The two strong generals
Last post:The feats became legends
>> Lesson 1. Fire tests gold
In early 1946, Chu Huy Man was assigned to the Viet Bac War Zone Party Committee, in charge of Party inspection work, concurrently as Regiment Commander, Party Secretary of Regiment 72, then Regiment Commander and Party Secretary of Regiment 74.
In addition to combat operations in the area, the Regiment was assigned the task of protecting the Party Central Committee and the Government, protecting Uncle Ho during his visits to China and the Soviet Union, and protecting working delegations from friendly countries crossing the Vietnam-China border to the Viet Bac base.
Using the battlefield as a training ground and a test, in the summer of 1947, the regiment participated in the Western front, coordinating with the Eastern force (commanded by comrade Tran Minh Giang, representative of the Chinese Liberation Army) to defeat Chiang Kai-shek's army, expand the Hoa Nam (China) base, liberate Thuy Khau, Long Chau, Ha Thanh, Ha Dong. Taking advantage of the victory, Regiment Commander Chu Huy Man led the troops to attack straight into La Hau, destroying and capturing a battalion of Chiang's army. The rest had to surrender. Promoting the victory, in early 1950, Regiment 174 organized a major battle, destroying about 5,000 Chiang's troops, commanded by General Bach Sung Huy. On September 16, 1950, the Party Central Committee and Uncle Ho advocated launching the Border Campaign, attacking the French army on the Cao Bang - Lang Son route, liberating part of the Vietnam - China border, opening a route for international exchange, developing and consolidating the Viet Bac base. Uncle Ho personally went to the front with General Vo Nguyen Giap and the General Command to organize, direct and command the campaign. As the main unit, Regiment 174 achieved many outstanding feats of arms, and was praised by Uncle Ho.
General Chu Huy Man
(Illustration by artist Simon McCouaig - USA).
After the campaign, Chu Huy Man was able to go with General Vo Nguyen Giap to meet Uncle Ho. The General introduced Chu Huy Man to Uncle Ho. The first time he met Uncle Ho, Chu Huy Man was extremely moved. Holding Uncle Ho's warm hand, Chu Huy Man was so moved that he could not even say a word wishing Uncle Ho good health! Uncle Ho smiled kindly and asked:
- You were a Red Guard in 1930, carrying bamboo sticks to fight the French at the Native Church, right?
He kindly praised the great achievements of Regiment 174, and gave specific instructions on how to take over Lang Son.
On February 11, 1951, the 2nd Congress of the Indochinese Communist Party was held. Comrade Chu Huy Man was the official representative of the military delegation. Before the Congress, Uncle Ho asked for permission for comrades Chu Huy Man and Bui Quang Tao to prepare for combat. The entire Congress applauded enthusiastically to see the two comrades off. That was the urgent task of establishing the 316th Division. This was the 4th main division of our army. Comrade Chu Huy Man was appointed as Party Secretary and Political Commissar of the Division. The birth of the 316th Division was a step in preparing forces for us to completely control the northern border, completely switch to counterattack and completely defeat the Nava plan, crushing the will to invade of the French colonialists. During the Dien Bien Phu Campaign, together with Divisions 312, 308, and the 351st Army, Division 316 continuously held the battlefield, achieved many feats, and contributed to the whole country's complete defeat of the invading French colonialists.
After the Geneva Agreement, at the request of Prince Souphanouvong, Uncle Ho signed the Decision to establish the 100th Volunteer Army Group, appointing comrade Chu Huy Man as Commander, Party Secretary and Head of the Military Advisory Group of the Government of the Democratic Republic of Vietnam alongside the Lao Resistance Government.
On August 20, 1954, before leaving for Vientiane, comrade Chu Huy Man was met by Uncle Ho. Uncle Ho kindly said:
- Indochina is a battlefield. Helping a friend is helping yourself, eating at home and doing housework on a friend's land. To keep communication secret, Uncle Ho gave you a new name, Hai Manh!
Chu Huy Man choked:
- Sir, I understand that our mission is to build a "strong political and military" force for our friends. To do so, we must unite to build the 100th Youth Union to establish a "strong political and military" volunteer army!
He smiled gently:
- Are you arguing with Uncle Ho again?
Keeping in mind Uncle Ho's words, Hai Manh and the collective of Group 100 were both advisors and organizers in carrying out the tasks of building political bases and building the revolutionary armed forces of the friendly country to constantly grow stronger.
At the end of 1957, comrade Chu Huy Man returned to the country and was appointed as Party Secretary and Political Commissar of Military Region IV. In 1958, comrade Chu Huy Man was promoted to the rank of Major General and was assigned to return to Viet Bac as Party Secretary and Political Commissar of Military Region until 1960.
As Party Secretary, Political Commissar of Military Region IV and Viet Bac Military Region, comrade Chu Huy Man had the opportunity to provide practical assistance to the Lao revolution. Especially when the Lao revolution encountered many difficulties, Military Region IV and Viet Bac Military Region became a reliable and solid rear for the Lao revolution.
In November 1960, the Lao reactionary forces recaptured Vientiane. The Lao revolutionary government requested the Vietnamese government to provide emergency aid to protect the capital. Comrade Hai Manh was again sent by our Party and State to help our friend. Firmly protecting Vientiane, attacking the rightist prison to free Prince Souphanouvong to continue leading the resistance, destroying reactionary bases... The great help of the Vietnamese volunteer army under the command of comrade Hai Manh was highly appreciated by the Party and State!
At the end of 1961, Major General Chu Huy Man was assigned to return to the Military Region as Party Secretary and Political Commissar of Military Region IV. Before returning to his homeland, an unexpected happiness came to Major General Chu Huy Man, through General Vo Nguyen Giap, Uncle Ho sent him a Vi-le wristwatch, with the words "Ho Chi Minh" (gift) engraved on the back and a card from Uncle Ho that said: "I give you this watch because you have made achievements in helping the Lao Party and revolutionary people, building the Lao revolutionary armed forces".
One sacred thing that cannot be left unmentioned: the only son of General Chu Huy Man, Lieutenant Colonel Chu Huy Son, sacrificed his life on friendly land after the country's reunification!
In March 1964, Major General Chu Huy Man left the battlefield of Military Region IV for Military Region V, holding the position of Party Secretary and Political Commissar of the Military Region.
Central Highlands - Zone V was an important area during the war. French and American military strategists both called "Central Highlands the roof of Indochina" and shared the same determination: "Control the Central Highlands to control Vietnam - Cambodia - Laos". Therefore, Central Highlands, Zone V became a fierce battleground between us and the enemy to win people and land.
In the fierce bombs and Agent Orange, facing the situation of the US increasing its forces and increasing the intensity of attacks on the Central Highlands and Route 559, Major General Chu Huy Man proposed to the General Command to open the Central Highlands Front to attract and hold back the enemy, share the fire with the North, destroy the US, and gradually destroy the US's illusion of dominating the Central Highlands. The plan was approved, he was appointed Commander and Political Commissar of the front. He directly commanded the Plei Me campaign from October 19 to November 26, 1965, the first campaign of the Central Highlands front to fight the US and defeat the US!
In the spring of 1974, he was promoted by the Party and State from Major General to Senior Lieutenant General.
The Central Highlands Front, Military Region V did a good job of preparing the battlefield to be a breakthrough point for the General Offensive and Uprising in Spring 1975. The Central Highlands Campaign from (March 4 to April 3, 1975) with comrade as Commander and Political Commissar liberated the Southern Central Highlands provinces, created a strategic division, and destroyed an important part of the enemy's forces. And then, comrade was the Political Commissar of the major Hue - Da Nang campaign, contributing to creating a turning point, bringing the war to liberate the South from a strategically significant offensive to a strategic offensive throughout the South.
After the country was liberated (1975), in his position as Party Secretary, Commander and Political Commissar of Military Region V, Senior Lieutenant General Chu Huy Man made great contributions to the reform, construction and development of 11 provinces in the Military Region. In 1980, he was awarded the rank of General...
As the first party member in the People's Army to receive the 70-year Party membership badge, dedicating his entire life to the country and the people, General Chu Huy Man is an example of a true communist, a talented and virtuous general. From Viet Bac to the Land of a Million Elephants, then the Central Highlands..., the feats of famous general Hai Manh will forever go down in history, continuing the tradition of famous Vietnamese generals in the Ho Chi Minh era!
Colonel: Nguyen Khac Thuan (Vinh City)
