CELEBRATING THE 50TH ANNIVERSARY OF LAM DONG LIBERATION (April 3, 1975 - April 3, 2025): Unforgettable days

Mr. Pham Ngoc Anh

• Mr. PHAM NGOC ANH - FORMER DEPUTY POLITICAL COMMANDANT OF COMPANY C54B, FORMER POLITICAL COMMANDANT OF DUC TRONG DISTRICT MILITARY COMMAND

In December 1970, while in 10th grade, young man Pham Ngoc Anh (born in 1950) volunteered to join the army, becoming a soldier of the D4 Special Forces Battalion of the 320th Division, Military Region 3. At the end of 1971, he and his comrades marched along the Ho Chi Minh trail, experiencing 5 months and 18 days of hardship before arriving at the Tuyen Duc battlefield, directly participating in combat at Battalion 810.

In early 1973, in the context of the enemy stepping up counterattacks to retake the controlled area before the Paris Agreement took effect, Battalion 810 established Company C6 with 19 officers and soldiers, including Mr. Pham Ngoc Anh. His unit was assigned to hold out at Command Hill (also known as Pagoda Hill), Da Thanh Hamlet, Da Cat (now Ward 6, Da Lat). “The fierce battle lasted for 8 hours. Despite the strong resistance, the unit was forced to retreat under the overwhelming pressure of the enemy with tanks, armored vehicles, helicopters and continuous mortar shelling. On the way of withdrawal, the enemy continued to pursue, causing many comrades to be captured or sacrificed. On the night of the 28th of Tet that year, in the middle of the fierce battlefield, only me and a comrade were left to help each other return to the unit,” Mr. Anh recalled with a choked voice.

At the end of 1973, he was transferred to C54B Special Forces, under Tuyen Duc Provincial Military Command, to reinforce Duc Trong - one of the units directly participating in the liberation of Duc Trong on the night of April 1 and the early morning of April 2, 1975. After Da Lat was liberated, on April 4, his unit and other units entered to take over Da Lat City, taking on the task of military control and protecting the achievements of the revolution.

The Tuyen Duc - Da Lat - Lam Dong battlefield was one of the fiercest fronts of Military Region 6. Recalling the difficult days, Mr. Anh said in a low voice: “Our forces were always in a state of shortage, with few troops, exhausted food, scarce weapons and medicine, while the enemy continuously swept through. There were times when a combat unit was reduced to less than a platoon. But no matter how difficult it was, the patriotism and fighting spirit of our people and soldiers never wavered.”

During his years of dedication, Mr. Pham Ngoc Anh has been recognized by the Party, State and army with many noble awards: Third-class Fatherland Protection Medal, First-class Feat of Arms Medal, Third-class Liberation Feat of Arms Medal, Victory Flag Medal...

Mr. Nguyen Duy Dung

• Mr. NGUYEN DUY DUNG - FORMER COMPANY COMMANDER OF SPECIAL FORCES COMPANY C852 DA LAT TOWNSHIP

Born in 1949 in Bac Ninh, Mr. Nguyen Duy Dung joined the army in February 1968 and was trained at Battalion 1, Division 305 Special Forces, in Hanoi. On December 27, 1968, the unit marched to Da Lat, participating in combat at Battalion 810 of Tuyen Duc Provincial Military Command, then directly fought under the C850 Special Forces Company of Da Lat City Military Command.

Talking about fierce battles, Mr. Dung cannot forget the attack on the enemy's Political Warfare School - now the headquarters of the Lam Dong Provincial Military Command. "We spent nearly two months on reconnaissance, firmly grasping every path and every guard position. On the night of March 31, 1970, my unit coordinated with C5 of Battalion 810 to divide into four attack groups. I was assigned to lead the deep thrust, attacking straight into the enemy command center," he recalled. Another battle was the anti-sweep operation at Doi Da in late 1970, where he and his comrades heavily damaged an enemy company, killing over 40 enemies, including 6 who were killed on the spot, seizing 6 guns and shooting down an aircraft. For that feat, he was awarded the Third Class Military Exploit Medal and the Badge of Brave Aircraft Destroyer.

In 1974, Mr. Dung was the Commander of Company C852. He not only participated in the fight but also supported the political struggle movement from within, scouting and clearing the way for the main force to attack from the South of Da Lat. A week before the liberation of Da Lat, he received orders from the Da Lat City Team: identify six important targets, clear the way to the nearest target and lead the main force into the city. Mr. Dung quickly commanded the unit, assigning half of the force to guide the main force. At exactly 10:00 a.m. on April 2, 1975, Company C852 entered to take over the central area of ​​Da Lat City (Hoa Binh Area). At 1:00 p.m. the same day, his unit was assigned to take over and protect Cam Ly airport, ready to serve the battlefield. Just one day later, on April 3, 1975, the revolutionary flag proudly flew in the sky of Da Lat, marking the moment the city was completely liberated.

The war has long since ended, but Mr. Dung's greatest concern is still his fallen comrades who remain on the battlefield. Since 1997, he and his comrades have been quietly searching for their remains. At the same time, he has campaigned to build a memorial stele on Cong Su Hill (Ward 11), listing the names of nearly 200 martyrs who died in the Northeast of Da Lat.

Mr. Nguyen Van Toan

• Mr. NGUYEN VAN TOAN, FORMER POLITICAL MEMBER C3 200C, FORMER POLITICAL MEMBER OF DON DUONG DISTRICT MILITARY COMMAND

Born in 1940 into a revolutionary family in Dai Loc district (Quang Nam), in 1955, Mr. Toan and his family moved to Xuan Truong (Da Lat city) and soon participated in revolutionary activities. In 1964, he was entrusted with the responsibility of organizing and commanding the local guerrilla team - the first armed force of Don Duong district (at that time Xuan Truong commune was still part of this district). On January 16, 1966, as the Squad Leader of Company 870, he and his teammates coordinated with units 810, 830 and the grassroots forces to organize an ambush on the convoy carrying American advisors at Ham Xe, Doc Du (on the route from Da Lat to Cau Dat Radar Station). When 8 enemy vehicles entered the ambush at Ham Xe, our troops immediately opened fire, destroying 6 military vehicles, killing dozens of enemies and capturing many weapons and equipment. About 1 hour later, the minefield of Platoon 830 at Doc Du continued to destroy the enemy's reinforcement force of 50 soldiers and 3 military vehicles.

In 1968, as Platoon Leader of Company 870, he participated in the attack on Da Lat. At one point, the enemy counterattacked fiercely for many days, causing heavy losses, from more than 100 soldiers to more than 25. “Dozens of comrades were sacrificed, families were separated, the pain of loss piled up, but the hatred for the enemy grew even greater. When it was necessary to consolidate forces, families did not hesitate to encourage their children to go to war, many women also volunteered to participate in medical and logistical work. In less than half a month, the unit had added nearly 100 new soldiers. The revolutionary spirit in Xuan Truong at that time was more intense than ever,” Mr. Toan recalled.

Later, he was sent to the North to study and was assigned to the 7th Infantry Division - one of the main units in the Southeast. From 1969 to 1972, he fought on the Cambodian border battlefield, then joined the unit in the campaign to liberate Loc Ninh in 1972 as the Captain of the 7th Infantry Division. During a fierce battle, he was hit by shrapnel through the head, causing permanent blindness in one eye.

After treatment, in 1975, he returned to Zone VI, continuing to fight in Binh Thuan as Political Commissar of C3 200C. After the country's reunification, he worked at Don Duong District Military Command, then was trusted to become Secretary of the Xuan Truong Commune Party Committee.

With his great contributions to the resistance war, he was awarded the First Class Resistance Medal, the Third Class Feat of Arms Medal, three Liberation Medals and many other noble awards.

Source: https://baolamdong.vn/xa-hoi/202504/chao-mung-50-nam-ngay-giai-phong-lam-dong-341975-342025-nhung-ngay-thangkhong-the-quen-9047d3e/