Hero of the People’s Armed Forces La Van Cau (Photo: Ngoc Anh/ VOV5).

La Van Cau, whose real name is Sam Phuc Huong was born in 1931 in Cao Bang province. At the age of 17, he joined the army. During the resistance war against the French colonialists, Cau performed glorious feats of arms. During the 1950 Autumn-Winter Border Campaign, he was severely wounded. He had his comrade amputate his injured arm and continued to fight. Cau recalled: “The Dong Khe battlefield was directly commanded by president Ho Chi Minh and General Vo Nguyen Giap and opened the Autumn-Winter Border Campaign of 1950. Dong Khe is strategically situated between Cao Bang and Lang Son province. Many enemy soldiers were stationed there. President Ho Chi Minh sent a letter to encourage Vietnamese soldiers to win. I was in charge of bomb dismantling”.

La Van Cau was honored by General Vo Nguyen Giap for his great contribution to the campaign. In 1952, Cau was one of 7 Vietnamese soldiers awarded the title Hero of the People’s Armed Forces at the 1^st Congress of Emulation Combatants. He has become a symbol of a brave fighting spirit for generations of Vietnamese. Ms. Nguyen Hue Chi of Hanoi said: “I read about hero La Van Cau in a textbook when I was little. He sacrificed himself for national independence. He is a great role model for young people to follow”.

In 1983, Mr. Cau moved to Hanoi to work for the military. He later worked for the Vietnam Military History Museum. He was also a member of the Vietnam Fatherland Front Central Committee. Since he retired in 1996, he has continued to do social work in his locality: “I am very keen on cleaning streets and protecting the environment. I am happy to be an Uncle Ho soldier. I am ready for anything to benefit the community”.

Many streets and roads have been named after La Van Cau to remind people of this brave hero and his contribution to the nation.