The first commander of Vietnam's military intelligence

The person mentioned is the intelligence officer and Hero of the People's Armed Forces Hoang Minh Dao.

Mr. Hoang Minh Dao, real name Dao Phuc Loc (1923-1969), was born into a patriotic family in Quang Ninh. When he was young, due to family circumstances, he lived with his sister in Hai Phong . It was here that the two sisters met revolutionary To Hieu during the Democratic Front period (1936-1939) and began to participate in the patriotic youth and student movement.

In 1939, he was admitted to the Indochinese Communist Party - at the age of 16, becoming the person who kept the communication line with comrade To Hieu.

Comrade Hoang Minh Dao. (Photo courtesy)

After the success of the August Revolution, Mr. Hoang Minh Dao went to Hanoi to hold the position of Chief of the Military Commission Office of the General Staff (the predecessor of Vietnam's military intelligence) when he was only 22 years old.

Taking on the task of grasping the situation of the French, Japanese, Chiang Kai-shek troops and the pro-Chiang Viet Quoc and Viet Cach, with only a small group of cadres and rudimentary means of communication, Hoang Minh Dao organized a wide intelligence network from restaurants, hotels, theaters, post offices , and planted people in the enemy ranks. With the motto of "using the people as eyes and ears", he grasped information quickly, helping the revolution to promptly organize operations.

Under the creative command of Hoang Minh Dao, the shoe shine boys, the talented young ladies, and the female students completed their missions, contributing to the overall victory of the revolutionary movement.

After only 2 years, the intelligence department headed by Hoang Minh Dao had a network located in 23 provinces and cities from the North, North Central to Thua Thien. During this period, Hoang Minh Dao also made great contributions in opening education classes, training and fostering cadres. Under his command, many secret bases and collaborators in Hanoi were built.

In particular, he had the merit of discovering, discovering, organizing and implementing the "Bright Path" - one of the first overseas communication lines of the Vietnamese revolution in the period 1940-1945. The "Bright Path" was to transport and connect revolutionary soldiers in the country (including famous figures such as Hoang Quoc Viet, Hoang Van Thai...) with leader Nguyen Ai Quoc throughout the years 1940-1945.

After the 1968 Mau Than General Offensive and Uprising, although we achieved many great victories, our forces also suffered heavy losses. To consolidate and rebuild our forces in preparation for stronger attacks, the Central Office for Southern Vietnam transferred Hoang Minh Dao from Division V to become Secretary and Political Commissar of Division I.

In 1969, Mr. Hoang Minh Dao returned to the Central Bureau to attend a meeting and report on the preparations for the battlefield in the area. While crossing the Vam Co Dong River, his boat collided with an enemy boat. He and his comrades sacrificed their lives bravely in the middle of the water.

With his achievements, Mr. Hoang Minh Dao was posthumously awarded the title of Lieutenant General, Hero of the People's Armed Forces (1998) and the Ho Chi Minh Medal (1999) by the State.

As the person who assigned Hoang Minh Dao to go to the South to be the Chief of the Southern Military Intelligence Department in 1948, General Vo Nguyen Giap once wrote: "He completed his mission excellently. Remembering Mr. Dao, I hope that his children and grandchildren will follow the example of his grandfather and father, study well, work well, serve the people, serve the Fatherland, be worthy of being Uncle Ho's children and grandchildren, and fulfill Mr. Dao's wishes. I will always remember Mr. Dao...".

Libra

Source: https://vtcnews.vn/nguoi-chi-huy-dau-tien-cua-nganh-tinh-bao-quan-su-viet-nam-ar945953.html