The ordinary hero

BDK.VN - I visited him on a day at the end of April, in an atmosphere where the whole country was jubilant and excited about preparing to welcome the 50th anniversary of the liberation of the South and the reunification of the country. As one of the highest commanders in the Ben Tre liberation campaign in 1975, he was still calm and peaceful as usual. Looking at the old man who is now nearly 90 years old, few people would think that he was a famous commando commander on the Ben Tre battlefield during the war...

Báo Bến Tre•30/04/2025

People's Armed Forces Hero Le Quang Van (right) and Labor Hero Trinh Van Y at a meeting of veterans who participated in the liberation of the South and national reunification. Photo by Tran Ut

He is Colonel, Hero of the People's Armed Forces Le Quang Van (aka Le Giang or Bay Giang), former Deputy Commander - Chief of Staff of the Ben Tre Provincial Military Command.

Born into a large peasant family in Minh Duc commune, Mo Cay district, he was aware of the revolution early on and joined the army. He spent most of his time in the army working in the special forces and commandos. From the time after the Dong Khoi movement in 1960 to April 30, 1975, he fought in hundreds of battles, killed more than 120 enemies, captured 15, destroyed 2 military vehicles, collapsed 2 bridges, and captured many enemy weapons and equipment.

As the Captain of Ben Tre town, he commanded the town's special forces to fight memorable battles in the inner city, scaring the enemy many times. Typical examples include the battle at the Cai Ca Bridge Joint Control Station and the battle to destroy the officers of the 7th puppet Division at the Hoa Nam tea shop.

In March 1969, he commanded a unit stationed in Binh Phu. The enemy concentrated more than 1 battalion divided into many groups to attack our position. He calmly commanded the unit to repel the enemy's attacks, killing and injuring over 150 enemies, and holding the position. Mr. Le Quang Van was awarded the title of Hero of the People's Armed Forces on January 16, 1978.

Returning to normal life in the late 1980s, he started to build a family life, raised his children to be successful people, all of them graduated from university and had stable lives. In a spacious house in Huu Dinh commune, Chau Thanh district, over a cup of tea, he recalled the stories of his life associated with historical events of his home province.

In the last days of April 1975, he and his comrades commanded the forces to attack and liberate the town. There was an event that he could never forget: our main attack force was so tired that some comrades fell asleep during the process of mobilizing the attack force, which was discovered by the enemy and revealed their fighting intentions, forcing us to change our combat plan. He ordered the reserve force to use 82 mortars and B40s to fire fiercely to relieve the formation on the eve of Ben Tre's complete liberation.

Now, every day, around mid-morning and late afternoon, he sits drinking tea with his neighbors and motorbike taxi drivers, very simple. He has also told his children that when he passes away, they will cremate him and send a handful of his ashes down the Ham Luong River so that he can return to his three beloved islands.

Son Vo

Source: https://baodongkhoi.vn/nguoi-anh-hung-binh-di-30042025-a145961.html