Generals of Ben Tre in the historic Ho Chi Minh Campaign

* Lieutenant General Dong Van Cong: from Tan Hao commune, Giong Trom district. Dong Van Cong - The first general of the generation of military activists in Ben Tre since the Party was established. He contributed to building the Ben Tre armed forces and the Zone 8 battlefield during the French resistance, actively contributing to building the "Southern Delta Battlefield" against French colonialism and American imperialism. From a young age, he was aware of the revolution and began secret activities in 1936. In 1939, Dong Van Cong was admitted to the Indochinese Communist Party, then joined the Vietnam People's Army in 1946. After the French colonialists occupied Ben Tre, Dong Van Cong was the initiator and leader of the Tan Hao commune guerrilla team.

When it was founded, the Tan Hao guerrilla team had only about 30 people with 4 guns and a few homemade grenades. They started ambushing and destroying the French army at Ba Ngoi bridge. The more his guerrilla team fought, the more it created a big buzz, strongly affecting the fighting spirit of the people, attracting many local youths to join the "Mr. Cong's Army".

During the two resistance wars, Lieutenant General Dong Van Cong took on many important roles and made great contributions to the building of the Vietnamese armed forces. He held many positions: Ben Tre Provincial Military Commander; Division Commander of Division 330; Commander of the Right Bank Military Region, Military Regions 7, 8, 9; Deputy Commander of the Southern Liberation Armed Forces from 1965 to 1972; Deputy Inspector General of the Vietnam People's Army. He was praised by the people as a "sea general" and was honored as the eldest brother of the Ben Tre armed forces.

During the historic Ho Chi Minh Campaign (April 26, 1975 - April 30, 1975), he held the position of Commander of the Regional Command and Commander of the Reserve Corps, ready to respond if the US army re-intervened militarily. He was the first general to arrive in Saigon to organize an advance to welcome the Regional Command and the Ho Chi Minh Campaign Command to take over Saigon.

* General Le Van Dung's real name is Nguyen Van Noi, born on December 25, 1945, in Phong My commune, Giong Trom district, Ben Tre province. Before Dong Khoi, the young man Nguyen Van Noi participated in secret work and was renamed Le Van Dung (also known as Bay Dung).

Looking back at the long journey that General Le Van Dung has gone through, we can only say that he has had a glorious and proud career. At the age of 24, he was a Captain - Political Commissar of the Battalion. 5 years later, he became a Lieutenant Colonel - Political Commissar of the Regiment. At the age of 35, he was a Lieutenant Colonel - Deputy Division Commander, Chief of Staff. At the age of 41, he became a Colonel - Division Commander. At the age of 44, he was a Major General - Deputy Commander of the 4th Corps under the Ministry of National Defense and at the age of 46, he was the Corps Commander.

In particular, during the Ho Chi Minh Campaign, he and his comrades in Regiment 1 had the mission of destroying and smashing the coastal defense line from Tram Lac, Xang bridge, Highway 10, to Vinh Loc intersection, capturing important targets: the Capital Special Zone, and with other units capturing the Independence Palace.

General Le Van Dung is a general who grew up as a soldier, experienced many positions, participated in many battlefields and battles. If counting from 1963 to 1989, he had 26 years of continuous fighting and studying, directly fought in 179 battles, was wounded many times, and currently still has some bullet fragments in his body.

With his great achievements in combat and contributions to building the army, General Le Van Dung was awarded by the State with 1 Third Class Military Exploit Medal, 5 Exploit Medals of various types, 1 First Class Resistance Medal against the US, 1 First Class Fatherland Protection Medal awarded by the State of Cambodia, 1 First Class Itxala Medal awarded by the State of Laos. General Le Van Dung contributed to building a politically strong people's army, a reliable support, a sharp tool to protect the Party, the State and the people.

* Lieutenant General Vo Viet Thanh (commonly known as Bay Thanh) was born in 1943, in Luong Phu commune, Giong Trom district. Born into a family with a rich revolutionary tradition, at the age of 16, he was a commando soldier, fighting in many areas. In 1960, he was wounded on the battlefield, imprisoned by the enemy for 8 months and then released because nothing could be extracted from the loyal soldier. At the age of 17, Vo Viet Thanh volunteered to join the army, was assigned to operate in the town, he mobilized his friends to use grenades to destroy the enemy.

In late 1960, he was captured by the enemy, despite the fact that they used all kinds of torture and all kinds of tricks to entice and bribe him for more than 8 months. Vo Viet Thanh remained steadfast and indomitable. From August 1961, after escaping from the enemy's prison, Vo Viet Thanh accepted a job at the provincial weapons factory. With great enthusiasm and determination, he made great efforts to study and research and produced many types of weapons, effectively fighting the enemy. In the context of fierce enemy attacks, Vo Viet Thanh was in charge of a unit closely following the battlefield. For 2 years (1967 and 1968), he both produced and fought. Vo Viet Thanh researched, researched, and tested meticulously, successfully manufacturing mortars, recoilless rifles, etc. in time for the provincial troops to fight the enemy in the Spring of 1968.

In 1970, he was awarded the title of Hero of the People's Liberation Armed Forces by the Provisional Revolutionary Government of the Republic of South Vietnam. During the Ho Chi Minh Campaign, he was the Political Commissar of Battalion 4, Special Forces Brigade 316 with the secret mission of suddenly attacking a number of enemy headquarters in the inner city and blocking important traffic positions to welcome troops entering to liberate Saigon such as: Independence Palace, General Police Department, General Staff, Navy Command, Quang Trung Training School, holding Saigon Bridge, Binh Trieu Bridge, Rach Chiec Bridge, intersections... to control the inner city areas, opening the door for the main army corps to enter Saigon.

Vo Viet Thanh and his teammates continuously achieved feats of arms, destroying many enemies. There were missions that seemed impossible to accomplish, but with intelligence and determination, he and his teammates overcame many difficulties and dangers to complete them well in all combat situations. After many years of working and fighting, from a soldier in the liberation army, he has matured and affirmed his mettle.

* Lieutenant General Nguyen Van Thanh (Muoi Thi) was from Thanh Tri commune, Binh Dai district, Ben Tre province. His revolutionary career was closely linked to the revolutionary upsurge in which countless comrades and compatriots fought bravely and steadfastly, achieving great victories for the Fatherland.

Since the August Revolution in 1945, under the leadership of the Party, Comrade Muoi Thi participated in seizing power in Binh Dai district, then continued to participate in the resistance war against France, the resistance war against the US and carried out international missions to help Cambodia. In every position, he fulfilled his duties well. Living and dedicating his whole life to the Fatherland and the people, he became an example of revolutionary will, an example of selfless sacrifice for the people and the country. Living simply, cleanly, and blending in with the masses, General Muoi Thi was loved and trusted by his comrades, comrades and the people.

In mid-1970, while serving as Political Commissar of Military Region 8, he was ordered to return to Ben Tre province to carry out a special mission, which was to organize the command to receive supplies from the North by sea. After the special mission, he returned to the military region to take up the position of Deputy Political Commissar of Military Region 8. The battlefield situation in Military Region 8 was increasingly developing. After the Paris Agreement, the enemy spread out to sweep, seize people and encroach on land. We were forced to punish them. At the end of 1974, on the battlefields, we continuously won great victories, the Central Bureau decided to let the military region establish the first main division. In 1974, in Cai Be district (My Tho), Division 8 was established and he was assigned to be the Political Commissar of the division. Participating in the historic Ho Chi Minh Campaign, in the formation of Division 8, in the position of Political Commissar of the division, he and his comrades captured Dong Tam base, Trung Luong intersection, and advanced to liberate the city. My Tho, contributed to the complete liberation of the South and national reunification.

And there are many more heroic examples in the land of Ben Tre Dong Khoi such as: Female General Nguyen Thi Dinh, Major General Duong Van Duong, Lieutenant General Nguyen Xuan Hoa, Major General Nguyen Huu Vi, Major General Huynh Xuan Quang, Tran Minh Tich... along with the silent people, soldiers, heroic Vietnamese Mothers... They were ready to dedicate their lives, contributing to the struggle for national independence.

H. Anh (synthesis)

Source: https://baodongkhoi.vn/nhung-vi-tuong-cua-ben-tre-trong-chien-dich-ho-chi-minh-lich-su-21042025-a145544.html