Memories of Dalat Liberation Day of former commando who attacked the city

On April 3, 1975, Da Lat - the city on the Di Linh plateau was liberated. Photo: VNA archive

Dalat Special Forces Team

The last days of March and the first days of April every year always bring Mr. Nguyen Duy Dung (special agent of Company T12, an elite unit "special within special" of the Commando Command of Division 305) a feeling of excitement and emotion. Because this is an important milestone in the youth of the former special agent who fought and died on the battlefield of Da Lat - Tuyen Duc in the first half of the 70s.

Although nearly 80 years old, Mr. Dung is still very clear-headed. He said that his T12 Company was established in 1968, under the Commando Command of Division 305 with the goal of supporting the battlefield in the South. After receiving special training, T12 became a "city attack commando" with 62 comrades, ready to go on a mission with the code name of Group QL 2028.

“In December 1968, our unit started going to B (to the South), and when we reached Vinh station, the whole Company continued marching by road. After more than 4 months of marching, the unit arrived in the Tay Ninh - Saigon area. In June 1969, the Company was mobilized to march to the Da Lat - Tuyen Duc battlefield with the name T12-V9-C54b and began carrying out the task of special forces to attack the city,” Mr. Dung recalled.

From February 1970, in less than 5 months, T12-V9-C54b fought 5 consecutive battles with resounding victories that left the enemy bewildered. Notable were the battles against the enemy's political warfare center (current Lam Dong Province Military Command), the battles against the Field Police Center (currently the Field Hill area, Ward 11), the battles against Kim Phat post (the area at the beginning of National Highway 27, Duc Trong District today)... destroying many enemy troops and capturing many weapons.

Mr. Nguyen Duy Dung recalled: "In addition to the opening battles when returning to the Da Lat - Tuyen Duc battlefield, we also participated in many other battles that made the enemy confused and scared. Especially during the New Year holiday of 1970 - 1971, the enemy suddenly organized a sweep on Da hill (where the unit was stationed), but we fought bravely, shot down a plane and forced the enemy to retreat."

By June 1971, due to mission requirements, the unit was divided into 4 teams. Mr. Dung and his teammates were assigned to the special forces teams of Da Lat City to operate secretly, destroy strategic hamlets, and build a revolutionary movement right in the heart of the enemy.

During the period lasting until April 1975, the forces of T12-V9-C54b operated, worked, fought, contributed blood and bones to the resistance war against American imperialism to save the country and left their mark in the history of Da Lat city.

“This was a period of activity with many impressive memories for me and my teammates. We disguised ourselves as puppet soldiers, searching for and destroying the villains right in the heart of the enemy, causing them to panic and fear, contributing to the victory of liberating Da Lat with the least amount of sweat and blood,” Mr. Dung recalled.

Special Liberation Day

April 3, 1975 was an important milestone when Da Lat was officially taken over by the revolutionary army. This was also a special day for Mr. Nguyen Duy Dung and his comrades as the takeover of Da Lat was very smooth, completely different from the fierce battlefields of the previous years.

Mr. Dung recalled that at the end of March 1975, his unit was assigned to reconnoiter 6 key enemy targets to lead the main force to raid and liberate Da Lat. However, on the night of March 31, 1975, facing the spirit of the liberation army, the enemy burned down the fuel depot, ammunition depot (Cam Ly airport) and withdrew that same night.

By April 1 and April 2, there were almost no enemy troops left in important bases in Dalat.

“On the morning of April 2, we were ordered to go to Hoa Binh theater to control the situation, and in the afternoon of the same day, we took over Cam Ly airport. On the morning of April 3, the main force at that time, the Victory Regiment Company, arrived and planted the liberation flag at the Governor's Palace and Bao Dai Palace, marking an important milestone for Da Lat,” Mr. Dung recalled.

After the country was reunified, Mr. Dung did not return to his hometown like many other comrades but continued to work in Da Lat. In 1977, he was discharged from the army and transferred to the local education sector until his retirement. He shared that the Da Lat battlefield was associated with many memories, and this was also the place that welcomed him to continue to contribute and work, so he decided to stay.

In recognition of this feat, Mr. Nguyen Duy Dung was awarded the Third Class Resistance Medal by the State in 1984, the Badge of the Aircraft Destroyer and the Badge of the American Destroyer. In 2022, Mr. Nguyen Duy Dung was awarded a Certificate of Merit by the People's Committee of Lam Dong province for his outstanding achievements in the work of the Vietnam - Cambodia Friendship Association of Da Lat city, term 2017 - 2022, contributing to building the great national unity bloc.

Nguyen Dung (Vietnam News Agency)

Source: https://baotintuc.vn/nhan-vat-su-kien/ky-uc-ngay-giai-phong-da-lat-cua-cuu-dac-cong-danh-thanh-pho-20250328143830911.htm