General Lê Trọng Tấn was more than just an officer of the People's Army of Vietnam (PAVN) from 1945 to 1986. He held numerous high-ranking positions throughout his military career, making him one of the most influential figures in the Vietnam People's Army.
Early Life
Lê Trọng Tấn, originally named Lê Trọng Tố, was born on October 3, 1914. His father was a scholar who had actively participated in the Tonkin Free School movement. Unfortunately, his father passed away when Lê Trọng Tố was only 7 years old. Lê Trọng Tố attended Bưởi High School and was known for his exceptional football skills, which earned him a position in the prestigious Eclair football club in Hanoi.
In late 1943, Lê Trọng Tố joined the Viet Minh and became the military deputy of the revolution committee in his hometown of Hà Đông during the August Revolution in 1945. After the Viet Minh took control, Lê Trọng Tố enlisted in the PAVN (Cứu quốc quân) and changed his name to Lê Trọng Tấn.
Military Career
Lê Trọng Tấn played a crucial role in the First Indochina War, serving as the commander of the E206 Regiment (Sông Lô Regiment). He continued to rise through the ranks and was appointed the deputy commander of the PAVN during the Biên giới Campaign in 1950. Later, he became the first commander of the 312th Brigade, leading his troops in the Battle of Dien Bien Phu.
From 1954 to 1960, Lê Trọng Tấn served as the Director of the Vietnam Academy for Infantry Officers and Deputy Chief of the General Staff (Phó Tổng tham mưu trưởng). In 1962, he directly involved himself in the Vietnam War as the Deputy Commander of the Viet Cong. During this time, Lê Trọng Tấn also commanded troops in the Plain of Jars battlefield in Laos.
In 1972, Lê Trọng Tấn was appointed the commander of the PAVN in the First Battle of Quảng Trị. He then returned to the position of Deputy Chief of the General Staff while concurrently holding the positions of commander of the 1st Corps (Quân đoàn 1) and Director of the Military Science Academy. In March 1975, he played a vital role as the commander of the Hue-Da Nang Campaign and as the second commander (Phó tư lệnh) of the 1975 Spring Offensive, which ultimately led to the end of the war.
Lê Trọng Tấn was responsible for the east wing of the PAVN attacking Saigon, leading the unit that reached the Independence Palace first and arrested the then-President Duong Van Minh. Notably, he also commanded the unit that captured General Christian de Castries, marking the end of the Battle of Dien Bien Phu.
After the war, Lê Trọng Tấn continued his service as the Deputy Chief of the General Staff and the Director of the Advanced Military Academy (Học viện Quân sự cấp cao). He also served as the commander of Vietnamese armed forces in the southern border of Vietnam during the Cambodian-Vietnamese War. Until his passing on December 5, 1986, at the age of 72, Lê Trọng Tấn held the position of Deputy Minister of Defence of Vietnam and Chief of the General Staff of the PAVN.
Awards, Decorations, and Legacy
Throughout his military career, Lê Trọng Tấn received numerous titles, medals, and decorations, which included the prestigious Ho Chi Minh Order (Huân chương Hồ Chí Minh, posthumously), the Gold Star Order (Huân chương Sao vàng), the 1st and 3rd grade Military Order (Huân chương Quân công), and the 1st grade Victory Medal (Huân chương Chiến thắng).
Lê Trọng Tấn's contributions and leadership were highly regarded by his comrades. General Võ Nguyên Giáp considered him one of the finest military commanders in Vietnam. Fidel Castro even referred to him as "the best general of Vietnam." He was affectionately known as the "Vietnamese Zhukov" in Vietnam.
Lê Trọng Tấn's legacy lives on through the various streets and places in Vietnam that have been named in his honor. His life and achievements continue to inspire generations, reminding them of the bravery and dedication of a true national hero.