Colonel La Van Cau, a People's Armed Forces Hero whose extraordinary courage during Vietnam's resistance against French colonial rule became legendary, passed away on June 24, according to Le Thi Kim Hue, Chairwoman of the Kim Lien Ward People's Committee in Hanoi.

Born in 1932, La Van Cau was an ethnic Tay from Phong Nam Commune, Trung Khanh District, Cao Bang Province - now Dinh Phong Commune, Cao Bang Province. He joined the Communist Party of Vietnam in 1950.

Born into a poor farming family in Vietnam's northern border region, he embraced the revolutionary cause at an early age, joined the military in 1948 and quickly distinguished himself as an outstanding soldier of the Vietnam People's Army.

During the resistance war against French colonial forces, he took part in 29 battles of varying scale and earned numerous military distinctions. Before the famous Battle of Dong Khe in 1950, he fought in the Bong Lau - Lung Phay ambush, where he helped inflict heavy losses on enemy forces and contributed to key victories in Cao Bang.

La Van Cau's name became inseparable from the Battle of Dong Khe during the Autumn-Winter Border Campaign of 1950. Assigned to carry an explosive charge to destroy an enemy bunker and open the way for his unit, he suffered catastrophic injuries when enemy fire shattered his right arm.

Despite his severe wounds, and driven by his determination to continue fighting, he asked a fellow soldier to amputate the mangled arm before using his remaining arm to carry the explosives forward and destroy the bunker, enabling his unit to advance and secure victory.

His actions became an enduring symbol of courage, determination and revolutionary heroism in Vietnam.

In recognition of his exceptional service, on May 19, 1952, La Van Cau was among the first seven soldiers nationwide to receive the title of People's Armed Forces Hero from President Ho Chi Minh at the First National Congress of Emulation Fighters and Model Cadres.

After the war, despite living with severe injuries, he continued serving in the military in roles related to political education, youth affairs and personnel management. He was promoted to the rank of Colonel before retiring in 1996.

Following retirement, he remained active in community work, setting an example through his daily life and dedicating himself to educating younger generations about patriotism and Vietnam's revolutionary traditions.

In 2009, he received a certificate of merit from the Hanoi People's Committee. In 2017, he was awarded a certificate of merit by the Prime Minister. Two years later, Hanoi honored him as an Outstanding Citizen of the Capital.

In an interview with VietNamNet, the modest war hero said that retirement never meant stepping away from serving others. He recalled waking at 4 a.m. every day and, by 5 a.m., sweeping not only his own home but also the alley where he lived, returning to clean it again each afternoon.

"I simply follow President Ho Chi Minh's teaching - do good for others without ever thinking it is enough. I am always willing to do anything that benefits the community, even to sacrifice myself if necessary. Anything harmful, I will never do," he said.

Hue said that although La Van Cau's household registration remained in Kim Lien Ward, he had moved to live with his children on Nguyen Chi Thanh Street. Ward officials are scheduled to meet with his family later on Thursday to discuss funeral arrangements.

Tran Thuong