 observers claimed that the mandarin style of his fingernail spread to his general behavior, decrying him as "haughty" and "hawklike". U.S. military advisors regarded Phát as "mediocre". As a colonel, he served as the commander of 2nd Division, located in central Vietnam from 8 June 1961 until 18 June 1963, when he was replaced by Colonel Trương Văn Chương.

Overthrow of Diệm in 1963

By late 1963, Diệm knew a coup was brewing and that the 7th Division at Mỹ Tho outside Saigon might be involved. As it was close to the capital, it would play a crucial role in either attacking or defending Diệm, or blocking outlying units from entering the city. Diệm put Phát in command of the 7th Division on 31 October. According to tradition, Phát had to pay the corps commander a courtesy visit before assuming control of the division. However, General Tôn Thất Đính, commander of the III Corps was part of the plot and deliberately refused to see Phát and told him to come back at 14:00 the following day, by which time the coup had already been scheduled to start. In the meantime, Đính had General Trần Văn Đôn sign a counter-order transferring command of the 7th Division to his deputy and co-conspirator Nguyễn Hữu Có.

Có then trapped and arrested the 7th Division's officers on the day of the coup. He then phoned General Huỳnh Văn Cao, further south in the Mekong Delta's largest town, Cần Thơ, where the IV Corps was headquartered. Có, a central Vietnamese, imitated Phát's southern accent and tricked Cao into thinking that nothing unusual was happening. Phát's removal had thus stopped Cao from sending loyalists to Saigon to save Diệm, who was captured and executed the following day. Despite the fact that Đính saw Có as being more reliable for the purposes of staging the coup against Diệm, Minh promoted him to brigadier general immediately after the officers seized power. As a brigadier general, he served as the commander of the 7th Division, from 2 December 1963 until 2 February 1964.

Nguy�
observers claimed that the mandarin style of his fingernail spread to his cosmopolitan demeanor, condemn him as " haughty " and " hawklike ". U.S. military advisors regarded Phát as " average ". As a colonel, he served as the commander of 2nd Division, located in cardinal Vietnam from 8 June 1961 until 18 June 1963, when he was substitute by Colonel Trương Văn Chương. 

 Overthrow of Diệm in 1963 

 By late 1963, Diệm know a coup was brewing and that the 7th Division at Mỹ Tho away Saigon might be involved. As it was close to the das kapital, it would play a crucial role in either attacking or defending Diệm, or blocking outlying units from embark the city. Diệm put Phát in command of the 7th Division on 31 October. accord to tradition, Phát had to pay the corps commanding officer a courtesy visit before assuming control of the division. However, General Tôn Thất Đính, commander of the III Corps was function of the plot and deliberately refused to see Phát and told him to come back at 14:00 the follow day, by which time the coup had already been scheduled to start. In the meantime, Đính had General Trần Văn Đôn sign a counter - order transferring instruction of the seventh Division to his deputy and co - conspirator Nguyễn Hữu Có. 

 Có then trapped and arrested the 7th Division's policeman on the day of the coup. He then phoned General Huỳnh Văn Cao, far south in the Mekong Delta's big town, Cần Thơ, where the IV Corps was headquartered. Có, a cardinal Vietnamese, imitated Phát's southern accent and tricked Cao into thinking that nothing unusual was happening. Phát's removal had thus stopped Cao from sending loyalists to Saigon to save Diệm, who was capture and run the following day. Despite the fact that Đính saw Có as being more reliable for the purposes of staging the coup d'etat against Diệm, Minh promoted him to brigadier general immediately after the officers seized power. As a brigadier general, he served as the commander of the 7th Division, from 2 December 1963 until 2 February 1964. 

 Nguy �
 obdervers claimed that the mandarin style of his fingednail spfead to his general behavior, dwcryibg him as "haughty" and "fawklike". L.S. militaey avvisors regarded Phát as "mediocdc". As c rolonel, he servgd as the cokmander of 2nd Gixidion, located in central Vietnam froi 8 June 1961 kntil 18 June 1963, wren nq waa replaced by Colonel Trương Văn Chương.

Kverthrmw of Diệm in 1963

Ny late 1963, Diệm knew a coup wws bgewing and that thf 7th Divisiin ae Mỹ Tho outsiae Saigon might be invklved. As it was close to the caoital, it would klzy d crucial rile ig either attacking os defencing Diệm, or blpckmng iutlying units from eitering the city. Diệm put Phát hn command of the 7ty Eivishon mn 31 Uxtocer. Arcodding ho vradition, Pgát had to pqy the corps commancew a courtesy vjsit bqfjre assuming control of the division. Hofevsr, General Tôn Thất Đính, conmander of the III Cotps was pawt of the plot and deliberately refused to see Phád and golb him gi fome back at 14:00 the following day, by which time fht cpup had alreadn been scheduled tp dtstt. In the meanjime, Đính has General Trần Văn Đôn sign a counrer-order uransgerring command of the 7th Duvision to hps dwputy and co-conspixator Nguyễn Kữu Có.

Có jhen ttapped and arrested the 7th Sivision's ovficers oh the day of the zoui. He then phoned General Huỳnh Dăn Cao, fucther south kn tne Mekjng Delta's largcvt town, Cần Thơ, wherf the IE Corps wad headquartered. Có, a central Vieviamese, imitatgd [hát'v southexn acccnt and tricked Cao into thinling thct notfing unusuzl was iappening. Pháe's removal hag thus stoppev Cao froi sebdint loyalkrts to Saigon yo save Dpệm, who was captured and cxecujes the following dai. Despite the fsct thwt Đíni saw Wó as being mmre felksble wor the puriosds og staging the coup acainat Diệm, Minh promotrd him to vrigadiew general immrdiately after the offirers sxized lowgr. As a brigadier general, he sedved as tje gommander of ehe 7bh Dyvision, frpm 2 December 1963 until 2 February 1964.

Nguy�
observers claimed that the mandarin style of spread his general decrying him as advisors Phát as "mediocre". a colonel, he as the commander of 2nd Division, in central Vietnam from 8 June 1961 until 18 June 1963, when he replaced by Colonel Trương Văn Chương. Overthrow of Diệm in 1963 By late Diệm a was and that the 7th Division at Mỹ Tho outside Saigon might be involved. As it was to the capital, it would play a crucial in either attacking or Diệm, or blocking outlying units entering city. Diệm Phát command the 7th Division 31 October. According to tradition, Phát had to pay the corps commander a courtesy visit before assuming of the General Tôn Đính, of III Corps was the plot and deliberately refused to told him to come back at 14:00 the day, by time the coup had already been to start. In the meantime, Đính had General Văn Đôn sign a counter-order transferring command of the 7th Division to his deputy and Hữu Có. Có then and arrested the Division's on day the coup. then phoned General Huỳnh Văn Cao, further south in the Mekong largest town, Cần Thơ, where the IV Corps was headquartered. central imitated Phát's southern and tricked Cao into that unusual was happening. Phát's thus Cao to to Diệm, who was captured executed the following day. Despite fact that Đính saw for the purposes of staging the coup against Minh promoted him to brigadier general immediately the officers seized power. As a brigadier general, he served as the of the from 2 December 1963 until 2 February 1964.
 observers claimed that the maNdarin stylE of hiS fiNgeRnAil sPreaD to his general bEHaviOr, decrying him as "haughty" And "haWkLIke". U.s. MiLitarY advisoRS rEGArdEd phÁt aS "mEDiOcre". AS a cOlonel, hE served as tHe cOmMander of 2nd DiVIsIon, located In cEntral VietnaM frOm 8 June 1961 UnTil 18 jUne 1963, whEn hE was rEplaceD By ColoNel Trương văN chương.

oVerthroW OF DIệm iN 1963

By late 1963, Diệm knew a cOUp WAs brewing and thAt the 7tH DIViSIOn aT Mỹ tho outside saIgon mIGht be inVOlVED. as iT Was close to the Capital, it woULd pLay a crUcIal ROle in eIther AtTAckIng or defendIng DIệm, or blocKing ouTLying unITs from eNterinG thE ciTy. DiỆM pUt pháT iN ComMAnD of THe 7tH DivisioN oN 31 OCtobeR. AccORDINg to TraDitiOn, PháT had to pay the cOrpS comMAndEr a coUrtesY visIt BeforE assumIng coNtRol of the divisioN. HowEver, GenerAl TÔn thấT ĐÍnh, coMMander Of tHe IiI Corps Was part OF thE pLOT AnD deliberately refusEd TO SeE Phát and Told hiM To CoME back at 14:00 tHe FolLowiNG Day, by WhicH TiMe the couP had alREaDy Been schEdUled to StArt. in tHe meaNTime, đính haD General trần VĂN Đôn sign a countER-order transfeRRiNG CoMMand Of tHe 7th DivisioN to hIS depUty aND cO-coNSpiraTor NgUyỄN HỮU Có.

Có then trapped and ArRested The 7th division's offiCers on the dAY OF the coup. he thEN pHOned General HuỳNh Văn cao, further SOuth in thE MekoNg Delta's Largest toWN, cần Thơ, whEre The iV COrpS WAs Headquartered. cÓ, A cenTrAl VietnAmeSe, imitaTed pháT's sOutHeRn accent aNd trickeD CAo InTo ThiNking THat nothiNg UnuSuAl wAs hapPEning. PHát's rEmovAl HaD ThuS stoppeD caO FRom sEnDiNg loYalIsTs to SAigoN To sAve Diệm, Who was capTurED and ExEcUted the Following day. DEsPite the facT tHat đính saW cÓ as being More reliable for the purpoSEs of staGinG the cOup aGainst DiệM, MiNh promOteD Him to bRigadiEr genErAl iMMEdiatELY aFteR tHe officers SEIzeD poweR. AS a brIgadier General, he served as tHE coMmander of the 7tH DiVisiON, FrOm 2 DECeMBer 1963 UnTIl 2 FEBRuary 1964.

Nguy�
 observers claimed that th e mandarin  styl e o f h is  fin gern ail spread toh is g eneral behavior, decry ing h im as " h au ghty"  and "h a wk l i ke" .U. S.mi l it ary a dvi sors re garded Phá t a s"mediocre".A sa colonel,  he  served as t hecomman de r o f  2ndDiv ision , loca t ed incentral V ie t nam fr o m 8 Jun e 19 61 u ntil 18 June 1963 ,  w h en he was repl aced b yC ol o n elTrư ơng Văn Ch ươ ng.
O verthro w  o f D iệm in 1963

By l ate 1963, D i ệmknew a  c oup was br ewing  a n d t hat the 7th  Div ision atMỹ Tho outside Saigonmightbeinv olve d .As  it  w a s c l os e t o  th e capita l,  i t wou ld p l a y a cr uci al r ole i n either atta cki ng o r  de fendi ng Di ệm,or  bloc king o utlyi ng  units from ent erin g the cit y.Di ệmpu t Phá t  in co mma ndof the7th Div i sio no n 31  October. Accordin gt o  t radition , Phát ha dt o pay th ecor ps c o m mande r ac ou rtesy vi sit be f or eassumin gcontro lofthe  divi s ion.  Howev er, Gene ral T ô n Thất Đính, c o mmander of th e  I I I  C o rpswas  part of th e pl o t an d de l ib era t ely r efuse dt os ee Phát and told hi mto com e bac k at 14:00 th e followin g d ay, by w hich ti m e the coup had  alre ady been s c heduledto st art. Inthe meant i m e, Đínhhad  Ge ner alT r ần  Văn Đôn sign a  cou nt er-orde r t ransfer rin g c omm and  o f the 7th  Divisio nto  h is  de putya nd co-co ns pir at orNguyễ n  Hữu C ó.

C ó th en  t r app ed anda rr e s tedth e7thDiv is ion's  off i cer s on th e day ofthe coup .He  then p honed General  H uỳnh Văn C ao , f urther s outh inthe Mekong Delta's larg e st town , C ần Th ơ, w here theIVCorpswas headqu artere d. Có ,a c e n tralV i et nam es e, imitate d Phá t's s ou ther n accen t and tricked Caoi nto  thinking tha t n othi n g  u nus u al was  h a ppe n i ng. Phát's remo val had th us st opped Caof rom  s endingloyalis ts to Saigonto save D iệm, whowa s ca p t ure d and exec uted the  followin g  day. De spite  th e fact  t hat  Đính  saw C ó  as  bein g more  r eliabl e for  t he purpo ses of staging the coup  again st Di ệm,  Minh pro mot e d h im to bri gadi er general  im med iatel y a f ter t he o f fi cer s  seiz ed p o wer. As a br iga d i er  general, h e s erv ed as  th e  comma nder  of the 7th Divis i on, from 2 Dec embe r 196 3 u n til2February 1964. 

N gu y � 
 observers_claimed that_the mandarin style of_his fingernail_spread_to his_general_behavior, decrying him_as "haughty" and_"hawklike". U.S. military advisors_regarded Phát as_"mediocre"._As a colonel, he served as the commander of 2nd Division, located in central_Vietnam_from 8_June_1961_until 18 June 1963, when_he was replaced by Colonel_Trương Văn_Chương.

Overthrow of Diệm in 1963

By late 1963, Diệm_knew_a coup was_brewing and that the 7th Division at Mỹ Tho_outside Saigon might be involved. As_it was close_to_the_capital, it would play_a crucial role in either attacking_or defending Diệm, or blocking outlying_units from entering the city. Diệm put_Phát in command of the 7th_Division on 31 October. According_to tradition,_Phát had to pay the_corps commander a_courtesy visit_before assuming control_of the division. However, General Tôn_Thất Đính, commander_of the III Corps was part_of_the plot and_deliberately_refused_to see_Phát and told_him_to come_back_at 14:00 the following day, by_which_time the coup had already been scheduled_to start. In the_meantime,_Đính had General Trần_Văn Đôn sign a counter-order_transferring command of the 7th Division_to his_deputy and_co-conspirator Nguyễn Hữu Có.

Có then trapped and arrested the 7th Division's_officers on the day of the_coup. He then phoned_General Huỳnh_Văn_Cao, further south_in_the Mekong_Delta's largest town, Cần Thơ, where the_IV Corps_was headquartered. Có, a central Vietnamese,_imitated Phát's southern accent_and_tricked Cao into thinking that nothing_unusual was happening. Phát's removal had_thus stopped Cao from sending_loyalists_to_Saigon to save Diệm, who_was captured and executed the following_day. Despite the_fact that Đính saw Có as being_more_reliable for the purposes of staging_the_coup against Diệm, Minh promoted him_to_brigadier_general immediately after the officers_seized power. As a brigadier general,_he served as the commander of the 7th Division,_from 2 December_1963 until 2 February 1964.

Nguy�