TRUONG SON ARTICLE ON 1966-67 VICTORIES

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP80R01720R001300050010-8
• Release Decision: RIFPUB
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• Document Page Count: 8
• Document Creation Date: December 15, 2016
• Document Release Date: April 5, 2004
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(TRUONG SON ARTICLE ON 1966-67 VICTORIES
[Following is a translation of an article in the Vietnamese-
language periodical, Hoc Tan (Studies), Hanoi, No 6, June
1967, pages 16-42, and 50.]
Dealt a stunning blow in the 1965-1966 dry season and the bitter
failures in both zones of our country in the rainy season, the Johnson-
McNamara clique, although still reluctant to open their eyes to reality,
cannot help feeling that the U.S. strategy of local war of aggression,
with the U.S. expeditionary armed forces as a trump card, has gone through
a stormy period full of difficulties and that the concept of a quick fight
and early victory no longer holds water.
The short-lived optimism brought about by the dispatch of U.S.
troops to save the puppet troops in 1965 gradually vanished and gave way
to a new nightmare, causing a headache to the U.S. imperialists and
forcing them to answer various difficult questions concerning war
leadership, such as what is the prospect for the war of aggression in
the south, how to get out of the war with a military victory, how to
solve the political problem in the south, what to do in the immediate
future, and so forth.
Faced with this situation, although they have become discouraged,
the Americans continued to remain stubborn and to place their hopes on a
military solution on the battlefield. Therefore, in entering the 1966-
1967 dry season, the Americans made a big decisions to launch one more
strategic counteroffensive, with the strength of their armed forces 1.5
times greater than in the past dry season, and with their firepower, war
means, and resources two to three times greater than in the past dry
season.
This time, their strategic objectives remained basically the same
as those set forth in Westmoreland's five-point strategy. The only
differences lay in a number of formulas, operating methods, and the
scale of using forces. What was noteworthy in the strategic decision
this time was that the U.S. ambition was to strive to achieve important
successes in search-and-destroy and pacification operations in order to
create a turning point, in the hope of advancing toward achieving a
decisive victory in a short period of time.
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OBITUARY NOTICE FOR COMRADE NGUYEN CHI THANH
fFollowing is a translation of the text of an obituary notice
in the Vietnamese-language Hoc Tap (Studies), Hanoi,
No 8, August 1967, page 1
The Central Committee of the Vietnam Workers Party, the Standing
Committee of the National Assembly of the Democratic Republic of Vietnam,
the Government of the DRV, the Military Commission of the Central Committee
of the Vietnam Workers Party, and the High Command of the Vietnam People's
Army announce with utmost grief that :
Comrade Nguyen Chi Thanh, member of the Political Bureau of the
Central Committee of the Vietnam Workers Party, member of the Secretariat
of the party's Central Committee, member of the National Defense Council
of the Democratic Republic of Vietnam, and general of the Vietnam People's
Army, was suddenly stricken by a serious heart attack. In spite of the
greatest possible solicitude of the party's Central Committee, the govern-
ment, and the High Command of the people's army, and the utmost efforts
exerted by the doctors, he died in the lOSth military hospital in Hanoi
on 6 July 1967 at the age of 53.
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BIOGRAPHY OF COvaiADE NGUYEN CHI THANH
following is a translation of an article in the Vietnamese-
language periodical, Hoc Ta (Studies), Hanoi, No 8, August
1967, pages 4-52
Comrade Nguyen Chi Thanh was born on 1 January 1914 to a poor peas-
ant family in Nghiem Pho village, Q.uiang Dien district, Thua Thien Province.
From his early days he had patriotic feelings. When he was 17, together
with some of the young people, he struggled against the local bullies. He
joined the popular movement and was admitted into the Indochinese Communist
Party in July 1937. Then, he was appointed to serve as party branch secre-
tary. In 1938, he was assigned as province party committee secretary of
Thua Thien Province. He was arrested in late 1938. After he was released
from prison, he continued his revolutionary activities and was reassigned
as party committee secretary of Thua Thien Province until he was arrested
in 1939 and put in jail again by the French colonialists in Hue, Lao Bao,
and In Me Thuot. In 1941, he broke out of jail and, together with several
other comrades, organized the temporary province party committee of Thus,
Thien Province. He made an effort to build revolutionary organizations in
many areas of this province.
He was arrested again in 1943. After the coup d'etat of March 1945,
conducted by the Japanese against the French, he continued his revolutionary
activities in the south of central Vietnam. In August 1945, he was assigned
as a representative to attend the national party conference held at Tan Trao.
Ile was elected a member of the party Central Committees awas nd appointed reassigned
central Vietnam party committee secretary. Ia 1947,
province party committee secretary of Thus. Thien Province. Then, he From was
late
made secretary of the Binh Tri Thien subregion party committee.
1948 to 1950, he was the secretary of the interzone party committee of the
Fourth Interzone. In 1950, he was appointed head of the Political Affairs
Directorate of the Vietnam People's Army and deputy secretary of the cen-
tral Military Committee.
3
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At the second national Party congress in 1951, he was elected a mem-
ber of the party Central Committee and was recommended to serve in the Po-
litical, Bureau. As soon as peace was restored, he contributed to the build-
ing,, of our army.
In 1959, he was promoted to the military rank of say for general of
the Vietnan People's Army by the National Assembly, the Government, and
President Ho.
At the third national party representative congress in 1960, he was
reelected as a member of the party Central Executive Committee and was
appointed to serve in the Political bureau and the party Central Committee
Secretariat. In 1961, he was placed in charge of the party agricultural
committee. When our people began carrying out the anti-U.S. national salva-
tion resistance, the party Central Committee transferred him again to the
army. lie was also a member of the 1)1W National Devense Council.
Although he was given all-out care by the party Central Committee,
the government, and the high command, and wholehearted treatment by doctors,
he dies at nine o'clock in the morning (Hanoi time) on 6 July 1967 after a
heart attack. Comrade Nguyen Chi Thanh's revolutionary life was active and
continuously revolutionary. He had a resolute fighting will and revolution-
ary spirit. He was a leading cadre who was richly endowed with the ability
and energy to make outstanding contributions to the application and thorough
understanding of the party's political and military policies and other posi-
tive contributions to the glorious victories of our troops and people.
He had a highly communist collective spirit and a love for the com-
rades. Ile was close to the masses and successfully united and mobilized the
indoctrination of the majority of the cadres and the masses in order to
eagerly fight for the revolution. We to the merits and accomplishments he
contributed to the revolution, the National Assembly, government, and high
command of the Vietnam People's Army bestowed on him Military Exploit Medal
Second Class, Resistance Exploit Medal First Class, Victory Exploit Medal
First Class, and Combatant Exploit Medal, Third and Second Class. Now, he
has posthumously been awarded No Chi Minh Exploit Medal First Class and
Military Exploit Medal First Class.
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LE DUC THO'S FUN
ORATION FOR NGUYEN CHI THANH
ZF-ollowing is a translation of the text of a funeral oration
by Le Duc Tho as published in the Vietnamese-language peri-
odical, Hoc Tap (Studies), Hanoi, No 8, August 1967, pages
6-8.x7
Dear comrades: Our dear Comrade Nguyen Chi Thanh has passed away.
At a time when our compatriots and combatants throughout the country are
achieving glorious victories during the fierce phase of the sacred anti-
U.S. national salvation struggle, the comrade's death is a very great loss
to our party, our army, and our people. Our party has lost a loyal and
talented comrade leader. Our army has lost a resourceful and able com-
mander and a courageous and resolute comrade. Our people have lost an out-
standing son and leader. We deeply grieve and mourn for the comrade.
Comrade Nguyen Chi Thanh dedicated his entire life to the glorious
revolutionary work of our party and people. The comrade was born on 1 Jan-
uary 1914 in Niem Phong hamlet, Chuang Dien district, Thua Thien Province.
He came from a poor peasant family. Being enlightened about the revolution
early, the comrade joined the party's ranks when he was still young and en-
thusiastically struggled against the yoke of the imperialists and the feu-
dal landlords even during the days when the French colonialists terrorized
the revolutionary movement of our country and plunged it into bloodshed.
In eight years, he was promoted from an ordinary member of the Indo-
chinese Communist Party to party branch Secretary and Thua Thien provincial
party committee secretary. Comrade Nguyen Chi Thanh was arrested and jailed
by the imperialists three times -- in Hue, Lao Bao, and Ban Me Thuot. He
escaped from jail and pursued his activities. While working for the move-
ment and while he was in imperialist jails, the comrade constantly proved
himself to be a stanch and loyal communist who was unafraid of danger and
who did not retreat from difficulties. The comrade contributed to building
the party foundation and stepping up the revolutionary movement in Thua Thien
Province at that time. With a resolute mind and a limitless confidence in
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the revolutionary cause, Comrade Nguyen Chi Thanh fought with all his en-
thusiasm and intelligence and matured with our people's revolutionary move-
ment under party leadership.
In August 1945, the nationwide party conference in Tan Trao appointed
the comrade as, a full member of the party Central Committee. Then he was
appointed by the party Central Committee as central Vietnam Party Committee
secretary. In 1947 and 194, the comrade was appointed by the party Central.
Committee as Thua Thien provincial party committee secretary and Binh Tri
Thien regional party committee secretary. At that time, the resistance
against the French colonialists in central Trung Bo encountered difficulties.
The enemy concentrated his forces there and attacked fiercly.
Comrade Nuyen Chi Thanh proved himself worthy of the Central Committee's
confidence. Along with the party organizations the comrade led the people in
rising up, restoring and developing the political base, stepping up the guer-
rilla war, turning the tide, and laying the foundation for the brilliant vic-
tories of the resistance movement in Binh Tri Thien.
Between late 1948 and 1950, in his capacity as the Fourth Interzone
party committee secretary, Comrade Nguyen Chi Thanh contributed to leading
the interzone troops and. people in uniting themselves for production and
combat, in stepping up the resistance, and in building a strong and firm
rear.
In 1950, when the anti-French resistance of all our people entered a
fierce phase, the party transferred the comrade to the army and entrusted
him with the position of head of the Directorate General for Political Af-
fairs and of Deputy secretary of the Central Military Committee.
The second nationwide party congress appointed the comrade as a full
member of the party Central Committee. The comrade was selected by the
party Central Committee to join the Political Bureau. During that period,
along; with the comrades in the party Central Committee and the Central Mili-
tary Committee, the comrade devoted all his energy to directly leading the
people's armed forces in fulfilling the party's strategic determination to
fight and achieve ever greater victories and finally defeat the French co-
lonialists and U.S. interventionists in the historic campaign of Dien Bien
Phu.
Comrade Nguyen Chi Thanh made great contributions to strengthening
party leadership over the army; building the army politically, ideologically,
and organizationally; improving and developing the revolutionary nature of
our army; building the habit of carrying out political tasks; and quickly
increasing the combativity of the people's armed forces. He devoted his con-
stant care to the education and training of a strong contingent of cadres to
meet the ever increasing requirements of the revolution.
After peace was reostablishcd, Comrade Nguyen Chi. Thanh actively con-
armed forces, as the stanch defense
tributed to the building of our strong
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the strurgl.e for the
lism in the north, and to by the National
The comrade was named general
of the const,ructi h ?socia 110.
reunification of and President lie
Assptnb .y, t,110 governments
entrusted with the party agricultural cott?nittee.
vcnent and the
P of the cooperative mo
In 1961-9 he was entrust
d,veloVnOnt
greatly contributed to Lh~roduction.
agricultural p agcession against
inmroaso in started waging
virtues olutionarY Since the time the U.S. imperialists mperialists , and
e Nguyen Chi 'Thanh, becaus o servesthrev e a ned forces
our country, t;omrad parts t leadership work.
was called bacl: by the to the armed fore esiie .othh
and abilities, greatly leader. ovtical
from that time }1e contselftto be an au.tstanding the p
ssful implementacThe comrade show for the succe e contributed to the
on
s and The comrad greatl, rtyp The c
and abilities
his offeri ,olhe of the party . t # the and People
co
XLq_
and ~nilihe ~ry art of 80 our arntied forces le to
rage gan ,a. lay to the fighting spirit of tion st and
salva-
rode oaVe ful ll p. national
to uted to leading the anti-U. S
and con the recent past' great victories in stanch comtt-uni st combatants
tide Nguyen Chi Thanh was a and animated
the revolutionary task of the Arty,
roletarian class and
Our beloved Comrade
absolutely faithful to striking the enemies of eagerness for revolution,
H was a a modest and simple
With the spirit of firmlyh sense of responsibility
1.19 had a hig activities. and loved his com-
the people* irit in his sincerely upheld unity
and a great, creative sp and he s
eager to study,
man who was
erfectly com-
ade p
arms. the comrrades in evolutionary qualities all tasks entrusted him
with these finer licated situation-, Military committees
despi1.-e a hard and Comp mot; the CentralworthY of the con-
pleted, Committee, the governor s to be
the pF.rt7 Central The comrade showed himself eo le and armed forces.
and the High Command*
nee of the party and he is cherished by our People
spirit will forever
fide away, but his maple,
Nguyen Chi `Thanh has passed
acaievements of our Pale Nguyen Chi
comrade evolutiotiarY to Comra mournful eopleIs
remain with the glorious re at regret we say farewell Chi Thanh in mourn
with great pf.uyen to study
and armed forces. we hold late and combatants should
the try s irit,
Thanh. The more party members, cadres, evolutionary p his
especially his firm r
more all our pa sincerity, affection for
his high revolutionary virtues., hforwardness, actions. We are deter-
strai8 and modesty in his the U.S.
brrnra(l, creativenand and physical force to fight and the bravery to
arms, urning into a moral defeat the U.S. aggressorss con-
ned to in mo to firmly
mined to turn our salvation, to reunify the father ands
national the father and co
agressors for to defend the north, is accomplishments
Vietnam, until i is struggle which
liberate South socialist instruction a lets and party
tinue the cause of st sacred of our per, Chi Thanh.
vict l,Y meet the m?
was also also the lifetime aspiration of Comrade
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Dear Comrade Ng Wen Chi Thanh, you have passed away, but you will
remain forever in the minds of your comrades in arms and our people as the
brilliant example of a genuine conuuunist who has struggled and endured sac-
rifices throughout his life for the fatherland, the people, and the great
communist ideal. As you firmly believed, our people, under the leadership
of the party headed by beloved President Ho, must defeat the U.S. aggressors
and will certainly complete the building of socialism. Please accept the
profound regret of the party, government, people, and the people's armed
forces, and of your comrades and dear friends. Farewell, comrade.
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