Promoting the tradition of Nghe An Armed Forces in the heroic Soviet homeland

75 years of construction, fighting and growing up, the Nghe An Provincial Armed Forces have inherited, promoted and developed to enrich the glorious traditions of the nation, the Party, the Army and the homeland. The revolutionary nature and glorious traditions of the Nghe An Provincial Armed Forces were formed and crystallized from hardships and challenges, from fighting, working and working. Therefore, the tradition of the Nghe An Provincial Armed Forces bears both the common mark of the national and Army traditions and the unique features of the homeland traditions. In any circumstance, fighting or building, at the front or in the rear, the Nghe An Provincial Armed Forces have always achieved many feats, contributing with the army and people of the whole country to the victory of the August 1945 Revolution, establishing the Democratic Republic of Vietnam - the first workers' and peasants' state in Southeast Asia.

Armed forces of Nghe An province. Photo courtesy of Thanh Cuong

Responding to President Ho Chi Minh's call for national resistance, on December 19, 1946, the army and people of Nghe An rose up, determined to "Use our strength to liberate ourselves". The provincial armed forces proactively, intelligently, and bravely opened fire to attack enemy outposts and airports, mastered the battles, captured enemy troops, and seized many of their weapons, equipment, and means of war. The victory of the first battles directly contributed to the common feat of the whole country, opening the way for our nation's long-term resistance war against the French colonialists.

During the 9 years of resistance war against the French, tens of thousands of cadres and soldiers of Nghe An province’s armed forces provided support to the frontline, contributing to the building of the first main force corps of our Army. Thousands of militia, guerrillas and tens of thousands of laborers coordinated with the main force, fought and served in the battles of Binh Tri Thien, Hoa Binh, Tay Bac, Ha Nam Ninh, Central and Upper Laos and the Dien Bien Phu campaign. Nghe An province’s armed forces also acted as the core force on the fronts to destroy hunger and illiteracy and were a reliable force of the revolution in rural land reform.

Entering the resistance war against the invading American imperialists, with an extremely important location in the whole country, Nghe An became both the front line of the Northern rear area and the direct rear area of ​​the great Southern front line and the Laotian revolution. The American imperialists considered Nghe An a key point in the destructive war by air and naval forces against the Socialist North and in fact Nghe An became the first, continuous, long-term, and most fierce target of the enemy's attacks, and also the last place the enemy attacked when they were forced to end the destructive war in the North.

However, the modern aircraft and weapons of the US Empire could not subdue the spirit and courage of the army and people of Nghe An. More than 140,000 cadres and soldiers were sent to the battlefields and more than 160,000 young men, children of Nghe An ethnic groups, joined the army to fight the enemy, 120,000 young men volunteered to serve in combat on the battlefields.

Leaders of the Provincial Military Command inspected the 85mm artillery training at the Mat Island mixed battalion. Photo courtesy of Trong Kien

The feats of arms of the army and people of Nghe An contributed to defeating two destructive wars by air and naval forces of the US imperialists against the North, forcing the US imperialists to sign the Paris Agreement to unconditionally end the war in Vietnam.

After 1975, Nghe An province's armed forces had a new step of development, the system of military command agencies from district to province was organized, consolidated, completed, step by step building a regular, revolutionary, and gradually modern provincial armed forces. The level of cadres was increasingly improved, the militia and self-defense force was built strong and widespread, the large reserve force was managed, organized and trained carefully to meet the new stage of National Defense - Security tasks.

Provincial Military Command forces train for combat readiness. Photo courtesy of Trong Kien

Thoroughly grasping the guidelines and viewpoints on the task of national defense and security to protect the Fatherland in the new revolutionary period, under the close and direct leadership and direction of the Party Committee and the Military Region 4 Command; the local Party Committees and authorities of the provincial armed forces have continuously grown and matured in terms of politics, ideology and organization. Constantly improving the overall quality and combat strength, both training and combat readiness, and actively participating in the movement to build grassroots communes, wards and security clusters. Innovating the content and form of mobilizing the masses, agencies and units stationed everywhere closely coordinate with Party Committees, authorities, departments, branches, unions and local people to build a strong national defense and security foundation; building a solid provincial and district defense zone, closely following difficult and complicated areas in remote areas, helping local Party Committees, authorities and people to build a strong political system; increase production, develop economy, build and strengthen national defense and security.

Officers and soldiers of the Provincial Military Command participate in the prevention and control of the Covid-19 epidemic. Photo courtesy of Thanh Cuong

Carrying out the tasks of natural disaster prevention, search and rescue and Covid-19 epidemic prevention, officers and soldiers of the provincial military always uphold the sense of responsibility, considering this a combat mission in peacetime. Actively and proactively preventing forest fires, floods and storms, searching and rescuing help to minimize damage to people and property of the State and people, at the same time proactively and coordinately develop plans and synchronously implement measures to prevent and control Covid-19 epidemic, organize the quarantine of nearly 15,000 citizens from Laos, Thailand, Cambodia and epidemic areas to the locality thoughtfully and safely. Thoroughly implementing the viewpoint of "helping friends is helping ourselves", the provincial military has done many practical things to help the military and people of Lao provinces that share a border with Nghe An; Cooperate with Laos to do a good job of collecting the remains of Vietnamese volunteer soldiers and experts who died in Laos and bring them back to Vietnam, contributing to preserving and promoting the Vietnam - Laos friendship "forever green, forever sustainable".

Advise on building and consolidating the potential of the provincial military force to be strong in all aspects, including politics, spirit, economy, national defense - security, culture, society... Effectively implement Directive 05 of the Politburo on promoting the Study and follow of Ho Chi Minh's ideology, morality and lifestyle in conjunction with implementing Resolution 4 of the Central Committee (Term XII) in the entire provincial military. Do a good job of policy work, participate in building gratitude houses, comrade houses, care for and nurture war invalids, support Vietnamese Heroic Mothers and policy families.

Defense area drill. Photo courtesy of Thanh Cuong

The achievements and growth of Nghe An Armed Forces over the past 75 years have been achieved thanks to the correct and wise leadership of the Party, the direct leadership and direction of the Party Committee - Military Region 4 Command and the Provincial Party Committee, People's Council and People's Committee. The close coordination of the Fatherland Front and departments, branches and organizations; the love and care of the people, the dedicated help, close coordination and cooperation of localities and friendly units together with the strength of solidarity and friendship that international friends have given, Nghe An Armed Forces have built glorious and noble traditions.

Promoting that glorious tradition, in the coming time, Nghe An Provincial Military is determined to carry out well the following main contents:

The first,Absolutely loyal to the revolutionary cause of the Party, of Uncle Ho and of our people. Constantly improve political capacity, train revolutionary ethics, fighting spirit, vigilance, and proactive combat readiness to successfully deal with all sabotage plots of hostile forces. Resolutely protect all revolutionary achievements, actively participate in helping people prevent natural disasters, storms and floods, and rescue and relief. Strive to study to improve comprehensive qualifications, contribute to building a revolutionary, disciplined, elite, and gradually modern army, worthy of the nature and tradition of the heroic Vietnam People's Army, truly the core force in building the all-people national defense and people's security posture.

Vinh City Military Command supports people affected by natural disasters. Photo courtesy of Thanh Cuong

Monday,thoroughly grasp and implement the Resolution of the 12th National Party Congress, effectively implement the Resolution of the 9th Conference - Party Central Committee (11th Term) on the Strategy for National Defense in the new situation. Focus on effectively implementing Directive 05 of the Politburo on continuing to promote studying and following Ho Chi Minh's ideology, morality and lifestyle in conjunction with implementing the Resolution of the 4th Central Committee (12th Term), effectively implementing the Campaign“Promoting the tradition of contributing talent, worthy of being Uncle Ho's soldiers”.

Tuesday,Take care to build strong, exemplary, comprehensive agencies and units, clean and strong Party organizations, high internal solidarity and unity; receive many exemplary collectives and advanced individuals who excellently complete tasks in all situations, build the Provincial Military Party Committee to excellently complete tasks and the Provincial Armed Forces to be truly strong in all aspects.

Provincial military officers and soldiers support people in developing economic models. Photo courtesy of Trong Kien

Wednesday,Regularly pay attention to improving the material and spiritual life of soldiers; build a "cultural, disciplined, green - clean - beautiful" landscape and environment. Ensure logistics, technical and financial work to meet the requirements of training and combat readiness tasks.

In accordance with the wishes of the Party Committee, people and armed forces of Nghe An, on October 20, 1998, the Command of Military Region 4 signed Decision No. 595/QD-BTL recognizing August 21 as the traditional day of the People's Armed Forces of Nghe An province. On December 19, 1979, the People's Armed Forces of Nghe An province were awarded the title of Hero of the People's Armed Forces by the Party and the State. During the 75 years of construction, fighting and growth, 167 local army units, militia and self-defense forces, and 81 officers and soldiers were awarded the title of Hero of the People's Armed Forces by the State. In November 2001, the Quy Tap Team was awarded the title of Hero of the People's Armed Forces in the period of renovation by the State. There were tens of thousands of Orders and Medals of all kinds awarded to officers and soldiers.