ARVN: Reflections and Reassessments After 30 Years

March 17-18, 2006

Conference Agenda

Thursday, March 16, 2006

7:00-8:30 PM - Reception (cash bar with light hoers d'oeuvres)

Friday, March 17, 2006

8:00 AM - Opening Remarks

8:15-9:15 AM - Special Keynote Speaker
- Dr. Lewis Sorley, “The Army of the Republic of Vietnam: A Retrospective Evaluation”

9:20-10:20 AM - Session 1: The History of ARVN: An Overview
- Mr. Stephen Sherman and Mr. Bill Laurie: “A Brief Overview of the Vietnam National Army and the Republic of Vietnam Armed Forces (1952-1975)"
- Moderated by Mr. Stephen Maxner, The Vietnam Center

10:20-10:30 AM - Coffee Break

10:30-12:00 PM - Session 2: Early Assessments of ARVN
- Dr. Geoffrey Shaw: “Sir Robert Thompson and the ARVN: Perspectives from a British Counter-Insurgency Expert.”
- Triet Minh Nguyen, “Army of the Republic of Viet Nam, 1954-1963: At War and In Politics”
- Mr. Tin Nguyen: “The Truth about the Battle at Plei Me, November 1965”
- Moderated by Dr. Mark Moyar, USMC Command and Staff College

12:00-1:15 PM - Lunch: Special Guest Speaker - Dr. Nguyen Ngoc Bich: "Some Vietnam War Issues Revisited: The Role PLayed by ARVN."

1:30-3:00 PM – Session 3: ARVN Tested: Nixon, Protest, and Lam Son 719
- Mr. Tuan Hoang, “Economic Deprivation, Diminished Manhood, and Anti-Americanism: The Protest Movement of ARVN Disabled Veterans, 1970-1971.”
- Mr. Brian Robertson: “ARVN from the Viewpoint of White House: Nixon's Gamble For Peace, 1969-1971”
- Dr. Andrew Wiest: “ARVN Put to the Test: Reflections on Operation Lam Son 719.”
- Moderated by Dr. James Willbanks, US Army Command and General Staff COllege

3:00-3:15 PM – Coffee Break

3:15-4:45 PM - Session 4: The Regular and Irregular Forces of Vietnam: Rangers, Marines, and the RFPF
- Hieu Dinh Vu: “Republic of Vietnam Army Rangers”
- Tran Ngoc Toan: “The Vietnamese Marines and the Binh Gia Front”
- Mr. James Donovan: “Marine Corps Counterinsurgency and Pacification Efforts in Vietnam – Combining Popular Forces and Marines”
- Moderated by Dr. Ron Milam, Texas Tech University

6:00-7:00 PM - Reception (cash bar with light hoers d'oeuvres)

7:00 PM - Banquet
Special Guest Speaker: ARVN Lieutenant General Lu Lan

Saturday, March 18, 2006

8:00-9:00 AM – Session 5A: ARVN and the Eastertide Offensive
- Mr. Darrell Whitcomb and Mr. Nguyen Van Kiet: “ARVN and the Rescue of BAT 21.”

9:15-10:45 AM - Session 5B: ARVN and the Eastertide Offensive
- Dr. James Willbanks: “South Vietnamese Combat Performance: A Case Study.”
- Mr. Jason Stewart: “ARVN General Vu Van Giai and the Easter Offensive in I Corps.”
- Mr. An Hoang Le: “Dien Bien Phu and An Loc: A comparison and contrast”
- Moderated by Dr. Andrew Wiest

10:45-11:00 AM – Coffee Break

11:00 AM-12:00 PM - Session 6: “The Historic Sea Battle of the Paracels between Vietnam and China, 1974”
- CPT Kiem Do, Deputy Chief of Staff for Operations VN Navy; ISG Lead, Louisiana
- LCDR Cam Tran VNN, Special Forces (PT Boat Squadron); Military writer, Texas.”
- Moderated by Dr. James Reckner, THe Vietnam Center

12:00-1:15 PM - Lunch: Special Guest Speaker: The Honorrable Mr. Geoff Connor, Former Texas Secretary of State

1:30-3:00 PM - Session 7: The Death of the South Vietnamese Army
- CPT Kiem Do, Deputy Chief of Staff for Operations VN Navy; ISG Lead, Louisiana
- Hai Trieu ex-ARVN member; Military writer, author from Vancouver, Canada
- Nguyen The Tien, ex professor at Hanoi & Saigon Polytechnic College under Communist regime, from Vancouver, Canada
- Moderated by Mr. Jay Veith

3:00-3:15 PM – Coffee Break

3:15-4:45 PM - Session 8: The Aftermath of the War
- Vinh M. Tran: “Operation New Life: Guam, The First Step in a Long Journey.”
- COL Mai Viet Triet: “The Vietnamese Experience in France after the Fall of Saigon.”
- Dr. Phil Beidler: “The Invisible ARVN: The South Vietnamese Soldier in American Representations of the Vietnam War”
- Moderated by Mr. Stephen Maxner, The Vietnam Center

4:45-5:30 PM – Closing Remarks and General Conference Discussion

6:30 PM – Bus departs Hotel for BBQ Dinner at 4-BAR-K Ranch

6:45-8:45 PM – BBQ Dinner and West Texas Entertainment at the 4-BAR-K Ranch

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