As a colonel , he was the first commander of the 1st Division , which was based in the northernmost regions of South Vietnam near the border , from May 1 1955 until December 15 , when he was replaced by Colonel Nguyễn Khánh , who later led the country.Tucker , pp. 526 &ndash; 533 . He served as the commander of III Corps , which oversaw the region of the country surrounding the capital Saigon , from 5 May 1960 until 7 December 1962 , when he was replaced by Major General Tôn Thất Đính . He was transferred to serve as the commander of I Corps , which oversaw the northernmost part of the country , from 7 December 1962 until August 1963 the next year , when he was replaced by Major General Đỗ Cao Trí . On the same night , I Corps forces took part in the Xá Lợi Pagoda raids
Xá Lợi Pagoda raids
Xá Lợi Pagoda raids
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