San Yu, an ethnic Burmese, was born in Thegon during the British Raj.
17 Facts About San Yu
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San Yu was born to a U Shane Wat and Daw Thein Shein.
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San Yu studied medicine at Rangoon University's Medical College for two years.
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San Yu joined Burma Independence Army in 1942 from his hometown Prome and became a second lieutenant of 3rd Burma Rifle Battalion on 14 January 1946.
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On 23 January 1947, San Yu was promoted to captain and became deputy company commander in the same battalion and on 24 February 1949, three years after joining the army, he was promoted to the rank of Major and became Deputy Battalion Commander of 3rd Burma Rifle.
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San Yu was made lieutenant colonel on 25 November 1949 and given the command of 1st Karenni Rifle Battalion.
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San Yu was then transferred to 1st Kachin Rifle Battalion on 22 December 1950.
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San Yu was then transferred to Military Appointment General's office within the Ministry of Defense on 17 September 1952.
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San Yu was promoted to brigadier general on 9 April 1959.
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San Yu then became commander of 1st Infantry Brigade on 16 August 1961, commander of Eastern Regional Military Command on 16 October 1961 and commander of North West Regional Military Command on 29 November 1961.
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San Yu was promoted to the rank of general and became Commander in Chief of the Tatmadaw on 20 April 1972, and Minister of Defense.
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Brigadier General San Yu was a founding member of the General Ne Win's 17 members Union Revolutionary Council that came to power after the military coup overthrowing the civilian government of Prime Minister U Nu on 2 March 1962.
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San Yu was appointed as Chairman of the 'New State Constitution Drafting Commission' which was formed by the Revolutionary Council on 25 September 1971.
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On 20 April 1972, the Revolutionary Council made an announcement that Brigadier General San Yu was promoted to General.
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General San Yu became general secretary of the Council of State for the Burma Socialist Programme Party, better known as BSPP, on 26 April 1974 was transferred to Office of the State Council.
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San Yu served in that position until 27 July 1988 and in the post-independence period he became, after Ne Win the second-longest serving president in post-independent Burma.
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San Yu followed the path set by Buddhism and died peacefully on 28 January 1996.