Hill A1 in 38 days of firestorm - Part 4: Holding the battlefield

After discussion, we found the situation very difficult, with local forces unable to hold, we needed to present specifically to the regiment to ask for opinions from above.

The radio was not available, so the soldiers who came back to report could not tell us everything. We agreed that Hung Tan would command the force to hold the position, I went down to the phone to report to the regiment. Dung Chi went out to regroup the unit and wait for orders from above. When Dung Chi and I came out of the bunker, it was already light. We went down to the trench to meet Le Son and Toa, the political commissars of the 317th company. I heard from Son that the 317th company had suffered heavy casualties, and the rest had been pushed back towards the 251st Battalion. I was sad because the battalion had suffered such heavy losses.

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

I went to the telephone and learned that Bang Khe and Bich had also broken through the pass to enter the post, but there was no means of communication and no information about the unit. The training officer and liaison officer who followed were all wounded. The two men themselves were also hit by artillery fire and had to retreat. I called Huu An to report the developments of the night. With a worried voice, Huu An reminded me to encourage the men to try to hold the bridgehead and ask for reinforcements. I explained clearly that there was only a small part of Battalion 255 left, and it would be difficult to fight back against the enemy's counterattack. From 6 a.m., the enemy fired like rain at the place where the men of Company 924, Battalion 255 were holding. At about 7 a.m. on March 31, enemy tanks and infantry recaptured the hilltop. At about 8 a.m., the last part of Battalion 255 and some men of Company 315, Battalion 249 were retreated, and Hung Tan was seriously wounded. In the afternoon, Brother Huu An met me at the foot of Hill A1. Partly worried because he had not completed the mission, partly annoyed because we had fought poorly, he only said briefly: "Gather the remaining brothers to coordinate with the friendly unit of Division 308 to continue fighting tonight."

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

I reported that all the companies and platoons had suffered casualties, and that there were less than 30 soldiers left who could fight. He sighed, looked at my feet, and said, "Your feet are sore, you have to rest. Let me tell Le Son to do this." Then he hurriedly went to see Le Son. The medics helped me back to the base to bandage my feet. That evening, lying in the base, I was both in pain and sad, not understanding how my comrades were fighting. While I was thinking vaguely, a slightly wounded comrade told me that in the afternoon when he went to observe the enemy's position, an officer from a friendly unit said, "This outpost only needs one blow of the nose to be finished, but we couldn't fight." I felt ashamed for not completing the mission, and for being looked down upon by the friendly unit. I was sad but also startled, thinking, "We were subjective, thinking that destroying A1 was not difficult. I'm afraid that if the friendly unit follows the same path, it will be a big mistake!" And so it was, your unit lost a part and could not destroy the enemy. The fighting lasted until April 4, then stopped, the enemy continued to occupy and consolidate the fortifications here. A few days later, Regiment Commander Nguyen Huu An, Regiment Political Commissar Tran Huy and the battalion commanders went to Muong Phang to attend a conference to summarize the operation. The atmosphere of the meeting was very heavy, General Vo Nguyen Giap criticized the shortcomings of the units with a very strict attitude, criticized comrade Nguyen Huu An and comrade Tran Huy, a deputy regimental commander was dismissed, a battalion officer of the 102nd regiment was severely disciplined for wavering in combat. Thus, 4 people were declared disciplined, all for not completing the task at A1. I held my breath, coldly waiting to hear the announcement of my discipline, but nothing happened. Although everything was fine, I felt a little dissatisfied with this disciplinary sentence. On the way back, I asked Dung Chi: "What do you think about this disciplinary issue?". Dung Chi said: "Oh my god! What else! I'm so scared! The other day I overheard those guys discussing disciplinary action against the whole gang, including you. Some said they should be warned, others said they should be dismissed, but I don't understand why today Mr. Giap let you off!". I said: "Why did they convict me, but let you off?". Dung Chi chuckled and joked: "Because you're the main battalion commander, your crime is bigger." I also laughed at his innocence and that joke, but I still felt resentful and wondered who was responsible for the 174th Regiment joining the battle more than 30 minutes late, missing the unit's breakthrough opportunity. (to be continued)