Hill A1 during 38 days of intense fire - Part 4: Holding the battlefield

After discussions, we realized the situation was very difficult; the local forces were unable to hold the position. We needed to present the situation in detail to the regiment to seek guidance from higher authorities.

Without communication equipment, the messenger couldn't report everything. We agreed that Hung Tan would command the forces holding the position, while I went down to the telephone to report to the regiment. Dung Chi went out to regroup the unit and wait for orders from above. By the time Dung Chi and I left the bunker, it was already bright daylight. Down in the trench, we met Le Son and Toa, the political commissar of Company 317. From what Son told me, I learned that Company 317 had suffered heavy casualties, and the remaining soldiers had been pushed back towards Battalion 251. I was saddened by the battalion's heavy losses.

Đồi A1 trong 38 ngày bão lửa - Kỳ 4: Bám giữ trận địa- Ảnh 1. — *Colonel Vu Dinh Hoe revisits the Muong Phang Command Post (2004)*

I went to the telephone and learned that Bang Khe and Bich had also crossed the breach into the outpost, but they had no means of communication and couldn't identify which unit they belonged to. The training officers and liaison officers following them were all wounded. The two men themselves were also hit by artillery fire and couldn't hold on, forcing them to retreat. I called Huu An to report all the events of the night. With a worried voice, Huu An urged me to encourage the men to hold the bridgehead to request reinforcements. I explained clearly that only a small part of Battalion 255 remained, and it was difficult to repel the enemy's counterattack. From 6 a.m., the enemy fired relentlessly at the position where the men of Company 924, Battalion 255 were holding. Around 7 a.m. on March 31, enemy tanks and infantry recaptured the hilltop. Around 8 a.m., the last remaining part of Battalion 255 and some men from Company 315, Battalion 249 were pushed back, and Hung Tan was seriously wounded. Around noon, Hữu An met me at the foot of Hill A1. Partly worried about not completing the mission, and partly annoyed by our poor performance, he simply said: "Gather the remaining men so that tonight we can coordinate with friendly units of the 308th Division to continue fighting."

Đồi A1 trong 38 ngày bão lửa - Kỳ 4: Bám giữ trận địa- Ảnh 2. — *Colonel Vu Dinh Hoe (far right) visits the A1 Hill Martyrs' Cemetery (2014)*

I reported that all the companies and platoons had suffered casualties, and there were fewer than 30 soldiers left who could fight. He sighed, looked at my feet, and said, "Your feet hurt, you need to rest. Let me tell Le Son to handle this." Then he hurried off to see Le Son. The medic helped me back to the rear base to have both my feet bandaged. That evening, lying at the rear base, I was both in pain and sad, wondering how my comrades had fought. While I was lost in thought, a lightly wounded comrade told me that earlier that day, while observing the enemy position, an officer from a friendly unit had said, "This outpost could be taken down with just a quick blow, yet we couldn't capture it." I felt ashamed for failing to complete my mission and for being looked down upon by a friendly unit. I was sad, but also startled, thinking, "We were overconfident, thinking that destroying A1 would be easy. I fear that if the friendly unit follows the same path, they will stumble even harder!" And indeed, your unit suffered casualties and failed to eliminate the enemy. The fighting continued until April 4th, then stopped, and the enemy continued to occupy and reinforce their fortifications there. A few days later, Regiment Commander Nguyen Huu An, Political Commissar Tran Huy, and the battalion commanders went to Muong Phang to attend a conference summarizing the operation. The atmosphere of the meeting was very heavy. General Vo Nguyen Giap severely criticized the shortcomings of the units, reprimanding Nguyen Huu An and Tran Huy, dismissing a deputy regimental commander, and severely disciplining a battalion officer from Regiment 102 for wavering in combat. Thus, four people were disciplined for failing to complete their mission at A1. I held my breath, shivering, waiting to hear my disciplinary action, but nothing happened. Although unharmed, I felt somewhat dissatisfied with this disciplinary action. On the way back, I asked Dung Chi, "What do you think about this disciplinary action?" Dung Chi said, "Oh my god! What else! I was terrified! The other day I overheard those guys discussing disciplinary action against the whole group, including you. Some said you should be warned, others said you should be demoted, but I don't understand why General Giap let you off today!" I said, "Why did they accuse me, but let you off?" Dung Chi chuckled and joked, "Because you're the main battalion commander, so your crime is more serious." I laughed at his carefree nature and joke, but I still felt resentful and wondered who was responsible for the 174th Regiment being more than 30 minutes late in engaging in combat, missing the unit's breakthrough opportunity. (to be continued)