The hero known as the 'king of Hai Van pass mines'

The person mentioned is People's Armed Forces Hero Trinh To Tam.

Trinh To Tam, born in 1945 in My Cau village, Dong Tan commune, Ung Hoa district, Hanoi, in a family of 4 children. His father died early, and his older brother also died in the early years of the resistance war against the French.

Born and raised in a countryside rich in revolutionary traditions, in 1965, when the US army bombed the North, even though he was still a student, Trinh To Tam volunteered to participate in the "Three Ready" movement (a patriotic emulation movement of the Youth Union during the anti-American period: ready to fight; ready to join the army; ready to go wherever the Fatherland needs him).

Then the young man Trinh To Tam wrote an application to join the army, volunteered to fight on the southern battlefield and was mobilized to the Quang Tri - Thua Thien battlefield.

Hero Trinh To Tam (left) during his meeting with General Vo Nguyen Giap. (Photo: VNA)

From 1967 to 1970, Trinh To Tam participated in and commanded the unit in 58 battles, annihilating 1,500 enemies, including 700 American soldiers, destroying nearly 100 military vehicles as well as collapsing dozens of bridges and culverts... to stop the enemy's advance. In those battles, he personally killed more than 270 enemies (including 185 American soldiers), shot down and destroyed 3 enemy planes and many military vehicles.

At that time, realizing that the Hai Van Pass was the enemy's lifeline, Trinh To Tam and his teammates sought to attack and cause difficulties and losses for the enemy. In 1968, he once went on a reconnaissance mission and when he returned to Hai Van Pass, he discovered that the American soldiers were patrolling, often gathering at a high point near the road in the early morning, so he led a team to lay mines, killing and injuring 60 enemies.

In early 1970, he was the Deputy Company Commander, accurately predicted where the enemy was landing troops and commanded the unit to place mines on the American landing group, destroying two platoons.

With his resounding achievements in combat, Trinh To Tam was awarded the title of brave American killer 53 times, and was called "Hai Van Pass mine king" by his teammates, while the enemy at that time continuously offered generous rewards to anyone who captured "the gray tiger of Hai Van Pass - Trinh To Tam".

In 1971, Trinh To Tam was awarded the noble title of Hero of the People's Armed Forces by the Party and State when he had just turned 27 and became Captain of the 21st Engineering Company, Group 4, Tri Thien Military Region.

When the country was completely unified, Trinh To Tam held many important positions such as: Secretary of the Central Committee of the Ho Chi Minh Communist Youth Union, Deputy Minister of Labor, War Invalids and Social Affairs (former). No matter what position he held, he always completed the assigned tasks excellently and was an inspiration to the younger generation about dynamism, enthusiasm, dedication in work, especially patriotism.

Trinh To Tam died in 1996 from a malignant disease, a consequence of the effects of toxic chemicals during his years on the battlefield.

Libra

Source: https://vtcnews.vn/nguoi-anh-hung-duoc-menh-danh-vua-min-deo-hai-van-ar937011.html