Rapid journey

Fifty years have passed, but we soldiers of Company 9, Battalion 9, Regiment 18, Division 325, Corps 2 (now Corps 12), as part of the attached formation, riding on 12 armored vehicles of Company 3, Battalion 5, Brigade 203, Corps 2, still feel the honor and pride of participating in the final strategic battle to liberate Saigon and unify the country.

Veterans of Company 9, Battalion 9, Regiment 18, Division 325 at their traditional reunion in 2016. Photo provided by the author.

The rapid advance of our 9th Company along the coastal route to the Independence Palace was marked by fierce battles, heavy bombing, and the heroic sacrifice of our comrades. When we left Hill 560 southwest of Hue in March 1975, only 27 men remained in Company 9.

Subsequently, in preparation for the Saigon-Gia Dinh Liberation Campaign, right in Da Nang City, the company was reinforced with soldiers from Hanoi , and at the same time, its officers were strengthened, and it was supplied with additional weapons and ammunition to prepare for the attack on Saigon.

On the afternoon of April 17, 1975, Company 9 was assigned by its superiors to reinforce Company 3, Battalion 5, Brigade 203, in its mission to penetrate deep into enemy territory and liberate provinces along National Highway 1.

On the night of April 18th, during the advance towards Phan Thiet at the Phu Long bridgehead, one of our armored vehicles was destroyed by gunfire, Political Commissar Them was seriously wounded, and liaison soldier Gian was killed. However, we, along with our tanks, fought tenaciously, crushing enemy resistance strongholds and capturing the Phu Long bridge, creating favorable conditions for the 18th Regiment and subsequent units to continue their offensive.

It was also here that the company directly liberated Phan Thiet prison, freeing hundreds of revolutionary soldiers.

On April 22nd, the company, along with its tanks, attacked enemy forces in Ham Tan town, shooting down one aircraft preparing for takeoff. In this battle, Comrade Dan (from Quang Ngai province), the deputy company commander, bravely sacrificed his life while attacking Ham Tan airfield. As part of the 203rd Brigade's tank formation, the unit advanced to attack the Nuoc Trong base, passing through the Thai Lan and Vung Tau junctions, preparing to liberate Saigon.

At 6:00 AM on April 30, 1975, along with the tank formation, the company arrived at the Vung Tau intersection, advanced across the Dong Nai Bridge, the Rach Chiec Bridge, past enemy obstacles, over the Saigon Bridge, the Thi Nghe Bridge, and proceeded along Hong Thap Tu Street (now Nguyen Thi Minh Khai Street).

At noon on April 30, 1975, the entire company, along with tanks from the 203rd Brigade, arrived at the Independence Palace with other units. During the search, Comrade Nguyen Van Thinh (from My Hao, Hung Yen) recovered a pen used to sign the Paris Agreement, engraved with the name of Foreign Minister Tran Van Lam. The company then handed the pen over to the corps.

After capturing the Independence Palace, along with other units, the officers and soldiers of Company 9 were assigned to protect the target and control all enemy activities. Subsequently, the company was awarded the Third Class Liberation Military Merit Medal.

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