PANO - Showing each photo of her with General Vo Nguyen Giap, 66-year-old Tran Thi Than, former commissar of the renowned Ngu Thuy Artillery Company, touchingly said, “I still remember the General’s recommendation that as a militia in the combat forces, let’s prove ourselves as eminent children of the homeland of Quang Binh Province”.
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| Tran Thi Than and General Vo Nguyen Giap in 1969 |
Inscribing that recommendation in her mind, the militiawomen of the Ngu Thuy Artillery Company devoted their nicest youthful days to fight against foreign invaders and achieve feats of arms in their homeland of Quang Binh, also the birth place of the eminent son of the country – General Vo Nguyen Giap.
Than said that she had the honour to meet with Uncle Ho and General Vo Nguyen Giap. “We called General Vo Nguyen Giap uncle, a way to show the love of our Ngu Thuy Artillery Company to him. He was as old as our fathers”.
She went on, in 1968 General Vo Nguyen Giap led a Defence Ministry mission to visit her company. General Vo Nguyen Giap inquired after them and asked how they lived, ate and fought. “Though he was updated on that information before, he wanted to listen to our direct report and exchange with this special company whose members were all women”, Than remembered.
She was touched to recall General Vo Nguyen Giap’s question, “What would you like most?”. Learning that their wish was a military uniform for each member, General Vo Nguyen Giap agreed and later on asked one of his inferiors to provide it to them.
After that visit of the General, Than’s unit launched an emulation movement studying General Vo Nguyen Giap’s military thoughts. Her unit achieved various feats of arms.
In April 1969, Than was among a nine-member delegation of Military Zone 4 to make a report in Hanoi. On that trip, she had the opportunity to visit General Vo Nguyen Giap at his residence. Knowing they would love to meet Uncle Ho, General Vo Nguyen Giap arranged an unforgettable meeting for the delegation.
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| She showing her most valuable photos |
Though she had no more chance to meet with General Vo Nguyen Giap in his last years, she kept updated with news of the General’s health. “We were all sad to learn of the General’s death. I have just cried whenever I watch or hear about General Vo Nguyen Giap these days”.
“I deeply admire General Vo Nguyen Giap. He led our army to win over two big empires. All people love talented General Vo Nguyen Giap’s righteousness and sentiments”, Than shared.
Translated by Mai Huong