Vinh City Armed Forces: Worthy of the title of heroes

(Baonghean) - Vinh City is not only a strategically important location for Nghe An province but also for the entire North Central region. In the history of the struggle for national construction and liberation, Vinh was an early center for revolutionary patriotic movements against feudalism and colonialism.

Just one month after the founding of the Communist Party of Vietnam, the Vinh Provincial Party Committee was established (March 1930). From then on, Vinh became the focal point of the revolutionary movement in the province and surrounding areas, culminating in the Nghe Tinh Soviet. From within the Nghe Tinh Soviet movement (1930-1931) emerged the Red Self-Defense Teams – one of the precursor organizations of the People's Army of Vietnam today.

Following the success of the August Revolution, the French colonialists returned to invade our country. Faced with the urgent need to prepare for a long and arduous resistance war, and to strengthen the armed forces and the command and control capabilities of the local military agencies, on December 18, 1946, Comrade Le Viet Luong – Chairman of the Provisional Resistance Committee of Nghe An Province – signed a decision to establish the Vinh City Military Command, with Comrade Dinh Can Loc as Commander and Comrade Le Trong Tranh as Political Commissar. From then on, December 18th has been celebrated annually as the traditional day of the armed forces of Vinh City.

The commanders of the 4th Military Region Command and the provincial Military Command inspected and visited the exhibition area showcasing innovative improvements to training models and teaching aids of the Vinh City armed forces during the 2016 training campaign.

The resistance war against French colonialism was a difficult journey, but with the indomitable spirit of the Soviet homeland, the city's army and people, together with the army and people of Nghe An province, built and firmly defended an important base area, a strategic foothold and rear base for Military Region 4 and the entire country, as well as for neighboring Laos. The city simultaneously implemented the "scorched earth resistance" strategy and evacuated thousands of tons of machinery and equipment to other base areas, building defense industry facilities.

Entering a new long march – the resistance war against the US to save the nation (1954-1975); promoting the revolutionary spirit and the strength of people's war, and adhering to the directive of "actively attacking the enemy, actively defending ourselves," the city's armed forces grew stronger and more mature with each battle, achieving increasingly higher combat efficiency; they organized 7,753 battles (including 5,527 combined arms battles), shot down 146 American aircraft, with 13 crashing on the spot (133 were destroyed in the sky and at sea). The militia, armed with both plows and guns, or hammers and guns, shot down 86 aircraft and captured 6 enemy pilots... On September 16, 1966, on the occasion of the city's army and people shooting down 100 American planes, President Ho Chi Minh sent a letter of praise: "Vinh is the first city to shoot down 100 American planes. That is a glorious victory... The army and people of Vinh city must always uphold the heroic Soviet-Nghe Tinh tradition..."

In the process of building and developing the city today, the armed forces always remember Uncle Ho's teachings, upholding traditions and striving to effectively carry out national defense and security tasks, making important contributions to maintaining stability and creating a favorable environment and conditions for the city's development in all fields. They proactively implement Central Resolution 8 (9th Congress) on "The Strategy for National Defense in the New Situation," the Law on Militia and Self-Defense Forces, and the Ordinance on Reserve Mobilization. They focus on building a strong and comprehensive local armed force, enhancing combat readiness. They advise and organize well the city's defense zone exercises, and annually direct defense combat exercises and flood and storm prevention, search and rescue exercises with good results. Closely coordinating with other forces in carrying out the task of protecting national security, maintaining social order and safety, detecting, preventing, and combating the "peaceful evolution" and subversive riots of hostile forces, contributing to maintaining political stability and social order and safety at all times. Organizing training and capacity building to enhance advisory capabilities and organizational skills in task implementation, ensuring sufficient capacity to serve as the core force to promptly and effectively handle situations occurring in the area. Coordinating participation in the emulation movement of the armed forces in socio-economic development, especially the movement to eradicate poverty, show gratitude, and contribute to building new rural areas... With great achievements in combat, construction, and development, the armed forces of the city have been awarded many prestigious awards by the Party and the State.

Given the intertwined impacts of the global, regional, and domestic situations, with both advantages and disadvantages, in the coming period, the armed forces of the city need to continue to uphold and promote the tradition of "leading the way and rising first" of the heroic Soviet homeland, constantly striving to resolutely complete all assigned tasks. In particular, they should focus on effectively carrying out the following basic tasks:

Firstly, continue to thoroughly understand and strictly implement the Resolution of the 12th National Party Congress, the Resolutions of Party Congresses at all levels, focusing on the Resolution of the 8th Plenum of the Central Committee (11th term) on "The Strategy for National Defense in the New Situation".

Secondly, we must build strong and comprehensive Party committees within agencies and units; improve the overall quality and combat strength of the armed forces; and build revolutionary, regular, elite, and progressively modern armed forces in the city to meet the requirements of the new situation.

Thirdly, closely coordinate with city departments, agencies, and organizations to promote the building and strengthening of the all-people national defense, building a solid all-people national defense posture linked to a people's security posture, especially in key areas. Develop and effectively utilize the potential in the defense zone. Focus on improving the quality of education and training in national defense and security knowledge for all target groups and the entire population; take care to build a strong reserve force and militia.

Fourth, thoroughly understand and effectively implement the functions of the working army in the new situation, further improve mass mobilization work, build solidarity between the military and the people, and strengthen the "people's support" base firmly at the grassroots level. Promote activities of "showing gratitude and repaying kindness"; help people develop the economy, achieve sustainable poverty reduction, build new rural areas, prevent and mitigate the consequences of natural disasters, conduct search and rescue operations, and ensure the safety of the people, contributing to ensuring favorable conditions for the socio-economic development of the city...

Over 70 years of building, fighting, and maturing, the city's armed forces have overcome all difficulties and hardships, constantly growing stronger. From the Red Self-Defense Teams and the Hong Son Company to the present day, with a well-organized, regular, well-trained, and fully equipped force of officers, soldiers, and militia and reserve forces, the city's armed forces have always deserved to be the leading force, excellently fulfilling all assigned tasks and making important contributions, together with the Party Committee and the people, to building Vinh City into a civilized and prosperous city, soon becoming the central urban area of ​​the North Central region in accordance with the spirit of Resolution 26-NQ/TW of the Politburo and Decision No. 2468/QD-TTg dated December 29, 2015, of the Prime Minister.

VO VIET THANHBut

Member of the Standing Committee of the Provincial Party Committee, Secretary of the Vinh City Party Committee, Secretary of the Vinh City Military Party Committee