The hero of the land of "green coconuts and red flames"

In the glorious flow of Vietnam's revolutionary history, Ben Tre (now Vinh Long province) is a land that has produced steadfast, courageous, intelligent, and righteous people. From this land of "green coconuts and red fire" came General Le Van Dung, a Hero of the People's Armed Forces—one of the exemplary generals who rose through the ranks of the Southern revolutionary movement, embodying the profound traditions of his homeland, battlefield prowess, and strategic thinking of the Vietnam People's Army in the Ho Chi Minh era.

He matured amidst the harsh and brutal battlefields of Southern Vietnam.

Born and raised in the heroic Ben Tre province—the birthplace of the Dong Khoi Uprising (in 1960)—Comrade Le Van Dung was early instilled with the indomitable spirit and the unwavering determination of the people of Southern Vietnam to "dare to stand up and go all the way." The Dong Khoi Uprising was not only a historical event but also a great school of patriotism, the power of the masses, and the art of people's warfare.

General Le Van Dung visits and encourages Hero Nguyen Van Thuong - who had his leg amputated six times by the enemy, in December 2008. Photo: Xuan Cuong

It was that environment that shaped Comrade Le Van Dung's distinctive qualities: unwavering political resolve, absolute loyalty to the Fatherland, the Party, and the people; an independent, self-reliant, and flexible spirit, typical of Southern Vietnam, yet always adhering to discipline and principles; and a people-oriented style, deeply imbued with the ideology of "putting the people first."

General Le Van Dung's military career was closely linked to the arduous years of fighting on the battlefields of Southern Vietnam, considered one of the most brutal battlefields in the wars of national liberation and defense of the Fatherland.

There, he was not only a strategic commander but also someone who directly experienced and understood the sacrifices and losses of the officers, soldiers, and people. From that rich combat experience, he accumulated experience in flexible combat command, knowing how to combine regular and guerrilla tactics; thinking about organizing forces suitable to the terrain and geographical characteristics of Southern Vietnam; and the ability to handle situations quickly, decisively, but cautiously.

What was remarkable about him was that he did not separate military art from the art of mobilizing the masses, nor did he separate military tasks from political tasks—a very typical characteristic of the revolutionary tradition of Southern Vietnam.

A crystallization of homeland traditions and strategic thinking.

Throughout his career, General Le Van Dung was recognized as a general who harmoniously combined both virtue and talent. His "virtue" was manifested in his simple, humble, and dedicated lifestyle, always placing the interests of the Party, the Army, and the people above personal gain. His "talent" was demonstrated in his strategic thinking, organizational skills, command, management, and ability to plan for major issues facing the Army during crucial periods.

Regardless of his position, he always demonstrated a leadership style that was deeply rooted in the grassroots, respected the collective, valued shared intelligence, and was resolute on matters of principle. This is the style of the Southern general: straightforward and sincere but not lenient, flexible but not arbitrary.

Not only did General Le Van Dung mature through war, but he also made enduring and long-lasting contributions to the cause of building a revolutionary, regular, elite, and progressively modern Vietnamese People's Army.

He consistently emphasized the requirement of closely integrating the political development of the Army with improving the quality of training and combat readiness. Maintaining the revolutionary nature and heroic traditions of the Army, while proactively adapting to the new demands of national defense in the new situation. Paying attention to building a strong cadre of officers at all levels, considering this the "key of keys".

In his thinking, military strength is inseparable from political and spiritual strength, inseparable from the people's rear support, in line with the Vietnamese tradition of people's war and particularly suitable to the realities of Southern Vietnam.

The life and career of General Le Van Dung is a vibrant continuation of the heroic traditions of the Southern region—the impregnable fortress of the Fatherland—and reflects the comprehensive maturity of the Vietnamese People's Army's generals in the new era.

He embodied the spirit of the Đồng Khởi uprising in his thinking and actions, the indomitable spirit of Southern Vietnam in his character and style, and the Vietnamese intellect in planning and practical organization.

For his hometown of Ben Tre in particular and Southern Vietnam in general, General Le Van Dung is not only a source of pride but also a great example of loyalty, dedication, and responsibility to the nation and its people. His life and career contribute to clarifying the truth: From revolutionary mass movements, from heroic lands, heroic individuals are always born, capable of shouldering the important responsibilities of the country.

Source: https://www.qdnd.vn/tuong-linh-viet-nam/nguoi-anh-hung-cua-manh-dat-dua-xanh-lua-do-1021593