Đoàn Khuê

Đoàn Khuê
Born	29 October 1923 Tan Trieu Phong, French Indochina
Died	16 January 1998 (aged 74–75) Hanoi, Vietnam
Allegiance	Viet Minh Vietnam
Service/branch	Vietnam People's Army
Years of service	1945–1997
Rank	Army General
Commands held	Việt Minh Vietnam People's Army
Battles/wars	First Indochina War, Vietnam War
Awards	Gold Star Order Ho Chi Minh Order Military Exploit Order Feat Order Resolution for Victory Order
Other work	General Staff of the Vietnam People's Army, Minister of Defense

Đoàn Khuê
8th Minister of Defence
In office 1991–1997
Prime Minister	Đỗ Mười Võ Văn Kiệt
Preceded by	Lê Đức Anh
Succeeded by	Phạm Văn Trà

Đoàn Khuê (Triệu Phong, 29 October 1923 – 16 January 1998) was a Vietnamese general and minister of defence till 1997.^[1]

Đoàn was born on 29 October 1923 in Tan Trieu Phong, Zhao Township, Quảng Trị Province, joined the Communist Party of Vietnam in 1945, and served as the military Commissioner of the provincial party Committee.

Military career

Đoàn held various positions during the resistance against French rule (First Indochina War): Political Commissar Deputy Regiment Political Commissar).

Other positions held included:

• Political Commissar of the 351st Division Artillery of the Viet Minh
• Deputy Political Commissar of 3rd Military Region (Vietnam People's Army)
• Commander of 5th Military Region (Vietnam People's Army) (1977–80)
• Commander of volunteer Army of Vietnam in Cambodia

From 1987 to 1991 he was the Chief of the General Staff of the Vietnam People's Army.

Promotions

• Major General 1974
• Lieutenant General 1980
• Colonel General 1984
• Army General 1990

Political career

Đoàn served as Minister of Defense from 1991 to 1997 under Prime Ministers Đỗ Mười and Võ Văn Kiệt.

Awards

• State of Vietnam Gold Star (posthumously)
• Vietnam Medal of Honor
• 2 first-class Victory Medal
• Order of Victory, first class
• Order of the Resistance

Personal

He has two other siblings:

• Đoàn Chương, Minister of military strategy
• Đoàn Thúy, Army Captain

References

1. Đại tướng Đoàn Khuê Vịên lịch sử quân ṣư Vịêt Nam - 2002 Reminiscences of General Đoàn Khuê, 1923-1999; Includes biographical sketch; collection of articles.