Opening of the Scientific Workshop “Plei Me Victory - Magnitude, Significance and Historical Lessons”

The Workshop was chaired by comrades: Senior Lieutenant General, Dr. Le Huy Vinh - Member of the Party Central Committee, Member of the Central Military Commission, Deputy Minister of National Defense , Head of the Workshop Steering Committee; Thai Dai Ngoc - Member of the Party Central Committee, Secretary of the Gia Lai Provincial Party Committee, Head of the Workshop Steering Committee; Senior Lieutenant General Phung Si Tan - Deputy Chief of the General Staff of the Vietnam People's Army (VPA); Senior Lieutenant General Truong Thien To - Deputy Director of the General Department of Politics of the Vietnam People's Army; Lieutenant General Dao Tuan Anh - Commander of the 34th Corps; Major General Luong Dinh Chung - Political Commissar of Military Region 5; Lieutenant General Vu Cuong Quyet - Director of the Vietnam Institute of Defense Strategy and History.

The Presidium chaired the workshop. Photo: PD

Attending the workshop were General Pham Van Tra - former member of the Politburo , former Deputy Secretary of the Central Military Commission, former Minister of National Defense, Hero of the People's Armed Forces; heads and former heads of the Ministry of National Defense, the General Staff, the General Department of Politics of the Vietnam People's Army; leaders of central agencies; leaders of provinces and cities; veteran revolutionaries, Heroes of the People's Armed Forces, officers, historical witnesses and scientists.

On the Gia Lai province side, there were Standing Deputy Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee, Chairman of the Provincial People's Council Rah Lan Chung; leaders of the Provincial Party Committee, People's Council, People's Committee, Vietnam Fatherland Front Committee, representatives of departments, branches and mass organizations of the province.

Senior Lieutenant General, Dr. Le Huy Vinh delivered the opening speech at the workshop. Photo: PD

In his opening speech, Senior Lieutenant General, Dr. Le Huy Vinh emphasized: In the dry season of 1965, on the Central Highlands battlefield, the first offensive campaign took place between the main force of the Vietnam People's Army and the US expeditionary force, aiming to find a way to fight the US expeditionary force, successfully achieving the goal of defeating the invading US imperialists, regaining independence and unifying the country.

With a positive, proactive spirit and determination to win, the revolutionary armed forces and the people in the area achieved the historic Plei Me Victory, writing a heroic page in the history of the resistance war against the US to save the country; representing the determination to fight and win, the revolutionary offensive spirit of our army and people under the correct and wise leadership of the Vietnam Workers' Party, headed by President Ho Chi Minh.

The forces participating in the campaign included three infantry regiments (320, 33 and 66), along with a commando battalion, an artillery battalion, a 12.7mm anti-aircraft machine gun battalion and local armed forces.

After more than 1 month of fighting (October 19, 1965 - November 26, 1965), the Plei Me Campaign achieved a resounding victory, eliminating nearly 3,000 enemy troops, including 1,700 US troops, destroying a mixed infantry and mechanized battalion of the Saigon puppet army, destroying and damaging 2 US battalions, destroying 89 military vehicles, and shooting down 59 planes; marking the first victory in the confrontation with US troops in the strategic area of the Central Highlands.

Gia Lai Provincial Party Secretary Thai Dai Ngoc delivered a welcome speech at the workshop. Photo: PD

In his welcome speech at the workshop, Gia Lai Provincial Party Secretary Thai Dai Ngoc summarized the outstanding achievements that Gia Lai province has achieved in recent years and affirmed that they are the crystallization of the intelligence, dedication and efforts of generations of leaders, cadres, soldiers and people of all ethnic groups in the province.

He emphasized that in those achievements, there were very important contributions from generations of cadres, soldiers, and people of all ethnic groups in the province who participated in and created the Plei Me Victory on the Central Highlands battlefield between Autumn and Winter 1965.

The Plei Me Victory is forever a highlight in the history of the revolutionary struggle of the nation, the Party and the resistance war against the US, to save the country of the Party Committee, army and people of all ethnic groups in Gia Lai province. The spirit of the Plei Me Victory is always imprinted in every Gia Lai person, becoming the pride, inspiration and strong motivation of the Party Committee and people of all ethnic groups in Gia Lai province in the cause of building and defending the Fatherland.

The Provincial Party Secretary hopes that, through the workshop, experts, scientists, and historical witnesses will have more comprehensive, profound, and accurate assessments and comments on the role, position, significance, and great stature as well as draw valuable lessons from the Plei Me Victory for the country's revolutionary process in general and Gia Lai province in particular.

Promoting the spirit of Plei Me Victory and the tradition of steadfastness in fighting against foreign invaders, the Party Committee, government, army and people of all ethnic groups in Gia Lai province always believe, unite, are determined and strive to build Gia Lai homeland to become more and more prosperous and developed, improve all aspects of economic, cultural and social life, ensure national defense and security, firmly protect the sovereignty of the Fatherland, and confidently enter a new era with the whole country.

Delegates attending the workshop. Photo: PD

With that spirit, Gia Lai province hopes to continue to receive attention and support in all aspects from the Party, the State, the armed forces and central ministries and branches; the extensive connection and cooperation of provinces and cities; the investment interest in Gia Lai from the domestic and foreign business community; and the cooperation and support of Vietnamese people and overseas Vietnamese.

With an objective and scientific viewpoint and methodology, the workshop focused on analyzing the historical context; clarifying the plots and tactics of the US and the Saigon puppet regime to further clarify the value of the Plei Me Victory.

The presentations also delved into the process of leadership, direction, organization and implementation of the campaign; the close and effective coordination between the main force and local armed forces and people in the combat area; the heroic and intelligent fighting spirit of the forces participating in the campaign; affirmed the stature, historical and epochal significance of the victory; drew lessons and applied them to the practice of building the all-people national defense, the people's war posture and the socio-economic development of Gia Lai province today...

Performances to welcome the workshop. Photo: PD

The workshop is a practical activity to celebrate the 60th anniversary of the Plei Me Victory (1965-2025); to celebrate the 81st anniversary of the founding of the Vietnam People's Army and the 36th anniversary of the National Defense Day; to welcome the success of Party congresses at all levels, towards the 14th National Congress of the Party. The results of the workshop contribute to fostering patriotism, national pride, and fostering revolutionary spirit for cadres and soldiers, especially the young generation today.

Source: https://gialai.gov.vn/tin-tuc/hoat-dong-cua-lanh-dao/khai-mac-hoi-thao-khoa-hoc-chien-thang-plei-me-tam-voc-y-nghia-va-bai-hoc-lich-su-.html