(BNP) - On the morning of June 19, in Lang Giang commune, Division 365 (Air Defense - Air Force Service) organized the 60th anniversary of its Traditional Day (June 21, 1966 - June 21, 2026) and received the First-Class Fatherland Defense Order.
Authorized, Senior Lieutenant General Nguyen Van Hien, Member of the Party Central Committee, Member of the Central Military Commission, and Deputy Minister of National Defense (4th from right) presents the First-Class Fatherland Defense Order to Division 365.
Attending were Senior Lieutenant General Nguyen Van Hien, Member of the Party Central Committee, Member of the Central Military Commission, and Deputy Minister of National Defense; Senior Lieutenant General Pham Truong Son, Deputy Chief of the General Staff of the Vietnam People's Army; Lieutenant General Tran Ngoc Quyen, Political Commissar of the Air Defense - Air Force Service; Vu Hoang Anh, Deputy Secretary of the Lang Son Provincial Party Committee; Le Xuan Loi, Member of the Standing Committee of the Provincial Party Committee and Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee; leaders of departments, boards, sectors, and localities along with generations of leaders, officers, and soldiers of Division 365.
Speaking at the ceremony, Colonel Hoang Phuc Duong, Deputy Secretary of the Party Committee and Commander of Division 365 emphasized that 60 years ago, in the middle of the summer of 1966, the US imperialists intensified their destruction war by air and naval forces against the North to block the aid from socialist countries for our people's resistance war. To meet the requirements of the war to protect the Fatherland, on June 21, 1966, General Vo Nguyen Giap, Minister of National Defense signed the Decision to establish the Ha Bac Air Defense Command, and the establishment ceremony was held in Yen Vinh hamlet, Yen My commune, Lang Giang district, Ha Bac province (now in Lang Giang commune, Bac Ninh province). The task of the Ha Bac Air Defense Command was to lead, command, and organize combat for all Air Defense units in the Dap Cau, Phu Lang Thuong, and Kep airport areas.
Colonel Hoang Phuc Duong, Deputy Secretary of the Party Committee and Commander of Division 365 speaks at the ceremony.
Right from its inception, the Division quickly consolidated its organizational structure and focused on training. After just over a month, it entered the battle facing the US air force and won many glorious victories, continuing the heroic, determined-to-fight, and determined-to-win tradition of the unit.
On March 16, 1967, according to the decision of the General Staff, the Ha Bac Air Defense Command was renamed Air Defense Division 365. With the task of a mobile air defense army corps, the Division marched across all regions of the country, being timely present and participating in combat in major campaigns, at important historical moments, and on fierce battlefields, from the Northern border, the fire line of Zone 4 to the southernmost part of the Central region, together with air defense, air force forces to firmly protect the airspace and transportation lines to the front, making great contributions to the resistance war against the US for national salvation and liberation.
Senior Lieutenant General Nguyen Van Hien, Deputy Minister of National Defense speaks at the ceremony.
From 1986 to present, implementing the comprehensive renewal process of the country initiated and led by our Party, to meet the development requirements of the Army, the Division had focused on building a comprehensively strong unit and enhancing combat capability. Especially in recent years, implementing the Party's policy of building the Air Defense - Air Force Service to be "revolutionary, regular, elite, and modern", the Division had deployed many measures to improve training quality and quickly master weapons and equipment. It increased training in rapid mobility and combat within the combined arms formation, training combat crews to have strong psychological mettle and resilient endurance under harsh weather condition; thereby, contributing to building a clean, strong, and "Exemplary" unit.
With outstanding achievements in construction, combat, and growth, the Division had had 16 collectives and 07 individuals honored by the Party and State with the title of Hero of the People's Armed Forces; and received 580 orders and medals of all kinds. Especially, on the occasion of the 60th anniversary of the Traditional Day of Division 365, the President awarded the First-Class Fatherland Defense Order to the Division; the Central Military Commission and the Minister of National Defense sent a Letter of Commendation to Division 365.
Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee Le Xuan Loi along with leaders of the Provincial Military Command present flowers to congratulate Division 365.
Speaking at the ceremony, on behalf of the Central Military Commission and the Ministry of National Defense, Senior Lieutenant General Nguyen Van Hien, Member of the Party Central Committee and Deputy Minister of National Defense praised and recognized the achievements that Division 365 had attained during 60 years of construction, combat, and growth, contributing along with the Air Defense - Air Force Service and the Ministry of National Defense to successfully complete all assigned tasks.
To better fulfill the tasks assigned by the Party, State, and Army, the Deputy Minister of National Defense requested Division 365 to continue to deeply grasp the lines and viewpoints of the Party, the Central Military Commission, and the Ministry of National Defense, especially the Resolution of the 8th Central Committee (13th tenure) on the Fatherland defense strategy in the new situation. Improve the comprehensive quality of all areas of work, especially the quality of performing tasks for combat readiness and airspace management, resolutely avoid being passive, surprised, or miss opportunities in all situations. Improve the quality of training, competitions, sports festivals, exercises, and live-fire shooting; uphold the spirit of solidarity, self-reliance, self-strengthening, dynamism, and creativity; and effectively implement emulation movements and campaigns.
The Division must regularly care for building a comprehensively clean and strong typical Division Party Committee. Strictly maintain army discipline and order; actively innovate working styles, methods, and scientific, democratic, and close-to-grassroots leadership and command styles. Ensure good material and spiritual life for officers and soldiers; pay attention to and effectively implement army rear policies so that troops could work and contribute with peace of mind.
Delegates attend the anniversary ceremony take a commemorative photo.
The Division must continue to maintain and further promote the solidarity and close attachment with local party committees, authorities, and People, friendly units, and armed forces in the area; perform well mass mobilization and propaganda, build a healthy cultural life in residential areas, contributing to socio-economic development in the stationed area, and building strong local political bases.
At the ceremony, authorized by the President, Senior Lieutenant General Nguyen Van Hien, Deputy Minister of National Defense presented the First-Class Fatherland Defense Order to the heroic Division 365./.
