Hoàng Minh Thảo

Hoàng Minh Thảo (born Tạ Thái An) (1921–2008) was a colonel-general in the People's Army of Vietnam active during the First Indochina War, and the Vietnam War. He commanded Việt Cộng forces in Battle of Dak To and Battle of Ban Me Thuot.

Early years Hoàng Minh Thảo was born as Tạ Thái An in Kim Động district of Hưng Yên province, Tonkin (French protectorate) in October 1921. He was promoted to major general in 1959.

In the Vietnam war, Gen. Thảo served nearly 10 years (1966 – 1975) in Tây Nguyên battlefield . He was assigned Deputy Commander of Tây Nguyên front (B3 Front) in 1966, Commander of Tây Nguyên front in 1968, then Deputy Commander of Military Region 5 (includes both B3 and B1 Fronts) in 1974.