These silent, color film “dailies” portrays what appears to be a Army of the Republic of Vietnam (ARVN) review and decoration ceremony involving the attendance of the former leader of the Army and then Defense Minister of South Vietnam Trần Thiện Khiêm. Many members of the U.S. Army, including officers, as well as what appear to be U.S. embassy staff, are visible in the material, and U.S. Army officers are decorated in the footage. This material dates to the Vietnam War and was donated to Periscope Film by retired U.S. Army combat cameraman David Plenn. Plenn put a group of films into a box as his tour of duty was ending, and shipped them back to the United States. These films included both material he’d shot as a cinematographer for the Army, and materials shot by other combat camera staff. The films remained in storage for three decades while Plenn pursued a successful career as a Hollywood cameraman. In the 2000s he donated the films to Periscope Film in hopes of having them preserved and made available to the public.

Men in white shirts, possibly South Vietnamese staffers (00:09) and uniformed Army band (00:13). Army band plays a tune (00:31). An American officer, appears to be a Lt. General based on the three stars on his hat, marches past (00:52). American officers standing together (01:02). Soldiers standing in line, some holding the flag of South Vietnam (01:29). Men sit down in chairs on a covered podium (01:59). Soldiers standing in line (02:46). Dark footage of a men’s faces (03:01). Soldiers standing in line along a road, some holding the flag of South Vietnam (03:19). A soldier wearing a helmet marked “QC” – The QC was responsible for internal security of the military operating in all branches of the Armed Forces of the Republic of Vietnam (03:39). A car, likely part of the South Vietnamese motorcade, is parked on a road and women in white dresses stand to the left (03:53). A conductor is leading the instrumental band of soldiers as Trần Thiện Khiêm observes alongside his associates and other soldiers (04:04). Trần Thiện Khiêm steps onto the covered podium (05:17). He sits down in the first row of chairs as all others on the podium also sits down (05:39). An ARVN officer is giving a speech at a lectern (05:56). He salutes Trần Thiện Khiêm before walking away (06:18). Another army official steps to the lectern and gives a speech (06:34). Tracking shots of the surroundings (07:31). Wooden spears presented upright in a stand (07:58). The spiers are taken out of the stand and carried out (08:08). Women dressed in white stand in the crowd (08:37). Soldiers and army officials greet each other (08:45). Dark footage of golden objects (09:15) and something resembling a room (09:34). Army personal in a garden area (09:43). Pins displayed on a pillow presented by an army official and a woman (10:21). Americans standing in front of the covered podium (10:39). Dúóng Vân Mihn attaches the medals displayed on the pillow to the collar of the soldiers’ uniforms (11:22). Trần Thiện Khiêm walks away (12:32). Soldiers standing in line are holding out flags (12:53). South Vietnam flags (13:06). Dúóng Vân Mihn and associates on a walled path (13:15). Army personal walking around (13:37). Tracking shots of a dinner party (13:56). Army personnel and Trần Thiện Khiêm walking around (14:11). Soldiers greeting each other (14:40). Soldiers driving away in cars (15:15). Soldiers standing in line roadside (15:48). Children in white shirt walk down the road, some holding the flag of South Vietnam (15:50).

General Trần Thiện Khiêm served as an officer in the Army of the Republic of Vietnam during the Vietnam War. During the 1960s, he was involved in several coups including the 1963 coup that deposed and assassinated Diêm. Khiêm served as Defense Minister and Chief of Staff of the military from 1964-1975, resigning only in the last month before the fall of Saigon.

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This film is part of the Periscope Film LLC archive, one of the largest historic military, transportation, and aviation stock footage collections in the USA. Entirely film backed, this material is available for licensing in 24p HD, 2k and 4k. For more information visit http://www.PeriscopeFilm.com