Uncle Ho in the memory of Senior Lieutenant General Tran Van Quang

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75 years ago, on March 10, 1950, implementing the decision of the General Command, the 304th Division - Vinh Quang was established in Thanh Hoa with the organization of 3 infantry regiments 66, 9, 57 and a number of support units. Mr. Tran Van Quang was appointed as Political Commissar, and Mr. Hoang Minh Thao as Commander. This was the second main mechanized infantry division of our army after the 308th Division - Vanguard Army. Entering the autumn and winter of 1950, to coordinate with the Border Campaign in the main battlefield in the North, the 304th Division and the Inter-zone 3 armed forces launched attacks and counter-sweeps in Phat Diem, Ha Nam , and Ha Dong.

Welcoming Uncle Ho to visit Division 304 - Vinh Quang

The Second Congress of the Indochinese Communist Party was held from February 11-19, 1951 in Vinh Quang Commune, Chiem Hoa District, Tuyen Quang Province. Following the summons, the 304th Division sent three delegates to attend, but due to urgent battlefield tasks and difficult transportation, in the end only Political Commissar Tran Van Quang was able to attend this important event.

This was the first time the Party Congress took place in the country, and also the only congress held in the Viet Bac resistance base, when the resistance war against France was changing from the stage of holding out and defending to the general counter-offensive. This congress also decided that each country in the Indochina peninsula would organize a separate party to lead the revolution in accordance with the characteristics of each country. In our country, the Party operated openly under the new name of the Vietnam Workers' Party.

During his lifetime, Senior Lieutenant General Tran Van Quang recounted this important event: “The congress was attended by 158 official delegates and 53 alternates, representing over 760,000 party members. Mr. Ton Duc Thang read the opening speech. President Ho Chi Minh presented the Political Report reviewing the Party’s activities since its founding, outlining the immediate tasks to bring the resistance to victory. It was the first time attending a large congress, gathering delegates from all over the country, everyone felt proud, happy, and excited.”

One day before the congress ended, General Commander-in-Chief Vo Nguyen Giap called Political Commissar Tran Van Quang and instructed: "Uncle Ho intends to visit the 304th Division. Tomorrow the congress will vote to elect the Central Executive Committee. Please vote first and return to the Division immediately to prepare a plan to welcome Uncle Ho."

The next morning, Political Commissar Tran Van Quang met with President Ho Chi Minh's bodyguard, Mr. Ta Quang Chien, to arrange a secret pick-up point at the Lo River ferry. On the way back to his unit, a plan to welcome the leader formed in his mind. At around 10:00 p.m. on December 19, 1951, he and a number of cadres from the 304th Division arrived at the Lo River ferry. Shortly after, President Ho Chi Minh and his bodyguards also arrived.

The general said: “Uncle nodded and asked me kindly: “Which way should we go, uncle?”. I showed the way, leading Uncle and the whole group. Under the dim moonlight, we walked on the trail towards the deep green forest ahead. After walking about 10 kilometers, Uncle asked: “Are we almost there yet?”. I replied: “Just over a kilometer more.” Looking at me, Ta Quang Chien gently reproached: “You should have found a place for Uncle to rest.” I was startled and felt very regretful. But it was too late. I was still young, and Uncle was over 60 years old, and had to walk continuously at night like that, how could he not be tired. I glanced over with pity and saw that Uncle did not say anything, his feet still walking lightly and steadily on the rocky forest path.”

Commander Tran Van Quang recounted: Uncle Ho kindly held our hands to encourage us, then suddenly he looked straight into our eyes and said in a breath: "Please let me go to the South...". In that situation, General Vo Nguyen Giap wisely said: "Uncle reminds you to try to win a great victory to soon welcome me to visit the people of the South". Uncle Ho's words from that day became a sacred call, helping us and our comrades overcome thousands of sacrifices and hardships, completing all the tasks of Uncle Ho's soldiers".

It was past midnight when the group arrived at the 304th Division's military base. The weather was cold. The forest at night was even colder. Political Commissar Tran Van Quang took President Ho Chi Minh to a small hut with a roof made of thin sedge leaves and a bamboo bed lined with dry banana leaves. In the dim darkness, the leader sat down on the bed, touched the blanket and said to Political Commissar Tran Van Quang: "There are two blankets. One is enough for you, Uncle, bring one out for the soldiers to cover themselves. It's cold, remember to take care of the soldiers." The young political commissar was so moved that he couldn't speak before the supreme leader's thoughtful gestures and words. He took a blanket, greeted the leader and walked out of the hut with great gratitude...

At dawn, Commander Hoang Minh Thao and Political Commissar Tran Van Quang, along with the 304th Division Command, came to the hut to report the unit's situation to President Ho Chi Minh. After listening, Uncle Ho gave a few more instructions and made an appointment: "This afternoon, gather the troops so I can talk to you."

In order to ensure the secrecy of the supreme leader, the 304th Division Command did not inform the troops in advance that Uncle Ho would visit, but only asked them to gather in the afternoon to listen to their superiors talk. At exactly 3:00 p.m., the entire division was present. When they saw President Ho Chi Minh suddenly appear, everyone cheered and clapped their hands with joy and moved closer to see and hear the leader clearly. The memory is still clearly imprinted in the old general's memory, he said: "Uncle Ho was as affectionate to the troops as a father to his children. He kindly asked about and praised the unit's combat achievements. He also happily announced the results of the 2nd Party Congress and the upcoming tasks of our army and people, and of the 304th Division in particular. The troops clapped their hands continuously, expressing their determination to carry out his teachings."

Commander Tran Van Quang (seated row, second from left) with his comrades on the Tri Thien battlefield in 1967. Photo courtesy of the Ministry of Defense.

Uncle Ho's reminder

In 1953, Tran Van Quang was appointed as Director of the General Staff's Operations Department, in charge of the Dien Bien Phu Campaign during the 1953-1954 Winter-Spring Campaign. He was always present at the side of Commander-in-Chief Vo Nguyen Giap at the Campaign Headquarters in Muong Phang, to monitor every development, discuss and quickly convey all orders. One of the memories he remembers most is the historic moment on the evening of May 7, 1954, when the Commander of the 312th Division, Le Trong Tan, called to report to Commander-in-Chief Vo Nguyen Giap that our troops had entered the bunker and captured General Christian De Castries and the French command at the Dien Bien Phu stronghold.

The Geneva Accords were signed. The North was liberated. In 1958, Tran Van Quang was promoted to Major General and appointed Deputy Chief of the General Staff. In preparation for the struggle to unify the country, he was secretly sent to the South to build the armed forces from 1961, then returned to command two other key battlefields, Military Region 4 and Tri Thien Military Region. During a trip to Hanoi to report on the situation of the 1968 Mau Than Campaign, before returning to the battlefield, Commander Tran Van Quang and Political Commissar Le Chuong were invited to a friendly dinner by President Ho Chi Minh and Commander-in-Chief Vo Nguyen Giap.

He once told about this profound memory: “At that time, Uncle Ho was seriously ill, he was thin and pale, very tired, but he still tried to eat almost two bowls of rice to encourage us. Looking at Uncle, everyone was moved. After the meal, we said goodbye to Uncle before leaving. Uncle kindly held our hands to encourage us, then suddenly he looked straight into our eyes and said in a breath: “Please let me go to the South…”. Too surprised, we were choked up and speechless. Faced with that situation, General Vo Nguyen Giap wisely said: “Uncle reminded us to strive for great victory to soon welcome Uncle to visit our compatriots in the South”. Uncle Ho's words from that day became a sacred call, helping us and our comrades overcome thousands of sacrifices and hardships, completing all the tasks of Uncle Ho's soldiers”.

Source: https://baophuyen.vn/xa-hoi/202505/bac-ho-trong-ky-uc-thuong-tuong-tran-van-quang-9b45ec7/