Special handwriting on the liberation flag planted on the roof of the enemy command post of the Central Highlands Campaign

The liberation war that the Central Highlands Command won in 1975 is a sacred event and a profound patriotism in the history of the country.

50 years ago, in the formation of the 316th Division, the 98th Regiment (then called the 149th Regiment - Bac Thai Group) after completing its international mission in Laos was ordered to participate in the historic Ho Chi Minh Campaign. On the march to liberate Saigon, the Regiment was responsible for attacking and destroying the important target of the 23rd Division Command Headquarters of the Army of the Republic of Vietnam in Buon Ma Thuot town.

With intelligence, resilience, and courage, the unit gradually broke the enemy's counterattacks. The surviving enemy forces fled to Hill 419, then gathered in the direction of Hoa Binh airport, entrenched at the base of Regiment 53. At the airport, the enemy encountered the attack of Battalion 9, which fiercely blocked them, burned 2 tanks, captured 2 others, and destroyed and captured the entire remaining enemy force.

Thanks to the tight organization of forces, flexible and creative application of raids, attacking the enemy with solid defenses, combining encirclement and deep penetration, by 10:30 a.m. on March 11, our army completely controlled Buon Ma Thuot town. Our army destroyed and disintegrated all enemy troops in Buon Ma Thuot, captured and destroyed many enemy weapons and military equipment.

The handover ceremony of the liberation flag of Regiment 98 to the Vietnam Military History Museum in June 2017. (Photo: People's Army Newspaper)

Before entering the battle, Mr. Bui Van Vui, Deputy Squad Leader of Squad 5, Platoon 2, Company 1, was assigned to carry the victory flag to the roof of the 23rd Command Post of the Army of the Republic of Vietnam. But unfortunately, he was sacrificed.

When entering the Command Headquarters of the 23rd Division of the Army of the Republic of Vietnam, Mr. Tran Cong Ky, Platoon Leader of Platoon 2, Company 1, Battalion 7, found our liberation flag in the exhibition room at the enemy Command Headquarters, then assigned 3 soldiers Nguyen Duc Thinh, Ngo Van Quyen, and Tran Van Thanh to plant it on the roof of the Headquarters.

Few people know that on that flag there is a special handwriting, written by Colonel Hoang Phuc Hung (at that time was Senior Lieutenant, Deputy Political Commissar of Battalion 7, Regiment 149 (now Regiment 98, Division 316, Military Region 2). Because he used to be an assistant to the traditional museum, at that time Mr. Hung understood very well the issue of the traces that needed to be preserved.

As the Deputy Political Commissar of the Battalion, commanding the first force of the Battalion to attack the 23rd Division of the Army of the Republic of Vietnam, he told a soldier to pull down the flag and then, using a ballpoint pen, wrote in the lower right corner of the flag the following handwriting: "B2 - C1 - D7 Doan Bac Thai planted this first flag at the command post of F23 (Buon Ma Thuot) at 11:00 a.m. on March 11, 1975. Hung".

Description of the content and position of Colonel Hoang Phuc Hung written on the liberation flag. (Photo: VOV)

The victory flag flying on the roof of the enemy headquarters that day was a sacred artifact, a testament to the indomitable fighting spirit and heroic sacrifice of generations of officers and soldiers of Division 316 in general and Regiment 98 in particular. At the same time, this event affirmed the great contributions of the unit's officers and soldiers in the cause of national liberation and reunification.

The liberation war that the Central Highlands Command won in 1975 is a sacred event and a profound patriotism in the history of the country.

Comment (0)