Vo Nguyen Giap is a good-natured and talented general in the Vietnamese army. Soviet air force and air defense specialists in Vietnam Preparations for war

In Vietnam, the legendary General Vo Nguyen Giap, the country's most famous commander, creator of the Vietnamese armed forces and architect of Vietnam's historical military victories over France and the United States, died at the age of 102.

From media reports:
“The legendary Vietnamese military leader, creator of the country’s armed forces and the closest ally of President Ho Chi Minh, General Vo Nguyen Giap, died at the age of 102. The author of Vietnam’s military victories over France and the United States died in the 108th Military Hospital in Hanoi, where he spent the last three years of his life , reports the Vietnamese newspaper Thanh Nien News.
Giap is one of the most prominent figures in the history of Vietnam in the twentieth century. Historians place him on a par with such military giants as the Duke of Wellington, Ulysses Grant, Douglas MacArthur and Erwin Rommel. American journalist and writer Stanley Karnow, best known for his work on the Vietnam War, stated: “Unlike them, however, he owed his achievements to innate genius rather than to formal training.”
Giap was born on August 25, 1911 in the village of An Ha (Vietnamese province of Quang Binh). His military career began in the jungles of northern Vietnam, where in 1941 he created a peasant army that fought against the colonial army of France. His troops used guerrilla warfare tactics, which were later successfully used against American troops. Giap's first big victory (by that time he had become supreme commander) was the defeat of French troops at Dien Bien Phu (1954), which ended French rule in Vietnam. Giap called the Battle of Dien Bien Phu "the first great defeat for the West."
Giap was the supreme commander of North Vietnamese forces throughout the subsequent conflict with the Americans and US-backed South Vietnam. This war claimed the lives of more than 58 thousand Americans and at least three million Vietnamese. The fall of Saigon (the capital of South Vietnam) in April 1975 and the subsequent unification of the country gave Giap an almost mythical status outside of Vietnam, the publication notes. After the war, General Giap retained his post as Minister of Defense and was appointed Deputy Prime Minister in 1976."

(VOVworld) - “On October 5, the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Vietnam, the National Assembly of Vietnam, the President of Vietnam, the Government of Vietnam, the Central Committee of the Fatherland Front of Vietnam and the Central Military Commission of Vietnam issued a special communiqué announcing the death of General Vo Nguyen Giap. Army General Vo Nguyen Giap was born On August 25, 1911, in Loc Huy community, Let Huy county, Quang Binh province, he held the following important positions: member of the Politburo, secretary of the Central Military Commission, permanent vice-premier, minister of defense, commander-in-chief of the Vietnamese People's Army, deputy of the National Assembly from the first to the 7th session.

Despite the enormous efforts of a team of professors, doctors and medical workers at Military Hospital No. 108, General Vo Nguyen Giap died at the age of 103.

A special communiqué notes: “Over the course of 80 years of his revolutionary activity, General Vo Nguyen Giap has had enormous services to his Motherland. As one of the closest associates of President Ho Chi Minh, Vo Nguyen Giap enjoys the love and respect of the Vietnamese people, the great admiration of international friends, and is the pride of all generations of cadres and soldiers of the entire army. General Vo Nguyen Giap was awarded the Golden Star, Ho Chi Minh Orders, the 70 Years of Party Activities Badge from the Party and State, and many other orders and medals from Vietnam and foreign countries.

The passing of General Vo Nguyen Giap is a great loss for the party, state, people and army of Vietnam.

As a sign of grief and gratitude to General Vo Nguyen Giap, the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Vietnam, the National Assembly of Vietnam, the President of Vietnam, the government of Vietnam, the Central Committee of the Fatherland Front of Vietnam and the Central Military Commission of Vietnam decided to organize a mourning ceremony in connection with the death of General Vo Nguyen Giap in accordance with state protocol .

The mourning commission will include 30 people, headed by the General Secretary of the CPV Central Committee Nguyen Phu Trong.

The funeral ceremony will begin at 7:30 am on October 12 local time in the State Funeral Building - at 7 am on October 13.

A funeral ceremony will also take place at the same time at the Quang Binh Provincial People's Committee building and the Reunification Palace in Ho Chi Minh City.

According to the behests of General Vo Nguyen Giap and the wishes of his family, he will be buried on the same day in his homeland - in Quang Binh province.

On these two days (October 12 and 13), state flags will be flown at half-mast at all government institutions and public places. All entertainment facilities have also been suspended."

(VOVworld) - The exploits of the commander-in-chief of the Vietnamese army, General Vo Nguyen Giap, included him in the list of outstanding military leaders in the world. The other day, at the age of 103, the elder brother of the Vietnamese People's Army, Vo Nguyen Giap, died, but the legend of him is alive in the hearts of every Vietnamese, as well as foreign friends.

This talented military leader, the outstanding army general Vo Nguyen Giap, who was a history teacher, never underwent professional military training. But he was able to inspire to increase the morale and combat readiness of soldiers. American journalist and historian Stanley Karnow (1925-2013) was in Vietnam in 1959 and is the author of the world-famous book “The Vietnam Tale,” published in 1983. According to Stanley Karnow, the strategic genius of General Vo Nguyen Giap placed him in the “rank of outstanding military leaders”, such as the English Field Marshal General Arthur Wellesley Wellington, the American General Ulysses Grant, the Army General, and Field Marshal of the Philippine Army Douglas MacArthur. However, what distinguishes Vietnamese General Vo Nguyen Giap's exploits from these famous men is his innate talent rather than professional training.

Being a talented commander, Army General Vo Nguyen Giap always enjoys great admiration from famous foreign historians and journalists. The French journalist, director Daniel Russell, author of the famous documentary film “Dien Bien Phu - the fight between the tiger and the elephant” was lucky enough to meet with General Vo Nguyen Giap many times and interview General Vo Nguyen Giap: “I met General Vo Nguyen Giap 35 years ago. I was lucky enough to witness his military, political and daily activities. I call him “my general” or “uncle” in a friendly manner. In meetings with the General many times I told myself that I was lucky to talk with a man who made history.”

With the Dien Bien Phu operation in 1954, General Vo Nguyen Giap became one of the great military strategists of the 20th century. French director Daniel Russell further said: “The general told me that the night of January 25, 1954 was the most difficult moment in his life, when Vietnamese troops were ready to attack a French military post, however, the general felt that something was going wrong, so he decided to withdraw troops and wait a few more weeks to prepare the rear and transport weapons. There was a long struggle, but in the end he won.”

Army General Vo Nguyen Giap loved his soldiers with all his heart. The late Colonel General Tran Van Cha wrote during his lifetime: “Army General Vo Nguyen Giap is a man who treasures every drop of blood of his soldiers. He often persuades his subordinates this way: being a good military leader, you must defeat your enemies with the least loss of our soldiers. Human life is a priceless asset and nothing can make up for the pain and loss of war.” And the former head of the Office of External Affairs of the Ministry of Defense of Vietnam, Lieutenant General Vu Xuan Vinh, said that he once personally witnessed this at a meeting between General Vo Nguyen Giap and the Chairman of the International Federation of War Veterans Serge Wourgaft in 2004. Despite the fact that the war had already passed for decades, at this meeting General Vo Nguyen Giap still spoke about the desire for peace: “The General told the Chairman of the World Federation of War Veterans that he wants to urge young representatives around the world to actively participate in the cause of peace and solidarity, non-application of the law of the jungle, and also urge strong countries not to attack weak ones. Secondly, young people should meet each other at lectures, at the stadium, and not at the front. The general said that we should appoint him general of peace."

Hatred of war and wishing peace for everyone, General Vo Nguyen Giap named his second daughter “Vo Hoa Binh” (Peace). Vo Hoa Binh says: “In connection with important national holidays, such as in 1994 and 2004, I went to Dien Bien Phu with my father. Having been here, my father again remembered the past, about the soldiers who died heroically defending the country. Then, he could not hold back his tears. Every time he went to his hometown, he often visited the cemeteries of his ancestors and immediately cried. My grandparents died while my father was away from home.”

General Vo Nguyen Giap's good nature originated from the national cultural and family tradition. Notably, he was an excellent student of President Ho Chi Minh, who called him by the name "Van" (literature), although the president assigned him military assignments - "Wo".

General Vo Nguyen Giap became a legend and became one of the typical figures of the Vietnamese people. The outstanding general of all eras, Vo Nguyen Giap, fell asleep forever in the arms of his native land of Quang Binh, where he was born and raised.

Giap was lucky with his education: in the mid-1920s, he studied at the State Lyceum of Hue (Ho Chi Minh, Pham Van Dong and Ngo Dinh Diem graduated from the same educational institution at different times), which provided a European-style education and was free from French colonial influence. Already at this early age, Giap read Ho Chi Minh's pamphlet and joined a revolutionary youth organization. In 1927, at the age of fifteen, he organized a strike of lyceum students to protest against the arbitrariness of the authorities, after which he was expelled from the educational institution. After this, Giap actively continued to participate in underground revolutionary activities. After the unsuccessful anti-French uprising of 1930, he was arrested and imprisoned, where he met his future wife, Minh Tai.

There is a suspicion that for some reason Giap spent only a small part of his two-year sentence in prison. One way or another, after his release he was allowed to complete his education in Hue, and in 1933 he entered Hanoi University, from which he graduated with a law degree. During the 1930s, Giap was active in writing articles for underground revolutionary newspapers and joined the Indochina Communist Party. At the same time, the future commander read a lot of the works of Napoleon and Sun Tzu, becoming an admirer of the French emperor. After graduating from university, Giap worked as a history teacher at a private Hanoi Lyceum for about a year; his students gave him the nickname “general” because he could draw a detailed plan for any of Napoleon’s campaigns on the blackboard. In the late 1930s, Giap married for the first time. All that is known about his life with his first wife, Min Tai, is that they had one daughter.

Beginning of a military career

Current health problems

On August 25, 2011, General Vo Nguyen Giap celebrated his 100th anniversary. His health is already weaker than before, which is understandable. The media reported health problems. In early January 2011, to commemorate the 65th anniversary of the Vietnamese National Assembly, National Assembly Chairman Nguyen Phu Trong visited Giap, who was doing well. Also, General Vo Nguyen Giap asked to remove gossip about his health spread by the media.

Earlier, in 1964, order No. 00135 of the USSR Minister of Defense was issued on the selection of military specialists abroad. Among the first to arrive in North Vietnam in April of the following year was a group of SAF Air Defense and Air Force (about 100 people) led by Colonel A.M. Dzyza. The formation of the group took place on the basis of the Moscow and Baku air defense districts.

At the same time, Soviet military equipment was sent to North Vietnam: the SA-75M Dvina air defense system, MiG-17, MiG-21 fighters, detection radar stations, communications equipment, medium and small-caliber anti-aircraft artillery and other weapons.

The group of Colonel A.M. Dzyz was given specific tasks - to prepare and put into operation in the shortest possible time the first two anti-aircraft missile regiments of the VNA, which were armed with SA-75M Dvina anti-aircraft missile systems (SAM). Not far from Hanoi, two training centers were organized: "Moskovsky" - 1st (center), trained the 236th air defense regiment, "Baku" - 2nd, formed the 238th air defense regiment.

On July 23, 1965, the first anti-aircraft missile regiment of the VNA (No. 236, commander - Colonel M.N. Tsygankov) took up combat duty. On this day, an RB-66C electronic reconnaissance aircraft recorded the first activation of the SA-75M radar. The next day, the divisions (63rd and 64th) of the regiment under the command of Lieutenant Colonel B.S. Mozhaev and Major F.P. The Ilyins in the area of ​​the Vietnamese capital destroyed 3 US F-4C Phantom tactical fighters by launching 4 B-750B missiles.

Soviet combat crew of the U-ZRK S-75 cockpit - participants in the first anti-aircraft battle in the skies of Vietnam on July 24, 1965.

From left to right: junior sergeant P. Zalipsky, corporal V. Malga, senior lieutenant V. Konstantinov, corporal V. Patushov.

Later, in January 1967, the 236th air defense regiment for the courage and heroism shown by its personnel in repelling air raids on Hanoi, was awarded the Order of the Democratic Republic of Vietnam “For Military Feats”, 1st degree, with the presentation of the Ho Chi Minh Banner. The first division of this regiment was awarded the collective title “Division - Hero of the VNA”, the remaining divisions of the regiment were awarded the orders “For Military Feats” and “For Military Successes”.

On August 30, 1965, personnel of the 238th air defense regiment under the command of Colonel Hoy (VNA) took up combat duty. Soviet military specialists took an active part in its formation: colonels N.V. Bazhenov, I.I. Smirnov, Major A.B. Zaika et al.

At the first stage, combat work was carried out only by the SAF, from the soldier to the division commanders - the shooters. The fire divisions, formed from Soviet specialists, had a strength of 35-40 people. This composition fully ensured the fulfillment of combat missions.

Until November 27, American aviation disabled 8 Vietnamese air defense systems, losing (according to American data) 3 F-105 Thunderchief, 2 F-8 Crusaider, 2 F-4 Phantom II and one A-4 Skyhawk. Many planes were damaged. According to Vietnamese data, during this period more than 30 fighter-bombers were shot down by air defense missile systems. Despite the contradictory data, the American military command was still forced to admit that its aircraft had encountered a worthy enemy in the skies of Vietnam. By the end of 1965 alone, the US Air Force had lost 800 of its aircraft, of which the VNA anti-aircraft missile forces that were being created accounted for 93 aircraft.

During the period 1965-1966. on the combat record of units led by Majors A.G. Tereshchenko, G.S. Ryzhikh, captain Yu.P. Bogdanov and senior lieutenant V.S. Tikhomirov, there were 31 enemy aircraft shot down. The absolute record holder in this area was the unit of Lieutenant Colonel F.P. Ilinykh, which destroyed 24 CIIIA Air Force combat vehicles by October 13, 1966.

During the year (from March 1966 to March 1967), Soviet military specialists of the anti-aircraft missile forces independently conducted 106 anti-aircraft battles, in which they destroyed 60 American aircraft, with the consumption of 200 anti-aircraft guided missiles (average consumption - 3.3 missiles). During the same period, Vietnamese crews independently carried out 339 shootings, shot down 163 aircraft with a consumption of 577 missiles (average consumption of 3.55 missiles).

The courage and heroism of Soviet soldiers on the territory of the Democratic Republic of Vietnam were appreciated by the Soviet state. 415 people received high government awards of the USSR, including 160 military personnel who were awarded the orders: Lenin - 1 person, Red Banner - 32 people, Red Star - 127 people; medals: “For courage” -100 people, “For military merit” -155 people.

The most distinguished Soviet combat crews participating in the battles, commanded by Lieutenant Colonels M.N. Borisov, F.P. Ilyinykh, I.A. Lyakishev, B.S. Mozhaev, I.K. Proskurin, V.G. Chernetsov; Majors G.S. Ryzhikh, A.G. Tereshchenko; captains U.P. Bogdanov, R.N. Ivanov, Yu.K. Petrov, A.A. Pimenov; senior lieutenant V.S. Tikhomirov; foreman V.V. Nikolaenko. Sergeants V.S. acted skillfully in battle. Kanchenko and A.A. Zlobin, Corporal V.M. Martynchuk, private V.P. Smirnov and others.

Unfortunately, there were battle losses among Soviet specialists. On October 17, 1965, while repelling an American air raid on the position of the 82nd division of the 238th air defense regiment (near the Kep airfield), Private Vitaly Smirnov was seriously wounded (died on October 24).

In total, for the entire period (07/11/1965 - 12/31/1974), 13 Soviet military personnel and civilian specialists were killed (died).

By this time, the number of air defense and air force troops of the VNA reached 190 thousand people (7 anti-aircraft missile, 2 fighter aircraft, 30 anti-aircraft artillery, 4 radio technical regiments and other special units). Now Soviet military experts tried to act as backups for their Vietnamese colleagues, who were capable of independently conducting combat work.

Faced with the new look of the Vietnamese air defense system, the American military command changed the tactics of using its aircraft. Starting from the second half of 1966, there was a transition from scattered actions across the territory of the Democratic Republic of Vietnam to the delivery of coordinated strikes by the combined efforts of the Air Force and the 7th Fleet of the US Navy against the most important targets of the country. Since that time, the intensity of flights over the territory of the Democratic Republic of Vietnam has increased significantly; their number daily ranged from 12 to 150 sorties. In the fight against the air enemy, the main burden fell on the VNA personnel. During 1966, the Vietnamese air defense and air forces included five more anti-aircraft missile regiments (274th, 275th, 278th, 285th, 287th), which arrived along with personnel from the Soviet Union. At the same time, a large amount of weapons, military and special equipment was transferred to the Vietnamese side. In total, from 1965 to 1972, 95 S-75 air defense systems and 7658 missiles were delivered to Vietnam.

Vietnamese combat crews, who had previously participated in combat operations as backup trainees, began to directly carry out all operations to prepare for the launch and guidance of missiles. The functions of Soviet specialists included their safety net and, if necessary, prompt correction of errors. In this regard, the number of SAF in the anti-aircraft missile units of the VNA was significantly reduced (up to 50 people in the regiment; 9-11 specialists in each fire division; 4 specialists in the technical division. The regiment management had only a small repair group and a doctor).

As a result, 133 officers and PO soldiers and sergeants returned to the Soviet Union (as of December 25, 1966) (to the Baku Air Defense District, the 6th and 8th separate air defense armies).

Soviet military experts visiting Vietnamese anti-aircraft gunners.

At the same time, a system for training Vietnamese military specialists was established in training centers on the territory of the Democratic Republic of Vietnam, as well as abroad: in the USSR and the People's Republic of China. By March 1, 1967, the total number of Vietnamese military personnel undergoing training at Soviet military universities was 2,167. In North Vietnam there were 2 training centers (for the training and formation of anti-aircraft missile regiments), in which 786 Soviet military specialists worked as teachers and instructors.

Improving the organizational structure of the air defense forces and the air force of the VNA led to the formation of large combined arms groupings in the form of air defense formations, which contributed to increased centralization and efficiency of control, which had a direct impact on the effectiveness of combat operations of air defense units and the air defense system as a whole.

The hard work of all units of the USSR Air Defense Forces and the command of the VNA Air Defense and Air Force began to yield positive results. In June 1967, the 2000th American plane was shot down over Vietnam, in connection with which the Ministry of Defense of the DRV sent a greeting to Soviet military specialists, expressing gratitude for their heroic and selfless work in protecting the sovereignty and integrity of Vietnam. In turn, October 1967 became a truly “black month” for the US Air Force. During this period, American aviation lost 87 aircraft. This forced the US military command to temporarily suspend massive raids on DRV targets. American pilots experienced panic fear of Soviet anti-aircraft guided missiles, encounters with which cost the lives of almost 60% of US Air Force pilots. Many surviving pilots after ejection had shrapnel wounds from the explosion of the warhead of the missile defense system when their aircraft were hit in the air. The general opinion of American pilots was expressed by US Air Force Colonel Robin Olde at a press conference in the White House on October 3, 1967, stating the following regarding anti-aircraft guided missiles: “... If you want to know, these anti-aircraft missiles are terrifying.” Soon, this horror was experienced by the future US presidential candidate (2008) from the Republican Party, at that time a US Navy major, D. McCain, whose carrier-based attack aircraft (among nine other aircraft) was shot down by a missile defense system over the Vietnamese capital. During interrogation, he stated: “...there is very dense and very accurate fire around Hanoi. As for surface-to-air missiles, they hit the target quite accurately. I was already at the object when I saw missiles coming towards me. Then there was a blow of amazing force. Now a prisoner..." This was the testimony of the enemy, a trained and experienced pilot, shot down on his 23rd sortie on a combat mission.

By the spring of 1968, the territory of the Democratic Republic of Vietnam was divided into 8 air defense regions. Six districts coincided with the boundaries of military districts, two districts were created around the country’s large administrative centers - the cities. Hanoi and Haiphong. The basis of the VNA anti-aircraft missile forces consisted of 5 air defense divisions (361st, 363rd, 365th, Zb7th and 377th); fighter aviation - 4 air regiments: 921st IAP (MiG-21, 48 pilots and 77 aircraft), 923rd IAP (MiG-17, 62 pilots and 59 aircraft), 910th training ap (on the territory of the PRC, 25 pilots -instructors and 85 aircraft), 925th IAP (Chinese-made MiG-19, 35 pilots and 12 aircraft); RTV - 4 radio technical regiments (RTP: 290th, 291st, 292nd and 293rd).

The combat prowess of Vietnamese pilots has increased noticeably. Together with Soviet military specialists, they developed and successfully applied a set of tactical techniques for conducting air

group maneuver, such as “demonstrative maneuver”, “deep penetration”, “simultaneous strike” and much more. During 1968, VNA fighter aircraft shot down 44 American aircraft in air battles, of which 86% were destroyed in the first attack.

In the second half of 1969, the command of the RTV VNA began to implement the recommendations of Soviet military experts to improve the radar detection and guidance field in the Gulf of Tonkin area. During this period, the US Air Force command began to actively use unmanned aerial vehicles when conducting aerial reconnaissance of the territory of the Democratic Republic of Vietnam. Of the 570 monthly sorties, 38 were carried out by unmanned reconnaissance aircraft, mainly over the regions of the city. Hanoi and Haiphong. By the end of 1969, the intensity of American aviation flights in North Vietnamese airspace had noticeably decreased. In just one year, the Air Defense and Air Force forces of the VNA destroyed 76 American aircraft (including: ZRV -41 aircraft, of which 1 strategic bomber B-52, IA-9 unmanned reconnaissance aircraft, ZA - 24 drones and tactical fighters).

Table of combat performance results of those firing the 238th air defense rifle for the period from September 20, 1965 to April 17, 1966.

The successes of the air defense of the VNA allowed us to conclude that it was possible to completely replace Soviet crews, launching and guiding missiles, with Vietnamese ones. Based on the results of combat work, our military specialists in the same year were awarded high awards of the Democratic Republic of Vietnam, including: the Order of “Combat Feat” of the 2nd degree - 4 people, 3rd degree - 36 people, the medal “For cohesion in the name of victory over the American aggressor" - 353 people. Also, 259 Soviet officers, soldiers and sergeants were awarded orders and medals of the USSR.

During this period, US President Richard Nixon adopted the “Guam Doctrine”—the involvement of the Vietnamese people in a fratricidal war. The main focus was on re-equipping the Saigon army with modern weapons and military equipment and increasing its strength. Simultaneously with the withdrawal of part of its ground forces from Indochina (by the end of 1970 - up to 210 thousand people), the United States significantly strengthened the presence of its air and naval forces in this region.

In the period 1970-1972. American aviation continued to carry out raids on strategic targets and communications of the DRV with varying intensity. At the same time, the US Air Force suffered significant losses. During 1970, the air defense and air forces of the VNA destroyed 40 enemy aircraft.

With the help of Soviet specialists, since 1971, the personnel of the VNA air defense forces began to more effectively use “modified” anti-aircraft systems. On some days they shot down up to 10 enemy planes and helicopters, including those flying at low altitudes. During the last quarter of 1971, American aviation losses amounted to 22 aircraft (F-4 - 18, one F-105, OV-10A, 0-1A and helicopter).

The first quarter of 1972 reduced the USAF Southeast Asia fleet by an additional 27 aircraft. For example, on April 19, 6 helicopters were shot down. Often, high-ranking enemy generals and officers were captured. So on April 9, 1972, American General R. Tolman was captured; two months later, the head of the US military advisers of the 2nd Corps Region, General J. Vann, was captured, and on July 16 of the same year, the commander of the 4th Aviation Division of the South Vietnamese Air Force, Brigadier General Nguyen Huy Anh.

Number of US Air Force aircraft (helicopters) shot down over the territory of the Democratic Republic of Vietnam in 1970

In May-June of the same year, fighter aircraft alone destroyed 57 enemy aircraft in air battles. Taking into account the actions of the ZRV and ZA, the total American losses during this period amounted to 159 aircraft.

Having interrupted the regular peace negotiations on the future structure of South Vietnam that had begun earlier on December 13, 1972, the US military command decided to use massive aerial bombardment of the territory of the Democratic Republic of Vietnam to force its political leadership to accept the conditions of the White House administration.

To achieve this goal, the American military command planned an offensive air operation from December 18, 1972, involving all the strategic, tactical and carrier-based aviation available in Indochina (a total of more than 800 combat aircraft, of which 83 B-52, 36

F-111, 54 A-7D). Part of the forces of the US 7th Fleet was brought in to support the operation. The combat operations of the US Air Force in December 1972 became the culmination of the entire US air war against the Democratic Republic of Vietnam.

The air operation received the code name "Loinbacker-2" and was carried out in two stages: the first - December 18-24, the second - December 26-30. The main role of the strike force was played by strategic aviation. Forming the basis of massive US Air Force strikes, it was the first time it had been used in such large numbers.

The success of the air defense forces and the VNA air force during the fighting (December 18-30, 1972) exceeded all expectations. During this period, 81 enemy aircraft were destroyed, including 34 B-52 strategic bombers. Anti-aircraft missile forces shot down 31 aircraft of this type; fighter aviation recorded two B-52s, one of which was destroyed by military pilot Phan Tuan (the future first cosmonaut of Vietnam) on a MiG-21F fighter.

The most shameful thing for the US Air Force command was the destruction of the B-52 strategic bomber by the North Vietnamese militia. World practice has never seen anything like this before.

The success of Vietnamese anti-aircraft gunners and fighter pilots was undoubtedly the result of their good training and high combat skill, as well as the result of the fruitful work of Soviet military specialists. Thus, our pilot instructors, led by Lieutenant Colonel A. Ivanov, with the aim of introducing young Vietnamese pilots into service in a short time (during their retraining for the new MiG-21 fighters) in 1972, only in the 921st IAP VNA Air Force monthly flew for 30-40 hours. When Vietnamese pilots conducted air battles, Soviet aviation specialists moved to the command posts of the VNA Air Force and participated in the practical guidance of Vietnamese aircraft at enemy targets. This work was coordinated by Aviation Major General N. Spevak. There were also tragic cases. Thus, on April 30, 1971, instructor pilot Captain Yu. Poyarkov died in the line of duty, and on March 23, 1973, instructor pilot Captain V. Mrykhin died. On September 11, 1972, it was only by a miracle that the crew of the Spark was able to eject.

On February 7, 1973 in Hanoi, the Minister of National Defense of the Democratic Republic of Vietnam, Army General Vo Nguyen Giap, gave a high assessment of the contribution of Soviet military specialists, primarily through the ZRV and ZAF, at a meeting with a delegation from the USSR and the leadership of the SAF group: “If there had been no Hanoi victory of the air defense missile system over the B-52, then the negotiations in Paris would have dragged on, and the agreement would not have been signed. In other words, the victory of the ZRV is also a political victory.” The anti-aircraft missile forces received the title "heroic". The successes of North Vietnamese aviation were also not ignored, whose pilots, under the leadership of Soviet specialists and with their direct participation, conducted a total of 480 air battles during the war years, shooting down 350 enemy aircraft.

Having suffered heavy losses in the air operation Loinbacker 2, the American leadership abandoned military operations on December 30, 1972, without achieving the political goal. On January 27 of the following year, the agreement “On ending the war and establishing peace in Vietnam” was signed. Total for the period 1965-1973. The United States and its allies lost 8,612 aircraft in Indochina.

This order was awarded to the Group of Soviet military specialists in Vietnam. group of several people
Under the leadership of General Belov

In August 1965, a participant in the Second World War, a combined arms commander, and not an air defense specialist, General G.A. Belov was sent to Vietnam as a senior officer of the SAF Group, because At that moment, the Soviet military leadership did not exclude the possibility of an American landing on the territory of North Vietnam and the further development of military operations using ground forces on both sides.

In August 1965, I commanded a motorized rifle division in the Transcaucasian Military District on the Turkish border.
According to reviews from the district command, the division successfully accomplished combat training tasks as a division of constant combat readiness. Apparently that’s why in 1964 I was awarded the military rank of major general.
In mid-August 1965, I received a call from the district headquarters and was given an order to immediately fly to Moscow to see the Minister of Defense. I was extremely surprised by the urgency of the call and the secrecy of the reasons for this.
On August 14, I was in Moscow and was received by the Chief of the General Staff, Marshal of the Soviet Union M.V. Zakharov. After talking with me about his state of health, about his family, and without saying anything else, he ordered me to go with him to the Minister. Having introduced me to the Minister of Defense, Marshal of the Soviet Union R.Ya. Malinovsky, said that Belov does not yet know anything about the reasons for his call.
The minister himself came up to me, shook my hand and said confidentially: “Your division is in good standing with the ministry and you, as its commander, are worthy to carry out a very responsible government task outside the USSR. You are entrusted with the leadership of a limited contingent of military personnel sent to Vietnam (DRV) to provide military assistance in the fight against aggression.
The Government’s decision to provide assistance to Vietnam has been made, and in a few days you must fly to the capital of the Democratic Republic of Vietnam, Hanoi.”
After 4 days, having received civilian equipment, together with the deputy for political affairs, Colonel M.E. Borisenko, chief of staff Colonel N.I. Valkovich and other officers flew to Hanoi on a special AN-24 aircraft from the Chkalovsky airfield.
A short stop in Beijing and on August 20 we arrived in Hanoi. We were met by the Deputy Minister of National Defense of the DRV, Major General Chan Sham, the Chief of the General Staff of the VNA, Colonel General Van Tien Dung, and other Vietnamese officers.
Among those greeting were Counselor-Messenger of the USSR Embassy in the Democratic Republic of Vietnam P.I. Privalov and Military Attache Hero of the Soviet Union Colonel A.I. Lebedev.
After being presented to the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the USSR to the Democratic Republic of Vietnam I.S. Shcherbakov, the leadership of Vietnam - Prime Minister Pham Vam Dong, Minister of National Defense General of the Army Vo Nguyen Giap, I began to fulfill the duties of the senior Group of Soviet military specialists in the DRV (as our soldiers, sergeants and officers were officially called in Vietnam).
At this moment, the Soviet command did not have a common point of view on the development and nature of the military operations of the US Army against North Vietnam. The landing of American troops on the territory of the Democratic Republic of Vietnam and the development of hostilities by ground forces could not be ruled out, so a combined arms general, and not an air defense specialist, was appointed head of the Group, although active combat operations in that period and subsequently took place only in the skies of Vietnam.
In the event that the US Army deployed military operations on the territory of North Vietnam (ground operations), the issues of sending relevant specialists, including representatives of the ground forces, to the DRV would inevitably and urgently be resolved.
At that time, it was necessary, first of all, to create an air defense system, which included anti-aircraft missile regiments located in combat positions (at that time there were two of them), regiments of cannon anti-aircraft artillery, a fighter aviation regiment (MiG-17 and MiG-21), RTV parts, etc.
Ambassador of the USSR to the Democratic Republic of Vietnam I.S. Shcherbakov allocated several rooms in the embassy building for the work of the Group headquarters, and at a meeting of embassy workers, introducing me, he instructed them to provide us with all possible assistance in carrying out the tasks assigned to the SAF Group, especially emphasizing their exceptional importance and seriousness. I was grateful to the Ambassador for such specific help and attention.
Looking ahead, I must say that throughout the entire period of my stay in Vietnam (for two years), I constantly felt reliable and comprehensive assistance and attention from the employees of the Soviet Embassy in the Democratic Republic of Vietnam. The embassy advisers especially helped me: Privalov, Sizov, Grushchetsky, representative of the State Committee for Economic Relations V.N. Goryushin, Trade Representative of the USSR Pavlov, Military Attache A.I. Lebedev and his assistants E.A. Legostaev, I.P. Shport and other employees.
After hearing the reports of the head of the group of air defense specialists, Colonel A.M. Dzyzy, commanders of anti-aircraft missile regiments Colonel N.V. Bazhenov, Colonel M.N. Tsygankov, senior air force group, General V.P. Senchenko and others, I brought to their attention the tasks set by the USSR Minister of Defense for Soviet military specialists and identified priority measures to solve them.
Several days were spent familiarizing and studying the affairs directly in the units in their places of deployment. Then, at an extended meeting of the leadership of the Ministry of Defense of the DRV, issues of interaction were resolved, especially: what weapons and military equipment, in the opinion of the Vietnamese side, would be desirable to be supplied from the USSR, its quantitative composition, and therefore the number of Soviet military specialists who need to be additionally sent to Vietnam. Direct participation in solving all issues and tasks by a group of Soviet military specialists was entrusted to the Deputy Minister of Defense of the DRV, General Chan Sham, and the commander of the Air Defense and Air Force, Senior Colonel Fung The Thai.
We were the first Soviet military people in the history of military cooperation with Vietnam to solve two problems: the first was organizing military assistance to the North Vietnamese army to repel US aggression and the second was to establish personal relationships with the Vietnamese at all levels. We were pioneers in solving many problems and often had to think a lot about how best to do it.
If, while helping the Vietnamese in combat operations, we said “do as I do,” i.e. study and master military equipment and weapons the way we know and wield them, perform your duties accurately and clearly like us, shoot like us, then in terms of human relations the matter was more complicated. The Vietnamese, both military and civilian, looked closely at us, studied us, trying to understand with what goals and intentions we came to them - after all, a little more than 10 years have passed since the French were expelled from Vietnam. And only when they realized that we were providing them with selfless help, from the heart and soul, without sparing ourselves, we wished the Vietnamese people only victory over the aggressor, they began to treat us with deep respect, and I would say - with love.
Having soon felt this respectful attitude towards us from the Vietnamese, it became much easier for us to organize the work to carry out the complex and responsible tasks assigned to us. At rallies, meetings, meetings, the slogan was in the air: “Lienço-Vietnam - muon to us!” (Long live the Soviet Union and Vietnam!). And under this motto of military friendship all subsequent years of our work in fighting Vietnam passed.
By this time, two anti-aircraft missile regiments were involved in the fight against US aviation - 236 under the command of Colonel M.N. Tsygankov, and 238 under the command of Colonel N.V. Bazhenova. These regiments already had several dozen American aircraft shot down. The dominance of US aviation and impunity for bombing the territory of the Democratic Republic of Vietnam is over.
US aviation, having lost dozens of planes shot down by Soviet missilemen in battles, began to fly when approaching the target at extremely low altitudes (100 - 200 m) and became an easy target for Vietnamese anti-aircraft gunners with barreled anti-aircraft artillery (37 and 57 mm guns). According to official statistics, more than half of the planes (60%) were shot down by anti-aircraft artillery.
The experience of conducting combat operations of anti-aircraft missile units and aviation in Vietnam was carefully analyzed, studied and widely introduced into the combat training of the USSR Air Defense Forces.
Issues such as the fight against the Shrike URS, covering the launch positions of missile battalions with anti-aircraft artillery regiments, found full support from the Commander-in-Chief of the USSR Air Defense Forces, Marshal of the Soviet Union P.F. Batitsky (who repeatedly visited Vietnam at that time) and other military air defense leaders.
On the instructions of Marshal Batitsky, a group of officers under the leadership of a senior group of air defense specialists under the commander of the Air Defense and Air Force of the VNA, Major General V.S. Kislyansky did a lot of work on analyzing, systematizing and generalizing the experience of combat operations and prepared for publication the book “Experience in conducting combat operations of anti-aircraft missile forces in Vietnam,” which was published on February 23, 1968 under the general editorship of the deputy commander of the air defense missile forces, lieutenant general S.F. Whirlwind. The book was published under the heading “Secret” and was available in every anti-aircraft missile division.
The leadership of the VNA DRV asked us to continue work on the deployment of new anti-aircraft missile regiments. The recruitment and training of the 261st (third) anti-aircraft missile regiment began under the command of Colonel K.V. Zavadsky, 274 (fourth) ZRP under the command of Colonel V.V. Fedorov and the second fighter aviation regiment of MiG-21 aircraft.
In just two years of my stay in Vietnam, eight air defense missile regiments and two air force air regiments, and other units, were put into operation.
The personnel of the Group of Soviet Military Specialists were delivered to Vietnam on special flights of IL-18 aircraft from the Chkalovsky airfield. The pilots of two IL-18 aircraft, Lieutenant Colonels Sukhinin and Mashkov, were assigned and were responsible for transporting soldiers of the Soviet Army to Vietnam. They also took Soviet soldiers from Vietnam to the USSR at the end of their stay in Vietnam.
Military equipment and weapons were delivered from the USSR to Vietnam mainly by rail through the territory of China in disassembled form, and partly by sea through the port of Haiphong. A large group of soldiers and officers of the Soviet Army worked to assemble incoming military equipment and weapons.
I would especially like to mention the military pilots Majors Chechulin and Tsyganov, who, after assembling the MiG-21 aircraft, flew them and tested them in any weather conditions and time of day. In general, assessing Soviet military and military-technical assistance to Vietnam, it should be said that it was timely, selfless and ensured the victory of the Vietnamese people in the struggle for freedom and independence of the Motherland.
In January 1966, a delegation of the CPSU arrived in Hanoi, consisting of the secretaries of the CPSU Central Committee A.N. Shelepina, D.F. Ustinov, as well as Colonel General V.F. Tolubko.
During their stay, a Decree of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR was announced on awarding a large group of Soviet soldiers with orders and medals of the USSR for military merits in providing military assistance to Vietnam in the fight against aggression.
For known reasons, the Decree was closed. The presentation of orders and medals was carried out among four regimental groups directly at the combat positions. The awards were presented by Shelepin, Ustinov, Tolubko and Ambassador Shcherbakov.
Among those awarded were my assistants M.E. Borisenko and A.M. Dzyza. D.F. Ustinov also presented me with the Order of the Red Banner.
The Order of the Red Banner was also awarded to regimental commanders, Colonels N.V. Bazhenov, M.N. Tsygankov, K.V. Zavadsky, chief engineers of the regiments, Majors A.B. Zaika, and N.A. Meshkov, division commanders Majors F.P. Ilinykh, B.I. Mozhaev, I.A. Lyakishev, G.S. Ryzhikh, radio battery commanders V.S. Brusnikin, R.N. Ivanov, guidance officers Art. Lieutenants O. Bondarev, V.M. Konstantinov, A.N. Oparko, Lieutenant K. Karetnikov manual support operator ml. Sergeant A. Bondarenko, commander of the starting battery Art. Lieutenant Yu.A. Demchenko, as well as launcher commander Sergeant N.N. Kolesnik is now the chairman of the presidium of the Interregional Public Organization of Vietnam War Veterans and other soldiers who distinguished themselves in battle. In addition to high awards, the Soviet government and the military command of the USSR took care of us by other means.
Soviet military specialists were provided in the following way: 100% of our salary (as in a country at war) remained with our families, and in Vietnam we received money from the host country, the amount of which corresponded to another salary depending on the position held and military rank.
From this salary, all soldiers, sergeants and officers were provided with food by the Vietnamese side at the rate of 210 dong per month (dong was 52 kopecks from the Soviet ruble).
This money was withheld from the specialists' salaries, and they could spend the rest at their own discretion or transfer it into certificates with a blue stripe, which were purchased in Soviet Berezka stores or paid for in rubles at the bank.
Officers and employees of the group's headquarters and management ate at their own discretion, either in the embassy canteen or on their own. The Vietnamese side provided the specialists with housing, transport, security and boiled water for drinking free of charge.
The Vietnamese comrades fed the Soviet specialists quite well: high quality and varied. The food menu included meat (mainly pork), chicken, rice, potatoes (yams), fresh vegetables all year round, fruits (bananas, pineapples, papaya), etc. Vietnamese green tea with the addition of dried jasmine petals was always served at the table.
By decision of the USSR Minister of Defense, on February 23 and the New Year, food gifts were delivered to Vietnam by special plane to all soldiers, sergeants and officers.
The parcels contained wine, vodka, cognac, cheese, coffee, sausage, sweets, cigarettes, caviar, etc.
Some of these parcels were allocated to the Vietnamese rocket men who fought alongside our soldiers.
At my request, on a permanent basis, a large group of military doctors of various specialties was sent to Vietnam (in addition to regimental staff doctors) under the leadership of a wonderful doctor, Colonel of the Medical Service A.I. Ivanova. These doctors carefully studied the diseases of Soviet soldiers and successfully treated them.
I must say that the conditions of stay of Soviet soldiers in Vietnam were certainly difficult.
Firstly: all of them were separated from their families for a year or two (including the leadership of the Group), communication with their families was carried out only by letters, arriving with a long delay (up to 3 months).
Secondly: the climate of Southeast Asia with its tropical heat and high humidity (in summer up to +40 and 100% humidity) was very difficult for us – Europeans.
And finally, thirdly, this is war: a tense combat situation, continuous raids by American aircraft, a constant threat to people's lives.
I note that, despite this, we suffered minor losses in people: during the two years of my stay they amounted to 6 people.
Despite such difficult conditions, our soldiers were great - they did not whine, did not complain about difficulties, but fulfilled their military duty in providing international assistance to Vietnam in an exemplary manner.
In the summer of 1966, we were visited by the chief surgeon of the USSR Ministry of Defense, Colonel General of the Medical Service A.A. Vishnevsky.
In addition to getting acquainted with the diseases from which Soviet soldiers suffered, he studied the treatment of the Vietnamese struck by incendiary napalm, which was widely used by US aircraft, incl. against civilians.
In the spring of 1966, we expected the next group of Soviet soldiers to arrive in Vietnam. The message about the time of their arrival indicated that a group of artillery officers (4 people led by Lieutenant Colonel Azarov) was flying to us on an IL-18 flight (pilot Lieutenant Colonel Sukhinin) with equipment to demonstrate firing from rocket launchers to the Vietnamese military leadership.
The organization of this show was entrusted to me personally. It was also reported that all the details would be reported by the senior artillery group, Lieutenant Colonel Azarov.
Anticipating the importance of this event, I gave instructions to General Dzyza A.M. urgently select from among the missile-anti-aircraft gunners officers who previously served in ground artillery. 10 such officers were selected.
From the report of the arriving Colonel Azarov, it became clear to me: it was planned to supply low-power missile launchers (front-line Katyushas in miniature) mounted on tripods (portable version) through North Vietnam to parts of the National Liberation Front of South Vietnam.
The firing demonstration from these rocket launchers was planned to be carried out as follows: deploy a RS division (12 launchers) at a firing position and fire shells at a target at a distance of 8 kilometers.
Literally the next day, I arrived at the Deputy Minister of National Defense, General Chan Sham, and informed him about plans to conduct demonstration shootings. Together with him, we carried out reconnaissance of the area (at the training ground), determined the locations of firing positions and training targets, and began preparations.
The target was set up in an area of ​​400x400 meters. Inside this square, trenches, trenches, communication passages, models of helicopters, armored personnel carriers, and light reinforced concrete fortifications were prepared. After 7 days everything was ready for display.
Exactly at the appointed hour, generals and officers of the VNA command arrived at the shooting site. The last to arrive was the Minister of Defense of the DRV, Army General Vo Nguyen Giap. I reported to the minister that I was ready for the show. The minister told me, let's wait a little. After 15 minutes, a Pobeda car drove up to the place of the show, and the President of the Democratic Republic of Vietnam, Ho Chi Minh, got out.
I reported to the President in full about my readiness for the demonstration and outlined the essence of the shooting. Then we went down to the firing position and inspected the installations and the shells for them.
Within 15 minutes, 144 rockets were fired at a training target (12 from each installation). The shells flew towards the target with a howl and fiery tails, then we heard their explosions. After the shooting ended, we, together with the President, arrived in cars at the scene of the explosions. What we saw was a nightmare. Trenches and trenches are filled with earth, reinforced concrete fortifications, models of armored personnel carriers and helicopters are destroyed and burned.
President Ho Chi Minh came up to me and said: “Comrade Belov (emphasizing the first syllable) thank you for everything. Please convey to the leadership of the USSR Ministry of Defense our gratitude and wishes for the speedy delivery of such installations for our brothers in the National Liberation Front of South Vietnam.”
The Soviet artillery officers who prepared these firings were invited to a reception with the Minister of Defense, where they were presented with gifts and Friendship medals.
I immediately reported the result of the shooting and the assessment of the Vietnamese leadership to the Center.
In July 1966, I was allowed to go on vacation to my homeland. Arriving in Moscow, I was received by R.Ya. Malinovsky. After my report on the state of affairs in the Group of Soviet Military Specialists, the Minister noted the great role played by Soviet soldiers in Vietnam and positively assessed the work of the Group’s leadership. My arrival in Moscow coincided with two events in the family: my daughter Svetlana was graduating from college and getting married.
The minister, having learned about this, ordered the Chief of the General Staff to immediately give me an apartment in Moscow (Komsomolsky Prospekt, 15). Thus, after 20 years of wandering around the country’s garrisons, I became a Muscovite.
At the same time, he ordered me to go to Vietnam for another year. In my report to the Minister, I indicated that it would be advisable for me to be replaced at the post of senior SAF Group in Vietnam by a general from the Air Defense Forces. The minister said that in a year we will resolve this issue.
While in Vietnam, Soviet soldiers constantly felt great care from the Vietnamese, including. manuals. We were treated warmly by all the Vietnamese with whom we worked or met - from peasants and ordinary soldiers to leaders of all ranks, both civilian and military.
After the completion of the main stage of combat training of the 1st and 2nd anti-aircraft missile regiments, Soviet military specialists in small groups went for a week's rest to the mountainous region of Tamdao, where it was relatively calm and cooler than in the flat central regions of the Democratic Republic of Vietnam.
Of course, such a short rest was not enough to fully restore the strength and nervous system of the Soviet soldiers, but it was extremely necessary: ​​the tension of the combat situation, the constant sense of danger in the hot tropical climate greatly undermined people's health. After a short respite, Soviet specialists began training the 3rd and 4th air defense missile systems of the VNA.
I can say that I met with President Ho Chi Minh seven times, and was once invited to dinner at his home (a separate house in the courtyard of the Presidential Palace). We spoke privately with the President in Russian (he spoke it quite well). I developed very good relations with the military leaders of Vietnam.
All suggestions, advice and recommendations of mine and my assistants were accepted by the relevant Vietnamese commanders for execution. I am grateful to the Minister of National Defense of the DRV (those days) General Vo Nguyen Giap, his deputies Generals Van Tien Dung and Chan Sham, the air defense and air force command, senior colonels Phung The Thai and Nguyen Tinh, for mutual understanding, help and care for Soviet soldiers.
I would like to cite one more fact that characterizes the attitude of the Vietnamese people towards us. I drove around the country in a GAZ-64 car provided to me by the Vietnamese side. The driver was Staff Sergeant Tuan, and Captain Tinh was the translator and guard. On one of our trips, our car was bombed by US aircraft. One bomb exploded 60-70 m from us. I ordered everyone to dismount and take cover in the road ditch. The next bomb fell 15-20 m away. We were covered with earth, and suddenly I felt something heavy fall on top of me. Looking back, I saw my translator Tin, leaning on top of me. I asked: “Comrade Tin, what’s the matter?” He said that he was ordered to protect me by all means, even at the cost of his life. This was a clear example of caring for me.
For this selfless care, I decided to thank my Vietnamese comrades. When in October 1967 I transferred the affairs of the Senior Group of the SAF to the newly appointed General V.N. Abramov and was about to leave for his homeland, he gave Tinya and Tuan bicycles, delivered from Moscow at my request by the pilot Sukhinin. For a Vietnamese of that time, a bicycle is the same as a car today. As I said goodbye to Tinh and Tuan after presenting the gifts, I saw tears of gratitude in their eyes.
Upon departure to the USSR, President Ho Chi Minh awarded me the highest Vietnamese order and a personal Smith Wesson pistol (now located in the Central Museum of the Armed Forces), as well as a silver set of women's jewelry with turquoise for my wife.
By the time I left for the USSR, I was awarded the Order of Lenin. Our commissar General M.E. was awarded the same order. Borisenko After the death of Minister R.Ya. Malinovsky (03/31/1967), Marshal A.A. became Minister of Defense. Grechko, whose attitude towards us - Soviet military specialists in Vietnam - was not as attentive as Malinovsky.
Upon arrival in Moscow and a report to the General Staff, I went on vacation. My report stated that in two years from July 1965 to October 1967, the entire air defense force of Vietnam, with the direct participation of Soviet soldiers, shot down over 2 thousand American aircraft of various modifications, including 4 “flying fortresses” B- 52.
After returning from vacation, I was made a number of offers for further service in the Armed Forces. Among the offers was one for a high position in the Belarusian Military District.
After studying all the proposals, I turned to the Commander-in-Chief of the Ground Forces, Army General I.G. Pavlovsky with the words: “Dear comrade Commander-in-Chief. “I am grateful to you for your trust, for your offers to take a high position, but I will soon turn 49 years old, I will no longer become a commander, I have an apartment in Moscow, so I ask (if possible) to leave me to serve in Moscow.”
The commander in chief supported my request. By order of the Minister of Defense, I was enrolled in the staff of the Central Office of the Ministry of Defense and appointed deputy head of military educational institutions of the ground forces, where I served for 10 years until my retirement due to age in February 1977.
In my brief memoirs, I did not touch on the details of the military operations in which our soldiers took part. I assumed that these issues would be professionally described in detail by Soviet soldiers, sergeants and officers - missilemen, anti-aircraft gunners, pilots - who were directly in the units of the Vietnamese People's Army, who supervised the launches of anti-aircraft missiles, the firing of anti-aircraft artillery, and aircraft flights.
Thousands of Soviet soldiers passed through the Vietnam War and all of them, in incredibly difficult conditions, fulfilled their military duty with honor, heroically and selflessly, raising the authority of the Soviet country and its Armed Forces even higher.
I am deeply grateful and grateful to them for their military work and military valor.
A person of my age, and I just turned 85, often recalls the past years. The main thing in my life was service to the Motherland, the glorious Armed Forces, service to the people. And with a clear conscience I can say: I did everything to fulfill my duty.
The events in Vietnam, where I had a small share of my work, remained forever in my memory, as did the years of the Great Patriotic War, which I went through from its first to its last day.
As long as I live, I will always remember with kind words my faithful comrades in Vietnam - fellow soldiers M.E. Borisenko, A.M. Dzyzu, V.S. Kislyansky, V.P. Senchenko, N.V. Bazhenova, V.V. Fedorova, A. Vaganova, K.V. Zavadsky, M.N. Tsygankova, F.P. Ilinykh, B.I. Mozhaeva, I.A. Lyakshieva, M.F. Barsuchenko, M.I. Vorobyova, V.M. Konstantinov, aviators Chechulin, Tsyganov, chief of staff B.A. Voronov, employees of the senior staff of the SAF Group - Lyubov Roslyakova, Natasha Ionaitis. I remember them, and will remember them for the rest of my life.
Every year there are fewer and fewer participants in events in Vietnam. My close fellow soldiers have passed away - military friends Generals Misha Borisenko, Sasha Dzyza, Kolya Bazhenov, Colonels Volodya Fedorov, Fedor Ilinykh and others.
May their memory be blessed.
But I am convinced that time has no power over the greatness of what we all experienced and did for two years in fighting Vietnam.

Moscow, December 2003

Belov Grigory Andreevich, Major General.
Born on November 28, 2018 in the Smolensk region. He began his military service in 1938 as a cadet at the border school in Ordzhonikidze.
In June 1941, he was released early with the rank of lieutenant and sent to the Western Front. Commanded a platoon, company, battalion. He ended the war as deputy regiment commander with the rank of lieutenant colonel.
After the war he continued to serve at the headquarters of the Tauride Military District. In 1954 he graduated from the Military Academy. Frunze, commanded a regiment, then a motorized rifle division in the Transcaucasian Military District.
From September 1965 to October 1967 was a senior member of the Group of Soviet military specialists in Vietnam.
Upon his return, he was sent to the Central Office of the USSR Ministry of Defense, where he continued to serve until 1978.
Awarded the Order of Lenin, the Red Banner, the Patriotic War 1st and 2nd class, three Orders of the Red Star, “For Service to the Motherland in the Armed Forces of the USSR” 1st class, the Vietnamese Order of Labor 1st class. and many medals