anhusa
Tourist
Reged: 12/30/07
Posts: 23
Loc: USA
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Standing here once was the Junior Military Academy, the boarding school for the sons of the soldiers of the former Republic of South Vietnam. This was a millitary high school, the ages range for junior cadets were from 12 to 18. Most cadets entered school at the age of 12 and will have graduated at the age of 18. Just like any conventional high school, the cadets studied the regular curriculums that any high school students would study. However, the cadets wore military uniform everyday, and one day out of a week, they would be trained on military just like any soldier would. After graduation the cadet would pursue his military career in many branches of the armed forces, most chose to enter the Da Lat Military Academy, Naval Academy or Air Force Academy. The school's purpose was to generate military leaders for the South Vietnamese Armed Forces, and during the years of operation that ended in 1975 - when the Repubic of South Vietnam lost to the communist North - the academy had created so many officers for the South Vietnam military, the highest ranking and most prominent ex-cadet was General Le Van Ty - our big brother.
Reference:
Click here to watch a short video on YouTube about this Academy: Cadets marching on Military Day This short video demonstrated some aspects of our lives as cadets. Opening was the march in the then capital of Vietnam, Saigon, dunring the Military Day celebration. On this day, along with different units of South Vietnamese Armed Forces, we converged to SG for the show of forces and to celebrate the birthday of the former military of the Republic of Vietnam. I was one of the lucky cadets who got chosen to be in the march. It took a lot of training for this event. I remember we had to practice marching in front of our quarter for days, and in those days many cadets faced throwing out of the practice because they can't march correctly. Then in the video is an aerial picture of our school. The academy complex consisted of many buildings, but the main three big buildings, two of twhich were used for sleeping quarters and the other for classrooms, are visible in the photograph as the upside down L shape. Then next frame is the main gate of the school. The sign says "Truong Thieu Sinh Quan", it's Vietnamese for Junior Military Academy, and underneath is a welcome banner for the important visitor, a colonel from the military headquarter in Saigon - he happened to be an ex-cadet from this academy.
More information on a former cadet's website
  
Edited by anhusa (05/10/08 06:22 PM)
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thuhong
First Post
Reged: 04/08/08
Posts: 1
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I'm very proud of my English teacher, Anh_usa, who is clever, kind and cheerful. He created the Lets Speak English or Vietnamese room over than 4 years ago on Paltak to help Vietnamese or anyone who wish to improve his English. I enjoy being in that room, I think you would to. Come on by whenever you like and check us out. Link: www.paltalk.com
Edited by thuhong (04/09/08 02:37 AM)
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hvnguyen
Tourist
Reged: 04/05/08
Posts: 6
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In Vietnamese, the Junior Military Academy is "Truong Thieu Sinh Quân". Once the cadet graduated from the academy, they become "ancient enfants de troup" or AET for short. AET have comprised by many walks of life and dispersed all over the world, especially after the invasion of the communists from the North Vietnam. The youngest AET would be 45 years of age today. In about 50 years or half of a century the AET community will face extinction but the legacy of Thieu Sinh Quân will live on forever.
Edited by hvnguyen (04/08/08 12:28 PM)
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tu_dau_troc
First Post
Reged: 04/08/08
Posts: 1
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Thanks for posting this thread, anh-usa.
I heard from my dad that the Junior Military Academy had produced great officers for South Viet Nam, pre-1975. My brother said he almost went to this Academy, yet, he was too young.
Freedom for Viet Nam & Freedom for Tibet.
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anhusa
Tourist
Reged: 12/30/07
Posts: 23
Loc: USA
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Thank you tu dau troc for replying, so you missed the opportunity to become one of those cadet. Three people in my family belonged to this Academy, I was one of them. We are a tight knit group, and treat each other as real brothers.
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anhusa
Tourist
Reged: 12/30/07
Posts: 23
Loc: USA
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thuhong,
I thank you very much for your kinds words. It is a good feeling to know someone enjoys our class. With a student like you, I don't feel like to waste my time, but I feel rewarded. Thanks again for posting.
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emlinh
First Post
Reged: 04/10/08
Posts: 1
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Thank you for sharing this post with the world, anh usa! It led me to look up and read further into depth the concept of "military academies" and its history. Knowing that it was first established in Vietnam made it an even more enjoyable read. It is commendable to all the Vietnamese cadets out there who were enrolled in the Junior Military Academy of South Vietnam, preserving the school and its integrity. It is a historical landmark and should be well-deserved with a place in history and the world. I definitely believe that it should earn a spot on Google Earth, for sure. By the way, you didn't mention anything about General Anh USA?
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anhusa
Tourist
Reged: 12/30/07
Posts: 23
Loc: USA
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Hi emlinh,
Thank you very much for your posting. You are so funny. General anhusa? You never know, I could've been a general by now had I stayed in the Air Force all those years, either that or I may rested in peace in some cemetery. Anyway, my original post was in "history illustrated" category but somehow it got moved here. I am little disappointed. Once again thanks for replying, keep on reading about Junior Military Academy.
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hvnguyen
Tourist
Reged: 04/05/08
Posts: 6
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On April 30th, 1975 the invasion force of the communist of North Vietnam flooded the cities of South Vietnam, the Junior Military Academy was no exception. This day marked the darkest day in Vietnam history, and it also was the end of an era. The last battle was fought here and the last national anthem was sung here while the junior cadets lower the national flag. T'he country was in the state of anarchy while everyone was scrambled trying to get out of the country and of the persecution from the enemies, a handful of cadets, some of them as young as 12 years old decided to stay on to protect their school. They were no match for the communist forces, but their actions has shown the world the bravest tradition of these "thieu sinh quan". This has become the legacy of the academy. More information can be found on the net or on the link on anhusa's link.
Reference:
Audio clip about this story (in Vietnamese): Tran Danh Cuoi Cung - nha van Dao Vu Anh Hung.
http://www.freewebtown.com/quy161/VNCH/Baiquoccacuoicung.htm
Article about this story in Vietnamese, hopefully someday I wll translate it to English:
The bloody defense of the Junior Military Academy on April 30th, 1975
Edited by hvnguyen (04/26/08 11:05 AM)
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Anh_Tran
First Post
Reged: 04/11/08
Posts: 1
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Rat cam on anhusa ve bai viet "Former Junior Military Academy of South Vietnam", vi qua bai nay da giup cho moi nguoi, dac biet la cac ban tre sinh ra va lon len sau cuoc chien co co hoi hieu biet them ... mot lan nua thanh that cam on anh. Chuc anh nhieu suc khoe .
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anhusa
Tourist
Reged: 12/30/07
Posts: 23
Loc: USA
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Hi Anh Tran,
Anh dinh thu dung unicode de viet chu Viet nhung lai doc khong duoc, khong hieu sao. Vi the anh phai edit lai cai replying nay
Anh thay co nhieu nguoi danh chu Viet duoc do.
Edited by anhusa (04/11/08 11:20 PM)
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anhusa
Tourist
Reged: 12/30/07
Posts: 23
Loc: USA
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Anh Tran,
Cam on em nhieu da doc posting cua anh. Em noi rat dung, neu the he cua anh khong ghi lai nhung gi ve Truong Thieu Sinh Quan nhu la mot tai lieu lich su thi the he sau nay con chau chung ta se khong biet gi ve chung ta ca. Hy vong gap em o lop hoc. Thanks again.
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anhusa
Tourist
Reged: 12/30/07
Posts: 23
Loc: USA
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Cam on Anh Tran da doc va comment cai posting cua anh. That vay, neu chung ta khong viet lai, khong ke lai cho con chau chung ta thi the he sau nay se khong biet gi ve to tien cua ho. Mong gap lai em o lop hoc. Have a nice day.
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anhusa
Tourist
Reged: 12/30/07
Posts: 23
Loc: USA
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The Juior Military Academy compound consists of three huge three-story buildings along with numerous smaller buildings for adminstration offices, dining hall, kitchen, auditorium. These buildings were built during the French colony. Two of these big buildings used for sleeping quarters and one for classrooms.
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HailuaChanga
First Post
Reged: 04/11/08
Posts: 1
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Salut General AnhUSA !! :-)
I guess I am too young or perhaps too "lua" to know of the school but it sounds really cool. I will come back here to learn more about it from other people's postings. I have frequent your Let's Speak English or Vietnamese room since the beginning and I have to give it to you. You're a great person. Anyone else would have bounced me from that room since day one. Through your room, I have met tons of friends and learned a lot. I guess you can do a lot with two hours or so a night and yet choose to share your knowledge with others. Thank you for putting up with all my nonsense all these years :-). Keep up the good work anh. Thanks again for being a big brother and a friend. Once a soldier, always a soldier rigth anh?
2lua_Changa
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anhusa
Tourist
Reged: 12/30/07
Posts: 23
Loc: USA
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Hi 2lua, It was great to see your posting up here. I am glad you still remember the link. Actually this Academy had been existing in VN for quite some time. Maybe you were too young then or not involved in military but it was well-known among the servicemen in the armed forces. By the way, thank you for your kind words and for being loyal to our group on PT. Looking forward to seeing you and your class on weekend.
"General" anh-usa
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loire
First Post
Reged: 04/20/08
Posts: 1
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Thanks anh_USA for sharing the Junior Military Academy to Google Earth Community. Your work might be useful for those who would like to know about Vietnam in the period before 1975. It might also help or encourage later generations can understand the whole of vietnam in the past as well. Before i read yours i have heard my father and some elder told about this school a couple times because of its characteristics. However, from yours i know more. And moreover, i tend to explore more information about the curriculum and the policy of this school. As a novice educator (teacher), i can not image how the school board and instructors could train cadets from 12 to 18 such as military and made cadets' parents really satisfy with their effectiveness.
I love and admire the way that elder people devote and enhance youngers to try their best for their livies and the people around them as well. I think with the work that you have been doing in the room "let's speak English or Vietnamese" is one of examples.
Thanks again!
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anhusa
Tourist
Reged: 12/30/07
Posts: 23
Loc: USA
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Hi LoiRe,
Thank you for your posting. I am glad you have heard about this academy, if you venture into the link I posted the first time under "Website of a former cadet" and read through those articles in the website, you will understand more about our organization. I can't think of any soldier in any branch of the armed forces, in any training school endured such disciplinarity and training, for a long period of time (usually 6 years) at an early age as we did. This kind of background had molded us, nurtured us and got us well prepared by the time we reached 18 years old. When we face life, we were ready to handle anything we encounter.
By the way I think you made the right decision to become an educator. I think it is a very rewarding career. Good luck to you and see you around in LSEV.
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