Naval Service marks 60th anniversary of Vietnam People's Navy’s first victory

The ceremony was attended by Deputy Ministers of National Defense Senior Lieutenant General Vu Hai San and Senior Lieutenant General Pham Hoai Nam, and Deputy Chief of the General Staff of the Vietnam People’s Army Lieutenant General Nguyen Trong Binh.

Senior Lieutenant General Pham Hoai Nam speaking at the ceremony

In early 1964, to pro-actively counter the U.S. invaders’ ambition of escalating war and defend the Northern region, the Central Military Commission and the Ministry of National Defense ordered the Party Committee and Command of the Naval Service to urgently prepare for combat to protect coastal areas, harbors, river mouths, and naval bases. They were ready to join the Northern region's troops and people to fight and defeat the U.S. invaders. On August 2 and 5, 1964, the Vietnam People’s Navy coordinated with the air defense, armed public security, and civilian-military forces of coastal localities to bravely fight and expel U.S. destroyer USS Maddox from Vietnamese waters, shooting down eight aircraft, capturing several American pilots, thus marking the beginning of the heroic history of the Vietnam People’s Navy.

Attendees at the event

In his speech at the ceremony, Senior Lieutenant General Pham Hoai Nam congratulated the Naval Service and the Northern region's troops and people on their victory in the first battles on August 2 and 5, 1964. He expressed his hope that the Naval Service would continue to uphold its traditions and draw valuable lessons from this first victory. He urged them to deeply understand and strictly implement the Party’s guidelines, State policies and laws, enhance political and ideological education, and build the determination among officers and soldiers to defend the nation’s maritime sovereignty. Additionally, the Naval Service should closely coordinate with other forces to accurately forecast and grasp all situations, provide timely advice to the Central Military Commission and the Ministry of National Defense, enhance training quality, combat readiness, and ability to master modern weapons and technical equipment.

Translated by Chung Anh