The September 1964 South Vietnamese coup attempt took place before dawn on September 13, 1964, when the ruling military junta of South Vietnam, led by General Nguyễn Khánh, was threatened by a coup at
Maxwell Taylor, the US Ambassador to South Vietnam, opposed a coup.
Tan Son Nhut Air Base, pictured here in 1962, was the headquarters of both the US and South Vietnamese military and a key target in any coup.
Kỳ was prominent in putting down the coup.
Thi (left) and Thieu (right) during the 1960s. Thi helped stop the coup, while Thieu was regarded as a tacit supporter of the rebellion.
Nguyễn Chánh Thi
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Nguyễn Chánh Thi was an officer in the Army of the Republic of Vietnam. He is best known for being involved in frequent coups in the 1960s and wielding substantial influence as a key member of various
William Westmoreland, the US commander in Vietnam, disapproved of Thi and supported his removal from command.