Lâm Quang Thi facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Lâm Quang Thi
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| Born | 7 May 1932 Bạc Liêu, French Indochina |
| Died | 19 January 2021 (aged 88) Fremont, California, United States |
| Allegiance |  South Vietnam |
| Service/ |
Army of the Republic of Vietnam |
| Years of service | 1950–1975 |
| Rank |  Lieutenant General |
| Commands held | 9th Infantry Division Vietnamese National Military Academy I Corps |
| Battles/wars | Vietnam War |
Lieutenant General Lâm Quang Thi (7 May 1932 – 19 January 2021) was a senior military officer in the Army of the Republic of Vietnam during the Vietnam War.
Early life and family
Lam was born in Bac Lieu in 1932 to a family of wealthy landowning farmers. Lam's parents met through a matchmaker and married two years before he was born. Lam's father came from a family of Cao Dai adherents while his mother was a Roman Catholic. His maternal grandfather was one of the richest Chinese landowners in Bac Lieu at the turn of the 20th century. Lam's parents separated in 1937 after their fourth child was born, and his mother took their four children back down to her hometown in Tam Vu. After completing his primary education there, Lam was sent to Can Tho for his secondary education, where he enrolled into the Phan Thanh Gian College after passing through its tough entrance examinations.
Military service
Lam graduated from the National Military Academy, in Da Lat, South Vietnam. He held the positions of Commander of the RVNAF Artillery Training Center, Commander of the Artillery in I Corps, Deputy Commander, RVNAF Artillery; Commander, 9th Infantry Division; and Commander of the Vietnamese National Military Academy.
On 10 March 1972 he replaced Nguyễn Văn Hiếu as deputy commander of I Corps.
Last position until 4 1975: Commander in Chief of Army Corp I Forward Command.
Post-war life
Lam fled with his family to the United States in May 1975, when South Vietnam fell to the invading North Vietnamese army. He lived in Fremont, California. Lam earned a French Baccalaureate Degree in Philosophy and an MBA, both from Golden Gate University in San Francisco. His son, Andrew Lam, is a writer and a journalist.
Lam was interviewed about the war in Ken Burns's series The Vietnam War.
Death
Lam died from COVID-19 in Fremont, California, on 19 January 2021, aged 88, during the COVID-19 pandemic in California.
Awards and decorations
- Vietnam Gallantry Cross
- Distinguished Service Order, 1st class
- Vietnam Armed Forces Honor Medal, 1st class
- National Order of Vietnam, 3rd class
- Staff Service Honor Medal, 1st class
- Vietnam Technical Service Medal, 1st class
- Training Service Honor Medal, 1st class
- Vietnam Civil Action Honor Medal, 1st class
- Merit Thai
- Legion of Merit (United States)
- Order of Military Merit, Chung Mu Cordon (South Korea)
