April 14, 1975: Liberation of Song Tu Tay Island

Our army attacked Song Tu Tay island. (Photo: VNA)

At dawn on April 14, 1975, naval commando units of C.75 - the force tasked with liberating the islands in the Truong Sa archipelago, divided into 3 groups and secretly landed on Song Tu Tay island.

At 4:30 a.m. the same day, the troops simultaneously opened fire. After 30 minutes of fighting, we occupied the island, destroyed and captured all enemy troops, and collected their weapons. At 5:15 a.m. on April 14, 1975, we completely controlled Song Tu Tay Island. The flag of the National Liberation Front of South Vietnam was raised to the top of the flagpole in front of the sovereignty monument of the Fatherland on Song Tu Tay Island in the Truong Sa archipelago.

At 5:50 p.m. on April 14, 1975, the Politburo sent a message to the Command of the Saigon-Gia Dinh liberation campaign (secret telegram No. 37/TK), stating: "The Politburo agrees that the Saigon-Gia Dinh liberation campaign will be named the Ho Chi Minh Campaign."

At Phan Rang, the 3rd Division (Military Region 5) and the 25th Regiment (Tay Nguyen Front) attacked and broke through the Phan Rang defense line of the Saigon army. The enemy infantry, supported by artillery and air, relied on a system of solid fortifications and favorable terrain to stubbornly resist.

On the north side of Route 1 (main direction), Division 3 attacked positions blocking the outskirts of the town, occupied Du Long district and heights 105, 300, Ba Rau, Suoi Vang, Suoi Da, Ninh Chu port, blocking the enemy's escape to the sea.

On Route 1, Regiment 25 defeated counterattacks by the Saigon army's parachute brigade, approached Thanh Son airport, and controlled the entire outer defense strip of Phan Rang town.

On the evening of April 14, 1975, Division 3 adjusted its forces, sending Battalion 6, Regiment 12 to coordinate with Regiment 25 to attack the airport and moved artillery positions forward, continuing to support the infantry in combat.

On the south side of Route 1, the armed forces of Military Region 6 attacked enemy positions in the suburbs, separating Phan Rang from Binh Thuan.

On April 14, 1975, units of the 1st Corps participating in the campaign to liberate Saigon-Gia Dinh assembled at Dong Xoai and prepared to enter combat.

At the same time, Corps Commander Nguyen Hoa and Political Commissar Hoang Minh Thi were present at the Ho Chi Minh Campaign Command Headquarters to receive the mission directly conveyed by Comrade Van Tien Dung, Campaign Commander.

On the same day, in Saigon, Nguyen Ba Can formed a new cabinet. During the cabinet introduction ceremony, Nguyen Van Thieu declared: This is a government that fights and negotiates but does not surrender. The goal is to completely defeat the communists by preparing a counterattack to reclaim lost land.

Meanwhile, in the United States, President Gerald Ford, Secretary of State Henry Kissinger and Secretary of Defense James Schlesinger met with the US Senate Foreign Relations Committee to lobby for aid to the Saigon government.

Nhandan.vn

Source: https://nhandan.vn/ngay-1441975-giai-phong-dao-song-tu-tay-post872125.html