HISTORY OF THE SOUTH VIETNAMESE MARINE CORPS

The Marine Corps

at the beginning of its formation

Brigadier General Tran Van Nhut

The Marine Corps was formed in 1.10.1954.

1. The first unit had a french name: “Premier Bataillon de l'Infanterie Marine”, which was abbreviated to 1er BIM. The Battalion was made of a number of Commando Companies which had moved south to Nha Trang after the Geneva Accords. The Battalion Commander was a French Captain by the name of Delayen, who went on to become a general whilst fighting in Chad, Africa. He later retired and moved to America. The Executive Officer was Captain Bui Pho Chi.

2. A company named Corp Franc, commanded by Second Lieutenant Tran Van Nhut, was not part of the 1er BIM, but fell under the orders of the Marine Infantry of the Vietnamese Navy Headquarters in Saigon. Its staff was composed of:

Lieutenant Colonel Le Quang Trong - Commander.

Major Pham Van Lieu - Executive Officer

Captain Nguyen Kien Huong Giang - Chief of S1.

Captain Le Nguyen Khang - Chief of S4.

3. Two Riverine Companies commanded by Captain Nguyen Kien Hung and Captain Khu Duc Hung. These two companies were later dissolved.

Captain Bui Pho Chi became the Battalion Commander in 1955 when Captain Delayen and another French Captain by the name of Breckinridge moved to TRIM Group - a training unit.

In January 1956 Captain Nguy Van Thanh became the Commander of the 1st Marine Battalion. Two Company commanders at that time were promoted to the rank of General: Major General Bui The Lan and Brigadier General Tran Van Nhut. The Chief of S3 at that time, First Lieutenant Nguyen Ba Lien, also became Brigadier General.

Four platoon leaders became Colonel: Colonel Pham Van Chung, Colonel Ngo Van Dinh, Colonel Do Ky, Colonel Le Dinh Que.

In April 1956, the Marine Infantry of the Vietnamese Navy changed its name to the Vietnamee Marine Corps of the Navy.

After Lieutenant Colonel Le Quang Trong, the successive Commanders were: Major Pham Van Lieu, Captain Bui Pho Chi, and Major Le Nhu Hung. Each of them commanded the Group for a short period.

From 1960, Captain Le Nguyen Khang became Commander of the Marine Group which was composed of:

The 1st Marine Battalion, commanded by Captain Tran Van Nhut. The 2nd Marine Battalion, commanded by Captain Nguyen Thanh Yen.

Brigadier General Tran Van Nhut

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