BOHR International Journal of Business Ethics

and Corporate Governance

2023, Vol. 2, No. 1, pp. 21–26
DOI: 10.54646/bijbecg.2023.13
www.bohrpub.com

RESEARCH

Le Cong Co: philosopher and exemplar of resilience and hope

for an independent Vietnam
Jim Schnell *
University of Montana, Missoula, MT, United States

*Correspondence:
Jim Schnell,
[email protected]

Received: 05 July 2023; Accepted: 08 July 2023; Published: 20 July 2023

The life of Vietnamese philosopher/educator Le Cong Co has personified theological foundations for resilience and
hope. As such, his life has manifested intense dedication, resilience (physical, emotional, and mental), insight, and
initiative in moving Vietnam toward independence and modernization. It has continually stressed a constructive
vision for hope and a renewed emphasis on resilience and justice for Vietnam as manifested in his work as an
educator, military leader, and university leader. Fate has placed his life at the crossroads of Vietnamese history
whereby he has been witness to fundamental developments along the path toward Vietnamese independence
and modernization.
Keywords: Le Cong Co, Vietnam, philosophy, resilience, U.S.–Vietnam War 1965–1975

Introduction It is within this framework the social scientist can seek

to interpret Le Cong Co’s life via a lens that differentiates
Resilience hope are qualities that can be studied in varied between variables that were within the power of Le Cong Co
contexts. Some of these contexts offer situations that allow or were simply variables that played out around him that he
for manifestations of the traits that highlight these qualities. had no control over.
The history of the world has offered a wide range of people
who have personified theological foundations for resilience
and hope. Vietnamese philosopher/educator Le Cong Co is Review of literature
such a person. His life has manifested intense dedication,
resilience (physical, emotional, and mental), insight, and Brueggemann (1) asserts that “The prophetic task, in the
initiative in moving Vietnam toward independence and midst of exilic despair over destruction and displacement, is
modernization. His life has stressed a constructive vision to declare and enact hope for a buoyant future that is securely
for hope and a renewed emphasis on resilience and in the purview of God.” Le Cong Co has indeed done that
justice for Vietnam. in a manner that is commensurate with the views of Richard
Le Cong Co is a philosopher/educator who has sought Alves. Alves (2) is credited with establishing that “The human
sustainable justice in freeing Vietnam from foreign being unconsciously composes life’s score according to the
colonization via his work as an educator, military leader, and laws of beauty, even in the moments of deepest despair.” In
university leader. At a fundamental level, he is a philosopher doing so, he has drawn parallels between Vietnam’s quest for
who has employed his philosophical insights in support of reunification and the views of Rukeyser when she established
the initiatives he has dedicated his life to. Fate has placed that “It seems to me that the belief in peace as completeness
his life at the crossroads of Vietnamese history whereby he belongs to the same universe as the hope of the individual as
has been witness to fundamental developments along the full valued (3). These positions resonate in the life and actions
path toward Vietnamese independence and modernization. of Le Cong Co.”

21
22 Schnell

The life of Le Cong Co from an impoverished child to a that played out in bloody detail. The entry of the U.S. military
Vietnamese visionary has paralleled the evolution of Vietnam into the area revealed a stunning array of weaponry that
from colonized satellite to independent Indo-China power. impacted the social landscape. Most notable were the B-52
One can recognize similar parallels with liberation theology. aircraft and their potential for massive bombing.
“Liberation theology . . . embodies a momentous leap out Danang changed quickly with the entry of the U.S. military
of the many centuries in which Christianity was defined into the area. Businesses opened to cater to the Americans.
as a system of beliefs imposed by a hierarchy. . . . It is an The economic stimulus was bold and swift. American
unmistakable sign of the coming of an age of the spirit (4).” lifestyles were adopted in varied ways among the Danang
Religion, like philosophy, offers insights for understanding populace. By December 1965, underground Vietcong cells
moral identity. “Religion is one of the great limiters of moral were operating in Hue and Danang. Their existence became
identity, since most believers differentiate themselves, in known to the South Vietnamese government. National
moral terms, from those who do not share their faith (5).” Liberation Front flags were hung in the area as bold
This is a recurring theme. expressions of defiance. Many people were arrested during
We live in “a time in which the power of death is pervasive this period, and the radio broadcasts reported that most of
and militant and in which people exist without hope or else in the perpetrators had been captured except for Le Cong Co.
pursuit of transient, fraudulent, or delusive hopes (6).” This He was reported to be on the run.
has clearly been the case in the history of Vietnam. Ironically, By March 1966, the Vietcong were taking advantage of
such understanding can be elusive when one is in the midst the conflict between General Nguyen Cao Ky and President
of living in such turmoil. “The fact that man constitutionally Nguyen Van Thieu. There were large demonstrations in Hue
corrupts his purest visions of disinterested justice in his actual that were mostly anti-American. Many of the demonstrators
actions seems to never occur to him (7).” This has been were from Hue University and functioned from that base
evidenced in the landscape Le Cong Co has lived within. of operations. A central point in all of this is that the
Vietnam War was not a civil war. Rather, it was fought
mostly by the Americans against the North Vietnamese and
Methodology Vietcong. That was why South Vietnam collapsed so quickly
after the departure of the Americans in 1975. At the high
The methodological approach for this report will be a point, the American troops stationed in South Vietnam
historical review that fundamentally moves in chronological amounted to over 500,000. All the war supplies also came
order. Le Cong Co told me he became a communist at from the U.S. So, it was mostly a war that promoted American
the age of 3 years. I later asked how a 3-year-old could interests in the region.
adopt the communist ideology. His explanation made good
sense. Communist doctrine was not significant to his family,
but communism held significance in that it offered means Report of findings
for expelling foreign domination from Vietnam. His family
suffered horribly under French rule. His mother, sister, and It should also be noted that to say it was a war of
brother starved to death during the French occupation of ideologies is not exactly correct. It may be correct from the
his hometown, and this cruelty fueled his desire to expel perspective of the Americans, but from the perspective of
the French. The story of his immediate family and extended the North Vietnamese and Vietcong, it was only a war to
family abounds with events involving extreme cruelty at the gain independence. Such a goal to reunite the country had
hands of foreign forces. been a long-term venture. It dated back to 1858 when the
Life under French colonial rule was harsh. One of his French initiated their colonization of Vietnam. Le Cong Co’s
early memories is sitting on his grandmother’s lap when a background and insights into philosophy set him apart as
French soldier entered the house and was speaking with his a leader regarding how Vietnam was legitimately poised to
grandparents. During the course of this conversation, the seek independence.
French soldier smacked his grandmother with a closed fist It just so happened that the Vietnamese were caught
resulting in her falling to the ground and bleeding from the between the Eastern and Western powers. The Vietnamese
head. He learned at a young age (3 years old) that the French had to pick a side to have the means to fight the war. But
were an evil force and that life for the Vietnamese would overall, it should be remembered that in the minds of most
be much better without them. He was told communism Vietnamese, it was just another war against foreign invaders.
was the path to removing the French from Vietnam. He Another reason it can be said it was not a war of ideologies
became a communist. was that the Chinese and Russians did not want Vietnam
The United States (U.S.) Marines came ashore in Da Nang to win the war. They just wanted Vietnam to be a buffer
with much fanfare on March 8, 1965. It was as if the circus zone between Communist forces and the Allied forces. The
came to town except that the circus did not leave town after Chinese and Russian mindsets were really emphasizing a
the weekend. Instead, it performed a 10-year engagement war of ideologies, but the Vietnamese wanted no part of
10.54646/bijbecg.2023.13 23

that. The Vietnamese were focusing solely on their desire for entitled 1968. The year 1968 is a sensitive topic from the
independence and reunification of the country. Vietnam War period, and the book 1968 focused on that
The rivalry between the north and south of Vietnam after period. Le Cong Co’s association with such a book would
the Vietnam War may not be accurately characterized as make it all the more controversial. As a result, the leadership
a civil war, but it could be described as a competition for in Hue reacted fiercely to make sure that no books in the
position, resources, and power nationwide. This rivalry will series would be published and distributed in Hue, especially
be eternal. It will certainly be a factor as the living standard the one entitled 1968.
between the North and South fluctuates. There will continue The macro-level effects of the U.S. occupation of Vietnam
to be a conflict between those in power in the North and in were huge, and they reshaped the Vietnamese economy
the South. This scenario has parallels with the competition in fundamental ways. “A quarter of a billion dollars a
between Democrats and Republicans in the U.S. year did not, perhaps, seem very much to the Americans,
The North Vietnamese owed much to China for the but for the first five years of the Diem regime it covered
Chinese support of North Vietnam during their victory the whole cost of the Saigon government’s armed forces
against the French colonialists. Vietnam had to continue and 80 percent of all other government expenditures (8).”
down the path of Communism to pay off that debt. That debt These effects echoed throughout the Vietnamese economic
is still being paid in that China and Russia continue to refer infrastructure. “American aid represented a large-scale relief
to their roles in the Vietnamese victory over the Americans. project more than an economic development program, and
The South was in a similar position. Diem was the one who because development had not been emphasized, termination
realized that he would not want the Americans to fight the of American aid would almost certainly produce both
war for South Vietnam. It may be for that reason he was political and economic collapse of Vietnam (9).”
assassinated by forces supported by the U.S. Ho Chi Minh Le Cong Co’s introduction to leadership did not involve
was heard to say: “After all, President Diem did have a solid unique childhood experiences that groomed him for
love for this country.” guiding others. His abilities with leadership are based on
Administrations after Diem had no choice because they philosophically grounded orientations with problem-solving
were set up by the Americans so they had to allow the skills. Le Cong Co’s problem-solving skills are philosophically
Americans in to fight the war for them. Another variable oriented in his concrete understanding of math and how to
centers on the fact that administrations after Diem had apply such mathematical abilities with the scientific method.
no power to resist the North in that they came to rely He sees three primary philosophical principles as being key
totally on the Americans for support with the war effort. It to his effective leadership: (1) understanding the situations of
basically became an American war that the South Vietnamese others and their struggles; (2) seeking to motivate others by
participated in via a supporting role. addressing their struggles, needs, and desires; and (3) walking
This was a time of much change for Le Cong Co. His the talk—that is, practicing what he is preaching. Le Cong Co
life of struggle, warfighting, and continual challenge quickly sees each person as being like a tree that needs to be nurtured.
evolved into a life of constructively planning for the future, He believes his ability to develop vision and pursue
both personally and professionally. This meant marriage and vision is grounded in the scientific method and his
children. It meant formal positions of authority within the strong philosophical/mathematical skills. Furthermore, his
Vietnamese government. It resulted in new challenges and understanding of the human condition is enhanced by this
a future that would have been beyond his imagination years appreciation for philosophical/mathematical applications in
earlier. His leadership skills remained a constant factor in his our lives. It is apparent that he firmly believes in the
life—past, present, and future. His philosophical orientation directions he espouses with his leadership in both military
enhanced his visionary prowess considerably. and civilian contexts. He mortgaged his house to build the
The book Tuition Fee by Blood, which focused on Le Cong main building of the Duy Tan University (DTU) campus.
Co, was banned in Hue because it offended the pride of the Many men died under his leadership. He has made it a
people in Hue. As a result, it was never published. In the practice to share DTU-generated profits with families of
book, the author, Nguyen Khac Phuc, tried to expose the fallen military comrades.
difference between the nature of people in Hue and Danang. Le Cong Co views himself, first and foremost, to be a
As the people of Hue are not transparent and direct in teacher of philosophy. His early adult years were spent
their approach, they can be considered to be conservative, in teaching and he has returned to education as an
dishonest, and non-uniform. This may be right or wrong, but educational administrator. This perspective has been a
such an assertion was not well received in Hue. significant part of his foundation as a leader guiding others.
The primary reason for the banning of the book may have He emphasizes that different contexts require different
had to do with the intention that it was to be part of a series of approaches. For instance, the military leadership context
five books that were critical of Hue residents. It was believed stresses punctuality, resilience, never giving up, and flexibility
that Tuition Fee by Blood was to be the first of such a series. when confronted with the fog of war. The effective military
In that series, the most condemning book of Hue was to be leader cannot assume that military leadership approaches will
24 Schnell

automatically transfer to non-military contexts. All-out/total known as people who “crashed the party” (would arrive
war is an all-or-none situation. Leadership approaches used in settings uninvited), claim credit for the good things
in such a situation will not necessarily fit with more routine being accomplished (although such credit claiming was not
daily organizational developments. warranted), and would “run while standing still” (talk in
However, there is some common ground that can be bold terms about all that they were achieving here and
recognized among different philosophical contexts. For there but, in reality, were not doing anything that they
instance, he found he could motivate military members and claimed). Such “leaders” were known for being annoyances
civilians to die for the cause of the expulsion of foreign in the settings they offered their presence. A corresponding
domination from Vietnam. That is basically because the problem was that the government practiced centralized
yearning to expel foreigners from Vietnam is so central in the decision-making and micro-management instead of allowing
Vietnamese cultural mindset. for local initiatives to function at lower levels.
The Americans departed Vietnam in April 1975. This The school subjects studied included: (1) Marxism-
was a time of great celebration for the North Vietnamese Leninism, (2) Political Economics, (3) History of the
forces in that they had finally driven foreign forces from Vietnamese Communist Party, and (4) Field Study Visits
Vietnam and unified the country. It was a time of (visiting locations for case study understanding of various
transitioning from a wartime mentality and rebuilding the types of situations). Le Cong Co shares the often-repeated
country’s infrastructure. Two primary objectives involved the phrase that socialism going into southern Vietnam was like
movement to rid the South of capitalism and the decision to a river of water rushing through a dusty house in that all that
change the currency from South Vietnamese dollars to North was left behind was a muddy mess. The point is that the south
Vietnamese dollars. of the country was churned into economic shambles during
A “Top Leaders” political school was assembled in this period when they were forced to adhere to socialist
Hanoi in 1976. This school comprised 117 students who ideology and corresponding practices.
were selected from those who held communist leadership Le Cong Co’s wife, who was a Communist party member
positions (primarily military) during the war. They were to and vividly dedicated patriot during the war, became
be educated to provide leadership for the country and were disillusioned during their time at the “Top Leaders” school.
taught by the senior leaders of the country at that time. Le Their (her and Le Cong Co’s) embracing of communism
Cong Co was selected for a seat in this school. He and his had been because it offered the opportunity to rid Vietnam
wife moved to Hanoi. It was a great honor to be selected for of foreign domination. Communism had duly served that
enrollment in this school, and it positioned him to become a function, but the shortcomings of communism were readily
future leader of the country. His dedication as a Vietnamese apparent in the areas associated with running the post-
patriot never wavered, but his intrigue with the “Top Leaders” war country functions. They could see that Vietnam was
program dropped significantly after arriving in Hanoi. repositioning itself to be run at various levels by self-serving
Of the 117 students, only about 25 had college degrees. political hacks.
Many had no formal education at all. The primary selection The infighting among the top leaders class and
criteria for admission to this “Top Leaders” program had corresponding affiliates proliferated during this period.
to do with service during the wartime period. That is, a Le Cong Co was at odds with the thinking of many of his
vast majority of the students had been distinguished military colleagues and was singled out for scrutiny under such
leaders. However, Le Cong Co was quick to observe that circumstances. He wrote a paper while he was a student in
a fledgling nation needed leaders who could make various the school, and it closed with a statement that landed him in
facets of the nation function, not just win in warfare. There trouble. This closing statement conveyed “The train to the
was an incredible mismatch between the skills that existed 21st century is leaving the station. If Vietnam does not use
in the pool of students and the skills that were needed to this opportunity to climb aboard we will be seen by the world
run the country. as a poor village in the desert.” This position was observed by
Many of the students were uneducated individuals his detractors as having capitalist leanings, and he was duly
who had performed exceedingly well in warfare contexts criticized for espousing such ideas.
but were ill-prepared to serve in other capacities that
the nation needed.
Mixing educated elites with illiterate political hacks made Conclusion
for a toxic environment. They could barely understand one
another let alone make progress toward making plans to Le Cong Co is an innovative thinker and a wellspring of
run the country. philosophical ideas—certainly, a challenge to those who are
Various factions quickly evolved within that setting. Le content with following the status quo routines common
Cong Co jokingly refers to the typical student stereotype with socialist bureaucracies. His history of functioning in
as big-bellied, bald-headed, boastful, and unattractive. Vietnam reflects an approach that is collegial, philosophically
After being placed in positions of leadership, they were grounded, and seeking to get along, but he still ruffles
10.54646/bijbecg.2023.13 25

feathers enough that there are periodic efforts to undermine openness (to ideas); (2) promotion of creativity; (3) well-
him. Le Cong Co’s venture into higher education marked roundedness (as humans, engaged with the environment and
a distinct transition from service as a government official. ethics); (4) modernization; and (5) globalization (grounded
His creation of DTU has been an exceedingly innovative in Vietnamese patriotism).
venture that has drawn from his philosophical insights—very The formal DTU mission statement is posted
much a free enterprise venture. It reflects his philosophy with conspicuously on campus and in the literature (digital
money insofar as believing money should be put to work for and hard copy) distributed by DTU. It reads:
worthwhile purposes rather than simply saved and invested.
“Duy Tan University’s mission is to focus on the education
His publication of two books Years For the People: A
and research of various sciences and technologies in order to
Memoir (10) and Years With the People: A Memoir (11)
produce dynamic, creative, healthy graduates, who love their
highlight his philosophical foundations and applications
country, possess humanitarian Vietnamese values, a sense of
thereof. They illustrate his expression of resilience and hope
regarding aspirations for an independent and prosperous community, self-confidence and a broad range of capabilities
Vietnam. He consistently stresses how ideals aligned with and skills to become citizens of the world.”
justice pave the path for a bright future that Vietnam can This mission statement stresses distinct Vietnamese values
readily pursue. Such books place him among well-respected and characteristics that will modify over time. Le Cong Co
visionaries having to do with the future of Vietnam. believes the Vietnam citizenry must have ample common
The name “Duy Tan” was suggested by his wife. ground, so the youth do not get lost in blends of random
It translates to English as “restoration, innovation and globalization. National defense used to be about fighting
continuous improvement.” The mission of DTU focuses on wars, now it is more about fighting for better living standards
education, training, and research. It stresses education for and a better economy.
a new generation in peacetime, as opposed to wartime. It The idea of setting up a university was always a dream for
promotes the idea that students should be resourceful and Le Cong Co throughout the war. By 1988, when he was in the
able to stand on their own two feet. DTU seeks a diversity Parliament, the leadership of Vietnam said the Vietnamese
of programs so the university can be strong and viable. economy needed a variety of legal structures and economic
It not only acknowledges market demand but also stresses
bodies, so he thought maybe Vietnam could have varied
patriotism along with humanistic principles. The first DTU
educational systems too. He then committed to setting up the
program focused on English as a second language, and then
first private university in Vietnam. However, when Le Cong
it ventured into Information Technology.
Co proposed the idea to Communist Party Chief Do Muoi,
In contrast with the University of Danang (public
university), DTU was seen as something of a “freak” he said Le Cong Co was exhibiting capitalistic orientations
phenomenon. It had no funding, it did have limits on and such inclinations were not acceptable. But then the Prime
enrollment and the tuition that could be charged, and it had Minister, Vo Van Kiet, heard about the idea and asked Le
an unusual mission. The success of the university speaks for Cong Co to write up a definite plan for how such a private
itself as an illustration of the philosophy and vision of Le university could be created.
Cong Co and his family. His son and daughter are actively Le Cong Co proceeded with the development of his plan
involved with leadership roles within the institution. DTU and submitted it to the Prime Minister. The proposal was
opened its doors in 1992 and presently boasts an enrollment submitted for consideration under the auspices of being
of over 25,000 students. They make full use of the classroom new legislation, but then this recognition was halted after
space. I have observed how classes are offered 7 days a week 2 months. Over time, the idea was resurrected whereby
from early morning until late in the evening. notions of privatization were rebranded as being a “people-
DTU encourages students to create jobs for themselves founded university.” This allowed for sidestepping the
and others, not just to get a job. It stresses individual privatization issue.
independence and entrepreneurial spirit. DTU offers awards
All things considered, one can see how the life of Le
for students who go on to create their own businesses.
Cong Co has mirrored developments in Vietnam during the
It reinforces patriotic spirit by encouraging appreciation
past 85 years. His leadership has clearly been enhanced via
for lessons from the war years via field trips to the
his orientations and actions as a philosopher and visionary.
Vietnam battlefields. It produces a different kind of graduate
than the University of Danang based on the unique His continual focus on resilience, hope, and justice—as
orientation of DTU. manifested in his practices and writing—offers guidance for
DTU operates with a vision that looks 10 years into present and future generations in Vietnam. This finding
the future and a strategy that focuses on the next 5 years. is clearly commensurate with William Brown’s assertion
However, the situational context is continually changing, so regarding character formation. “Such is the way of wisdom’s
their planning is exceedingly flexible. The DTU fundamental wonder, that which keeps the self in motion and ever in the
mission is based on a five-point strategy that stresses: (1) throe of inquiry (12).”
26 Schnell

6. Stringfellow W. The politics of spirituality. Louisville, KY: Westminster

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Colonel, with his final 14 years serving as an Assistant Air 9. Ibid. Ibid. p. 103.
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Youth Publishers (2012).
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Cincinnati, Miami University, Beijing Jiaotong University, p. 189.
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