June 25, 2018 | 22:06 (GMT+7)
Former volunteer Vietnamese troops and specialists in Laos gather
PANO – A ceremony to mark the 50th founding anniversary of Division 968 of volunteer Vietnamese troops who served international duty in Southern Laos (June 28) was held on June 24 in Hanoi by its Liaison Board. The meeting saw nearly 700 veterans gathering for the occasion.
At the meeting, delegates reminisced about the glorious tradition of the division since its establishment under the decision by the General Staff of the Vietnam People’s Army. The division staffed for Military Region 4 was tasked to cooperate with Lao units to defend and expand the liberated zone and to protect the strategic reinforcement route, the Truong Son-Ho Chi Minh Trail.
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Delegates in a joint photo |
Operating in Southern Laos for many years, the division experienced a number of combat situations with numerous feats of arms in the 1968-1975 and 1978-1988 periods and became the firm mainstay of local people.
For its brilliant achievements, the division was awarded the title of Hero of the People’s Armed Forces in 1976 by the Party and State of Vietnam.
In his speech, the liaison board’s head Hoang Huu Bao emphasized that the board has held such a regular meeting since 1995. It has become a rendezvous for veterans to share experiences and support one another.
Bao said that the special solidarity between Vietnam and Laos and the two militaries’ faithfulness will be remembered forever and the noble international spirit will be preserved and passed on to younger generations.
Over the past years, the board has also actively organized gratitude activities, brightening the image of Uncle Ho’s soldiers.
At the ceremony, the board presented 15 gifts, worth VND 500,000 each, to relatives of fallen, wounded and sick soldiers and those exposed to Agent Orange/Dioxin.
Translated by Mai Huong