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| On May 15, 1975, Bien Hoa people held a rally to celebrate the liberation of the South at Bien Hoa Stadium. Photo: Archive |
Glorious history
According to the book History of Dong Nai Provincial Party Committee (Volume 2, Dong Nai General Publishing House, 2000), on April 28 and 29, 1975, the 6th Division of the 4th Corps organized an attack on the enemy along Highway 1 from Trang Bom to Ho Nai. The Forward Command ordered the forces to quickly capture the enemy's 3rd Corps, liberating Bien Hoa so that the 4th Corps could advance to occupy the Independence Palace.
In the inner city of Bien Hoa, on the morning of April 29, 1975, the enemy in Bien Hoa Sub-region, Bien Hoa Police Department, and Duc Tu Sub-region all retreated to Saigon. On the way to escape, Colonel Luu Yem ordered the destruction of a span of Hoa An Bridge to stop the liberation army.
On the night of April 29, 1975, internal forces closely coordinated with external forces to rise up and seize power. The Bien Hoa market Party cell organized a mass force to break into Bien Hoa prison, freeing over 100 prisoners held by the enemy and taking them to safety.
At Bien Hoa Industrial Zone, from 6:00 a.m. on April 30, 1975, comrade Ton Van Dieu and the core force went to the Industrial Development Center (Sonadezi) to lower the puppet flag and raise the liberation flag. After that, the liberation flag continued to be hung at Cogido Factory, Bien Hoa Sugar Factory, and Vicasa. The Bien Hoa City Party Committee's Public Works Department took over the industrial zone, organized a self-management committee with workers to protect the assets of the factories.
On the morning of April 30, 1975, the Forward Command, the 4th Corps Command, and the 5th Regiment (commanded by Regiment Commander Nguyen Thanh Binh) bravely advanced from the direction of Sat market into the center of Bien Hoa. Along the way, there were still faint sounds of resistance. People poured out onto both sides of the road to cheer the liberation army. Hundreds of motorbikes eagerly followed the army.
At exactly 10:30 a.m. on April 30, 1975, the Forward Command, including comrades Phan Van Trang, Nguyen Viet Hoa, Huynh Viet Thang, Nguyen Quy Nam and the 5th Regiment, arrived at the Bien Hoa Provincial Administration Building. Thousands of people were present at Song Pho Square to welcome and follow the troops into the Administration Building. Because the Hoa An Bridge had been destroyed in the middle, the majority of the 4th Corps had to go around the highway to head straight to Saigon.
The City Party Committee Security Committee, including comrades Huynh Tan Minh, Tu Tuong, and Tu Quan, took over Duc Tu Sub-region. The Bien Hoa City Command Committee took over Bien Hoa Sub-region. The Uprising Committees of the communes: Tam Hiep, Tan Van, Hiep Hoa, Buu Hoa, Hoa An, Tan Thanh, Buu Long, Nui Dat... took over the communes, collected enemy weapons and documents. Division 6 took over Bien Hoa Airport. Regiment 5 deployed forces to protect Bien Hoa Industrial Zone, organized guard stations at Vung Tau intersection, Buu Long intersection, Vuon Mit intersection, and Tam Hiep intersection. The Military Region Command, commanded by comrade Le Van Ngoc, took over the puppet 3rd Corps. The Eastern Security Committee, headed by comrade Huynh Viet Thang, took over the Eastern Police Department and the Recruitment Department. The Security Committee of the Military Management Committee, commanded by comrade Nguyen Quy Nam, took over the Bien Hoa Police Department.
On April 30, 1975, the Bien Hoa City Military Management Committee implemented a plan to ensure social security and order, mobilizing people's organizations to self-govern and stabilize life. Only 3 days after liberation, the situation stabilized, and Bien Hoa began a new life.
Due to confidentiality, the militia soldier who helped raise the liberation flag on the Bien Hoa Provincial Administration Building that day did not reveal his full name. There are still many witnesses of the soldiers of Battalion 75 who participated in raising the flag living in many places.
Who hung the liberation flag on the Bien Hoa Provincial Administration Building?
This is stated in official history, but it needs to be clarified. The History of the Dong Nai Provincial Party Committee (Volume 2, page 419) records: “At 6:00 a.m. on April 30, 1975, female secret party member Truong Thi Sau, Bien Hoa Market Party Cell, protected by Mr. Muon - an insider in the special forces, entered the Bien Hoa Provincial Administration Building to lower the three-stick flag and raise the national flag. The Bien Hoa Market Party Cell organized the masses to remove the reactionary slogans of the puppet government, lower the three-stick flag and other remnants of the puppet regime, and raise the national flag at the residence of Lieutenant General Nguyen Van Toan, the 3rd Corps Command, and the Eastern Police Department…”.
In another document, historical witness Phan Van Trang (former Secretary of Dong Nai Provincial Party Committee) recounted: “On the morning of April 30, 1975, the Bien Hoa City Party Committee leaders received orders to capture the 3rd Army Corps and Bien Hoa Airport to open a favorable path for the 4th Army Corps to attack and liberate Saigon. At 6:00 a.m., Ms. Truong Thi Sau, a secret party member of the Bien Hoa Market Party Cell, lowered the Saigon government flag and raised the Front flag at the flagpole of the Bien Hoa Provincial Governor's Palace, signaling the next resounding victories of our army and people.”
Many other witnesses said: Female comrade Truong Thi Sau secretly planted the liberation flag at the Bien Hoa Provincial Governor's Palace (next to the Administrative Building).
Meeting historical witness Colonel Nguyen Tri Thuc, we learned that the person who planted the flag on the roof of the Administration Building on April 30th was a soldier of Battalion 75 (Regiment 5), with Captain Nguyen Tri Thuc as Battalion Commander. Battalion 75 was established right during the Ho Chi Minh Campaign, under the command of Regiment 5, Division 6, participating in battles and building forces. Regiment 5 was the spearhead unit assigned to open the way, together with the Forward Command to take over Bien Hoa town.
The flag-raising was recounted clearly: At exactly 10:30 a.m. on April 30, 1975, Regiment 5 completed its mission of coordinating with local forces to control the situation in Bien Hoa, Battalion 75 was assigned to take over the Administration Building. Raising the flag was the most important task. The liberation flag was prepared, following the unit throughout the advance. The soldiers assigned to raise the flag were ready. But it was not easy, the flagpole was tall, shaky, very difficult to climb, had to ask a soldier from the militia formation at the Administration Building to climb the flagpole, lower the three-stick flag, and raise the liberation flag. When pulling the rope, the flag rope suddenly broke, had to ask for help from a nearby crane. Finally, the liberation flag proudly flew on the roof of the Administration Building, signaling the sacred moment of Bien Hoa being completely liberated.
Huynh Van Toi
Source: https://baodongnai.com.vn/chinh-tri/202504/chuyen-treo-co-giai-phong-tren-toa-hanh-chanh-tinh-bien-hoa-ngay-30-4-1975-4a1452c/
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