Gò Ông Let - A landmark amidst the swampy plains.

In the final days of the year, looking out from the Go Ong Let historical site (Vinh Hung commune, Tay Ninh province), one sees vast, sprawling fields. It's hard to imagine that this peaceful place was once a fierce battlefield. Sixty years ago, this very land witnessed a resounding battle, where the army and people of Kien Tuong wrote an epic saga amidst the swamps of Dong Thap Muoi: an ambush that completely annihilated a commando company led by an American advisor.

Gò Ông Let is a traditional educational site in Vinh Hung (Photo provided by the local community).

Wipe out the commando company.

Sixty years ago, on the night of November 16th and the early morning of November 17th, 1965, a battle took place at Go Ong Let, considered a glorious milestone in the resistance war against the US by the army and people of Kien Tuong. On this small hill, now located in Ong Let hamlet, Vinh Hung commune, a commando company of the puppet army, led by American advisors, was ambushed and completely annihilated by our forces. This victory marked the indomitable spirit, resourcefulness, and fervent patriotism of the people of the Dong Thap Muoi region.

1965 marked the transition of the US from "Special War" to "Local War." In the South, search and destroy operations, pacification campaigns, and forced relocation of civilians intensified to stifle revolutionary forces. In the Đồng Tháp Mười lowlands, the puppet army attacked our vital supply corridor from the border down to Military Region 4 and key battlefields in Military Regions 8 and 9 in Đồng Tháp Mười.

Activities commemorating the victory at Go Ong Let (Photo provided by the local authorities)

In that context, they moved a commando company, along with four American advisors, from the Mang Da base to Go Ong Let. They believed this strategically important location would be a "launching pad" to control a vast area, but the very place where they hoped to achieve success became the site of their most devastating defeat.

Our forces conducted thorough reconnaissance and studied the area for many days. The units participating in the battle included the Kien Tuong Provincial Mobile Company, the local 408th Company, and guerrillas from the communes of Vinh Thanh, Vinh Loi, and Tuyen Binh. At exactly 0:30 AM on November 17th, the attacking units simultaneously opened fire. The sound of recoilless rifles and directional mines tore through the night, striking directly at the enemy's command post and communication system. The pockets of resistance were quickly suppressed.

Caught by surprise, the enemy panicked and fled, falling into a minefield we had prepared. The battle ended with us killing and wounding 80 enemy soldiers, capturing 10, and wiping out the entire commando company. The victory at Go Ong Let marked the first time we completely annihilated a commando unit directly trained and commanded by the Americans in the Southern battlefield.

This was a powerful blow to the enemy's "raid and ambush" commando tactics, contributing to the restoration of the strategic corridor and creating new momentum and strength for the revolutionary movement. The victory also strengthened the people's confidence in the resistance war and rekindled the fighting spirit throughout the Đồng Tháp Mười region.

From that milestone, the army and people in the region continued to achieve many resounding victories such as the battles of Thanh Phuoc 1, 2, 3… These consecutive victories made a significant contribution, together with the whole country, to defeating the “Limited War”, leading to the liberation of the South and the reunification of the country.

Today's soldier

Today, amidst peaceful life, Go Ong Let has become a significant site for traditional education. Stories of past battles continue to be passed down with respect and pride.

“Right here in our homeland, there is a historical site, a testament to the heroic fighting spirit of our ancestors. This is a source of immense pride, and therefore, we always prioritize educating the younger generation about our traditions. In every conversation with students, we remind them to understand the history of our homeland. During holidays and festivals, the Fatherland Front of Vinh Hung commune organizes cleaning and incense burning at the Go Ong Let historical site,” said Tran Thanh Duong, Vice Chairman of the Vietnam Fatherland Front Committee of Vinh Hung commune and Chairman of the Veterans Association of Vinh Hung commune.

The Vietnam Fatherland Front Committee of Vinh Hung commune launched a cleanup campaign at the Go Ong Let historical site.

In 2025, the Veterans Association of the commune, in coordination with the Youth Union of the commune, organized 7 events and talks about local traditions and national history, with 504 members, young people, and students in attendance.

Upholding the spirit of Uncle Ho's soldiers and the tradition of "Loyalty, unity, exemplary conduct, and innovation," veterans in Vinh Hung commune are exemplary leaders in fulfilling political tasks, carrying out social welfare work, and ensuring security and order in the locality.

Many veterans continue to contribute to the community daily, such as Mr. Tran Binh Tuy, the head of the Veterans Association branch in Hamlet 4. As the branch head, Mr. Tuy is very active in association work. He is also the head of the security and order team in the hamlet, serving as a valuable "extension" of the local police force. He is present in all patrol activities, ensuring security and order, and assisting the police in data review operations.

"As veterans, we are proud to be soldiers of Uncle Ho, so we always bear in mind that we must contribute our strength to serving the common good and building our homeland," said Tran Binh Tuy, head of the Veterans Association branch in Hamlet 4.

Sixty years have passed, and the battlefield of yesteryear has faded into memory, but the unwavering spirit of those who fell for national independence remains present in the life of Vinh Hung today. The people here still preserve this tradition, so that each story about the Battle of Go Ong Let in 1965 is not just a memory, but also a flame that ignites patriotism in future generations.

Guilin

Source: https://baolongan.vn/go-ong-let-dau-son-giua-miet-dong-bung-a208382.html