European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - May 21, 1989, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Dally Magazine. Nguyen Cao by once the dashing Premier of South Vietnam now operates a seafood Plant in Dulac la. Odyssey of vietnamese Patriot by Strat Douthat associated press Hollywood of late has been preoccupied with reliving the Vietnam War bul at least Oneal the in neral players in that controversial conflict says he has t been the Toast Bil interested in reviewing any celluloid versions of those turbulent Lions i was  Sayo Nguyen Cao by. I know whal happened by who was prime minister of South Vietnam in the mid 1960s, made this observation recently in an interview at his seafood packing Plant next to the dark sluggish Waters of Bayou caillou. It is in Dulac a Remote Little cajun Community he says. That he Hopes to i id tin a be Odyssey which began nearly 35 years ago. When he and 1 million of his countrymen led South following France s defeat at Dion Bien Phu in 1954 i grew up in North Vietnam near Hanoi he said when i was 201 was recruited by the French colonial government to Light Iho communist insurgents. I began my military career in 19-19 As an infantry officer in North Vietnam and later Iacoi cd flight training in Algeria and  by s flight to Saigon in 1954 marked the first Slop of the Odyssey two decades later Afler losing again to the communists. By went into exile Lor the second Lime this Lime in the United Stales now. To says to hardly Ever thinks about those Days when to Chi Minn City was still called Saigon and he was the supreme commander of South Vietnam. I am a confucian he adds by Way of explanation we believe there ate times of Joy and times of sadness whal will be will be. Bul it s Lino that i did have absolute Power when i was made Premier after Ngo Dinh diem v. As forced out in 1965. You May recall there was no congressional body in South Vietnam at that time. For More than two years my word was the absolute  at that Lime by who still is slim and Young looking at 59 was a dashing Young lighter Pilot he favored flashy Light suits earned a pair of Pearl handled pistols and frequently appeared thus garbed in . News Magazine photo Layouts. In fact by and his wife then a glamorous airline Hooters who was fond of cowgirl outfits often wore depicted As a Lun couple who were representing our Side in an unpleasant Little.  adventure that would contain communism in Southeast Asia history proved otherwise of course and by s government since hns in on Given mixed reviews As Las the  involvement in Vietnam. Asked about report of i l Nihls abuses during i. Lime As Premier by Mac 5 badly. Bul the smile quickly disappears when he is Auke. About rumours he stashed millions of dollars Worth Oll and jewels during his tenure As Premier. My wife and i had Only about $30,000 when to came to this country in 1975." to Sayo and when i left South Vietnam on the Day Saigon fell 1 took nothing with me except my uniform and the helicopter which i flew to a . Warship. I had managed to get my Wile and family on a flight out just two Days earlier while Nguyen Van thick who had succeeded me As Premier in 1967. Lied Wilh his family weeks before Saigon  he adds that is Why i am the Only South vietnamese loader today who is Able logo freely among our people in exile. They know i was a Patriot who fought to the last sunday May 21, 1989 author Neil Sheehan whose Book on the Vietnam War a Bright shining lie. Won a pulitzer prize remembers by and thick As corrupt Young turks who Rose to Power in South Vietnam As us involvement dramatically increased. By Olally denies the characterization. I have a Clear conscience to says. It s True i had Power bul i m proud Lobo Able to say that it did nol corrupt me. Iii had stolen millions of dollars i could live like a King in this country bul obviously i Don t live like a King. Believe me i was a Soldier lighting Lor Freedom not a politician interested m Power and  former Gen. William c. Westmoreland who commanded the . Forces in Vietnam throughout most of the 60s. Says he remembers Kyas an honest Soldier who was revered by his pilots and officers in Iho South vietnamese air Force. I saw by a few months ago in new Orleans at a reunion of soldiers who fought in Vietnam Westmoreland said when contacted recently Al his Home in Charleston. S c. I always thought of Gen Kyas a committed military Man and it s obvious that the men who served with him still hold him in very High  Westmoreland concedes he had heard rumours of Gold being shipped out of South Vietnam but says he never heard Olky being connected with any such stones. In Dulac by is the president of Southern Gulf seafood processors inc. The operation consists of a Small packing Plant which processes shrimp and tuna caught by vietnamese Lis Heimen. By who moved to Dulac several months ago. Leases Iho processing Plant from a Bank in nearby Houma his earlier business venture in the United Stales a Small liquor store Delicatessen in Orange county Calif ended in bankruptcy. By has generally tried to keep a Low profile since coming to the United slates i to Mayo he has gotten Tomu financial support from other vietnamese in the Counley and in turn works in behalf of vietnamese refugees i have spent most of my Lime working Wilh and trying to help Iho vietnamese people who came to the United Stales As refugees. Thai s Why i am in Louisiana i found i like Iho Lishing business and have an Opportunity to help my people Here and make a living at the same Lime in 1984, his association with refugee groups led columnist Jack Anderson to Brand by whose Wile and family still live in California As a Leader of vietnamese criminal elements in the country Anderson said by had smuggled $8 million in Gold and jewels from South Vietnam. I was stunned by recalls. There was absolutely no truth in that column. Ii there had been the  government would have taken some action by now Don l you think by has found Contentment in Dulac a fishing Community 80 Miles soul Wesl of now Orleans to says the South Louisiana climate reminds him of Southeast Asia Complete with French speaking natives mosquitoes and plenty of vietnamese to socialize Wilh. Right now i m Busy trying to make a living Wilh this processing Plant and a fishing Boal i bought three years ago. I m also involved in an Effort to form a fishing Coop that would Benefit the shrimpers in this area. Since i be been Here i be tried to help the vietnamese fishermen with marketing their catches and with personal details such As housing obtaining proper licenses and insurance and such. I fool i can be a Liaison Between them and the established Community hero by also spends part of his time commuting Back and Lorth Between Dulac and Southern California where his youngest daughter recently graduated from Law school. My live children have made the adjustment very Well. They have become americanized and my oldest son has married an italian girl. But coming to this country has been harder for my wife who slays in California to be near her children and  he said his main regret was not coming to the United states during the War to promote and explain South Vietnam s cause to the american people. I have found the american people to be very Lair and open minded. But i had no idea How the american Public opinion was turning against the War. I Only know what the generals and the us. Ambassador and the Cia were telling to. Back then to me they were  the stars and stripes Page 13