Spreading the image of "Uncle Ho's soldiers" in the new situation

Nghe An Newspaper had an interview with Colonel Phan Dai Nghia - Member of the Provincial Party Standing Committee, Commander of the Nghe An Provincial Military Command on the occasion of the 80th anniversary of the founding of the Vietnam People's Army.

Reporter: It is known that the Nghe An Provincial Armed Forces have achieved many glorious feats, contributing greatly to the cause of national liberation and unification. Could you tell us more about these feats?

Colonel Phan Dai Nghia:Provincial Armed ForcesNghe Anwas established on August 21, 1945. On this day, under the direct leadership of the Nghe Tinh Uprising Committee, the Vinh town self-defense fighting team attacked the Governor's Palace and the French secret police station. Joining the core armed forces, there were also tens of thousands of people who armed themselves with primitive weapons. In just one day, the uprising to seize power in Vinh was victorious, the revolutionary government belonged to the people.

During the 9 years of resistance against the French, tens of thousands of cadres and soldiers of Nghe An went to the front lines, contributing to the building of the first main force corps of our Army. Thousands of militiamen, guerrillas and tens of thousands of laborers coordinated with the main force troops, fought and served in combat on the battlefields... together with the army and people of the whole country, creating brilliant feats of arms, including the Dien Bien Phu Victory. Also during this time, the provincial armed forces were the core force on the front lines to destroy hunger and illiteracy.

After the Geneva Agreement, Nghe An became the front line of the Northern rear, and the direct rear of the great Southern front line and the Laotian revolution. More than 300,000 cadres, soldiers and militiamen of Nghe An front line served in combat on the battlefields. In the rear, the army and people fought side by side. The Soviet flame continued to shine, giving strength to the army and people of Nghe An to fight and defeat the enemy.

Nghe An army and people coordinated with other units to shoot down 553 aircraft of all types; sank and burned 36 warships and commando ships of the US and the puppet army; captured 28 commando and reconnaissance teams. Notably, Nghe An militia for the first time shot down a modern aircraft of the US imperialists with infantry guns, opening the movement of shooting down American aircraft with infantry guns in the North. Nghe An army and people also mobilized more than 40 million working days to open roads and serve the fight.

Carrying out glorious international missions, from 1959 to 1973, Nghe An Armed Forces participated in 250 battles on the Lao battlefield, destroying and injuring over 2,500 enemies, contributing to the expansion of liberated areas with Laos.

The feats of arms of the army and people of Nghe An contributed to forcing the US imperialists to sign the Paris Agreement on unconditionally ending the war in Vietnam... When the war broke out on the northern, southwestern and island borders, nearly 200,000 Nghe An youths went to fight in the battlefields in the country and in neighboring countries of Laos and Cambodia. During the 1985-1986 dry season campaign, the provincial armed forces, together with units of Military Region 4, coordinated with neighboring Laos to destroy the den of the Vang Pao bandit force in Phu Bia and Loong Cheng.

With these outstanding achievements, on December 19, 1979, the President signed a decision to confer the title of Hero of the People's Armed Forces on the People and Armed Forces of Nghe Tinh province.

PV: During the renovation period, how has the Nghe An Provincial Armed Forces promoted the Soviet spirit and heroic tradition to build and defend the Fatherland?

Colonel Phan Dai Nghia:During the renovation period, the Provincial Military Command (CHQS) has proactively advised the Party Committee and the Government to effectively perform the State management function on national defense; and build defense potential in defense areas. In particular, focusing on building defense works and defense works on sea routes, islands, and inland borders, contributing to the formation of a solid, interconnected defense posture.

Specifically, the Provincial Military Command has advised on planning and investing in a defense system with 117 points, totaling more than 2,434 hectares for military facilities, shooting ranges, combat bases and training centers. Nghe An is the first province in the country to implement these projects and has been selected by the Ministry of National Defense as a model for many localities to learn from.

The provincial armed forces have regularly built up their political, ideological, organizational and moral strength; attached importance to building a contingent of cadres and employees; attached importance to the work of selecting and calling citizens to join the army; built a militia force with sufficient quantity and quality; the reserve force has been strictly managed; constantly innovated and improved the quality of training for the subjects; attached importance to synchronous, in-depth training, close to the characteristics of the situation and task requirements.

The armed forces have coordinated to patrol and control the protection of sovereignty and security of borders, seas, islands and inland areas; maintained stability in the area; participated in preventing, combating and overcoming the consequences of natural disasters, epidemics and search and rescue, contributing to promoting and spreading the image of "Uncle Ho's soldiers" in the new situation.

The task of regional defense exercises at all levels has always been focused on innovation in a practical, effective and close-to-real combat direction. Over the past 10 years, the provincial military has successfully organized 2 regional defense exercises and 1 large-scale civil defense exercise, with the participation of all military branches and services, and has been highly appreciated by the Ministry of National Defense. In addition, the province has also organized 966 commune-level combat exercises and 36 district-level defense exercises.

Defense foreign affairs have always been given attention. The provincial armed forces have advised the Provincial Party Committee and the Provincial People's Committee and directly and effectively implemented many projects to contribute to promoting and maintaining the special friendship and solidarity between Vietnam and Laos; organized 16 training courses for cadres and officers of Xieng Khouang, Hua Phan, and Bolikhamxay provinces; invested tens of billions of VND to build a number of projects, purchase equipment and facilities for neighboring provinces.

With a noble political responsibility and sacred sentiment towards the heroic martyrs, over the past 40 years, officers and soldiers of the Provincial Military Command have closely coordinated with the Party Committee, government and armed forces of Laos to actively propagate and mobilize the people of Lao ethnic groups to survey, search and collect 12,628 sets of martyrs' remains in Laos and 472 sets of martyrs' remains in the country.

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With its outstanding achievements, the Provincial Armed Forces have been awarded many noble prizes by the Party, the State, the Government, the Ministry of National Defense, the Military Region 4 Command, and the Provincial People's Committee. In particular, on October 10, 2024, the Nghe An Provincial Armed Forces were honored for the second time by the Party and the State with the title of Hero of the People's Armed Forces. This is a noble prize, a source of pride, and a great source of encouragement for the Nghe An Provincial Armed Forces to continue to strive to rise up and successfully carry out the two strategic tasks of building and defending the Fatherland.

Colonel Phan Dai Nghia - Member of the Provincial Party Standing Committee, Commander of the Nghe An Provincial Military Command

PV: In recent years, the provincial military has made many contributions to the cause.Hunger eradication, poverty reduction, and new rural construction in Nghe An. Could you tell us more about this activity?

Colonel Phan Dai Nghia:Over the past 10 years, Nghe An Armed Forces have made great contributions to the province's hunger eradication, poverty reduction, and new rural construction; leaving many bright spots, leaving a deep impression on the people; and being highly appreciated by all levels. Every year, the provincial Armed Forces have organized many field training sessions, coordinated with localities to build traffic systems, canals, cultural and medical works... according to new rural criteria; actively implemented the policy of hunger eradication and poverty reduction in 240 communes of 20 districts, towns and cities.

The Provincial Military Command mobilized 134,000 working days; dredged 765 km of canals; repaired and renewed 2,340 km of inter-village and inter-commune roads (276 km of concrete); supported localities with 4,650 tons of cement and VND 3,245 billion; leveled the ground, and cleaned up 32,500 m of the environment.²; build 60,200 m²surrounding walls; planted 27,500 trees; collected and treated 154,500 kg of waste; presented more than 36,500 national flags to fishermen at sea.

The Provincial Military Command has helped poor Nam Giai commune (Que Phong) build a strong political base, build cultural institutions in each village; organized many medical examination and treatment sessions, and provided medicine for 2,500 people; helped the commune dredge 167 km of irrigation ditches, and fill 123,500 m²leveled the ground and built 42,000 m of surrounding walls for hamlet and village cultural houses; repaired and renewed 287 km of inter-village roads; collected 124,500 kg of waste; planted 17,500 trees; and supported 2,000 tons of cement.

Promoting the noble qualities of "Uncle Ho's soldiers", the provincial military actively participated in emulation movements, most notably the movement "The whole country joins hands for the poor - leaving no one behind". In particular, the Provincial Military Command coordinated with departments, branches and forces to create budget sources to build and donate 137 gratitude houses, 94 comrade houses, 12 charity houses, 5 union shelters and more than 10,250 gifts, 250 tons of rice, 153 bicycles, 460 breeding cows... to help policy households, poor families, military families facing difficulties; sponsored 100 poor students overcoming difficulties, each child 350,000 VND/month.

In addition, the Provincial Military Command also organized to help repair houses for 87 poor households, built 35 civil works; supported seeds and production capital for more than 100 households to escape poverty with an amount of over 900 million VND... Organized to open 6 literacy classes for 371 people in highland communes such as Na Ngoi (Ky Son), Tri Le (Que Phong).

PV: In the new situation, what tasks and solutions will the provincial military focus on to better carry out the two strategic tasks of building and defending the Fatherland?

Colonel Phan Dai Nghia:Faced with the requirements and tasks in the new situation, the provincial military continues to promote the tradition of the unit being twice "Hero of the People's Armed Forces"; performs well the advisory function with Party committees and authorities at all levels in leading, directing and organizing the comprehensive implementation of military and defense tasks; focuses on building a clean and strong Party organization; builds a comprehensively strong force that is "exemplary and typical".

Focus on innovating and improving the quality of training for the subjects; attach importance to and further improve the quality of education and training in national defense and security knowledge; implement regular routines, discipline training, build strong and comprehensive agencies and units; actively respond to the emulation movement "The Army joins hands to build new countryside"; promote the implementation of the Emulation Movement to Win associated with patriotic emulation movements; promptly resolve the work of military rear policy.

Focus on preparing well the conditions for the Party Congresses at all levels, term 2025-2030; closely coordinate with forces to maintain stability in the area, creating a favorable environment for local development. Closely combine the task of consolidating national defense and security with socio-economic development; build an all-people national defense, the all-people national defense posture associated with the people's security posture; build an increasingly solid provincial defense zone... contributing to the successful implementation of the two strategic tasks; together with the entire Party and the entire army, successfully implement the goal of bringing the country into a new era, the era of national development.

PV: Thank you, comrade!