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Former soldier codenamed 'Black Panther' - the man who sowed fear in the enemy in the heart of Hoi An

Once a nightmare for the enemy because of his daring commando battles in Hoi An, Mr. Dinh Van Loi - codenamed "Black Panther", now lives quietly by the Hoai River, carrying with him unhealed wounds and extremely glorious memories.

VietNamNetVietNamNet28/07/2025

"Every time they interrogated me, they asked: Who is Black Panther? I just laughed. Because Black Panther is not just one person - it is a whole generation that dares to live and die for the country," Mr. Dinh Van Loi (born in 1950), a 2/4 class disabled veteran, former Captain of the Hoi An Special Forces Team, told VietNamNet reporter on a rainy afternoon in the old town.

His life has gone through the fierce twists and turns of history, once sowed storms in the enemy's heart, then quietly started over from scratch in peacetime.

"Dark shadow" in the heart of Hoi An

He was born into a revolutionary family. His grandfather and father were imprisoned by the enemy for nearly three years in Hoi An prison (formerly Quang Nam , now Da Nang City). His two uncles and aunt died in the resistance war against France and the US.

At the age of 14, the boy from Cam Nam village carried sandals across the Hoai River to work as a liaison for the Hoi An City Party Committee. A year later, he was planted in the inner city - "living a double life" in the enemy's heart: working as a carpenter and porter during the day; hiding in the dark at night to receive missions.

At the age of 17, he was admitted to the Party and became the Captain of the Hoi An Special Forces - an elite, brave force operating right in the inner city.

Under his command, the organization grew steadily, from recruiting workers, porters, and servants into the revolutionary network to organizing battles that made the enemy stagger.

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Veteran Dinh Van Loi - the man with the code name "Black Panther" and the book about his life. Photo: Ha Nam

Wearing a tight black suit, Mr. Loi led a series of raids in the inner city like a "ghost", appearing briefly, delivering deadly blows, then disappearing without a trace.

During the day, he was a carpenter at Mr. Mot's workshop, chiseling wood like everyone else. But at night, he commanded a team that raided the police station, the provincial governor's residence, and the American military post...

In one battle, he disguised himself as a field policeman, led a patrol team, and suddenly threw dozens of M26 grenades into the military post at the intersection of Le Loi and Tran Phu, causing the whole neighborhood to tremble. The military police vehicle that came to reinforce him was again ambushed - the enemy did not know who to shoot at, because in the middle of the crowded street, the attacker had disappeared as if he had never existed.

Once, he raided the house of an enemy major, then he and his teammates blended into the crowd of residents, standing right at the scene pretending to be curious citizens.

During the period 1964 - 1968, he commanded more than 15 major battles, annihilating 106 enemies, 27 villains, destroying 9 military vehicles, and collapsing two puppet government headquarters. In coordination with the Quang Da provincial army, his "special team" also annihilated 182 more enemies, assassinated a spy in a prison camp, built 20 special forces soldiers and 9 revolutionary bases. Each victory was a life-and-death experience.

"We fought with our lives, with our minds, with our bare hands. Sometimes we used the enemy's own guns to destroy them," he recalled.

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In 1968, Mr. Dinh Van Loi was captured by the enemy after a major battle in Hoi An. Photo: Ha Nam

On May 5, 1968, during a battle in Le Nghia commune, he was ambushed and captured. The enemy tied him to an electric pole in the middle of the street and brutally tortured him with electric batons and clubs. Every time he fainted from pain, he woke up and smiled: "I don't know who Black Panther is."

After being sentenced to 20 years in prison, he was exiled to Con Dao. But this “hell on earth” still could not subdue the commando soldier. Here, he and his comrades went on a hunger strike, protesting against forced labor, determined to maintain the integrity of a communist. In February 1974, he was released in the last batch of prisoners.

Living kindly in everyday life

Returning from Con Dao, he continued to serve in the security force of Zone 5, and was assigned to protect many high-ranking leaders. In March 1975, he and his unit participated in the campaign to liberate Quang Nam - Da Nang.

After the country was unified, he returned to his hometown and worked for more than 10 years in grassroots work. There was a time when he rowed a boat to earn a living, worked as a commune police officer, and worked as a town official... But in the end, he returned to carpentry - the job that had helped him hide during his years of secret activities.

He founded Kim Bong carpentry workshop, initially a small facility, mortgaging his house for capital. When the economy opened up, his handicraft products were exported to 14 countries, with revenue exceeding 1 billion VND/year. He created jobs for hundreds of local workers, especially children of war veterans and the disadvantaged.

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Mr. Loi and his teammates took a photo together in 1973. Photo courtesy

Not only did he enrich himself, he also opened free vocational training classes for more than 150 poor people and orphans; quietly contributed to building charity houses; and helped his former comrades overcome adversity. He did charity work from the heart that cannot be fully expressed in words.

“To be a soldier, you have to be brave. To be a human being, you have to be compassionate,” he said simply.

For nearly 10 years now, Mr. Loi has handed over the business to his children and retired to enjoy his old age.

However, the old wounds did not let him go. For more than 50 years, the wartime injuries have been tormenting his body. Since 2017, his right leg has been gangrenous and had to be partially amputated. In 2022 alone, he underwent three amputations.

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One leg of the veteran had to be amputated four times. Photo: Ha Nam

Now, the former “Black Panther” soldier has to move around with a prosthetic leg, living quietly in a garden house by the Hoai River - the place that witnessed his youth, sacrificing himself without regret.

Every time he mentioned his fallen comrades, his voice dropped: “Although my body aches every day, I am still alive to see the country change. I only feel sorry for my comrades who cannot wait for the day of peace…”

For his contributions to the country, Mr. Loi was awarded many noble awards such as the Second Class Resistance Medal, the First Class Victory Medal, the First Class Anti-American National Salvation Medal, the First and Second Class Liberation Medal...

Back then, “Black Panther” went in and out of enemy territory like a shadow, haunting the enemy. Now, the veteran quietly walks on his prosthetic leg on familiar streets - where he made glorious achievements. Hoi An still remembers. Those who are still alive still remember. And history - certainly will not forget.

In 2021, the People's Army Publishing House released the book "The Man with the Codename Black Panther", recounting the revolutionary journey of Mr. Dinh Van Loi - from a teenager who ran away from home to work as a liaison to a brave commando captain who roamed the heart of Hoi An. The book not only records the fiery feats, but also deeply depicts the temperament, personality and steadfast loyalty of a soldier in wartime - and peacetime.


Source: https://vietnamnet.vn/cuu-binh-mat-danh-bao-den-nguoi-tung-gioo-am-anh-cho-dich-giua-long-pho-hoi-2425782.html



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