Colonel, veteran of Division 341: Intact emotions about the historic days of April 1975

Colonel Nguyen Van Leo, former Chief Inspector of Defense of Military Region 5, next to souvenirs of his comrades who participated in the Ho Chi Minh campaign in 1975 - Photo: VGP/Minh Trang

According to Colonel Nguyen Van Leo, at the end of 1972, when the US was losing ground on the Vietnam battlefield, the Army of the Republic of Vietnam also did not achieve a significant victory. The US Air Force launched bombing raids on northern cities to put pressure on us in Paris. To prevent the enemy from recklessly attacking the area of ​​Military Region 4, and to build up a strategic reserve force, the Ministry of National Defense decided to establish the 341st Mobile Infantry Division under Military Region 4.

The Division was established on November 23, 1972 in Uncle Ho's hometown, Nam Dan district, Nghe An province, named Song Lam Division. After its establishment until February 15, 1975, the Division received troops in Quang Binh province and Vinh Linh district for training and combat readiness.

Based on the battlefield reality in early 1975, implementing the strategic determination of the Politburo, on January 25, 1975, comrade Vo Nguyen Giap, on behalf of the Central Military Commission and the Ministry of National Defense, assigned the task to Division 341 to participate in combat at the B2 battlefield in the Southeast. After completing the preparation work, on February 15, the first units of the Division set off.

The division marched by motor vehicle along the Truong Son road to the South, traveling at night and resting during the day to avoid enemy detection. Arriving at Loc Ninh town, Binh Phuoc province, the units split into many directions to prepare for battle, Colonel Nguyen Van Leo said.

Colonel Nguyen Van Leo with Certificates of Merit and Medals... for his contributions to the revolutionary cause - Photo: VGP/Minh Trang

According to Colonel Nguyen Van Leo, at this time the 4th Corps had 2 divisions on the battlefield, Song Lam Division became the 3rd division of the 4th Corps. In the first battle, the unit fought the enemy at Chon Thanh, Binh Duong province.

Then, from April 9 to April 21, his unit continued to fight in Xuan Loc district, Binh Duong province. On April 27, they fought the enemy and liberated Trang Bom, Dong Nai province, then continued to fight the enemy in Bien Hoa, Dong Nai province, opening the "steel door" to enter Saigon.

Colonel Nguyen Van Leo recalled: On the evening of April 29, after liberating Bien Hoa, the unit was ordered to attack the enemy north of Saigon Bridge. By early morning of April 30, it was ordered to retreat to Ho Nai Church in Bien Hoa, Dong Nai Province to consolidate its forces.

At 8:00 a.m. on April 30, 1975, the Battalion Commander of Battalion 3 received orders from the Division Commander of Division 341 to represent the 4th Corps in planting the flag at the Independence Palace. Upon receiving the order, the unit boarded tanks and advanced into the center of Saigon. However, the crowd was so large that it was not until 12:00 p.m. on April 30, 1975 that the unit was able to cross the Saigon Bridge.

"When our car entered, we saw the flag of the Liberation Army flying over the Independence Palace. The emotions at that moment were both happy and sad. Happy because we were one of the soldiers participating in the campaign and witnessed the sacred moment in the history of the nation, the country was liberated. But also very sad because many comrades fell after the recent battles," Colonel Nguyen Van Leo emotionally shared.

Colonel Nguyen Van Leo's unit remained in formation in front of the Independence Palace until 4:00 p.m. on April 30, when it was ordered to defend Bach Dang port (now Bach Dang wharf). On the morning of May 1, the unit participated in a parade on several streets in Saigon, then returned to take over the Social Bureau of the Saigon regime and stationed there for nearly a week.

Later, soldier Nguyen Van Leo continued to contribute to his military career. was sent to study at Army Officer School 2, staff officer branch.

He went to the Cambodian battlefield to fight against Pol Pot's army from 1981-1988. Colonel Nguyen Van Leo successively held the following positions: Regiment Commander of Regiment 733, Division 315, Military Region 5; Regiment Commander of Regiment 142, Division 315, Military Region 5; Deputy Chief of Staff of Division 307, Military Region 5; Deputy Chief of Staff, Division 2, Military Region 5; Chief of Defense Inspectorate of Military Region 5 until his retirement.

With his contributions in more than 10 years of battle, life and death, Colonel Nguyen Van Leo was awarded the First, Second, Third Class Military Exploit Medals... along with many other certificates of merit, orders, and medals.

Minh Trang

Source: https://baochinhphu.vn/dai-ta-cuu-binh-su-doan-341-ven-nguyen-cam-xuc-ve-nhung-ngay-thang-tu-1975-lich-su-102250411154720858.htm