In his opening speech, Senior Lieutenant General, Dr. Le Huy Vinh, member of the Party Central Committee, Deputy Minister of National Defense, Head of the Conference Steering Committee, emphasized that the Plei Me Victory was the first confrontation between the Vietnamese main force and a combat-ready division of the US army, marking a remarkable step forward in the art of command, campaign organization and fighting spirit of our army and people. Senior Lieutenant General Le Huy Vinh stated that the Plei Me Victory was not only a military achievement but also a spiritual symbol, strengthening the strategic confidence of the entire Party, people and army, and at the same time a valuable lesson in leadership, command, training and education of the younger generation. The conference received 80 reports and discussions with rich content, comprehensive analysis of the stature, significance, experience and military art of the campaign.
Senior Lieutenant General Thai Dai Ngoc, member of the Party Central Committee, Secretary of the Gia Lai Provincial Party Committee, emphasized that this is an opportunity to review the heroic fighting tradition of the Party Committee, army and people of Gia Lai ethnic groups, and to commemorate those who sacrificed for the victory of the revolution. Senior Lieutenant General Thai Dai Ngoc affirmed that the important strategic position of Gia Lai, where historical, cultural and revolutionary traditions converge, and emphasized that current socio -economic achievements are the foundation to promote the spirit of the Plei Me Victory, build a rich and modern Gia Lai, firmly protect the Fatherland and develop comprehensively in the new era.
Speaking at the conference, Major General Tran Thanh Hai, Deputy Commander of Military Region 5, emphasized the strategic importance of the Plei Me Victory in the process of fighting against American imperialism to save the country; analyzed the flexible command organization, the fighting spirit of the troops and the effective coordination between the military branches, and clarified the role of firmly grasping the enemy situation, exploiting the terrain and organizing diversions, creating a surprise for the enemy. Major General Tran Thanh Hai said that this victory was not only an outstanding military achievement but also had the meaning of encouraging the spirit, strengthening the strategic confidence of the entire Party, the entire people and the entire army, demonstrating the mettle and intelligence of Vietnam in the face of American military power.
Mr. Nguyen Van Lung, former Director of Ha Tay Provincial Museum, former soldier of Battalion 8, Regiment 66, Division 10, Corps 3 (formerly) now part of Corps 34, directly participated in the Ia Drang (Plei Me) Battle, shared his real-life experiences on the battlefield. He emphasized the art of combat of Vietnamese soldiers, the role of each individual, from soldiers to commanders, in promoting intelligence, creativity and bravery, contributing to the collective victory. Through sharing, he emphasized the team spirit, fighting discipline and sacrifice as decisive factors, and affirmed that recording, preserving and disseminating vivid historical stories is necessary to educate the younger generation about patriotism.
Dr. Nguyen Thi Kim Van, former Director of Gia Lai Provincial Museum, analyzed the historical significance and educational value of the Plei Me Victory. She emphasized that the campaign broke the initial offensive of the US army, opened a turning point on the southern battlefield, and at the same time created a valuable source of materials for research on Vietnamese military history. Collecting, preserving and promoting the value of artifacts, documents and battle stories not only helps research the war but also contributes to educating patriotism, resilience and indomitable will for the next generation, while raising awareness of the responsibility to protect the independence and sovereignty of the Fatherland.
The presentations at the conference all affirmed that the Plei Me Victory was not only a military victory, but also a symbol of the spirit, strategy and military art of Vietnam. The campaign destroyed about 3,000 enemy troops, including 1,700 American troops, destroyed 89 military vehicles, shot down 59 aircraft, and dealt a heavy blow to the subjective will of the enemy. Vietnamese military art was creatively applied, from besieging Plei Me base, luring the enemy out of the defensive position to organizing counterattacks in Ia Drang valley, combining deception, flexible tactics and joint military services, promoting the element of surprise and human intelligence.
This victory also left a deep impression on the hearts of the people of the Central Highlands, associated with the fighting spirit of the local forces, and at the same time created long-lasting historical value, becoming a valuable lesson in leadership, command, training organization and education for the younger generation about the tradition of patriotism, bravery and solidarity.
Senior Lieutenant General, Dr. Le Huy Vinh, Deputy Minister of National Defense, emphasized that the research and discussion results at the workshop should be incorporated into training, studying, and building units, while enriching the archives of Vietnam's military history. The Senior Lieutenant General suggested that agencies, academies, and schools carefully study tactics and combat methods, continue to widely propagate them on the media, helping the younger generation deeply understand the historical value and strategic significance of the Plei Me Victory.
Previously, on the afternoon of November 17, the Workshop Steering Committee held an incense offering ceremony to commemorate the heroic martyrs at the Gia Lai Province Martyrs Cemetery and presented gifts to families of policy beneficiaries, people with revolutionary contributions, and presented flowers to historical witnesses, creating a solemn, warm atmosphere with profound educational and grateful meaning.
Source: https://baotintuc.vn/thoi-su/60-nam-chien-thang-plei-me-bieu-tuong-y-chi-va-nghe-thuat-quan-su-20251118130659830.htm
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