Co^.ng Sa?n du`ng Trung DDoa`n 273 (thuo^.c Su+ DDoa`n 9 VC) ta^'n co^ng thi. xa~ Lo^.c Ninh, ti?nh Bi`nh Long gia'p bie^n gio+'i Vie^.t-Mie^n. Nhu+ng ddi.ch qua^n dda~ ga(.p pha?i su+. kha'ng cu+. ma.nh me~ cu?a lu+.c lu+o+.ng tru' pho`ng VNCH. Trong tra^.n na`y, mo^.t va`i kha^?u dda.i ba'c Hoa Ky` o+? Lo^.c Ninh dda~ ha. no`ng ba('n tru+.c xa. va`o tra^.n bie^?n ngu+o+`i cu?a qua^n Co^.ng Sa?n. Theo ta`i lie^.u "Vietnam At War", cu+.u Trung Tu+o+'ng Phillip Davison vie^'t nhu+ sau, "Khi qua^n VC ta^'n co^ng va`o mo^.t to^? dda.i ba'c (cu?a Hoa Ky`), ho. pha?i xung phong ba(ng ngang mo^.t ddoa.n ddu+o+`ng tro^'ng tre^n phi dda.o. Nhu+~ng qua? dda.n dda.i ba'c 'to^? ong' dda~ la`m cho dda'm qua^n VC na`y nga~ gu.c tha`nh ha`ng-lo+'p." Sau ddo' Qua^n DDo^.i VNCH dda~ pho^'i ho+.p cu`ng Su+ DDoa`n 1 Bo^. Binh Hoa Ky` mo+? chie^'n di.ch truy lu`ng ddi.ch qua^n o+? ca'c ddo^`n ddie^`n cao su la^n ca^.n. Cuo^.c ha`nh qua^n 11 nga`y dda~ ga^y thie^.t ha.i na(.ng cho qua^n Vie^.t Co^.ng vo+'i 852 ca'n binh bi. ha.. Phi'a VNCH va` Hoa Ky` to^?ng co^.ng chi? co' 50 ngu+o+`i bi. tu+? thu+o+ng. (Nguye^~n DDu+'c Phu+o+ng: Nhu+~ng Tra^.n DDa'nh Li.ch Su+? Trong Chie^'n Tranh Vie^.t Nam, 1963-1975, tr.159-60). (Phillip Davison: Vietnam At War, The History, 1946-1975, tr.468-9).
Tha'ng 11 Vo~ Nguye^n Gia'p a^m tha^`m di chuye^?n 2 su+ ddoa`n Ba('c Vie^.t dde^'n vu`ng Khe Sanh. Mo^.t va`i vu. cha.m su'ng le? te? giu+~a TQLC Hoa Ky` va` qua^n Co^.ng Sa?n dda~ xa?y ra. (Edgar O'Ballance: The Wars In Vietnam, 1954-1973, tr.107).
14 tha'ng 11 Thie^'u Tu+o+'ng Hochmuth cu?a TQLC Hoa Ky` bi. tu+? na.n trong mo^.t tai na.n ro+'t tru+.c tha(ng khoa?ng 40 miles (65 km) ve^` phi'a Nam cu?a vu`ng phi qua^n su+.. Ti'nh dde^'n ba^'y gio+`, o^ng Hochmuth la` qua^n nha^n Hoa Ky` tu+? tra^.n vo+'i ca^'p ba^.c cao nha^'t trong cuo^.c chie^'n Vie^.t Nam. (Edgar O'Ballance: The Wars In Vietnam, 1954-1973, tr.107).
13.11 dde^'n 19.11 DDa'nh nhau du+~ do^.i ta.i ddo^`i 875 (ga^`n Dakto) ca'ch bie^n gio+'i Vie^.t-Mie^n chi? 2 miles (3.22 km). Nga`y 13.11.1967, mo^.t su+ ddoa`n CSBV dda'nh bie^?n ngu+o+`i, nhu+ng bi. do^.i ngu+o+.c tro+? la.i bo+?i mo^.t ru+`ng pha'o binh ba('n ye^?m tro+? tu+` ca'c ca(n cu+' ho?a lu+.c o+? quanh vu`ng. Nga`y 17.11.1967, lu+.c lu+o+.ng Hoa Ky` xung phong chie^'m ddu+o+.c mo^.t pha^`n tre^n ngo.n ddo^`i, nhu+ng ho. kho^ng gia?i to?a ddu+o+.c a'p lu+.c cu?a ddi.ch qua^n. Nga`y 19.11.1967, ca? 8 chie^'c tru+.c tha(ng Hoa Ky` ddu+o+.c go.i dde^'n ta?i thu+o+ng dde^`u bi. tru'ng dda.n. Trong khi ddo', mo^.t phi co+ Hoa Ky` dda~ vo^ y' tha? bom tru'ng va`o vi. tri' cu?a qua^n ba.n la`m cho 22 binh si~ My~ tu+? thu+o+ng. Tra^.n chie^'n kho^'c lie^.t ke'o da`i dde^'n nga`y 19 khi ca'c binh si~ Nha?y Du` VNCH xung phong tie^u die^.t ddu+o+.c o^? pho`ng thu? cuo^'i cu`ng cu?a qua^n Ba('c Vie^.t o+? tre^n ddi?nh ddo^`i. Lu'c ddo' ma(.t tra^.n Dakto mo+'i hoa`n toa`n ke^'t thu'c. Ke^? tu+` nga`y dda^`u tie^n khi Dakto ba('t dda^`u bi. ta^'n co^ng cho dde^'n lu'c DDo^`i 875 ddu+o+.c gia?i to?a, co' ta^'t ca? 281 binh si~ My~ tu+? tra^.n. Qua^n CSBV cu~ng dda~ hu+'ng chi.u tha^'t ba.i ghe^ go+'m: 1,400 bo^. ddo^.i bi. tie^u die^.t. (Edgar O'Ballance: The Wars In Vietnam, 1954-1973, tr.108).
3 tha'ng 12 Hoa Ky` ru't bo? ca(n cu+' Dakto. Tru+o+'c khi ra ddi, ho. cu~ng kho^ng que^n gia^.t sa^.p co^ng su+. chie^'n dda^'u o+? ta.i ddo'. (Edgar O'Ballance: The Wars In Vietnam, 1954-1973, tr.108).
26 tha'ng 12 Trong mo^.t cuo^.c ha`nh qua^n ddo^.t ki'ch o+? ti?nh Qua?ng Tri., Qua^n DDo^.i VNCH dda'nh u'p mo^.t tie^?u ddoa`n chi'nh quy Ba('c Vie^.t, ha. ddu+o+.c 203 te^n. Phi'a be^n lu+.c lu+o+.ng cha'nh phu? co' 15 binh si~ VNCH tu+? tra^.n. (Edgar O'Ballance: The Wars In Vietnam, 1954-1973, tr.107).