From Buon Ma Thuot to the gateway to Saigon

In December 1972, following the sacred call of the Fatherland, young man Do Trung Minh (born in 1955, in Cau Giay, Hanoi) enlisted in the army and was assigned to Squad 2 (Platoon 1, Company 2, Battalion 80, Division 304). After completing the training course, he and his unit marched to the Southern battlefield.

In July 1973, the young soldier was assigned to the Firepower Squad under Company 2 (Battalion 4, Regiment 24, Division 10, Corps 3). In August 1974, Minh assumed the position of Squad Leader of the Guard Squad of the Staff of Regiment 24 (Division 10, Corps 3), with the task of protecting the command post and unit leaders.

“With the mission of ensuring absolute safety for their leaders, guards must always maintain a high level of vigilance, strict discipline, the highest sense of responsibility and dedication regardless of difficulties,” Colonel Do Trung Minh emphasized. Photo: Hai Ly

“During the Central Highlands Campaign, when I followed the commander to protect him, I remember most the night before our troops opened fire on Buon Ma Thuot. At that time, the enemy was stronger than us, so the atmosphere in the unit was very tense. Colonel Dang Vu Hiep, then Political Commissar and Party Secretary of the Central Highlands Front, met with the Battalion Commander of Battalion 4 (the unit assigned to penetrate deep into the center of Buon Ma Thuot town), and told him: 'If the situation is difficult, if the unit can hold out for 1 day, it will have completed the mission excellently'. No one said anything more, but everyone understood: that was an order and absolute trust. After that, Battalion 4 successfully planted the flag on the headquarters of the puppet Division 23", Mr. Minh proudly said.

On April 7, 1975, with the order "Faster, faster, bolder, bolder, seize every minute, every hour, rush to the front, liberate the South. Determined to fight and win completely" from General Vo Nguyen Giap, Regiment 24 (Division 10, Corps 3) was ordered to leave the Central Highlands battlefield, march quickly along the Ho Chi Minh trail, and participate in the historic Ho Chi Minh Campaign.

In this campaign, the 10th Division was assigned by the 3rd Corps to capture Tan Son Nhat airport and the puppet General Staff. These were 2 of the 5 key targets of the campaign. In which, Do Trung Minh's unit (24th Regiment) was in charge of the attack direction from the South-Southwest to attack Tan Son Nhat airport, capture the Airborne Command, the 5th Air Division Command, the American advisory area, the technical staff area and the radar information area.

Troops of the 3rd Corps captured Tan Son Nhat airport. Photo: VNA

At exactly 5:30 a.m. on April 29, the 24th and 28th Regiments, along with tanks, armored vehicles, artillery, and anti-aircraft guns, were ordered to attack. Following the markers set up by the engineers on Highways 5 and 6, the bulldozers in the front rammed through the forest banks and mounds of earth, clearing the way for the tanks and troop transport vehicles to follow. The convoy of various vehicles, with camouflage leaves and the liberation flags, followed each other in a single line across the Cu Chi fields, heading towards Saigon.

Mr. Minh recalled: “At around 11:00 a.m. that day, when our forces were about 4 kilometers from Cu Chi, we encountered an enemy infantry and armored force trying to block us. Our troops fought and destroyed the enemy tanks and armored vehicles and a platoon. Immediately after that, our tanks and infantry quickly took advantage of the victory and advanced through Cu Chi towards Bong Bridge.”

From Cau Bong, Regiment 24 continued to develop and capture Quang Trung Training Center, Ba Queo intersection. By 9:00 p.m. on April 29, the combined arms thrust of Division 10 was about 2km from Tan Son Nhat airport and the puppet General Staff.

“The Final Blow” at Tan Son Nhat Airport

During his military career of more than 50 years, Colonel Do Trung Minh participated in many major campaigns, from fierce battles in the Central Highlands Campaign, the Ho Chi Minh Campaign, to the Fulro sweeps in Lam Dong, fighting to protect the northern border. There are many memories of battles, but the most memorable for him is the historic battle at Tan Son Nhat airport.

Veteran, Colonel Do Trung Minh revisits the old battlefield.

Flipping through the pages of the war diary, looking back at the photos capturing the moments of returning with his comrades to visit the old battlefields, Colonel Do Trung Minh recalled: At exactly 4:30 a.m. on April 30, 1975, the 10th Division was ordered to open fire. Then, the large artillery positions of the 3rd Corps roared and poured firestorms on Tan Son Nhat airport. Right from the first minutes, three enemy targets in the airport were on fire. By 8:30 a.m., targets such as the Airborne Command, Air Force Command, Armored Command of the puppet army... were all engulfed in smoke and fire, the enemy was confused and wavering.

At this time, Mr. Minh's regiment was ordered to attack and capture the target of Bay Hien crossroads. Here, the enemy organized a solid defense, the puppet army deployed densely, equipped with many modern means and weapons. The battle was fierce, our soldiers and the puppet army fought for every house and street corner.

“That morning, my best friend died from a bomb. The night before, we sat and talked, smoked a cigarette together, and dreamed of the day the country would be unified and we could go home to visit our families. Seeing my comrades die and get injured but still fight with all their might, I was even more determined to rush forward and destroy the enemy,” Mr. Minh’s voice choked up.

Female Saigon commandos guide the Liberation Army into Tan Son Nhat airport. Photo: VNA

With the tactics of “Internal response and external cooperation”, “Fight the enemy while moving, clear the way while advancing”, after 1 hour of heroic fighting, Mr. Minh’s unit (Regiment 24) captured this intersection and quickly marched to Tan Son Nhat airport. At gate 5 of the airport, our troops encountered fierce resistance from the enemy, but with the spirit of “One day is equal to 20 years”, the officers and soldiers of Regiment 24 coordinated with the main forces to approach the target, closing the enemy encirclement.

“The attacks on Tan Son Nhat airport almost did not encounter significant resistance, because the enemy had somewhat disintegrated after the fierce attack from our firepower. Each target was controlled one by one. By noon on April 30, our troops completely controlled Tan Son Nhat airport. The national flag flew proudly on the flagpole of the puppet air force command, shining brightly in the sun. At that time, we were very happy, thinking of our homeland and family and burst into tears like children,” Colonel Do Trung Minh was moved.

Liberation flag flying at Tan Son Nhat airport, April 30 , 1975. Photo: Quang Thanh/VNA

After the country was unified in 1976, Do Trung Minh continued to join his unit in the hunt for Fulro remnants in Lam Dong. A year later, he was sent to study at the Military School of the 3rd Corps, then joined the fight to protect the northern border until 1986. From 1986 to 1999, he studied and worked at units such as the Dalat Army Academy, Division 10 (3rd Corps) and the National Defense Academy. In 1999, he was appointed Chief Inspector of the Ministry of National Defense and continued to work until his retirement in 2014 with the rank of Colonel.

Half a century has passed, Colonel and veteran Do Trung Minh is now in his twilight years, but for him, the General Offensive and Uprising of Spring 1975, especially the battle at Tan Son Nhat airport, is still like it happened yesterday. For today's generation, the soldiers of the past are not only witnesses of history, but also living symbols of patriotism and indomitable spirit. The memories they tell are not only stories, but also the fire that awakens future generations to live up to the people who used their youth and blood to write the two words: Peace.

TRAN HAI LY

    Source: https://www.qdnd.vn/50-nam-dai-thang-mua-xuan-1975/toi-tu-hao-duoc-tham-gia-tran-danh-san-bay-tan-son-nhat-825035