Nguyen Van Troi

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Nguyễn Văn Trỗi (1947 ^[1] – October 15, 1964) was a Vietnamese electrical worker and Viet Cong urban guerrilla. He became known after being captured by the South Vietnamese when trying to assassinate United States Secretary of Defense Robert McNamara and ambassador Henry Cabot Lodge, Jr. who were visiting South Vietnam in May 1963. ^[2]

Sentenced to death by firing squad, Nguyen Van Troi got a brief reprieve after Venezuela's Castroite FALN kidnapped United States Air Force Lieutenant Colonel Michael Smolen threatened to kill him if Troi was executed. Smolen was released unharmed, and Nguyen Van Troi was executed shortly after. ^[3]

Nguyen Van Troi became the first publicly executed Viet Cong member. ^[4] His execution was filmed, and he remained defiant to the end. He was instantly glorified by the Viet Cong and North Vietnam and became a Vietnamese martyr and folk hero to left-wing groups all over the world. His last words were: "Long live Ho Chi Minh!". Troi's wife Phan Thi Quyen published the 1965 book Nguyen Van Troi As He Was. ^[5]

His legacy is celebrated by various honors. In Vietnam, a major street in Ho Chi Minh City is named after him, as well as a school (Lycée Nguyen Van Troi, in Nha Trang) and an award (The Nguyen Van Troi Prize). In Cuba, a primary school in Bayamo and Estadio Nguyen Van Troi in Guantánamo are named in his honor.

[edit] References

^ Staff report (October 16, 1964). Another Nasty Stunt. Time. Article describes him as age 17 at the time of his execution.
^ Greene, Felix Greene (1966). Vietnam! Vietnam! In photographs and text. Palo Alto, California: Fulton Publishing Company, LCCN 66-28359
^ Staff report. (October 23, 1964). Suggestions, Anyone? Time
^ Reuters (October 15, 1964). Saigon Executes Youth For Plot on McNamara. New York Times
^ Phan Thi Quyen (c. 1965). Nguyen van troi tel qu'il etait (edited by Tran Dinh Van). Hanoi: Editions en langues etrangeres. F8HG.4/P535T