The passing of General Vo Nguyen Giap, who masterminded the defeats ofFrance and the US, has prompted huge outpourings of grief from warveterans who met and worked with him.
LieutenantGeneral Le Nam Phong, former Commander of Army Corps No. 1, took part inboth struggles against the French and the US .
ForPhong, the general is not only the commander-in-chief of the VietnamPeople’s Army and a brilliant military strategist, but also arespectable teacher.
“During the war, after each battle,General Giap visited us, shook hands with each soldier and praised us inthe way how a father would do to his children,” Phong said.
In his house in Ho Chi Minh City ’s Thu Duc district, Phong designs aplace for displaying mementoes of General Giap. He attributed hisachievements to the assistance by the general who always paid attentionto young soldiers.
Phong added, “All soldiers, includingme, always remembered General Giap whenever we faced difficulties andduring each campaign. For us, he is an angel and the one we respect allour lives.”
Colonel Hoàng Minh Phương, who had served asGeneral Giap’s assistant for more than 20 years, said that the generalwas very careful when working and he had devoted himself to the cause ofnational liberation.
Major General Tran Ngoc Tho, who hasmet General Giap for 20 times, said all of his memories of the generalreturn lively on these days.
“On October 31, 1965, ourregiment was requested to move to the South for fighting. There was aheavy fall of rain on that day. General Giap went to the train stationto say goodbye to us. I will never forget the image of the generalwaving farewell to us when the train was leaving the station,” Tho said.
General Giap passed away in Hanoi on October 4.-VNA
LieutenantGeneral Le Nam Phong, former Commander of Army Corps No. 1, took part inboth struggles against the French and the US .
ForPhong, the general is not only the commander-in-chief of the VietnamPeople’s Army and a brilliant military strategist, but also arespectable teacher.
“During the war, after each battle,General Giap visited us, shook hands with each soldier and praised us inthe way how a father would do to his children,” Phong said.
In his house in Ho Chi Minh City ’s Thu Duc district, Phong designs aplace for displaying mementoes of General Giap. He attributed hisachievements to the assistance by the general who always paid attentionto young soldiers.
Phong added, “All soldiers, includingme, always remembered General Giap whenever we faced difficulties andduring each campaign. For us, he is an angel and the one we respect allour lives.”
Colonel Hoàng Minh Phương, who had served asGeneral Giap’s assistant for more than 20 years, said that the generalwas very careful when working and he had devoted himself to the cause ofnational liberation.
Major General Tran Ngoc Tho, who hasmet General Giap for 20 times, said all of his memories of the generalreturn lively on these days.
“On October 31, 1965, ourregiment was requested to move to the South for fighting. There was aheavy fall of rain on that day. General Giap went to the train stationto say goodbye to us. I will never forget the image of the generalwaving farewell to us when the train was leaving the station,” Tho said.
General Giap passed away in Hanoi on October 4.-VNA
