 During the 1950s , Tung was a high @-@ ranking official in Nhu 's Cần Lao , a secret political apparatus which maintained the Ngô family 's grip on power , extorting money from wealthy businessmen . In 1960 , Tung was promoted directly to the rank of colonel and became the commander of the special forces . His period at the helm of South Vietnam 's elite troops was noted mostly for his work in repressing dissidents , rather than fighting the Viet Cong insurgents . His best @-@ known attack was the raid on Xá Lợi pagoda on 21 August 1963 , in which hundreds died or disappeared . 
