Nguyen Cao Ky RIP

Again from The International Herald Tribune, we have news of the death of Former Republic of Viet-nam Vice President and one time Prime Minister Nguyen Cao Ky.  While I never met the gentleman, he and I were residents of the same county in Southern California for many years.♠  Mr Ky passed away at 80, from "a respiratory complication".

The article says:

One of his nation’s most colorful leaders, Mr. Ky served as prime minister of South Vietnam, which was backed by the United States, in the mid-1960s. He had been commander of South Vietnam’s air force when he assumed the post in 1965, the same year American involvement in the war escalated.

He was known as a playboy partial to purple scarves, upscale nightclubs and beautiful women. In power during some of the war’s most tumultuous times, he was a low-key but sometimes ruthless leader.

When I think of Nguyen Cao Ky it is of him standing on the wing of an A-1H SKYRAIDER of the Viet-namese Air Force.  And, of course he was colorful—he was a fighter pilot!

May he rest in peace.

Regards  —  Cliff

♠  He actually lived there, I just voted in Orange County.