Phùng Quang Thanh
Encyclopedia
Phùng Quang Thanh is currently Vietnam's minister of defense and is ranked as the No. 2 leader in the country's Communist Party."Ông Nguyễn Phú Trọng đắc cử Tổng Bí thư", BaoOnline.vn, January 20, 2011. Includes pictures of the entire leadership. He is an officer of the Vietnam People's Army
and a member of the Politburo of the Communist Party of Vietnam
. Enlisted in 1969, Thanh fought in various battles during the Vietnam War
and was honored with the title Hero of the People's Armed Forces in 1971 at the age of 22. Thanh was appointed minister in June 2006, succeeding General Phạm Văn Trà
.
, Hanoi
. In 1967, he joined the army at the age of 18 and was admitted to the Communist Party of Vietnam
, then known as the Vietnam Workers' Party, one year later.
In his early years, Thanh fought in various battles of the Vietnam War
notably in the Quảng Trị
campaign and during the counter-attack of the Vietnam People's Army
against Operation Lam Son 719
where he served as company
commander (đại đội trưởng) in the 9th Battalion, 64th Regiment, 320th Division. In combat on February 10, 1971, Phung Quanh Thanh led a squad (tiểu đội) in defending a hill against a company of airborne troops of the Army of the Republic of Vietnam (ARVN) with aerial support, finally his unit was able to drive back the attack after putting out of action 38 enemy soldiers for which Thanh alone was credited with eight killed. Two days later, he was once more recognized when Thanh, despite being wounded in the left hand, stayed in battle and commanded his platoon to accomplish the mission. For his feat of arms, Thanh was bestowed the prestigious title Hero of the People's Armed Forces (Anh hùng lực lượng vũ trang nhân dân) on September 20, 1971. In June 1971 he was ordered to
leave combat to study in the School for Infantry Officiers, later in the Academy of Infantry, he was also appointed commander of the 9th Battalion, 320th Division, 1st Army Corps (Quân đoàn 1) from 1972. During the war, he received total three Liberation Distinguished Service Medals, 1st Order (Huân chương Chiến công Giải phóng hạng nhất), three Brave Soldier Titles (Danh hiệu Dũng sĩ) and other awards.
After the Vietnam War, Thanh continued to hold several positions in the 1st Army Corps from chief of staff of the 64th Regiment to acting commander of the 312th Division in 1988. In 1991, after two years studying in the Soviet Union
and the Military Academy of Vietnam, Thanh was promoted to commander (sư đoàn trưởng) of the 312th Division. Afterwards, he served in the General Staff
of the Vietnam People's Army from 1993 to 1997 and as commander (tư lệnh) of the 1st Military Zone
from 1997 to 2001. In May 2001, Thanh became Chief of the General Staff and Deputy Minister of Defence of Vietnam. Five years later, he was elected to the Politburo of the Communist Party of Vietnam
and began to hold the position of Minister of Defence of Vietnam, succeeding General Phạm Văn Trà
.
(thiếu tướng) in 1994, Lieutenant General
(trung tướng) in 1999, Colonel General
(thượng tướng) in 2003 and General
(đại tướng) in 2007.
Vietnam People's Army
The Vietnam People's Army is the armed forces of Vietnam. The VPA includes: the Vietnamese People's Ground Forces , the Vietnam People's Navy , the Vietnam People's Air Force, and the Vietnam Marine Police.During the French Indochina War , the VPA was often referred to as the Việt...
and a member of the Politburo of the Communist Party of Vietnam
Politburo of the Communist Party of Vietnam
The Politburo of the Central Committee Communist Party of Vietnam , formerly the Standing Committee of the Central Committee, includes the top leadership of the Communist Party of Vietnam...
. Enlisted in 1969, Thanh fought in various battles during the Vietnam War
Vietnam War
The Vietnam War was a Cold War-era military conflict that occurred in Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia from 1 November 1955 to the fall of Saigon on 30 April 1975. This war followed the First Indochina War and was fought between North Vietnam, supported by its communist allies, and the government of...
and was honored with the title Hero of the People's Armed Forces in 1971 at the age of 22. Thanh was appointed minister in June 2006, succeeding General Phạm Văn Trà
Pham Van Tra
Phạm Văn Trà was Minister of Defense of Vietnam. He was previously Chief of the General Staff of the Vietnamese Army and Vice-Minister of Defense , and a four-star General. He replaced Doan Khue as minister of defense in September 1997.-References:...
.
Military career
Thanh was born on February 2, 1949 in Thạch Đà commune, Mê LinhMe Linh
Mê Linh is a rural district of Hanoi, formerly of Vinh Phuc province in the Red River Delta region of northern Vietnam....
, Hanoi
Hanoi
Hanoi , is the capital of Vietnam and the country's second largest city. Its population in 2009 was estimated at 2.6 million for urban districts, 6.5 million for the metropolitan jurisdiction. From 1010 until 1802, it was the most important political centre of Vietnam...
. In 1967, he joined the army at the age of 18 and was admitted to the Communist Party of Vietnam
Communist Party of Vietnam
The Communist Party of Vietnam , formally established in 1930, is the governing party of the nation of Vietnam. It is today the only legal political party in that country. Describing itself as Marxist-Leninist, the CPV is the directing component of a broader group of organizations known as the...
, then known as the Vietnam Workers' Party, one year later.
In his early years, Thanh fought in various battles of the Vietnam War
Vietnam War
The Vietnam War was a Cold War-era military conflict that occurred in Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia from 1 November 1955 to the fall of Saigon on 30 April 1975. This war followed the First Indochina War and was fought between North Vietnam, supported by its communist allies, and the government of...
notably in the Quảng Trị
Quang Tri
Quảng Trị is a town district of Quang Tri province in the North Central Coastal region of Vietnam. Significantly, it was the only South Vietnamese provincial capital to be captured by the North Vietnamese forces for a limited period in the 1972 offensive....
campaign and during the counter-attack of the Vietnam People's Army
Vietnam People's Army
The Vietnam People's Army is the armed forces of Vietnam. The VPA includes: the Vietnamese People's Ground Forces , the Vietnam People's Navy , the Vietnam People's Air Force, and the Vietnam Marine Police.During the French Indochina War , the VPA was often referred to as the Việt...
against Operation Lam Son 719
Operation Lam Son 719
Operation Lam Son 719 was a limited-objective offensive campaign conducted in southeastern portion of the Kingdom of Laos by the armed forces of the Republic of Vietnam between 8 February and 25 March 1971, during the Vietnam War...
where he served as company
Company (military unit)
A company is a military unit, typically consisting of 80–225 soldiers and usually commanded by a Captain, Major or Commandant. Most companies are formed of three to five platoons although the exact number may vary by country, unit type, and structure...
commander (đại đội trưởng) in the 9th Battalion, 64th Regiment, 320th Division. In combat on February 10, 1971, Phung Quanh Thanh led a squad (tiểu đội) in defending a hill against a company of airborne troops of the Army of the Republic of Vietnam (ARVN) with aerial support, finally his unit was able to drive back the attack after putting out of action 38 enemy soldiers for which Thanh alone was credited with eight killed. Two days later, he was once more recognized when Thanh, despite being wounded in the left hand, stayed in battle and commanded his platoon to accomplish the mission. For his feat of arms, Thanh was bestowed the prestigious title Hero of the People's Armed Forces (Anh hùng lực lượng vũ trang nhân dân) on September 20, 1971. In June 1971 he was ordered to
leave combat to study in the School for Infantry Officiers, later in the Academy of Infantry, he was also appointed commander of the 9th Battalion, 320th Division, 1st Army Corps (Quân đoàn 1) from 1972. During the war, he received total three Liberation Distinguished Service Medals, 1st Order (Huân chương Chiến công Giải phóng hạng nhất), three Brave Soldier Titles (Danh hiệu Dũng sĩ) and other awards.
After the Vietnam War, Thanh continued to hold several positions in the 1st Army Corps from chief of staff of the 64th Regiment to acting commander of the 312th Division in 1988. In 1991, after two years studying in the Soviet Union
Soviet Union
The Soviet Union , officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics , was a constitutionally socialist state that existed in Eurasia between 1922 and 1991....
and the Military Academy of Vietnam, Thanh was promoted to commander (sư đoàn trưởng) of the 312th Division. Afterwards, he served in the General Staff
General Staff (Vietnam People's Army)
General Staff is the commanding and managing organization of the Vietnam People's Army, the paramilitary forces, militia and other activities relating to defence of Vietnam. The General Staff was established on September 7, 1945, right after the foundation of the Democratic Republic of Vietnam,...
of the Vietnam People's Army from 1993 to 1997 and as commander (tư lệnh) of the 1st Military Zone
1st Military Zone (Vietnam People's Army)
1st Military Zone of Vietnam People's Army, is directly under the Ministry of Defense of Vietnam, tasked to organize, build, manage and commander fights against foreign invaders to protect the North East of Vietnam. The north-east region of Vietnam, borders with the Guangxi of China...
from 1997 to 2001. In May 2001, Thanh became Chief of the General Staff and Deputy Minister of Defence of Vietnam. Five years later, he was elected to the Politburo of the Communist Party of Vietnam
Politburo of the Communist Party of Vietnam
The Politburo of the Central Committee Communist Party of Vietnam , formerly the Standing Committee of the Central Committee, includes the top leadership of the Communist Party of Vietnam...
and began to hold the position of Minister of Defence of Vietnam, succeeding General Phạm Văn Trà
Pham Van Tra
Phạm Văn Trà was Minister of Defense of Vietnam. He was previously Chief of the General Staff of the Vietnamese Army and Vice-Minister of Defense , and a four-star General. He replaced Doan Khue as minister of defense in September 1997.-References:...
.
Rank
Phung Quang Thanh was promoted to Major GeneralMajor General
Major general or major-general is a military rank used in many countries. It is derived from the older rank of sergeant major general. A major general is a high-ranking officer, normally subordinate to the rank of lieutenant general and senior to the ranks of brigadier and brigadier general...
(thiếu tướng) in 1994, Lieutenant General
Lieutenant General
Lieutenant General is a military rank used in many countries. The rank traces its origins to the Middle Ages where the title of Lieutenant General was held by the second in command on the battlefield, who was normally subordinate to a Captain General....
(trung tướng) in 1999, Colonel General
Colonel General
Colonel General is a senior rank of General. North Korea and Russia are two countries which have used the rank extensively throughout their histories...
(thượng tướng) in 2003 and General
General
A general officer is an officer of high military rank, usually in the army, and in some nations, the air force. The term is widely used by many nations of the world, and when a country uses a different term, there is an equivalent title given....
(đại tướng) in 2007.