Family, comrades bid farewell to hero La Van Cau

On the morning of 30/6, family members, comrades, veterans, and many citizens gathered at the National Funeral Home to bid farewell to People's Armed Forces Hero, Colonel La Van Cau.

Hero La Van Cau passed away on the afternoon of 24/6 at his home in Hanoi, at the age of 94. On the morning of 30/6, his memorial service and farewell ceremony were held at the National Funeral Home, located at 5 Tran Thanh Tong. From early morning, numerous delegations, comrades, veterans, and citizens were present to bid farewell to the hero of the armed forces.

The memorial service for hero La Van Cau took place on the morning of 30/6, at the National Funeral Home, 5 Tran Thanh Tong, Hanoi. *Giang Huy*

The Cao Bang provincial delegation, led by Provincial Party Secretary Phan Thang An, paid their respects. He affirmed that hero La Van Cau was an outstanding son of his homeland, an example of loyalty, bravery, humility, and dedication to the revolution.

In the condolence book, Senior Lieutenant General Pham Hong Huong, Vice Chairman of the Vietnam Veterans Association, wrote: "The life and career of Colonel, People's Armed Forces Hero La Van Cau is a shining example of resilience, lifelong sacrifice for the revolutionary cause of the Party, the Fatherland, and the people."

Colonel La Van Cau's family bids him farewell. *Giang Huy*

Many veterans attending the service recalled the image of La Van Cau during the Border Campaign in 1950. Veteran Le Binh, 99, who came to the funeral home in a wheelchair, stated that La Van Cau's act of asking comrades to amputate his injured arm to continue carrying explosives to destroy the Dong Khe bunker became a symbol inspiring the fighting spirit of many generations of soldiers. He remembered that after the campaign, even with only one arm, hero La Van Cau visited many units to encourage soldiers.

Many Hanoi residents also came to bid farewell to the hero they knew from lessons in textbooks. Luong Tat Dat said that since elementary school, he had learned about La Van Cau's example of combat and always regarded it as a symbol of courage and sacrifice for the Fatherland.

Veteran Le Binh pays his respects to Colonel, hero La Van Cau. *Giang Huy*

A delegation representing the La Van Cau Youth Pioneer Team (Thanh Lan village, former Thanh Tri commune) was also present at the service. Vuong Cong Su stated that the team was established in 1957; many members are now elderly but continue their activities to learn from and emulate hero La Van Cau's patriotic and courageous spirit.

The La Van Cau Youth Pioneer Team pays their respects. *Giang Huy*

Hero La Van Cau was born in 1932, a Tay ethnic person from Trung Khanh district (now Dinh Phong commune), Cao Bang province. In 1948, he voluntarily enlisted before reaching the legal age. During the Battle of Dong Khe in September 1950, his right arm was severely injured by gunfire, but he still asked his comrades to amputate his wounded arm to continue carrying explosives to destroy the bunker, helping to pave the way for his comrades' victory.

In 1952, at the First National Emulation Congress, La Van Cau was awarded the title Hero of the Army, being one of the three Heroes of the Army and among the first seven heroes nationwide. General Vo Nguyen Giap once evaluated him as one of the leading figures in the movement to fight the enemy and achieve merits, and a symbol of unconditional sacrifice to serve the people and the revolution.