On the afternoon of August 8, at the Presidential Palace, General Secretary and President To Lam met with the delegation of the Veterans' Liaison Committee of Division 308 - Vanguard Army Corps on the occasion of the 75th anniversary of its founding (August 28, 1949 - August 28, 2024).
Also attending were Party Central Committee members: Le Khanh Hai, Head of the Office of the President ; Senior Lieutenant General Le Huy Vinh, Deputy Minister of National Defense, and over 50 delegates who were leaders of Division 308 and the Veterans' Traditional Liaison Committee and officers and soldiers of the Division.
The 308th Division (now the 308th Division) is the first strategic reserve mobile main force unit of the Vietnam People's Army, established on August 28, 1949 in Don Du town, Phu Luong district, Thai Nguyen province. The name of the 308th Division - the Vanguard Army Corps is associated with glorious feats of arms, typical battles such as the Border Campaign (Autumn Winter 1950); Dien Bien Phu Campaign; Road 9 - Khe Sanh Campaign, Road 9 - Southern Laos, the battle to protect Quang Tri citadel...
With its special feats and achievements in the long-term resistance wars to protect the Fatherland, on January 15, 1976, the Division was awarded the title of Hero of the People's Armed Forces by the Party and the State. 12 collectives and 11 individuals were awarded or posthumously awarded the title of Hero of the People's Armed Forces. Many officers and soldiers were awarded many other noble prizes. The unit was honored to be visited by Uncle Ho five times, praised and awarded many prizes. Division 308 became a beautiful symbol of revolutionary heroism, indomitable fighting spirit, the pride of our army and people, contributing to building the glorious tradition of "Pioneering, bravery, solidarity, discipline, speed, determination to fight and win". Over 75 years of construction, fighting and growth, many officers and soldiers of the Division have grown up to become high-ranking officers of the Army, scientists and artists contributing to the cause of building and defending the Fatherland.
Speaking at the meeting, General Secretary and President To Lam expressed his pleasure to meet with generals and officers representing generations of veterans through the periods of the 308th Division's Traditional Liaison Committee.
On behalf of the Party and State leaders, the General Secretary and President sent his warm regards, warmest feelings and best wishes to the officers and soldiers of the Division through the ages; at the same time, he emphasized that since the unit was established, the officers and soldiers of Division 308 have upheld revolutionary heroism, overcome countless difficulties and hardships, always demonstrated the will and spirit of determination to fight and win of the Vanguard Army Corps with brilliant feats of arms and typical battles of our army and people.
Reviewing the glorious historical process of Division 308, especially the meeting with beloved Uncle Ho at the Hung Kings Temple relic site before returning to take over the capital Hanoi with the advice: "The Hung Kings had the merit of building the country, we must together protect the country", the General Secretary and President warmly congratulated the feats and outstanding achievements of Division 308 - the Vanguard Army Corps. The General Secretary and President emphasized that each stage of the country's struggle for national independence has its own imprints, historical pages, feats, and heroic spirit of Division 308, a main unit known as the "Iron Fist" of the Vietnam People's Army.
The General Secretary and President stated that today, the war has ended, the whole country is living in a peaceful and developing environment, many officers and soldiers of the division have returned to normal life, participating in the 308 Division Veterans' Traditional Liaison Committee. Many veterans have actively contributed their intelligence and efforts to the country's socio-economic development, and are a reliable support for the local political system. Although many veterans are old and weak, the spirit, courage and heroic tradition of the 308 Division - the Vanguard Army Corps will forever remain, a source of pride for their descendants and future generations.
Faced with new requirements in the current cause of protecting, developing and building the country, the General Secretary and President said that the most important task of the entire Party, the entire people and the entire political system is to maintain independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity. In particular, the core responsibility of the army is extremely great, requiring a focus on building a force with steadfast political will, being lean, compact, strong, disciplined, elite and modern; creating great solidarity to complete all assigned tasks.
The General Secretary and President also pointed out that in the current context, we also have the responsibility to contribute to the issues of peace and stability in the world and the region; participate in resolving conflicts and disagreements in the region and the world, thereby helping to protect the Fatherland early and from afar.
The General Secretary and President hopes that the veterans of Division 308 will always uphold the noble qualities of "Uncle Ho's soldiers", continue to promote the tradition of the heroic armed forces; be pioneers and role models in implementing the policies of the Party and the State; always be shining examples for their families and descendants to follow. The veterans unite, overcome all difficulties, support each other in the spirit of helping each other reduce poverty, do good business, contribute to the socio-economic development of the locality; promote the tradition of "remembering the source of drinking water", do a good job of repaying gratitude; continue to contribute and contribute to building an increasingly better life for their families and society.
General Secretary and President To Lam asked officers and soldiers working at Division 308 and agencies of the Ministry of National Defense to continue to promote the glorious heroic tradition of the Vietnam People's Army and the Vanguard Army Corps; to constantly cultivate, train, improve their qualifications, capacity, and combat advisory ability, and be ready to receive and excellently complete all assigned tasks. The Ministry of National Defense, the Vietnam Veterans Association, and the Ministry of Labor, War Invalids and Social Affairs continue to pay attention to the activities of the 308 Division Veterans Association's Traditional Liaison Committee to continue to have more practical activities in educating traditions, "passing on the fire" to generations of young people inside and outside the Army, arousing the spirit of patriotism, self-reliance, and joining hands to build and defend the Fatherland.
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