*** Welcome to piglix ***

Hoang Van Thai

Hoàng Văn Thái
Hoàng Văn Xiêm
Đại tướng Hoàng Văn Thái.jpg
Portrait of General Hoàng Văn Thái (1986)
1st Chairman of the Committee of Physical Training and Sports of Vietnam
In office
1960–1965
President Hồ Chí Minh
Prime Minister Phạm Văn Đồng
Preceded by None
Succeeded by Hà Quang Dự
Deputy Minister of Ministry of Defence
In office
1974–1986
President Tôn Đức Thắng
Trường Chinh
Minister Võ Nguyên Giáp
Văn Tiến Dũng
1st Chief of General Staff
In office
7 September 1945 – 1953
President Hồ Chí Minh
Preceded by None
Succeeded by Văn Tiến Dũng
In office
1954–1954
Preceded by Văn Tiến Dũng
Succeeded by Văn Tiến Dũng
In office
1975 – 1975 (acting)
Personal details
Born (1915-05-01)1 May 1915
Tây An, Tiền Hải, Thái Bình Province, French Indochina
Died 2 July 1986(1986-07-02) (aged 71)
108 Hospital, Hanoi, Vietnam
Spouse(s) Lương Thị Thanh Bình
Đàm Thị Loan
Awards Vietnam Gold Star ribbon.png Gold Star Order (posthumously)

See full list below for details of orders and commemorative medals awarded
Military service
Nickname(s) Quốc Bình (1941-1944 in China)
Mười Khang (1965-1973 as Vietcong commander)
Thành
Allegiance Viet Minh
 Vietnam
Service/branch Vietnam People's Army
Viet Cong
Years of service 1941–86
Rank Vietnam People's Army General.jpg General
Commands Việt Minh
Vietnam People's Army
People's Liberation Armed Forces
Battles/wars First Indochina War
Battle of Điện Biên Phủ
Vietnam War
Tết Offensive
Vietnamese name
Vietnamese birth name

Hoàng Văn Thái (1 May 1915 – 2 July 1986), born Hoàng Văn Xiêm, was a Vietnamese communist military and political figure. His hometown was Tây An, Tiền Hải District, Thái Bình Province. During the Tết Offensive, he was the highest senior North Vietnamese officer in South Vietnam. He was the first chief of staff of the Vietnam People's Army, and the key military force in North Vietnam. He was Chief of Staff in the Battle of Điện Biên Phủ.

Hoang Van Thai was born Hoang Van Xiem, on May 1, 1915, in the village of An Khang (now Tay An, Tien Hai District, Thai Binh Province). His father, Hoang Van Thuat, was a Han Nom teacher.

Hoang Van Xiem was dedicated to studying. Graduated in a French-Vietnamese colonial elementary school, however, he dropped out of school at the age of 13 because of financial difficulties; Xiem had to work as a barber. Age 15, He was influenced by a Communist movement.

Age 18, Hoang Van Xiem worked in a mine in Hong Gai, Quang Ninh Province, he attended movements against the unfairness of the mine owners and returned to his hometown in 1936.

He opened a music class to organize young men to participate in rebellious activities. After few months, students were numbered to 170 members with himself as a secretary. Through experiences gained from secret activities, he spread leaflets on the sly in order to encourage people to get involved against high taxes, struggling for democratic freedom. Due to his achievements, Xiem became a member of Indochinese Communist Party in March 1938.

In 1941, Viet Minh was founded, he became a commander of the squad National Salvation Army Bắc Sơn (Lạng Sơn). Under the name of Quoc Binh, meaning "peaceful country", several comrades and he left for military training in Liuzhou, China.


...
Wikipedia

...