General Vo Nguyen Giap discussed with General Pham Van Tra (C) and Phung Quang Thanh (L) in December 2004. Photo: Tran Hong

When the minister was a student at secondary school in Me Linh (the present Vinh Phuc Province), he learnt by heart the lines of a poem, written by poet To Huu, praising the bravery of Dien Bien Phu soldiers. These lines left him and other students impressed by the virtues of Uncle Ho’s soldiers, under the leadership of the Party and President Ho Chi Minh as well as the excellent command talent of General Vo Nguyen Giap, together with the entire people to win the victory of Dien Bien Phu.

The Defence Minister recalled the time he joined the army, fighting in the South of Vietnam and manoeuvring to Quang Binh after the Route 9 – South Laos campaign ended in 1971. It was the first time he met General Vo Nguyen Giap, when he visited to inspect and encourage the fighting spirit of his unit.

“The feelings that our unit gave to General Vo Nguyen Giap were very special with absolute confidence, deep love and great respect,” the Defence Minister wrote.

“His thoughtful attitude and consideration made us feel the love he gave to us,” he went on.

Later, when becoming Commander of Military Zone 1, General Phung Quang Thanh had more chances to meet General Vo Nguyen Giap and witness General Vo Nguyen Giap’s meetings with war veterans. At these occasions, the General always asked the war veterans to promote the virtues of Uncle Ho’s soldiers of solidarity, helping each other and being good examples in the localities. The General also asked the local Party committees to always listen to and respect the people to make them believe in the Party and authority to gain more victories in the revolutionary cause.

The Defence Minister also wrote that when he became Chief of the General Staff of Vietnam People’s Army, and then Minister of National Defence, he often visited General Vo Nguyen Giap to report developments to him and asked for his advice on building the entire people’s defence posture, strengthening the Vietnam People’s Army or experiences in handling international relations.

“Despite his age and health conditions, General Vo Nguyen Giap always followed domestic and international situations,” stressed the Defence Minister, “He often reminded the comrades in the Central Military Commission and the Ministry of National Defence of training the soldiers to promote Uncle Ho’s virtues and putting the interests of the collective above those of the individual.”

The Defence Minister also revealed in his article that he planned to upgrade infrastructure at Tran Hung Dao forest, where General Vo Nguyen Giap established the Vietnam Propaganda Unit for National Liberation, the predecessor of the Vietnam People’s Army, and to implement a series of activities to pay tribute to war veterans to celebrate the 70th anniversary of the foundation of Vietnam People’s Army.

General Phung Quang Thanh also inquired after General Vo Nguyen Giap many times during his treatment at Military Hospital 108 in Hanoi.

“Every time I visited him, I stood at attention and saluted him in military style,” General Phung Quang Thanh said.

The last time General Phung Quang Thanh saluted General Vo Nguyen Giap was at 14.30, 4th October, 2013, just over three hours before the world-famous soldier passed away.

In his article, the Minister of National Defence stressed that he always remembers the teachings of the eldest brother of Vietnam People’s Army and would do his best to follow his brightest example.

Source: PANO