Whenever the place name Dong Loc Junction (Can Loc) is mentioned, the "fiery" memories are still deeply imprinted in the hearts of the soldiers of Regiment 210 and Battalion 8 of the anti-aircraft artillery of the Ha Tinh local army.
Together with other forces, the 210th Regiment and the 8th Anti-Aircraft Artillery Battalion of the Ha Tinh local army fought bravely and sacrificed heroically, contributing to the victory of Dong Loc in 1968. Together they wrote heroic pages of history at Dong Loc T-junction, making great contributions to the cause of national liberation and reunification.
Soldiers of Regiment 210 on the front (Photo: Archive).
Regiment 210 is an anti-aircraft artillery regiment established on April 25, 1959 to protect the airspace of Thai Nguyen Iron and Steel Industrial Park; Viet Bac Military Region Command; carry out combat missions and international missions in Laos and Cambodia.
In 1967, when the US concentrated its forces to fiercely attack the traffic routes south of the 20th parallel, officers and soldiers of Regiment 210 were ordered to mobilize to protect Vinh city, Vinh airport, Ben Thuy ferry, and Dong Loc intersection.
On June 8, 1968, the Regiment entered Dong Loc with 5 57mm artillery companies (101, 102, 104, 105, 106) and 2 37mm artillery battalions (Battalion 22, stationed in Linh Cam and Battalion 24, stationed in Dong Loc), with a force of more than 1,000 people.
The regiment had to deploy in a narrow area, fighting continuously for 147 days and nights to fight back against American aircraft, protect bridges and roads, and forces on duty at Dong Loc T-junction. The US Air Force focused on suppressing and destroying anti-aircraft positions, leaving no company untouched. Some positions were repeatedly attacked, causing heavy casualties to our troops.
Veterans of Regiment 210 visited Dong Loc T-junction in 2018 (Photo: Archive).
In addition, due to the narrow terrain, the battle site was located right next to the road and the tunnel, so the enemy attacked the tunnel and also attacked the battle site. Our troops had to fight continuously and tensely for a long time under the condition of fierce enemy attacks. Despite many losses, with the slogan "Live and cling to the bridge and the road, die bravely and steadfastly", no one left the artillery position and fought extremely steadfastly.
In the rain of bombs and bullets, 122 comrades were killed, including 5/6 company commanders who were commanding the battle; 259 comrades were wounded. During 5 months in Dong Loc, the Regiment fought 1,076 battles, shot down 14 American planes, forcing them to fly high, limiting the number of bombs falling on the road, contributing to ensuring traffic at the junction. The unit was awarded the title of Hero of the People's Armed Forces by the State in 1999.
Mr. Nguyen Dinh Long (born in 1938, currently living in Hanoi) - a veteran of Regiment 210 shared: “During the 147 days and nights of fighting at Dong Loc, many of my comrades had to stay on the battlefield. At that time, there were many difficulties and shortages. There was a serious shortage of ammunition, a decrease in the number of soldiers, a lack of rice, and no food, but we were greatly encouraged by the sharing of the local people.”
Mr. Nguyen Dinh Long - veteran of Regiment 210.
Although the battlefield was fierce with bullets and bombs, with hardships, difficulties, and sacrifices, the times fighting with comrades under the rain of bombs and bullets, protecting every inch of land and sky of the country were memorable times in the life of veteran Nguyen Dinh Long as well as the soldiers of Regiment 210. In the near future, on the occasion of the 55th anniversary of the Dong Loc Victory, the veterans of Regiment 210 have planned to return to Dong Loc, revisit the old battlefield, and burn incense to remember their comrades.
The 8th anti-aircraft artillery battalion of Ha Tinh local troops fought at Dong Loc T-junction ( Photo ).
Also contributing to the victory at Dong Loc was the brave fighting spirit of the 8th Anti-Aircraft Artillery Battalion of the Ha Tinh local army. The battalion was established on April 14, 1965, on the basis of Company 27 (Binh Ha Company) and a number of students of the Air Defense Officer School. The Battalion's commanding officers were supplemented by Military Region 4; the non-commissioned officers, soldiers and a number of squad-level officers were demobilized soldiers who were ordered to return to military service. The officers and soldiers of the battalion were mainly from Ha Tinh, Nghe An, some from Ha Bac (old), Hung Yen, Hanoi, Hai Duong, Da Nang.
Veterans of the 8th Anti-Aircraft Artillery Battalion of the Ha Tinh local army took a souvenir photo when visiting Dong Loc T-junction in 2019.
Battalion 8 was always present at key positions to protect economic, political, military and transportation targets in the area. The battalion fought bravely, shooting down 52 American planes, 9 crashed on the spot, and coordinated with friendly units to shoot down 29 others. The unit fought well, and the more it fought, the more mature and experienced it became.
At the Dong Loc battlefield, the unit, together with the 210th Regiment, shot down American aircraft, protected the airspace for the Youth Volunteer Force to fill bomb craters and ensure the safety of convoys going to battle. The unit was awarded the title of Hero of the People's Armed Forces by the State in January 1973.
Mr. Le Van Quyen (left) recalls wartime memories with his comrades.
Mr. Le Van Quyen (born in 1940) - Information Chief, Company 27, Battalion 8 recalled: "When I joined the battle in Dong Loc, I was only 25 years old. Going to the battlefield, we knew that we could die at any time, but as Vietnamese people, my comrades and I were determined to fight until the last moment."
The years of fighting in Dong Loc of Mr. Quyen and his comrades were extremely fierce. At that time, Dong Loc T-junction was considered as the “throat” because of its important position on the route from North to South, so the enemy focused on destroying it. The enemy used many types of bombs with great destructive power such as magnetic bombs, cluster bombs, time-exploding bombs, etc., causing great casualties to our troops. However, with the spirit of “Determination to die for the Fatherland, determination to live”, Uncle Ho’s soldiers still bravely went into battle, standing tall against the enemy.
The war is now long gone, but the memories of the fiery time of the soldiers who fought at the Dong Loc battlefield are still intact. 55 years have passed, but the significance of the Dong Loc Victory still retains its historical value. And the stories and heroic sacrifices of generations of fathers and brothers have brightened the flag of the Fatherland, together creating the legendary Dong Loc victory, contributing greatly to the victory of the national liberation struggle in the spring of 1975, reunifying the country.
Mr. Thuy - Phong Linh
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