“Ha`ng Tu+o+'ng Du+o+ng Va(n Minh” (tie^'p theo)
rangnguyen
LTG: Sau khi chu'ng to^i pho^? bie^'n ba`i �Ha`ng Tu+o+'ng Du+o+ng Va(n Minh�,
nhie^`u ddo^.c gia? dda~ vie^'t thu+ ye^u ca^`u no'i ro~ ho+n ve^` chuye^.n
dda^`u ha`ng cu?a Tu+o+'ng Du+o+ng Va(n Minh, vi` ca'c ta`i lie^.u dde^`u vie^'t
kha'c nhau, nha^'t la` ta`i lie^.u cu?a VC. Vi` the^' chu'ng to^i xin co^ng bo^'
the^m nhie^`u chi tie^'t quan tro.ng lie^n quan dde^'n vu. dda^`u ha`ng cu?a
Tu+o+'ng Du+o+ng Va(n Minh, ke^? ca? tru+o+`ng ho+.p cu?a Tu+o+'ng Nguye^~n
Hu+~u Ha.nh, dde^? la`m sa'ng to? li.ch su+?. Mo^.t pha^`n ta`i lie^.u trong
ba`i na`y dda~ ddu+o+.c co^ng bo^' trong ba`i tru+o+'c.
Nhu+ng chu'ng to^i xin no'i ro~ dda^y kho^ng pha?i la` toa`n bo^. ta`i lie^.u
ve^` cuo^.c dda^`u ha`ng. Khi na`o chu'ng to^i cho xua^'t ba?n cuo^'n �Ta.i sao
My~ bo? mie^`n Nam?�, ddo^.c gia? se~ co' ta`i lie^.n dda^`y ddu? ho+n.
*
Va`o tha'ng 4 na(m 1975, Hoa Ky` tha^'y ti`nh hi`nh mie^`n Nam VN kho^ng co`n
cu+'u va~n ddu+o+.c, ne^n dda~ sa('p xe^'p cho chi'nh quye^`n mie^`n Nam dda^`u
ha`ng Ba('c Vie^.t dde^? tra'nh su+. ddo^? ma'u qua' nhie^`u. Bie^'t Tu+o+'ng
Du+o+ng Va(n Minh co' lie^n la.c vo+'i VC va` ddi theo nho'm chu? tru+o+ng �hoa`
gia?i hoa` ho+.p� giu+~a hai be^n, DDa.i Su+' Martin cu?a My~ dda~ pho^'i ho+.p
vo+'i DDa.i Su+' Merillon cu?a Pha'p thuye^'t phu.c Tu+o+'ng Thie^.u tu+` chu+'c
va` lu+`a Tu+o+'ng Du+o+ng Va(n Minh ra la`m ha`ng tu+o+'ng ba(`ng ca'ch ta.o
cho o^ng mo^.t a?o vo.ng ra(`ng chi? co' o^ng mo+'i co' the^? no'i chuye^.n
vo+'i �phi'a be^n kia� dde^? hi`nh tha`nh mo^.t �chi'nh phu? lie^n hie^.p Quo^'c
- Co^.ng!�
1. DDu+a tay cha^n bo^. ha., chie^'n ha.m va` phi co+ ra kho?i VN
Thu? Tu+o+'ng Tu+o+'ng Tra^`n Thie^.n Khie^m, mo^.t nha^n vie^n ti`nh ba'o go^.c
cu?a CIA, cha('c cha('n dda~ ddu+o+.c ba'o tin ti`nh hi`nh kho^ng co`n cu+'u
va~n ddu+o+.c, ne^n nga`y 4.4.1975 o^ng dda~ ti`m ca'ch �ba'n ca'i� chu+'c Thu?
Tu+o+'ng cho o^ng Nguye^~n Ba' Ca^?n, Chu? Ti.ch Ha. Nghi. Vie^.n, dde^? cha.y.
O^ng Ca^?n kho^ng bie^'t gi` ve^` ti`nh hi`nh, ne^n ca('n ca^u! Nga`y 14.4.1975,
Chi'nh phu? Nguye^~n Ba' Ca^?n ra ma('t do o^ng Nguye^~n Ba' Ca^?n la`m Thu?
Tu+o+'ng, Trung Tu+o+'ng Tra^`n Va(n DDo^n la`m DDe^. Nha^'t Pho' Thu? Tu+o+'ng
kie^m To^?ng Tru+o+?ng Quo^'c Pho`ng; Tie^'n Si~ Nguye^~n Va(n Ha?o, DDe^. Nhi.
Pho' Thu? Tu+o+'ng kie^m To^?ng Tru+o+?ng Canh No^ng va` Ky~ Nghe^.; Ky~ Su+
Du+o+ng Ki'ch Du+o+~ng, DDe^. Tam Pho' Thu? Tu+o+'ng dda(.c tra'ch ve^` Cu+'u
Tro+. va` DDi.nh Cu+, v.v.
Nga`y 21.4.1975 To^?ng Tho^'ng Thie^.u bi. cu+o+~ng e'p pha?i tu+` chu+'c va`
nhu+o+`ng chu+'c To^?ng Tho^'ng la.i cho Pho' To^?ng Tho^'ng Tra^`n Va(n
Hu+o+ng. Ma^'t no+i nu+o+ng tu+.a, nga`y 23.4.1975, o^ng Nguye^~n Ba' Ca^?n
no^.p ddo+n xin To^?ng Tho^'ng Hu+o+ng cho o^ng tu+` chu+'c Thu? Tu+o+'ng.
To^'i 25.4.1975 CIA dda~ dda^?y hai tay cha^n bo^. ha. cu?a mi`nh la` Tu+o+'ng
Nguye^~n Va(n Thie^.u va` Tu+o+'ng Tra^`n Thie^.n Khie^m le^n chie^'c C-118 cu?a
Kho^ng Qua^n Hoa Ky` bay ddi DDa`i Loan. Sau ddo', theo lo+`i ye^u ca^`u cu?a
o^ng Nguye^~n Ba' Ca^?n, to^'i 28.4.1975 ngu+o+`i My~ cu~ng dda~ dda^?y o^ng
le^n mo^.t chie^'c C.130 ddang no^? ma'y vo+'i nhie^`u ngu+o+`i kha'c dda~
ngo^`i cho+` sa(~n, ddu+a o^ng ddi Honolulu.
Nga`y 26.4.1975, khi tha^'y ti`nh hi`nh dda~ ddi va`o giai ddoa.n cuo^'i, co+
quan DAO dda~ bi' ma^.t khuye^'n ca'o Tu+o+'ng Cao Va(n Vie^n, To^?ng Tham Mu+u
Tru+o+?ng Qua^n Lu+.c VNCH, ra le^.nh cho Kho^ng Qua^n va` Ha?i Qua^n ro+`i
kho?i VN dde^? ca'c phi co+ va` chie^'n ha.m kho?i ro+i va` tay ddi.ch. Lu'c
ddo', VNCH co' lu+.c lu+o+.ng kho^ng qua^n va` ha?i qua^n lo+'n nha^'t vu`ng
DDo^ng Nam A'.
Vo+'i Kho^ng Qua^n, va^'n dde^` kho^ng kho' kha(n la('m: Chi? ca^`n ra le^.nh
cho Trung Tu+o+'ng Tra^`n Va(n Minh, Tu+ Le^.nh Kho^ng Qua^n, do+`i Su+ DDoa`n 5
Kho^ng Qua^n Ta^n So+n Nha^'t va` Su+ DDoa`n 3 Kho^ng Qua^n Bie^n Ho`a xuo^'ng
ca(n cu+' Su+ DDoa`n 4 Kho^ng Qua^n ta.i Tra` No'c, o+? Ca^`n Tho+. Khi Du+o+ng
Va(n Minh tuye^n bo^' dda^`u ha`ng, ca'c phi co^ng co' the^? la'i ma'y bay bay
qua ca(n cu+' Utapao cu?a Kho^ng Qua^n Hoa Ky` o+? Tha'i Lan. Nha^n co+ ho^.i di
ta?n na`y, nhie^`u phi co^ng dda~ la'i phi co+ ca'c loa.i bay qua Tha'i Lan.
Vo+'i Ha?i Qua^n, vi` lu+.c lu+o+.ng na`y ra^'t co^.ng ke^`ng, ne^n vie^.c di
ta?n se~ ga(.p kho' kha(n va` co' the^? ga^y ho^?n loa.n ne^'u kho^ng ddu+o+.c
to^? chu+'c chu dda'o. Co+ quan DAO dda~ cho cu+.u Thie^'u Ta' Richard Armitage,
tu`y vie^n vie^n qua^n su+. To`a DDa.i Su+' Hoa Ky`, dde^'n pho^'i ho+.p vo+'i
Pho' DDe^` DDo^'c Chung Ta^'n Cang, Tu+ Le^.nh Ha?i Qua^n, lo to^? chu+'c, ddo^n
ddo^'c va` theo do~i vie^.c di ta?n an toa`n lu+.c lu+o+.ng Ha?i Qua^n ra kho?i
VN. Tuy nhie^n, mu.c tie^u cu?a cuo^.c di ta?n ddu+o+.c tho^ng ba'o cho ca'c
thuo^.c quo^'c la` ddi xuo^'ng mie^`n Ta^y hay Phu' Quo^'c. Pho' DDe^` DDo^'c
Chung Ta^'n Cang mo+'i ddu+o+.c To^?ng Tho^'ng Thie^.u cu+? la`m Tu+ Le^.nh Ha?i
Qua^n va`o nga`y 24.3.1975 thay the^' Pho' DDe^` DDo^'c La^m Nguo^n Ta'nh.
Chie^`u 26.4.1975, DDa.i Ta' Nguye^~n Xua^n So+n, Tu+ Le^.nh Ha.m DDo^.i, dda~
vo^.i ba'o tin na`y cho ca'c ha.m tru+o+?ng bie^'t. O^ng no'i pha?i �chua^?n bi.
tinh tha^`n vi` co' the^? di chuye^?n ve^` Phu' Quo^'c.� Nga`y 28.4.1975 o^ng
dda~ bi. ma^'t chu+'c.
Va`o sa'ng so+'m nga`y 29.4.1975, mo^.t cuo^.c ho.p ma^.t cu?a tham mu+u cao
ca^'p dda~ ddu+o+.c to^? chu+'c ta.i Bo^. Tu+ Le^.nh Ha?i Qua^n. Pho' DDe^`
DDo^'c Cang cho bie^'t ra(`ng ne^'u kho^ng co' mo^.t pha?n le^.nh na`o kha'c,
toa`n bo^. Ha.m DDo^.i se~ ro+`i Bo^. Tu+ Le^.nh o+? Saigon va`o lu'c 0 gio+`
to^'i 29 ra.ng 30.4.1975. Ca'c ha.m tru+o+?ng chua^?n bi. thi ha`nh. Tuy nhie^n,
cu~ng co' chie^'n ha.m dda~ le^n ddu+o+`ng tru+o+'c gio+` a^'n ddi.nh.
Pho' DDe^` DDo^'c Cang dda~ lie^n la.c vo+'i Bo^. To^?ng Tham Mu+u va` DDa.i Ta'
Thu?y Qua^n Lu.c Chie^'n Co^? Ta^'n Tinh Cha^u, chi? huy tru+o+?ng DDa(.c Khu
Ru+`ng Sa't va` Thu?y Tri`nh so^ng Lo`ng Ta?o - Va`m Co?, ye^u ca^`u giu+~ an
ninh cho ddoa`n chie^'n ha.m co' the^? di chuye^?n an toa`n tre^n so^ng Saigon
trong vo`ng va`i gio+` dde^? ra kho+i. Ca'c chie^'n dda^'u co+ cu?a Hoa Ky`
cu~ng ddu+o+.c pha'i dde^'n dde^? ba?o ve^. cho cuo^.c di ta?n na`y.
Lu'c 5 gio+` chie^`u 29.4.1875, Pho' DDe^` DDo^'c Chung Ta^'n Cang tuye^n bo^'
gia?i ta'n Ha?i Qua^n VNCH, nhu+ng lu+.c lu+o+.ng Ha?i Qua^n va^~n giu+~ nguye^n
ddo^.i hi`nh khi ra kho+i. To^'i ho^m ddo', khi bie^'t ddu+o+.c DDe^` DDo^'c
Chung Ta^'n Cang dda~ gia?i ta'n Ha?i Qua^n VNCH va` da^~n lu+.c lu+o+.ng Ha?i
Qua^n ro+`i kho?i Saigon, To^?ng Tho^'ng Du+o+ng Va(n Minh dda~ ca^'p tho+`i ra
kha^?u le^.nh cu+? Ha?i Qua^n DDa.i Ta' Nguye^~n Va(n Ta^'n ha`nh xu+? quye^`n
Tu+ Le^.nh Ha?i Qua^n. DDa.i Ta' Ha?i dda~ o+? la.i va` sau khi Saigon ma^'t,
o^ng pha?i ddi tu`.
Nhu+ va^.y, ngu+o+`i My~ dda~ gia?i thoa't cho ca'c tay cha^n bo^. ha. cu?a ho.,
ddu+a ca'c phi co+ va` chie^'n ha.m ddi, dde^? mo^.t mie^`n Nam ddang ha^'p
ho^'i la.i cho Tu+o+'ng Du+o+ng Va(n Minh va` nho'm cu?a o^ng, go^`m nhu+~ng
tha`nh pha^`n pha?n chie^'n, luo^n ddo`i hoa` ho+.p hoa` gia?i vo+'i CS nhu+
Thi'ch Tri' Quang, Thi'ch Thie^.n Minh, Vu~ Va(n Ma^~u, Tra^`n Ngo.c Lie^~ng,
Ho^` Va(n Minh, Ho^`ng So+n DDo^ng, Ho^` Ngo.c Nhua^.n, Du+o+ng Va(n Ba,
Nguye^~n Hu+~u Chung, Ly' Qui' Chung, Ly' Cha'nh Trung, v.v.
2. E'p Pho' To^?ng Tho^'ng Hu+o+ng trao quye^`n
Trong cuo^'n �Decent Interval�, Frank Snepp, mo^.t pha^n ti'ch vie^n cu?a CIA
o+? Saigon lu'c ddo', no'i ra(`ng ta.i mie^`n Nam lu'c ddo' kho^ng ai tin Ha`
No^.i co' the^? cha^'p nha^.n mo^.t gia?i pha'p chi'nh tri. khi ho. ddang tre^n
dda` chie^'n tha('ng. O^ng Vu~ Va(n Ma^~u cu~ng dda~ nha^.n ra ddu+o+.c ddie^`u
ddo' ne^n khi ga(.p DDa.i Su+' Merillon, o^ng dda~ no'i vo+'i o^ng DDa.i Su+'
ba(`ng tie^'ng Latin ra(`ng ne^'u gia?i pha'p mo^.t chi'nh phu? lie^n hie^.p
kho^ng tha`nh thi` xin giu'p o^ng ddu+o+.c ra ddi!
Frank Snepp cho bie^'t the^m:
�Khi to^i ddang ba^.n dda'nh ma'y ba?n ba'o ca'o thi` Polgar o+? trong pho`ng
rie^ng vo+'i ca'c vie^n chu+'c kha'c cu?a Tra.m Ti`nh Ba'o (Toa` DDa.i Su+')
tha?o lua^.n ve^` vie^.c chuye^?n giao nhanh quye^`n ha`nh. Mo^.t khi Thie^.u
tu+` chu+'c, Pho' To^?ng Tho^'ng Tra^`n Va(n Hu+o+ng pha?i trao quye^`n ha`nh
ngay la^.p tu+'c cho Minh �Lo+'n�, va` Quo^'c Ho^.i pha?i sa(~n sa`ng cha^'p
thua^.n su+. chuye^?n giao, dde^? su+. chuye^?n giao ddo' co' the^? ddu+o+.c
thu+.c hie^.n �mo^.t ca'ch ho+.p hie^'n� (nha^'n ma.nh cu?a DDa.i Su+' Martin)
va` �nhanh cho'ng�.
Tie^'p theo, My~ thu'c dda^?y Pho' To^?ng Tho^'ng Tra^`n Va(n Hu+o+ng trao
quye^`n la.i cho Tu+o+'ng Du+o+ng Va(n Minh dde^? �thu+o+ng lu+o+.ng vo+'i phi'a
be^n kia�, nhu+ng tha^.t su+. la` dde^? tuye^n bo^' dda^`u ha`ng. O^ng Tra^`n
Va(n Hu+o+ng kho^ng hie^?u gi` ve^` ti`nh hi`nh lu'c ddo' ne^n ti`m ca'ch cu`
cu+a. O^ng bi' ma^.t dde^'n ga(.p Tu+o+'ng Minh va` ye^u ca^`u Tu+o+'ng Minh
la`m Thu? Tu+o+'ng, nhu+ng Tu+o+'ng Minh tu+` cho^'i. Tuy nhie^n, CIA va` mo^.t
so^' nha^n va^.t chi'nh tri. dda~ thuye^'t phu.c o^ng ra(`ng ve^` qua^n su+.,
ti`nh hi`nh kho^ng co`n cu+'u va~n ddu+o+.c, pha?i ti`m mo^.t gia?i pha'p chi'nh
tri.. Nhu+ng MTGPMN chi? chi.u no'i chuye^.n vo+'i Du+o+ng Va(n Minh, chu+'
kho^ng chi.u no'i chuye^.n vo+'i ba^'t cu+' ai, ne^n o^ng pha?i trao quye^`n cho
Du+o+ng Va(n Minh ngay. Cuo^'i cu`ng o^ng cu~ng ddo^`ng y' trao quye^`n cho
Tu+o+'ng Minh vo+'i ddie^`u kie^.n pha?i co' su+. quye^'t ddi.nh cu?a Quo^'c
Ho^.i. Ne^'u no'i tha^.t vo+'i o^ng Hu+o+ng ra(`ng trao quye^`n cho Du+o+ng Va(n
Minh dde^? dda^`u ha`ng, cha('c cha('n o^ng kho^ng bao gio+` giao. Mo^.t ca^u
no'i cu?a o^ng trong ba?n tuye^n bo^' trao quye^`n thu+o+`ng ddu+o+.c nhie^`u
ngu+o+`i nha('c dde^'n: �Nguye^.n vo.ng lo+'n lao nha^'t cu?a ddo+`i to^i la`
ddu+o+.c la`m mo^.t ha. si~ danh du+., che^'t be^n ca.nh ca'c chie^'n si~.�
Nga`y 26.4.1975 lu+o+~ng vie^.n Quo^'c Ho^.i dda~ ho.p ta.i Thu+o+.ng Vie^.n
du+o+'i quye^`n chu? toa. cu?a o^ng Tra^`n Va(n La('m, Chu? Ti.ch Thu+o+.ng
Vie^.n, dde^? ddu+a Tu+o+'ng Du+o+ng Va(n Minh le^n la`m To^?ng Tho^'ng. Co' 136
trong so^' 219 nghi. si~ va` da^n bie^?u dde^'n ho.p. Sau khi DDa.i Tu+o+'ng Cao
Va(n Vie^n, To^?ng Tham Mu+u Tru+o+?ng Qua^n Lu+.c VNCH, va` Tu+o+'ng Nguye^~n
Kha('c Bi`nh, To^?ng Gia'm DDo^'c CSQG tri`nh ba`y ve^` ti`nh hi`nh, Quo^'c
Ho^.i ba('t dda^`u tha?o lua^.n ve^` vie^.c trao quye^`n cho Tu+o+'ng Du+o+ng
Va(n Minh. Co' ra^'t nhie^`u su+. ba^'t ddo^`ng ve^` vie^.c trao quye^`n,
nhie^`u ngu+o+`i cho ra(`ng su+. trao quye^`n na`y la` ba^'t ho+.p hie^'n.
Nhu+ng ca'c nho'm va^.n ddo^.ng ha^.u tru+o+`ng dda~ hoa.t ddo^.ng ra^'t ra'o
rie^'t ne^n cuo^'i cu`ng, lu'c 20 gio+` 54 phu't, Quo^'c Ho^.i dda~ bie^?u
quye^'t cha^'p thua^.n trao quye^`n cho Tu+o+'ng Du+o+ng Va(n Minh vo+'i so^'
phie^'u 147.151.
3. Tu+o+'ng Minh na('m chi'nh quye^`n
Chie^`u 28.4.1975, va`o lu'c 17 gio+` 50, Tu+o+'ng Du+o+ng Va(n Minh dda~ nha^.n
chu+'c To^?ng Tho^'ng. Le^~ ba`n giao ddu+o+.c die^~n ra ta.i Pho`ng Kha'nh
Tie^'t cu?a Dinh DDo^.c La^.p, co' tru+.c tie^'p truye^`n thanh.
DDa.i die^.n Qua^n Lu+.c VNCH tham du+. le^~ ba`n giao co' Trung Tu+o+'ng
DDo^`ng Va(n Khuye^n, Tham Mu+u Tru+o+?ng Lie^n Qua^n thay ma(.t DDa.i Tu+o+'ng
Cao Va(n Vie^n, va` Trung Tu+o+'ng Tra^`n Va(n Minh, Tu+ Le^.nh Kho^ng Qua^n.
Tru+o+'c khi bu+o+'c xuo^'ng bu.c dde^? nhu+o+`ng cho^~ cho Tu+o+'ng Du+o+ng
Va(n Minh ddo.c die^~n va(n nha^.n chu+'c, theo lo+`i ye^u ca^`u cu?a Tu+o+'ng
Cao Va(n Vie^n, To^?ng Tho^'ng Tra^`n Va(n Hu+o+ng dda~ co^ng bo^' sa('c le^.nh
gia?i nhie^.m DDa.i Tu+o+'ng Cao Va(n Vie^n kho?i chu+'c vu. To^?ng Tham Mu+u
Tru+o+?ng.
Tu+o+'ng Du+o+ng Va(n Minh dda~ buo+'c le^n bu+.c, tra^`m ti~nh ddo.c ba?n
tuye^n bo^' ddu+o+`ng lo^'i cu?a chi'nh phu? o^ng la` "se~ cha^'m du+'t chie^'n
tranh ba(`ng ca'ch thu+o+ng thuye^'t va` ho`a gia?i vo+'i Ma(.t Tra^.n Gia?i
Pho'ng Mie^`n Nam".
Sau nghi le^~ nha^.n chu+'c, To^?ng Tho^'ng Du+o+ng Va(n Minh dda~ gio+'i
thie^.u o^ng Nguye^~n Va(n Huye^`n la`m Pho' To^?ng Tho^'ng va` o^ng Vu~ Va(n
Ma^~u la`m Thu? Tu+o+'ng.
4. Chi?nh ddo^'n la.i Bo^. To^?ng Tham Mu+u
Cu~ng trong chie^`u 28, Pho' DDe^` DDo^'c Chung Ta^'n Cang, Tu+ Le^.nh Ha?i
Qua^n, dda~ va`o Dinh Hoa Lan ga(.p Tu+o+'ng Minh cho bie^'t ti`nh hi`nh va` xin
cho lu+.c lu+o+.ng Ha?i Qua^n ddu+o+.c di ta?n xuo^'ng Mie^`n Ta^y hay ra Phu'
Quo^'c. Tu+o+'ng Minh ddo^`ng y'.
Pho' DDe^` DDo^'c Cang ho?i Tu+o+'ng Minh co' ddi.nh ra ddi hay kho^ng. Tu+o+'ng
Minh cho con ga'i la` Du+o+ng Mai, con re^~ la` DDa.i Ta' Nguye^~n Ho^`ng DDa`i
va` hai cha'u ngoa.i le^n ta`u di ta?n vo+'i DDo^ DDo^'c Cang, co`n o^ng va` ba`
Minh o+? la.i.
Pho' DDe^` DDo^'c Cang la` ngu+o+`i ra^'t ddu+o+.c Tu+o+'ng Minh tin ca^.y.
Chu'ng ta nho+' la.i, sa'ng 1.1.1963, sau khi ra le^.nh gie^'t DDa.i Ta' Ho^`
Ta^'n Quye^`n, Tu+ Le^.nh Ha?i Qua^n, lu'c 1 gio+` 30, Trung Tu+o+'ng Du+o+ng
Va(n Minh dda~ ra le^.nh cho Trung Ta' Chung Ta^'n Cang, mo^.t ngu+o+`i ddu+o+.c
mo'c no^'i tu+` tru+o+'c, ddem ddoa`n chie^'n ddi~nh dde^'n chie^'m Bo^. Tu+
Le^.nh Ha?i Qua^n. Chung Ta^'n Cang ddu+'ng tre^n chie^'c Monitor Combat (Tie^`n
Phong DDi~nh) do Trung Si~ Tha.ch So+n la'i va` ra le^.nh ca(.p va`o ca^`u ta`u
Tu+ Le^.nh. Sau ddo' o^ng le^n Va(n Pho`ng Tu+ Le^.nh dda?m nhie^.m vai tro` Tu+
Le^.nh Ha?i Qua^n. Ho^m sau, 2.11.1963, Trung Ta' Cang ddu+o+.c tha(ng DDa.i
Ta'.
Ngay trong chie^`u 28.4.1975, DDa.i Tu+o+'ng Cao Va(n Vie^n, To^?ng Tham Mu+u
Tru+o+?ng, dda~ ra ddi cu`ng vo+'i Chua^?n Tu+o+'ng Tra^`n DDi`nh Tho.,
Tru+o+?ng Pho`ng 3 Bo^. To^?ng Tham Mu+u (pho`ng ha`nh qua^n).
Sa'ng 29.4.1975, Trung Tu+o+'ng DDo^`ng Va(n Khuye^n, Tham Mu+u Tru+o+?ng Lie^n
Qua^n kie^m To^?ng Cu.c Tru+o+?ng Tie^'p Va^.n, va` Trung Tu+o+'ng Nguye^~n Va(n
Minh, Tu+ Le^.nh Bie^.t Khu Thu? DDo^ cu~ng bie^'n ma^'t.
DDu+o+.c tin na`y, Du+o+ng Va(n Minh ye^u ca^`u Trung Tu+o+'ng Vi~nh Lo^.c la`m
To^?ng Tham Mu+u Tru+o+?ng, nhu+ng Tu+o+'ng Lo^.c dde^` nghi. giao chu+'c na`y
cho Trung Tu+o+'ng Ngo^ Quang Tru+o+?ng. Tu+o+'ng Minh tu+` cho^'i vo+'i ly' do
Tu+o+'ng Tru+o+?ng mo+'i bo? cha.y kho?i Vu`ng I ddang ga^y hoang mang. Cuo^'i
cu`ng Tu+o+'ng Lo^.c nha^.n. Tu+o+'ng Minh lie^`n ta.m tho+`i chi?nh ddo^'n la.i
Bo^. To^?ng Tham Mu+u nhu+ sau:
Trung Tu+o+'ng Vi~nh Lo^.c: To^?ng Tham Mu+u Tru+o+?ng.
Chua^?n Tu+o+'ng Nguye^~n Hu+~u Ha.nh: Phu. Ta' To^?ng Tham Mu+u Tru+o+?ng
dda(.c tra'ch ha`nh qua^n.
Trung Tu+o+'ng Tra^`n Va(n Trung: Phu. Tra'ch ve^` Chie^'n Tranh Chi'nh Tri..
Chua^?n Tu+o+'ng Nguye^~n Va(n Chu+'c: To^?ng Cu.c Tru+o+?ng To^?ng Cu.c Tie^'p
Va^.n.
DDa.i Ta' Ho^` Ngo.c Nha^n: Quye^`n Tham Mu+u Tru+o+?ng Lie^n Qua^n.
Thie^'u Tu+o+'ng La^m Va(n Pha't: Tu+ Le^.nh Bie^.t Khu Thu? DDo^. Chua^?n
Tu+o+'ng Le^ Va(n Tha^n, Tu+ Le^.nh Pho'.
5. Tru+o+`ng ho+.p cu?a Tu+o+'ng Nguye^~n Hu+~u Ha.nh
O+? dda^y ca^`n no'i the^m mo^.t so^' chi tie^'t ve^` vu. Chua^?n Tu+o+'ng
Nguye^~n Hu+~u Ha.nh, mo^.t nha^n va^.t co' nhie^`u tranh lua^.n:
Tu+o+'ng Ha.nh sinh na(m 1923 ta.i a^'p Phu' Thua^.n, xa~ Phu' Phong, qua^.n
Cha^u Tha`nh, My~ Tho, dda~ tu+`ng giu+~ nhu+~ng chu+'c vu. quan tro.ng trong
Qua^n Lu+.c VNCH nhu+ Tu+ le^.nh pho' su+ ddoa`n 21 bo^. binh ta.i Ba.c Lie^u
(1967), Tham Mu+u Tru+o+?ng Qua^n DDoa`n 4 va` Qua^n Khu 4, Tu+ Le^.nh Pho'
Qua^n DDoa`n 2 va` Qua^n Khu 2 (tho+`i Tu+o+'ng Ngo^ Dzu), va` To^?ng Thanh Tra
Qua^n DDoa`n 1 va` Qua^n Khu 1. Na(m 1974 o^ng ve^` hu+u sau 27 na(m trong qua^n
ngu~. O^ng co' hai ngu+o+`i con gia nha^.p qua^n ddo^.i VNCH, ddo' la` Thie^'u
U'y Nguye^~n Hu+~u Ta`i va` Thie^'u U'y Nguye^~n Hu+~u Na(ng: Thie^'u U'y
Nguye^~n Hu+~u Ta`i sinh na(m 1948, la` phi co^ng tru+.c tha(ng, bi. VC ba('n
ha. va` tu+? thu+o+ng ta.i Vi~nh Kim. Co`n Thie^'u U'y Na(ng la` tuy` vie^n cu?a
o^ng.
Khi DDa.i Ta' Du+o+ng Va(n Minh la`m Qua^n Tra^'n Tru+o+?ng Saigon (1955), o^ng
la`m Tham Mu+u Tru+o+`ng cho Tu+o+'ng Minh ne^n ra^'t tha^n vo+'i Tu+o+'ng Minh.
Theo o^ng ke^? la.i, ho^m 26.4.1975 o^ng nghe tin Tu+o+'ng Minh ddang ddu+o+.c
ddu+a le^n la`m To^?ng Tho^'ng, o^ng lie^`n go.i ddie^.n thoa.i cho Trung Ta'
DDa^?u, Cha'nh Va(n Pho`ng cu?a Tu+o+'ng Minh. Trung Ta' DDa^?u cho bie^'t
Tu+o+'ng Minh muo^'n ga(.p o^ng, nhu+ng o^ng ne^n dde^'n Saigon va`o nga`y
29.4.1975.
Nga`y 28.4.1975 Tu+o+'ng Ha.nh le^n Saigon, nhu+ng lu'c 6 gio+` 30 sa'ng 29 o^ng
mo+'i dde^'n nha` Tu+o+'ng Minh o+? so^' 3 ddu+o+`ng Tra^'n Qu'y Ca'p, Saigon.
Sau mo^.t tho+`i gian ngo^`i cho+` kha' la^u, Tu+o+'ng Minh tha^'y o^ng va` ba?o
Trung Ta' DDa^?u la`m gia^'y cu+? Tu+o+'ng Ha.nh dde^'n xem xe't ti`nh hi`nh
ta.i Bo^. To^?ng Tham Mu+u. Khi dde^'n, o^ng kho^ng lie^n la.c ddu+o+.c vo+'i
Kho^ng Qua^n va` Ha?i Qua^n. O^ng chi? lie^n la.c ddu+o+.c vo+'i Tu+o+'ng
Nguye^~n Va(n Toa`n, Tu+ Le^.nh Qua^n DDoa`n 3. Tu+o+'ng Toa`n cho bie^'t ti`nh
hi`nh nguy nga^.p va` o^ng muo^'n do+`i Bo^. Tu+ Le^.nh ve^` Tru+o+`ng Thie^'t
Gia'p o+? Go` Va^'p. Sau ddo', chie^`u 29 Tu+o+'ng Toa`n cu~ng ra ddi.
Ta`i lie^.u cu?a VC cho bie^'t tu+` na(m 1970, vi` ba^'t ma~n vo+'i chi'nh
quye^`n mie^`n Nam cha(?ng nhu+~ng kho^ng tha(ng thu+o+?ng ddu'ng vo+'i co^ng
lao cu?a o^ng ma` co`n tru` da^.p, Nguye^~n Hu+~u Ha.nh dda~ ddu+o+.c o^ng Ta'm
mo'c no^'i dde^? tro+? tha`nh co+ so+? cu?a Ban Binh Va^.n Ma(.t Tra^.n Da^n
To^.c Gia?i Pho'ng Mie^`n Nam, vo+'i bi' danh S7 hoa(.c Sao Mai. Nhu+ng ca'c
ta`i lie^.u cu?a VC la.i mo^ ta? ca'c hoa.t ddo^.ng ddi.ch va^.n cu?a o^ng nhu+
nhu+~ng chuye^.n hoang ddu+o+`ng.
Nguye^~n Hu+~u Ha.nh dda~ ddu+o+.c nha` ca^`m quye^`n CSVN ta(.ng thu+o+?ng
Hua^n Chu+o+ng Tha`nh DDo^`ng va` ddu+o+.c ba^`u la`m U?y Vie^n Trung U+o+ng
Ma(.t Tra^.n To^? Quo^'c VN, nhu+ng va^'n dde^` cu?a Tu+o+'ng Ha.nh co`n pha?i
ddu+o+.c xem la.i, vi` VC thu+o+`ng ddu+a ra nhu+~ng chuye^.n huye^`n thoa.i
ve^` hoa.t ddo^.ng ti`nh ba'o cu?a ho. ta.i mie^`n Nam dde^? che dda^.y nhu+~ng
tha^'t ba.i ve^` ti`nh ba'o cu?a ho., nhu+ tru+o+`ng ho+.p Vu~ Ngo.c Nha., Le^
Hu+~u Thu'y, Pha.m Ngo.c Tha?o, v.v.
6. Ye^u ca^`u co+ quan DAO ro+`i VN
Va`o lu'c 11 gio+` 30, o^ng Vu~ Va(n Ma^~u ddu+o+.c To^?ng Tho^'ng Du+o+ng Va(n
Minh cho.n la`m Thu? Tu+o+'ng dda~ chi'nh thu+'c nha^.n chu+'c ta.i Phu? Thu?
Tu+o+'ng. Vi` Thu? Tu+o+'ng Nguye^~n Ba' Ca^?n dda~ ro+`i VN ne^n Pho' Thu?
Tu+o+'ng DDo^n thay ma(.t ba`n giao cho ta^n Thu? Tu+o+'ng Vu~ Va(n Ma^~u. Ngay
sau ddo', o^ng Vu~ Va(n Ma^~u dde^'n dda`i pha't thanh Saigon ddo.c co^ng ha`m
cu?a To^?ng Tho^'ng Du+o+ng Va(n Minh ye^u ca^`u ca'c nha^n vie^n Co+ Quan Tu`y
Vie^n Qua^n Su+. (DAO) thuo^.c Toa` DDa.i Su+' My~ ru't kho?i VN trong vo`ng 24
tie^'ng ddo^`ng ho^` ke^? tu+` nga`y 29.4.1975. Nguye^n va(n co^ng ha`m ddo'
nhu+ sau:
�Thu+a o^ng DDa.i Su+',
�To^i tra^n tro.ng ye^u ca^`u o^ng DDa.i Su+' vui lo`ng ra chi? thi. cho ca'c
nha^n vie^n cu?a Co+ Quan Tu`y Vie^n Quo^'c Pho`ng DAO ro+`i kho?i VN trong 24
gio+` ddo^`ng ho^` ke^? tu+` nga`y 29.4.1975 dde^? va^'n dde^` Hoa` Bi`nh VN
so+'m ddu+o+.c gia?i quye^'t.�
Ma(.c da^`u co^ng ha`m na`y co' ddo'ng chu+~ �MA^.T� o+? tre^n, nhu+ng la.i
co^ng bo^' cho ca? nu+o+'c bie^'t, co' le~ dde^? cho Ha` No^.i nghe!
DDa.i Su+' Martin lie^`n tho^ng ba'o cho To^?ng Tho^'ng Minh ra(`ng o^ng �dda~
chi? thi. nhu+ nga`i ye^u ca^`u�. O^ng ye^u ca^`u To^?ng Tho^'ng Minh ra le^.nh
cho qua^n ddo^.i VNCH la`m de^~ da`ng cho vie^.c di chuye^?n ca'c nha^n vie^n
DAO.
Ngoa.i Tru+o+?ng Kissinger no'i ra(`ng lo+`i ye^u ca^`u nhu+ va^.y la` dde^? cho
My~ co' ca'i �danh chi'nh ngo^n thua^.n� ra ddi.
Sau na`y ngu+o+`i ta mo+'i bie^'t ddu+o+.c To^?ng Tho^'ng Du+o+ng Va(n Minh dda~
go+?i co^ng ha`m no'i tre^n theo lo+`i ye^u ca^`u cu?a DDa.i Su+' Martin!
7. Mo^.t dde^m da`i vo^ ta^.n
DDe^m 29.4.1975, Tu+o+'ng Minh va`o ngu~ trong Dinh DDo^.c La^.p dde^? tra'nh
pha'o ki'ch.
O^ng Vu~ A'nh, Cha'nh Su+. Vu. So+? Tho+`i Su+. He^. Tho^'ng Truye^`n Thanh
Quo^'c Gia, lu'c ddo' ddang o+? dda`i pha't thanh Saigon, cho bie^'t tu+` mo^`ng
1 tha'ng tu+, theo le^.nh cu?a vi. He^. Tho^'ng Tru+o+?ng cuo^'i cu`ng cu?a He^.
Tho^'ng Truye^`n Thanh Quo^'c Gia la` Thie^'u Ta' Nguye^~n Va(n Tha(ng (Kho^ng
Qua^n), o^ng dda~ a(n ngu? ngay o+? trong DDa`i Pha't Thanh Saigon dde^? u+'ng
tru+.c va` ddie^`u ddo^.ng ca'c bie^n ta^.p vie^n la`m co^ng vie^.c trong ti`nh
hi`nh co' bie^'n ddo^.ng. Khoa?ng 4 gio+` sa'ng, khi o^ng vu+`a mo+'i cho+.p
ma('t mo^.t chu't, ngu+o+`i thu+ ky' tru+.c ba'o cho bie^'t co' ddie^.n thoa.i
cu?a To^?ng Tho^'ng Du+o+ng Va(n Minh trong va(n pho`ng He^. Tho^'ng Tru+o+?ng.
O^ng vo^.i cha.y va`o. DDa^`u da^y be^n kia tie^'ng cu?a Du+o+ng Va(n Minh:
- Qua la` Minh dda^y. Trong DDa`i ai la` ngu+o+`i cao ca^'p nha^'t va`o lu'c
na`y?
- Thu+a To^?ng Tho^'ng, kho^ng co' ai ngoa.i tru+` to^i, mo^.t so^' pho'ng
vie^n, bie^.n ta^.p vie^n va` nha^n vie^n ky~ thua^.t.
- Qua ho?i dde^? la` ho?i tho^i, gio+` na`y ho. bo? ddi he^'t ro^`i. Co' tin
tu+'c gi` mo+'i lie^n quan dde^'n To`a DDa.i Su+' Hoa Ky` tre^n nhu+~ng ba?n tin
vie^~n a^'n kho^ng?
To^i dda'p kho^ng, ngoa.i tru+` mo^.t ba?n tin ra^'t nga('n cu?a ha~ng tho^ng
ta^'n UPI cho bie^'t mo.i lie^n la.c giu+~a To`a DDa.i Su+' My~ va` chi'nh phu?
Vu~ Va(n Ma^~u bi. ca('t ddu+'t...
Lu'c ddo', Tu+o+'ng Minh chi? co`n hy vo.ng va`o Thu+o+.ng To.a Thi'ch Tri'
Quang, ngu+o+`i hu+'a se~ ddu+a ngu+o+`i �phi'a be^n kia� dde^'n thu+o+ng
lu+o+.ng dde^? tha`nh la^.p chi'nh phu? lie^n hie^.p. Thi?nh thoa?ng o^ng la.i
go.i ddie^.n thoa.i ho?i Thi'ch Tri' Quang ve^` ti`nh hi`nh lie^n la.c vo+'i
�phi'a be^n kia� nhu+ the^' na`o. Trung Tu+o+'ng Nguye^~n Hu+~u Co' ke^? la.i,
lu'c 4 gio+` 35 sa'ng 30.4.1975, Thi'ch Tri' Quang dda~ no'i vo+'i Du+o+ng Va(n
Minh qua ddie^.n thoa.i:
�Thu+a To^?ng Tho^'ng, cu~ng nhu+ To^?ng Tho^'ng la` to^i va^~n cho+` dde^'n
gio+` na^`y va` theo to^i nghi~ co' le~ vo+'i ti`nh the^` hie^.n ta.i, trong
su+' ma.ng cu?a to^i, ngu+o+`i ddu+'ng trung gian ba('c nhi.p ca^`u cu?a the^'
co+` chi'nh tri., co' the^? no'i la` cha^'m du+'t. Vo+'i tro.ng tra'ch la`
To^?ng Tho^'ng, ho+n nu+~a la` mo^.t DDa.i Tu+o+'ng, to^i nghi~ co^ng vie^.c
pha?i nho+` va`o ta`i qua^n su+. cu?a DDa.i Tu+o+'ng, chu+' gia?i pha'p chi'nh
tri. cu?a to^i coi nhu+ cha^'m du+'t, va` tu+` gio+` phu't na`y ne^'u co'
chuye^.n gi` xa^?y dde^'n thi` mo.i tra'ch nhie^.m dde^`u do To^?ng Tho^'ng, a`
que^n DDa.i Tu+o+'ng quye^'t ddi.nh vo+'i gia?i pha'p qua^n su+., ma` trong
la~nh vu+.c na`y DDa.i Tu+o+'ng ra^'t ra`nh va` gio?i ho+n to^i. Xin cha`o
To^?ng Tho^'ng...�
Du+o+ng Va(n Minh chi? tra? lo+`i go.n mo^.t ca^u: �Tha^`y gie^'t to^i ro^`i!�
va` cu'p ma'y ddie^.n thoa.i.
Lu'c ddo' la` 4 gio+` 45 phu't sa'ng.
Frank Snepp ke^? la.i, sau ddo' Tu+o+'ng Minh ddi ddi la.i la.i mo^.t ca'ch
bu+.c do.c (nervously) trong Dinh DDo^.c La^.p tro^'ng va('ng. DDoa`n su+' gia?
ddi thu+o+ng lu+o+.ng o+? Ta^n So+n Nhu+'t kho^ng tha^'y ve^`. Co' ngu+o+`i
khuye^n o^ng ne^n tuye^n bo^' dda^`u ha`ng vo^ ddie^`u kie^.n, nhu+ng o^ng
kho^ng ddo^`ng y'. O^ng no'i ra^'t nhie^`u ddo^`ng ba`o cu?a o^ng se~ khinh
o^ng. (Too many of his countrymen would think ill of him). O^ng muo^'n hoa?n
la.i chuye^.n na`y cho dde^'n khi no^.i ca'c ddu+o+.c tha`nh la^.p. Khi ddo' i't
ra nhu+~ng ngu+o+`i kha'c pha?i chia xe? su+. si? nhu.c.
8. Nhu+~ng gio+` tuye^.t vo.ng
Lu'c 5 gio+` 24 phu't, Kenneth Moorefield, tro+. ta' cu?a DDa.i Su+' Martin,
ngu+o+`i My~ cuo^'i cu`ng o+? Toa` DDa.i Su+' My~ dda~ ro+`i kho?i VN. O^ng ke^?
la.i ra(`ng tu+` cu+?a so^? cu?a ma'y bay, o^ng tha^'y nhie^`u ngu+o+`i VN di
ta?n ddang co`n ddo+.i o+? sa^n Toa` DDa.i Su+' o+? du+o+'i. O^ng pha't bie^?u
ca?m tu+o+?ng:
�Chu'ng to^i bay tre^n ba^`u tro+`i Saigon, to^i co^' ghi trong dda^`u mo^.t
a^'n tu+o+.ng cuo^'i cu`ng ve^` tha`nh pho^' lu'c ba^'y gio+`. To^i nho+' to^i
nghi~ no' gio'ng nhu+ mo^.t vu`ng ngoa.i o^ cu?a nu+o+'c My~. Ta^'t ca? dde^`u
pha(?ng la(.ng va` bi`nh ye^n, tru+` mo^.t va`i dda'm cha'y o+? dda`ng xa.�
Lu'c 8 gio+`, Tu+o+'ng Minh dde^'n Phu? Thu? Tu+o+'ng o+? so^' 7 ddu+o+`ng
Tho^'ng Nha^'t dde^? duye^.t la.i tha`nh pha^`n chi'nh phu? cu?a Vu~ Va(n Ma^~u
va` xem xe't ti`nh hi`nh. Tha`nh pha^`n chi'nh phu? mo+'i ddu+o+.c ta.m tho+`i
a^'n ddi.nh nhu+ sau:
To^?ng Tho^'ng: Du+o+ng Va(n Minh,
Pho' To^?ng Tho^'ng: Nguye^~n Va(n Huye^`n,
Chi'nh phu? Vu~ Va(n Ma^~u:
Thu? Tu+o+'ng: Vu~ Va(n Ma^~u,
Pho' Thu? Tu+o+'ng kie^m To^?ng Tru+o+?ng Quo^'c Pho`ng: Gia'o su+ Bu`i Tu+o+`ng
Hua^n.
Phu. Ta' To^?ng Tru+o+?ng Quo^'c Pho`ng: Trung Tu+o+'ng Nguye^~n Hu+~u Co'.
Bo^. Tru+o+?ng Tho^ng Tin: Ly' Qui' Chung,
Thu+' Tru+o+?ng Tho^ng Tin: Du+o+ng Va(n Ba,
Bo^. Tru+o+?ng Phu? Thu? Tu+o+'ng: Tha'i La(ng Nghie^m,
Bo^. Tru+o+?ng Tu+ Pha'p: Tra^`n Thu'c Linh,
To^?ng Gia'm DDo^'c CSQG: Lua^.t su+ Trie^.u Quo^'c Ma.nh.
Gia'o Su+ Bu`i Tu+o+`ng Hua^n, Pho' Thu? Tu+o+'ng kie^m To^?ng Tru+o+?ng Quo^'c
Pho`ng cu?a chi'nh phu? Vu~ Va(n Ma^~u, dda~ ke^? lui ke^? to+'i vo+'i chu'ng
to^i nhie^`u la^`n khi cu`ng bi. giam chung o+? tra.i Long Tha`nh sau nga`y
30.4.1975: Sa'ng 30.4.1975, khi ta^n No^.i Ca'c ho.p ta.i Dinh Thu? Tu+o+'ng
dde^? chua^?n bi. dde^'n Dinh DDo^.c La^.p la`m le^~ ra ma('t thi` Du+o+ng Va(n
Minh co' ba?o o^ng va` Trung Tu+o+'ng Nguye^~n Hu+~u Co', Phu. Ta' To^?ng
Tru+o+?ng Quo^'c Pho`ng, lie^n la.c vo+'i Bo^. To^?ng Tham Mu+u xem ti`nh hi`nh
qua^n su+. nhu+ the^' na`o. Tu+o+'ng Co' go.i ddie^.n thoa.i dde^'n Va(n Pho`ng
To^?ng Tham Mu+u Tru+o+?ng nhu+ng kho^ng ai tra? lo+`i. Mo^.t lu'c sau, co'
mo^.t ngu+o+`i nha^'c ddie^.n thoa.i le^n. Tu+o+'ng Co' ho?i anh ta la` ai. Anh
ta tra? lo+`i anh la` mo^.t Trung Si~ la`m vie^.c trong Bo^. To^?ng Tham Mu+u,
ddi ngang nghe ddie^.n thoa.i reo du+~ qua', anh dde^'n nha('c le^n xem co'
chuye^.n gi` kho^ng, vi` trong Va(n Pho`ng To^?ng Tham Mu+u kho^ng co`n ai ca?.
Tu+o+'ng Co' nho+` anh ta ra xem xung quanh co' si~ quan na`o cao ca^'p co`n
ddu+'ng ddo' kho^ng. Anh ta ddi mo^.t vo`ng thi` tha^'y co' cu+.u Chua^?n
Tu+o+'ng Nguye^~n Hu+~u Ha.nh. Anh lie^`n ba'o tin cho Tu+o+'ng Co' bie^'t.
Du+o+ng Va(n Minh nghe ddu+o+.c, lie^`n ba?o go.i cu+.u Chua^~n Tu+o+'ng Ha.nh
dde^'n no'i chuye^.n vo+'i o^ng. Khi no'i chuye^.n vo+'i Tu+o+'ng Ha.nh, Du+o+ng
Va(n Minh mo+'i bie^'t Tu+o+'ng Vi~nh Lo^.c, To^?ng Tham Mu+u Tru+o+?ng dda~ ddi
lu'c 5 gio+` 30 sa'ng ro^`i. Tu+o+'ng La^m Va(n Pha't, Tu+ le^.nh Bie^.t Khu
Thu? DDo^ cu~ng dda~ bie^'n ma^'t. Tu+o+'ng Minh ye^u ca^`u Tu+o+'ng Ha.nh
dde^'n Phu? Thu? Tu+o+'ng ngay.
9. Ye^u ca^`u �kho^ng no^? su'ng...�
Khoa?ng 9 gio+` 30, khi Tu+o+'ng Ha.nh dde^'n ba'o ca'o ti`nh hi`nh kho^ng co`n
gi` dde^? hy vo.ng nu+~a, Du+o+ng Va(n Minh ba`n vo+'i no^.i ca'c ro^`i quye^'t
ddi.nh dda^`u ha`ng. O^ng ye^u ca^`u dda`i pha't thanh Saigon cu+? ngu+`o+i sang
so^' 7 ddu+o+`ng Tho^'ng Nha^'t dde^? thu thanh mo^.t lo+`i hie^.u trie^.u ra^'t
quan tro.ng. O^ng Vu~ A'nh, Cha'nh Su+. Vu. So+? Tho+`i Su+. He^. Tho^'ng
Truye^`n Thanh Quo^'c Gia, ddang co' ma(.t o+? dda`i, dda~ cu+? pho'ng vie^n Le^
Phu' Bo^?n va` ky~ thua^.t vie^n Ho^` O^?n ddi la`m co^ng ta'c na`y.
Lo+`i ke^u go.i do Thu? Tu+o+'ng Vu~ Va(n Ma^~u soa.n tha?o, nhu+ng khi Tu+o+'ng
Minh ddo.c, vi` qua' xu'c ddo^.ng, bi. va^'p nhie^`u cho^~ pha?i thu ddi thu
la.i dde^'n 3 la^`n. Lu'c 10 gio+` 15, cuo^'n ba(ng na`y dda~ ddu+o+.c pha't
tre^n dda`i pha't thanh Saigon. To^?ng Tho^'ng Du+o+ng Va(n Minh ke^u go.i ca'c
lu+.c lu+o+.ng cu?a VNCH �kho^ng no^? su'ng va` o+? dda^u o+? ddo'� dde^? ba`n
giao chi'nh quye^`n cho Chi'nh phu? Ca'ch Ma.ng. Nguye^n va(n lo+`i ke^u go.i
ddo' nhu+ sau:
�DDu+o+`ng lo^'i chu? tru+o+ng cu?a chu'ng to^i la` ho`a gia?i va` ho`a ho+.p
da^n to^.c dde^? cu+'u sinh ma.ng ddo^`ng ba`o. To^i tin tu+o+?ng sa^u xa va`o
su+. ho`a gia?i cu?a ngu+o+`i VN dde^? kho?i thie^.t ha.i xu+o+ng ma'u cu?a
ngu+o+`i VN. Vi` le~ ddo', to^i ye^u ca^`u ta^'t ca? anh em chie^'n si~ VNCH
ha~y bi`nh ti~nh, kho^ng no^? su'ng va` o+? dda^u o+? ddo'. Chu'ng to^i cu~ng
ye^u ca^`u anh em chie^'n si~ Chi'nh phu? Ca'ch ma.ng La^m tho+`i Co^.ng ho`a
Mie^`n Nam VN ngu+ng no^? su'ng. Chu'ng to^i o+? dda^y cho+` ga(.p Chi'nh phu?
Ca'ch ma.ng La^m tho+`i Co^.ng ho`a Mie^`n Nam VN dde^? cu`ng nhau tha?o lua^.n
le^~ ba`n giao chi'nh quye^`n trong mo^.t tra^.t tu+., tra'nh ddo^? ma'u vo^
i'ch cu?a ddo^`ng ba`o�.
O^ng cu~ng ba?o Tu+o+'ng Ha.nh la^'y tu+ ca'ch Phu. Ta' To^?ng Tham Mu+u
Tru+o+?ng ddo.c nha^.t le^.nh ra le^.nh cho ta^'t ca? ca'c ddo+n vi. co`n la.i
buo^ng su'ng. Nha^.t le^.nh cu?a Tu+o+'ng Ha.nh nhu+ sau:
�To^?ng Tho^'ng dda~ quye^'t ddi.nh ba`n giao chi'nh quye^`n. Ye^u ca^`u ca'c
ddo+n vi. buo^ng su'ng, tru+.c tie^'p tie^'p xu'c vo+'i lu+.c lu+o+.ng cu?a
Chi'nh phu? Ca'ch Ma.ng La^m Tho+`i ddo^'i die^.n dde^? trao la~nh tho^?. Co^'
ga('ng tra'nh ddo^? ma'u.�
Sau ddo' Tu+o+'ng Minh va` no^.i ca'c tro+? ve^` Dinh DDo^.c La^.p dde^? ddo+.i
�phi'a be^n kia� va`o va` ba`n giao. Trong khi ddo', ca'c quan kha'ch dda~
ddu+o+.c mo+`i dde^'n Dinh DDo^.c La^.p tu+` 9 gio+` sa'ng dde^? du+. le^~ ra
ma('t chi'nh phu? mo+'i.
10. Tuye^n bo^' dda^`u ha`ng vo^ ddie^`u kie^.n
Lu'c 11 gio+` 30, chie^'c xe ta(ng CS dda^`u tie^n loa.i T-54 thuo^.c Lu+~
ddoa`n thie^'t gia'p 203 tie^'n tre^n dda.i lo^. Tho^'ng Nhu+'t ve^` phi'a Dinh
DDo^.c La^.p, u?i sa^.p mo^.t ca'nh co^?ng dda~ mo+? sa(~n theo le^.nh cu?a
Tu+o+'ng Du+o+ng Va(n Minh, sau khi ba('n hai pha't dda.i ba'c long tro+`i lo+?
dda^'t. Tie^'ng cha^n cha.y o^`n a`o trong dda.i sa?nh, co' tie^'ng dda.n le^n
no`ng, mo^.t kha^?u le^.nh vang le^n: �Mo.i ngu+o+`i ddi ra kho?i pho`ng ngay!�
Du+o+ng Va(n Minh la` ngu+o+`i bu+o+'c ra dda^`u tie^n, Thie^'u Ta' tu`y vie^n
Hoa Ha?i DDu+o+`ng ddi be^n ca.nh, phi'a sau la` Vu~ Va(n Ma^~u, Nguye^~n Va(n
Huye^`n... Nhie^`u bo^. ddo^.i o+? dda^`u kia dda.i sa?nh he't to: �Mo.i
ngu+o+`i gio+ hai tay le^n!�. Du+o+ng Va(n Minh, Vu~ Va(n Ma^~u va` ddoa`n tu`y
tu`ng nha^'t loa.t tua^n le^.nh. Mo^.t bo^. ddo^.i ye^u ca^`u Tu+o+'ng Minh chi?
cho ddu+o+`ng ddi le^n �dde^? ha. co+` ngu.y quye^`n�. Tu+o+'ng Minh ba?o Ly'
Qu'y Chung da^~n ddi.
Ta`i lie^.u cu?a Ha` No^.i cho bie^'t: Lu'c 11 gio+` 30 nga`y 30.4.1975, chie^'c
xe Jeep cu?a DDa.i U'y Pha.m Xua^n The^., Trung DDoa`n Pho' Trung DDoa`n bo^.
binh 66 thuo^.c Su+ DDoa`n 304, vo.t theo xe ta(ng cu?a DDa.i ddo^.i 4, Lu+~
ddoa`n thie^'t gia'p 203, do DDa.i ddo^.i tru+o+?ng Bu`i Quang Tha^.n chi? huy
tie^'n va`o tru+o+'c cu+?a Dinh DDo^.c La^.p. Trong lu'c DDa.i ddo^.i tru+o+?ng
Tha^.n le^n ke'o co+` gia?i pho'ng tre^n no'c Dinh DDo^.c La^.p, Trung ddoa`n
pho' The^. cu`ng vo+'i ca'c ca'n bo^. chie^'n si~ cu?a Trung ddoa`n xo^ng le^n
ga'c tie^'n va`o pho`ng ho.p no+i To^?ng tho^'ng Ngu.y quye^`n Du+o+ng Va(n Minh
va` toa`n bo^. no^.i ca'c co' ma(.t ddo^ng ddu?. Khi mo.i ngu+o+`i chu+a ki.p
la`m gi` tie^'p thi` Trung Ta' Bu`i Tu`ng, Chi'nh U?y Lu+~ DDoa`n Xe Ta(ng 203
to+'i. O^ng Minh tha^'y o^ng Tu`ng ngu+o+`i to cao thi` le^~ phe'p cha`o va`
no'i:
- Thu+a o^ng, chu'ng to^i ddo+.i ca'c o^ng va`o la^u ro^`i dde^? ba`n giao
chi'nh quye^`n.
Trung Ta' Tu`ng no'i:
- Ca'c o^ng la` ngu+o+`i ba.i tra^.n. Ca'c o^ng kho^ng co`n gi` dde^? ba`n giao
ma` chi? co' dda^`u ha`ng vo^ ddie^`u kie^.n.
O^ng Tu`ng buo^.c To^?ng Tho^'ng Du+o+ng Va(n Minh va` Thu? Tu+o+'ng Vu~ Va(n
Ma^~u dde^'n dda`i pha't thanh Saigon tuye^n bo^' dda^`u ha`ng vo^ ddie^`u
kie^.n. O^ng Vu~ Va(n Ma^~u no'i:
- Ne^'u ddu+a chu'ng to^i sang dda`i pha't thanh Saigon thi` pha?i co' xe bo.c
the'p ddu+a ddi, ne^'u kho^ng phe ddo^'i la^.p se~ ga^y nguy hie^?m cho chu'ng
to^i.
O^ng Bu`i Tu`ng no'i:
- Ba^y gio+` kho^ng co`n phe ddo^'i la^.p na`o o+? Saigon nu+~a, ma` toa`n la`
qua^n gia?i pho'ng.
Khi ra sa^n Dinh DDo^.c La^.p dde^? sang dda`i pha't thanh Saigon, o^ng Bu`i
Tu`ng ngo^`i xe thu+' hai, co`n o^ng Phan Va(n The^. va` o^ng Du+o+ng Va(n Minh
ngo^`i xe dda^`u. Khi hai o^ng va`o be^n trong dda`i pha't thanh thi` co^ coi
ma'y ghi a^m va^~n co`n ngo^`i ddo', nhu+ng ra^'t so+. ha~i, tay lo'ng co'ng
kho^ng the^? na`o ddie^`u khie^?n ma'y ghi a^m ddu+o+.c. Sinh vie^n pha?n
chie^'n Nguye^~n Hu+~u Tha'i pha?i ma^'t ho+n mo^.t tie^'ng mo+'i ti`m ra
ddu+o+.c o^ng Tra^`n Va(n Ba?ng, mo^.t ky~ thua^.t vie^n co' the^? va^.n ha`nh
ma'y ghi a^m va` dda`i. Ba?n tuye^n bo^' dda^`u ha`ng do Chi'nh Tri. Vie^n Bu`i
Tu`ng tha?o, o^ng Minh pha?i ddo.c va`o ma'y ghi a^m. Ky' gia? Borries Gallasch,
pho'ng vie^n to+` Der Spiegel cu?a DDu+'c, co' ma(.t ta.i pho`ng ghi a^m lu'c
ddo', dda~ ke^? la.i ra(`ng la^`n dda^`u tie^n o^ng Minh cha^`n chu+` vi`
ddu+o+.c ye^u ca^`u pha?i ddo.c: �To^i, Du+o+ng Va(n Minh, to^?ng tho^'ng chi'nh
quye^`n Saigon�. O^ng a^'y chi? muo^'n ddo.c: �To^i, dda.i tu+o+'ng Du+o+ng Va(n
Minh...�. Ho. tranh lua^.n qua la.i, nhu+ng Chi'nh Tri. Vie^n Bu`i Tu`ng kho^ng
nhu+o+.ng bo^.. Cuo^'i cu`ng o^ng Minh pha?i ddo.c: �To^i, dda.i tu+o+'ng
Du+o+ng Va(n Minh, to^?ng tho^'ng cu?a chi'nh quye^`n Saigon�.
Kho^ng bie^'t vi` ba?n vie^'t tay cu?a o^ng Bu`i Tu`ng kho' ddo.c hay vi` qua'
xu'c ddo^.ng, ma(.c da^`u ba?n tuye^n bo^' chi? co' va`i ha`ng, o^ng Minh ddo.c
sai nhie^`u la^`n. DDe^'n la^`n thu+' ba o^ng Minh cu~ng dda~ ddo.c xong ba?n
tuye^n bo^' dda^`u ha`ng vo^ ddie^`u kie^.n. Ba?n tuye^n bo^' na`y ddu+o+.c
pha't tre^n dda`i pha't thanh Saigon va`o lu'c 13 gio+` 30, nguye^n va(n nhu+
sau:
�To^i, DDa.i tu+o+'ng Du+o+ng Va(n Minh, To^?ng Tho^'ng chi'nh quye^`n Saigon,
ke^u go.i Qua^n Lu+.c VNCH ha. vu~ khi' dda^`u ha`ng kho^ng ddie^`u kie^.n qua^n
Gia?i Pho'ng Mie^`n Nam VN. To^i tuye^n bo^' chi'nh quye^`n Saigon tu+` trung
u+o+ng dde^'n ddi.a phu+o+ng pha?i gia?i ta'n hoa`n toa`n. Tu+` trung u+o+ng
dde^'n ddi.a phu+o+ng trao la.i cho Chi'nh phu? Ca'ch Ma.ng La^m Tho+`i Mie^`n
Nam VN�.
Lie^`n sau ddo', Thu? Tu+o+'ng Vu~ Va(n Ma^~u pha't bie^?u tru+.c tie^'p:
�Trong tinh tha^`n ho`a gia?i va` ho`a ho+.p da^n to^.c, to^i, Gia'o su+ Vu~
Va(n Ma^~u, Thu? Tu+o+'ng, ke^u go.i ta^'t ca? ca'c ta^`ng lo+'p ddo^`ng ba`o
ha~y vui ve? cha`o mu+`ng nga`y ho`a bi`nh cu?a da^n to^.c, va` tro+? la.i sinh
hoa.t bi`nh thu+o+`ng. Chuye^n vie^n cu?a ca'c co+ quan ha`nh chi'nh quay tro+?
ve^` vi. tri' cu~ du+o+'i su+. hu+o+'ng da^~n cu?a chi'nh quye^`n Ca'ch Ma.ng�.
Tie^'p theo la` lo+`i Chi'nh U?y Bu`i Tu`ng:
�Chu'ng to^i dda.i die^.n lu+.c lu+o+.ng qua^n Gia?i pho'ng mie^`n Nam VN long
tro.ng tuye^n bo^' Tha`nh pho^' Saigon dda~ ddu+o+.c gia?i pho'ng hoa`n toa`n,
cha^'p nha^.n su+. dda^`u ha`ng kho^ng ddie^`u kie^.n cu?a o^ng Du+o+ng Va(n
Minh, To^?ng Tho^'ng chi'nh quye^`n Saigon.�
Sau ddo', bo^. ddo^.i ddu+a Tu+o+'ng Du+o+ng Va(n Minh va` o^ng Vu~ Va(n Ma^~u
ve^` la.i Dinh DDo^.c La^.p.
11. Pho'ng thi'ch nho'm Du+o+ng Va(n Minh
To^'i 2.5.1975, Chi'nh phu? La^m Tho+`i Co^.ng Hoa` Mie^`n Nam VN to^? cu+'c
buo^?i tra? tu+. do cho nho'm Du+o+ng Va(n Minh ta.i Dinh DDo^.c La^.p. Trong
buo^?i le^~, Tu+o+'ng Tra^`n Va(n Tra`, Chu? Ti.ch U?y Ban Qua^n Qua?n Saigon,
dda~ pha't bie^?u:
�Trong cuo^.c chie^'n dda^'u la^u da`i na`y kho^ng co' ai la` ke? tha('ng ai la`
ke? ba.i. Toa`n qua^n va` toa`n da^n VN la` ngu+o+`i chie^'n tha('ng, chi? co'
dde^' quo^'c My~ xa^m lu+o+.c la` ke? chie^'n ba.i. Nha^n da^n VN la` da^n to^.c
duy nha^'t trong li.ch su+? nha^n loa.i dda~ dda'nh ba.i qua^n Mo^ng Co^?. Va`o
na(m 1954, chu'ng ta dda~ dda'nh ba.i Pha'p o+? DDie^.n Bie^n Phu?, va` nay
chu'ng ta dda~ dda'nh ba.i Hoa Ky`, nu+o+'c tu+. ha`o cho mi`nh la` hu`ng ma.nh
nha^'t the^' gio+'i. DDa^y la` nie^`m ha~nh die^.n chung cu?a ta^'t ca? nha^n
da^n VN chu'ng ta�.
Tu+o+'ng Du+o+ng Va(n Minh dda'p lo+`i:
�Nga`y ho^m nay, dda.i die^.n cho ca'c anh em co' ma(.t ta.i dda^y, to^i nhie^.t
lie^.t hoan nghe^nh su+. tha`nh co^ng cu?a Chi'nh phu? Ca'ch Ma.ng trong co^ng
cuo^.c va~n ho^`i ho`a bi`nh cho dda^'t nu+o+'c. Vo+'i ky? nguye^n mo+'i na`y,
to^i mong ra(`ng ta^'t ca? anh em co' ma(.t ta.i dda^y, cu~ng nhu+ ca'c ta^`ng
lo+'p ddo^`ng ba`o, se~ co' di.p ddo'ng go'p ti'ch cu+.c cho co^ng cuo^.c xa^y
du+.ng dda^'t nu+o+'c... To^i nghi~ ra(`ng vo+'i ha`nh ddo^.ng cu?a mi`nh, to^i
dda~ go'p pha^`n tra'nh mo^.t cuo^.c ddo^? ma'u vo^ i'ch cuo^'i cu`ng cho
Saigon. DDo' la` pha^`n ddo'ng go'p cu. the^? cu?a to^i trong cuo^.c chie^'n
dda^'u na`y. Rie^ng ca' nha^n to^i, ho^m nay to^i ra^'t ha^n hoan khi ddu+o+.c
60 tuo^?i, tro+? tha`nh mo^.t co^ng da^n cu?a mo^.t nu+o+'c VN ddo^.c la^.p�.
Ti'nh la.i, Du+o+ng Va(n Minh dda~ la`m To^?ng Tho^'ng chi? 36 tie^'ng ddo^`ng
ho^`: Nha^.n chu+'c va`o chie^`u 28 ta.i Dinh DDo^.c La^.p dde^'n tru+a
30.4.1975 dda~ tuye^n bo^' dda^`u ha`ng!
Chi? i't la^u sau, nho'm chu? tru+o+ng va` ddo`i ho?i �hoa` gia?i hoa` ho+.p�
vo+'i CS, ke^? ca? Tu+o+'ng Du+o+ng Va(n Minh, dda~ pha?i ne^'m mu`i dda('ng cay
cu?a �xa~ ho^.i chu? nghi~a�.
Lu+~ Giang
(19.5.1975)