The last military uniform of General Vo Nguyen Giap

In about 3 hours, 9 workers worked diligently, some of them crying as they sewed, to complete the final uniform for the General.

When General Vo Nguyen Giap passed away in 2013, X20 Joint Stock Company received the important task of sewing the last military uniform for the eldest brother of the Vietnam People's Army. This special uniform had to be completed in the fastest time.

Three hours after receiving the assignment, the military uniform including pants, winter dress shirt, and white shirt worn inside for the General was completed and handed over to his family.

Mr. Do Duy Van, Head of the Technical Department, Military Tailoring Enterprise (under X20) recounted that upon receiving the assignment, the Director of the Enterprise at that time, Mr. Hoang Sy Tam, directed that they must immediately start working and mobilize all nine technical staff to take on the responsibility. He also rolled up his sleeves with the staff, each with a task, trying to complete the work as quickly as possible.

The General's final uniform consisted of trousers, a beige winter dress coat (right corner) and a white shirt. The Army Tailoring Enterprise remade a set and the sewing machine was also put on display. Photo: Quang Phuong

The first thing to do was to prepare the materials. Even if it was the last uniform, the material used to make it still had to follow the regulations of the Quartermaster Department and would not change. On the other hand, this was also the material that the General normally liked.

The sewing machines are carefully cleaned, using white cloths to wipe them clean. A separate sewing line is also established to avoid mixing with surrounding materials.

"The General's measurements were stored in our system. Therefore, the work began immediately. Tran Van Diep and I were assigned to cut under the direction of Tam. I cut the shirt and Diep cut the pants. Then we handed it over to Nguyen Thi Thanh's group to sew," Van said.

Director Tam divided the sewing group into three, including the shirt sewing group with four people (Mr. Tam, Mr. Dam Hai Long, Ms. Nguyen Thi Thanh, Chu Thi Chuc). The pants sewing group had Mr. Le Van Truc and Ms. Nguyen Thi Thom. Ms. Nguyen Thi Hanh was assigned to sew shirts.

Recalling the moments of carrying out the special mission, Mr. Van said that while making the product, everyone was very sad. Some people could not hold back their emotions and cried while working.

"We all wanted to make him a beautiful last outfit, because it was the last memory of the General. We were careful and meticulous in every little thing. The uniform was completed in three hours without a single mistake," Ms. Thanh shared.

Ms. Nguyen Thi Thanh, who participated in sewing the last shirt for the General. Photo: Quang Phuong

After careful inspection, Director Hoang Sy Tam and the General Director of X20 company brought it to hand over to General Vo Nguyen Giap's family.

Mr. Van added that the evening before the funeral for the General, the Army Tailoring Enterprise received another task: sewing the entire canvas system covering the path leading from the entrance to the national funeral home.

"This was a very urgent task so Director Tam immediately ordered it to be done overnight. About 14 people were summoned, some to cut, some to sew, some to bring to the funeral home to install. When the job was completed it was around 1:30 a.m.," Mr. Van confided.

After that, the company was also assigned to sew uniforms for the guards standing guard next to the General at Vung Chua, Yen Island (Quang Trach district, Quang Binh province).

General Vo Nguyen Giap breathed his last at 6:09 p.m. on October 4, 2013 at the 108 Military Hospital, where he had been cared for by medical experts for four years. During the 10 days the family opened its doors to the public, millions of people from the mountains to the sea came to pay their last respects to the eldest brother of the Vietnam People’s Army./.

According to VNE