Vietnam People’s Navy celebrates 50 years of first victory

Defence Minister, General Phung Quang Thanh speaking at the anniversary (Credit: qtv.vn)

The military leader made the statement while attending a get-together in northern Hai Phong city on August 4 to mark the 50th anniversary of the first victory of the Navy (August 2, 1964) and northern soldiers and people (August 5, 1964).
In early August, 1964, the US staged the so-called Gulf of Tonkin incident, using it as an excuse to send planes and ships to attack northern Vietnam. Fighting back, Vietnamese armed forces shot down eight aircraft and captured the first US pilot, Everett Alvarez in northern Vietnam. They also drove the US destroyer Maddox out of the northern waters, starting the force’s tradition of ‘Winning the first battle’.
Addressing the ceremony, Politburo member Thanh reiterated the political and historical meaning and lessons of experience from the first victory, applauding the outstanding achievements Navy officials and soldiers have strived to obtain over the past 50 years.
Noting that the national revolutionary cause is still confronted with numerous challenges, General Thanh urged the Vietnam People’s Navy to build on, develop and creatively apply the lessons of experience of the first victory in the real missions of defending national sea and island sovereignty, while paying attention to building an elite modern Navy with a firm political stance.
He urged Navy officials and sailors to deeply grasp the strategic position of sea and islands in the cause of national construction and defence; focus on fostering patriotism and absolute belief in Party leadership and renewal policy; and keep in mind the Party and State’s stance in solving disputes over sea and island sovereignty, which is to take peaceful measures, secure a stable environment for economic development and maintain friendship with neighbouring countries.
The Navy force must always be patient and co-operate closely with the Coast Guard and law enforcement forces to promptly update the situation and avoid passiveness, while continuing to improve training quality and equip with modern weapons, Minister Thanh said.
He asked authorised agencies to review cases of officials, soldiers and militia, who sacrificed their lives to the first victory but remained unrecognised and unhonoured, in order to acknowledge their contributions.
                                                                                                                                                                                                  VNA/ Translated by Nhan Dan Online