Editor's note: On the occasion of the 77th anniversary of the founding of the Hoa Binh Provincial Armed Forces (August 16, 1947 - August 16, 2024), Hoa Binh Newspaper reporters interviewed Colonel Quach Dang Phu, Permanent Deputy Secretary of the Provincial Military Party Committee, Political Commissar of the Provincial Military Command, about the process of building, fighting, growing and the role of the Provincial Armed Forces in the cause of building and defending the Fatherland.
Colonel Quach Dang Phu, Political Commissar of the Provincial Military Command and the working delegation visited and presented gifts to veterans participating in the Dien Bien Phu Campaign in Dong Tien ward (Hoa Binh city).
PV: Born from hardship, the provincial armed forces have gradually matured and grown stronger. Could you please tell us about the significance and contribution of the provincial armed forces' growth and development to the cause of national construction and defense?
Colonel Quach Dang Phu: Implementing the policy of the Central Committee, the Government, the Ministry of National Defense and to meet the requirements of the resistance war against French colonialism, on August 16, 1947, comrade Le Dong, then Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee, convened a Provincial Party Committee Conference in Khi hamlet (now Nhan Nghia commune, Lac Son district) to review the activities of sectors and localities in developing new party members and the militia and guerrilla movement of the province. At this conference, the Provincial Party Committee decided to establish the Hoa Binh Provincial Militia Team and August 16 every year has become the traditional day of the provincial armed forces. As a part of the Vietnam People's Army, the Hoa Binh Provincial Armed Forces have gone through 77 years of building, fighting and growing. Inheriting and promoting the glorious tradition of the Party Committee, government and people of all ethnic groups in the province, the provincial armed forces, from an army equipped with primitive weapons, have overcome all difficulties, constantly developed, and excellently completed all assigned tasks.
During the resistance war against the French colonialists, the armed forces and people in the province coordinated with the main force to deliver fatal blows, foiling the plot to establish an "autonomous Muong region" and smashing the "Steel Wall on the Da River". A typical example was the Hoa Binh campaign in 1951-1952. Then, together with the army and people of the whole country, the armed forces and people in the province contributed human and material resources to create the Dien Bien Phu Victory that shook the world. During the 9 years of resistance war against the French colonialists, the provincial armed forces fought and coordinated with the main force in 1,780 battles; destroyed and captured 3,406 enemies; destroyed 18 cannons; burned and damaged 16 canoes, warships, 51 transport vehicles; destroyed 3 military and equipment warehouses; captured 529 guns of various types and 120,000 bullets... The province had thousands of people joining the army to fight in all battlefields; 1,169,000 people participated in the civilian labor and youth volunteer work; thousands of tons of food were provided to serve the battlefield.
During the resistance war against the US, implementing the motto that each village is a fortress, each person is a soldier, the provincial armed forces coordinated with the main force to create a multi-layered, multi-directional anti-aircraft fire network to intercept American aircraft. To strengthen the front line, the armed forces and people in the province promoted emulation movements in labor and production with the spirit of "all to defeat the American invaders", "all for the beloved South". The whole province had 12,145 young people enlisted in the army, 15,670 young volunteers to serve in combat on the battlefields. In the rear, the army and people of Hoa Binh province fought and coordinated in 683 battles, shot down 49 aircraft, contributing greatly to the victory of the resistance war against the US.
PV: Through historical periods, the provincial armed forces have always affirmed themselves as the core force in building the all-people national defense posture. Given the requirements of the current period, could you please tell us what the provincial armed forces need to do to continue to be a solid support for the Party Committee, government and people of all ethnic groups in the province?
Colonel Quach Dang Phu: Promoting the tradition in the two resistance wars against French colonialism and American imperialism, entering the new period, the provincial armed forces always thoroughly grasp and grasp the two strategic tasks of the Party, which are to build and firmly protect the Socialist Republic of Vietnam. Always pay attention to building a strong provincial armed forces in terms of politics, ideology, and organization, meeting the requirements of being ready to receive and successfully complete all assigned tasks. Proactively advise the Party Committee and government to effectively lead and direct local defense and military tasks (QP-QSDP); actively participate in building a strong political base and well implement the movements "Repaying gratitude", "The army joins hands to build new rural areas". At the same time, promote the role as the core force in building the national defense foundation, associated with the people's security posture, building increasingly solid defense zones, contributing to maintaining political stability, social order and safety, creating a favorable environment for socio-economic development.
Faced with the requirements of the current period of national defense and security tasks and to become a solid and reliable support for the Party Committee, the government, and the people of all ethnic groups in the province in the cause of national defense and security, the provincial armed forces will continue to thoroughly grasp the Party's guidelines, the State's policies and laws, especially in the field of national defense and security. Act as the core in building an increasingly solid national defense and security foundation; prevent and defeat all plots of "peaceful evolution" and riots and overthrow by hostile forces, resolutely not allowing "self-evolution" to happen. Actively take care of building a strong Party organization in the provincial armed forces, and build a strong and comprehensive unit. In particular, focus on building a contingent of cadres, party members, officers, and soldiers with good qualities, capacity, and ability to fulfill assigned tasks in all situations.
Reporter: The provincial military's military activities always closely follow the local goals. In recent times, how has the provincial military played a role in implementing the province's socio-economic goals, comrade?
Colonel Quach Dang Phu: With the function of "fighting army, working army and production labor", the provincial military always deeply understands that socio-economic development will create the basis for strengthening national defense and security; strong national defense and security will create a favorable and stable environment for rapid and sustainable socio-economic development. With the characteristics of a mountainous province with many difficulties, the participation of the military in socio-economic development is even more important.
In recent years, along with taking care of building a strong force, the provincial armed forces have actively and effectively participated in local socio-economic development. Emulation movements, training and exercises are all combined with the construction of rural roads, irrigation systems, works serving life and production development. Every year, officers and soldiers save part of their salaries and allowances and contribute thousands of working days to help policy families and households in difficult circumstances. Notably, agencies and units continue to build 14 models of "National Defense and Security Cultural Villages and Hamlets" in particularly difficult areas. Mobilizing donations, presenting 2,081 bicycles, 545 pairs, 144 scholarships, 747 health insurance cards; installing 83 lampposts to light 1.8km of road; supporting the construction of 20 houses for policy beneficiaries... The total value of support is billions of VND.
In 2024 alone, towards the 80th anniversary of the founding of the Vietnam People's Army and the 35th anniversary of the National Defense and Security Day, the Party Committee and the Provincial Military Command launched a movement to build houses of gratitude, comradeship houses, and great solidarity houses to give to policy families. Thereby, the Provincial Military supported and mobilized nearly 5 billion VND in donations, planning to support the construction of 75 houses to give to policy families. That result has contributed to helping the locality successfully implement the goal of building new rural areas, strengthening the military-civilian relationship, and actively contributing to the local socio-economic development.
PV: Thank you, comrade!
Manh Hung (Implementation)
Source: http://www.baohoabinh.com.vn/11/192289/Luc-luong-vu-trangtinh-Hoa-Binh-luon-la-cho-dua-tin-cay-cua-Dang-bo,-chinh-quyen,nhan-dantr111ng-su-nghiep-xay-dung-va-bao-ve-To-quoc.htm
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