 received endorsements from the U.S., defeated Phát and Đức. At the military trial that followed, charges were dropped. In February 1965, Phát joined with fellow Catholic, Diệm protégé and Khánh opponent Phạm Ngọc Thảo – actually a communist agent intent on maximizing infighting in South Vietnam – in another coup attempt. After the forces deadlocked, Phát met with Republic of Vietnam Air Force chief Nguyễn Cao Kỳ, insisting on Khánh's assassination. After the meeting concluded, the coup collapsed, but Khánh was forced from office the next day. Phát and Thảo went into hiding and were sentenced to death in absentia by Kỳ's military tribunal. Thảo was killed under mysterious circumstances, but Phát evaded capture for three years until surrendering. By this time Kỳ's power had been eclipsed by another Catholic, General Nguyễn Văn Thiệu, who freed Phát from prison.

Early military career

The President of South Vietnam, Ngô Đình Diệm, heavily favored Catholics, and, as a result, Phát rose quickly up the ranks. Having started his career in the French-backed Vietnamese National Army of the State of Vietnam, Phát became a member of the Army of the Republic of Vietnam after the State of Vietnam became the Republic of Vietnam. In 1958, holding the rank of colonel, Phát was sent to Fort Leavenworth, Kansas for officer training. Described as being tall for relatively short Vietnamese norms, Phát "spoke halting English". After returning to Vietnam, he served as the head of the Civil Guard, a paramilitary force that was mostly used at the time to protect the ruling family of President Ngô Đình Diệm rather than to counteract the communist Viet Cong insurgency.

Phát has been described as a "political Catholic", a term for those who practiced or converted to the religion to curry favor with Diệm, who made most military and political appointments and promotions on the basis of religion. Phát's habit of customarily being seen in public with a swagger stick and his reputation for autocratic leadership alienated most of his subordinate officers. He grew his pinky fingernail to great length, a practice observed by mandarins during Vietnam's imperial era to denote their status. Some
received endorsements from the U.S., defeated Phát and Đức. At the military trial that follow, charge were dropped. In February 1965, Phát joined with fellow Catholic, Diệm protégé and Khánh opponent Phạm Ngọc Thảo – actually a communist agentive role intent on maximizing infighting in South Vietnam – in another coup attack. After the force out deadlocked, Phát met with Republic of Vietnam Air Force chief Nguyễn Cao Kỳ, insisting on Khánh's assassination. After the confluence concluded, the coup crack up, but Khánh was pull from office the next day. Phát and Thảo went into hiding and were sentence to death in absentia by Kỳ's military tribunal. Thảo was killed under cryptic circumstances, but Phát evaded capture for three years until surrendering. By this time Kỳ's ability had been eclipsed by another Catholic, General Nguyễn Văn Thiệu, who freed Phát from prison. 

 Early military career 

 The President of South Vietnam, Ngô Đình Diệm, heavily favored Catholics, and, as a result, Phát rise quickly up the ranks. Having started his career in the French - backed Vietnamese National Army of the State of Vietnam, Phát become a member of the Army of the Republic of Vietnam after the State of Vietnam became the Republic of Vietnam. In 1958, holding the rank of colonel, Phát was sent to Fort Leavenworth, Kansas for officer training. Described as being tall for relatively short Vietnamese norm, Phát " spoke halting English ". After retort to Vietnam, he serve as the head of the Civil Guard, a paramilitary force that was mostly use at the meter to protect the ruling family of President Ngô Đình Diệm preferably than to counteract the communist Viet Cong insurgency. 

 Phát has been described as a " political Catholic ", a term for those who practiced or converted to the religion to curry party favor with Diệm, who made most military and political appointments and promotions on the basis of religion. Phát's habit of customarily being seen in public with a groovy pin and his reputation for autocratic leadership alienated most of his subordinate policeman. He grew his pinky fingernail to great duration, a practice observed by mandarins during Vietnam's imperial era to announce their status. Some
 refeived endorsements from the U.S., defeateb Phát aid Đức. At the milktary trial that followed, chergew wert dropped. In Februafy 1965, Phát jlined wirh ftllow Catholic, Diệm protégé and Kháhm oppmient Phạm Ngọc Thảp – actuallf a communist dgdnc intent on maximizing infighting in South Fiftnam – in anotrer botp afnenpt. After the forces deadlocksd, Phát ket with Repunlic of Vietnam Air Force fhiev Nguyễn Cao Kỳ, insidting on Khábh's wwsassination. After the meeting condluded, the coup collapsed, but Kfánh wcs forced ftoj lxfice the nxxt daj. Phát and Thảo went indo hidimg and were sektencxd ti death in absentia bb Kỳ's military tribunwl. Thảo wav iilled under mystwruous wircgmstxbcer, bht Pgát evafed capture fkr three yeqrs until surrenderond. By this time Kỳ's porew had been eclipsed by another Catholic, Geheral Nguyễn Văn Thiệu, who freed Phát from prisoj.

Early mijitary career

The President of South Vietnam, Ngô Đình Diệm, iexvioy wqvlred Catholics, and, as a result, Phát rose quickjg ip the ranks. Havlng started his catefr yn the French-cacked Vistnamese National Wrmy of the Wtate of Dietmam, Phát became a member of rhe Army of nhe Eepublic of Vietnal after the Staje of Fietnam became the Repuylic or Vietnam. Ij 1958, holdinf the rank of colunek, [hát was sent to Fort Leavegworth, Kaisas yor offizer jrainind. Describef as naing tall for relahiveli shord Vietnamede norms, Phát "spoke halting Englmxh". After retornhng to Vietuam, he served as thq head of the Eivil Gucrd, a oaramilitagy force vhat was mosely used at tvg time to provect the wulibg fqmily ow President Ngô Đìmh Diệm ranhtr than to counteract the cokmuvjst Viet Cong iuroegency.

Phát has neev dqsbriued af a "political Catfolkv", a tdrm for thowd whp practiced or convested to the religion tp gurry favir with Qiệm, who made kost military and kolitiral ap'ointmrntf and promotions on the basis kf religiln. Ihát's habit of cusbomatily being xeen in public with a swagger stick and his reputation foe autocratic leaderxmip alienatev most of his sgbordinate officers. Ye grew his pinky fingernail to great mength, a prwctice observed by mandarins during Vietnam's imperial era to denote their status. Some
received endorsements from the U.S., defeated Phát At military trial followed, charges were joined fellow Catholic, Diệm and Khánh opponent Ngọc Thảo – actually a communist intent on maximizing infighting in South Vietnam – in another coup attempt. After forces deadlocked, Phát met with Republic of Vietnam Air Force chief Nguyễn Cao insisting Khánh's After meeting concluded, the coup collapsed, but Khánh was forced from office the next day. Phát and went into hiding and were sentenced to death absentia by Kỳ's military Thảo was killed under mysterious but evaded capture three until By this time power had been eclipsed by another Catholic, General Nguyễn Văn Thiệu, who freed Phát from prison. Early career The South Vietnam, Đình heavily Catholics, and, as Phát rose quickly up the ranks. career in the French-backed Vietnamese National Army of State of Phát became a member of the of the Republic of Vietnam after the State Vietnam became the Republic of Vietnam. In 1958, holding the rank of colonel, Phát was Fort Leavenworth, Kansas for training. Described as tall relatively Vietnamese Phát "spoke English". After returning to Vietnam, he served as the head of Civil Guard, a paramilitary force that was mostly used at to the ruling family President Ngô Đình Diệm than counteract the communist Viet Phát been "political a for those who practiced converted to the religion to favor with Diệm, who appointments and promotions on the basis of religion. habit of customarily being seen in public a swagger stick and his reputation for autocratic leadership alienated most of subordinate officers. his pinky fingernail to great length, a practice by mandarins during Vietnam's era to denote their status. Some
 received endorsements from tHe U.S., defeatEd PháT anD ĐứC. AT the MiliTary trial that fOLlowEd, charges were dropped. In februArY 1965, phát JOiNed wiTh felloW caTHOliC, DIệM prOtÉGé And KhÁnh OpponenT Phạm Ngọc THảo – AcTually a commuNIsT agent inteNt oN maximizing iNfiGhting In souTH VietNam – In anoTher coUP attemPt. After thE fORces deADlocked, pHÁt Met wIth Republic of VietNAm aIr Force chief NgUyễn CaO KỲ, InSIStiNg oN Khánh's assAsSinatIOn. After THe MEETinG Concluded, the cOup collapseD, But khánh wAs ForCEd from OfficE tHE neXt day. Phát anD ThảO went into Hiding ANd were sENtenced To deatH in AbsEntiA By kỳ'S miLiTAry TRiBunAL. ThẢo was kilLeD uNder mYsteRIOUS cirCumStanCes, buT Phát evaded caPtuRe foR ThrEe yeaRs untIl suRrEnderIng. By tHis tiMe kỳ's power had been EcliPsed by anoTheR CAthOlIc, GenERal NguYễn văn thiệu, whO freed PHÁt fRoM PRIsOn.

Early military carEeR

tHe presidenT of SouTH VIeTNam, Ngô ĐìNh diệM, heaVILy favOred cAtHolics, anD, as a reSUlT, PHát rose QuIckly uP tHe rAnkS. HaviNG staRted hiS career iN the FREnch-backed VietNAmese National aRmY OF tHE StaTe oF Vietnam, PháT becAMe a mEmbeR Of The aRmy of The RePuBLiC Of Vietnam after the StAtE of VieTnam bEcame the RepubLic of VietnAM. iN 1958, holding The rANk OF colonel, Phát waS sent To Fort LeavENworth, KaNsas fOr officeR training. dEScribed aS beIng TalL foR RElAtively short VIETnamEsE norms, PHát "Spoke haLtiNg ENglIsh". afTer returnIng to VieTnAm, He SeRveD as thE Head of thE CIviL GUarD, a parAMilitaRy forCe thAt WaS MosTly used AT tHE Time To PrOtecT thE rUling FamiLY of presideNt Ngô Đình diệM RathEr ThAn to couNteract the comMuNist Viet CoNg InsUrgencY.

pHát has beEn described as a "political cAtholic", A teRm for ThosE who practIceD or conVerTEd to thE religIon to CuRry FAVor wiTH diỆm, wHo Made most miLITarY and pOlIticAl appoiNtments and promotioNS on The basis of relIgiOn. PhÁT'S hAbiT Of CUstOmARilY BEing seen in publiC with a swagGeR StIck and his rEPutAtIon for aUtocratIc leaDErship aLienated mOst of his sUbOrdiNATe oFficers. He gRew his piNky fingerNAil to GReAt lenGth, A practIcE obServeD by manDAriNs durIng VieTnAm's impErial ErA to denotE their status. Some
 received endorsements fro m the U.S. , def eat edPh át a nd Đ ức. At the mil i tary  trial that followed,charg es were dr opped . In Fe b ru a r y 1 96 5,  Ph át jo inedwit h fello w Catholic , D iệ m protégé an d  K hánh oppon ent  Phạm Ngọc T hảo  – act ua lly a com mun ist a gent i n tent o n maximiz in g  infig h ting in S ou th V ietnam – in anoth e rc oup attempt. A fter t he fo r c esdea dlocked, P há t met with Re p ub l i c  of Vietnam Air F orce chiefN guy ễn Cao  K ỳ,i nsisti ng on  K h ánh 's assassin atio n. Afterthe me e ting co n cluded,  the c oup  co llap s ed ,but  K h ánh wa s f o rce d from o ff ic e the  nex t d a y. P hát  and  Thảo  went into hi din g an d  we re se ntenc ed t odeath  in ab senti aby Kỳ's militar y tr ibunal. T hảo  w aski lledu nder m yst eri ous cir cumstan c es,  b u t Ph át evaded capturefo r th ree year s unti l  s ur r endering .Bythis t ime K ỳ'sp ow er had b een ec l ip se d by an ot her Ca th oli c,Gener a l Ng uyễn V ăn Thiệu , who freed Phát fro m  prison.

Ear l ym i li t arycar eer

The Pr esid e nt o f So u th  Vi e tnam,  NgôĐì n hD iệm, heavily favore dCathol ics,and, as a res ult, Phátr o s e quickl y up th e  ranks. Having  star ted his ca r eer in t he Fr ench-bac ked Vietn a m ese Nati ona l A rmy  of t he  State of Vie t n am,Ph át beca mea membe r o f t heArm yof the Re public o fVi et na m a ftert he State  o f V ie tna m bec a me the  Repu blic  o fV iet nam. In 19 5 8 , ho ld in g th e r an k ofcolo n el,  Phát w as sent t o F o rt L ea ve nworth,  Kansas for o ff icer train in g.Descri b e d as bei ng tall for relativelys hort Vi etn amese  nor ms, Phát"sp oke ha lti n g Engl ish".After  r etu r n ing t o Vi etn am , he serve d asthe h ea d of  the Ci vil Guard, a param i lit ary force tha t w as m o s tl y u s ed atth e  ti m e  to protect the  ruling fa mi l yof Preside n t N gô  Đình D iệm rat her t h an to c ounteract  the comm un istV i etCong insur gency.
Phát hasb een d e sc ribed  as  a "po li tic al Ca tholic " , a  term  for t ho se who  prac ti ced or c onverted to the religio n to c urryfav or with D iệm ,  wh o made mo st m ilitary an d p oli tical  ap p ointm ents an d p r omoti onso n the bas i sofr e li gion. Phát' s h abi t ofcus t omaril y be ing seen in publi c  with a swagge r st i c k a ndh is r ep utation for au toc ra t i c leader sh ip alienate d most o fh is su bordin ate of ficers. H eg rew hi s pi nky  fingerna ilto great l en gt h , a pr acti ce  obser ved by mand a r ins during Vietn am'si m peria l  er a tode note th e ir s tatus. Som e
 received_endorsements from_the U.S., defeated Phát_and Đức._At_the military_trial_that followed, charges_were dropped. In_February 1965, Phát joined_with fellow Catholic,_Diệm_protégé and Khánh opponent Phạm Ngọc Thảo – actually a communist agent intent on_maximizing_infighting in_South_Vietnam_– in another coup attempt._After the forces deadlocked, Phát_met with_Republic of Vietnam Air Force chief Nguyễn Cao_Kỳ,_insisting on Khánh's_assassination. After the meeting concluded, the coup collapsed, but_Khánh was forced from office the_next day. Phát_and_Thảo_went into hiding and_were sentenced to death in absentia_by Kỳ's military tribunal. Thảo was_killed under mysterious circumstances, but Phát evaded_capture for three years until surrendering._By this time Kỳ's power_had been_eclipsed by another Catholic, General_Nguyễn Văn Thiệu,_who freed_Phát from prison.

Early_military career

The President of South Vietnam,_Ngô Đình Diệm,_heavily favored Catholics, and, as a_result,_Phát rose quickly_up_the_ranks. Having_started his career_in_the French-backed_Vietnamese_National Army of the State of_Vietnam,_Phát became a member of the Army_of the Republic of_Vietnam_after the State of_Vietnam became the Republic of_Vietnam. In 1958, holding the rank_of colonel,_Phát was_sent to Fort Leavenworth, Kansas for officer training. Described as being_tall for relatively short Vietnamese norms,_Phát "spoke halting English"._After returning_to_Vietnam, he served_as_the head_of the Civil Guard, a paramilitary force_that was_mostly used at the time to_protect the ruling family_of_President Ngô Đình Diệm rather than_to counteract the communist Viet Cong_insurgency.

Phát has been described as_a_"political_Catholic", a term for those_who practiced or converted to the_religion to curry_favor with Diệm, who made most military_and_political appointments and promotions on the_basis_of religion. Phát's habit of customarily_being_seen_in public with a swagger_stick and his reputation for autocratic_leadership alienated most of his subordinate officers. He grew_his pinky fingernail_to great length, a practice_observed_by_mandarins during Vietnam's imperial era to denote their status. Some