The Legend of the Heroic Battalion 59

Battalion 59 was established on June 10, 1950. During the resistance war against French colonialism, the unit successfully completed its training and combat missions, achieved glorious feats, and was awarded many noble titles by the Party and State. In particular, the pride in the heroic Battalion 59 was multiplied when the unit was awarded the title of Hero of the People's Armed Forces and 3 individuals were posthumously awarded the title of Hero of the People's Armed Forces.

Permanent Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Hoa Binh and Minister of Justice Nguyen Hai Ninh, former Secretary of Khanh Hoa Provincial Party Committee , visited the Da Ban revolutionary base historical site in April 2023.

Mr. NGUYEN TAN TUAN - Deputy Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee, Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee: Among the victories of Battalion 59, the battle of Vuon Gon - Da Ban is a glorious battle, which has entered the history books of Ninh Hoa town, Khanh Hoa province as a legend. The victory of Vuon Gon - Da Ban is a symbol of the spirit of overcoming all difficulties, fighting bravely, and winning of the army and people of Khanh Hoa in particular, and the army and people of Inter-zone 5 in general. Through this victory, the fighting strength and determination of our army and people have been increased to continue the attack, gain greater victories, bring the resistance war to success, and leave behind many valuable experiences in building the people's war posture, and protecting the Fatherland today. To recognize the merits and achievements of Battalion 59 and individuals, on September 30, 2024, the President of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam signed Decision No. 959/QD-CTN to confer the title of Hero of the People's Armed Forces on Battalion 59 and posthumously confer the title of Hero of the People's Armed Forces on 3 individuals: Comrade Nguyen Luu, former Battalion Commander of Battalion 59; Martyr Nguyen Ba Duong, former Squad Leader, Battalion 59; Martyr Tran Xung, former Platoon Leader, Company 5, Battalion 59.

Born and raised from guerrilla warfare

In 1950, following the policy of the Inter-zone Party Committee and the Inter-zone 5 Command on building the armed forces to meet the increasingly high combat requirements of the inter-zone battlefield, on June 10, 1950, Battalion 59 was officially established in village 10, Tam Chanh commune, Tam Ky district (now Tam Ky city, Quang Nam province). The Battalion Command consisted of 2 comrades: Nguyen Luu - Battalion Commander; Pham Dao - Political Commissar. When the Battalion was first established, it consisted of 2 companies: Independent Company 6 of Da Nang city, Company 11 of Quang Nam province; Battalion headquarters, including combat staff, political, logistics and subordinate units. By the end of 1950, Battalion 59 was supplemented with Company 4 of local troops of Quang Nam province.

Permanent Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Hoa Binh and delegates offered incense to commemorate heroic martyrs at the Saigon - Da Ban Garden Memorial Area in April 2023.

Leaders of Khanh Hoa province offered incense and flowers to commemorate heroic martyrs at the Vuon Gon - Da Ban Memorial Site in April 2023.

After its establishment, Battalion 59 was assigned to operate independently in the Quang Nam - Da Nang area; in November 1951, it was transferred to the main mobile Regiment 803 of Inter-zone 5. With the correct leadership of the Quang Nam - Da Nang Party Committee and Inter-zone 5 Party Committee, from the time it was a special forces team, an independent company to a concentrated battalion, as well as when fighting in the main regiment, Battalion 59 firmly grasped and creatively applied the combat motto "Guerrilla warfare is the main, combined with mobile warfare, promoting mobile warfare forward", so the battalion was always closely attached, closely coordinated and acted as the core in the increasingly developed people's war movement in the Quang Nam - Da Nang area and the provinces in the inter-zone. The battalion closely combined combat and construction, constantly studied and trained, so it quickly matured from a local army to successfully completing its tasks in the main regiment. The officers and soldiers of the battalion always uphold the spirit of "Determination to fight, determination to win" in all missions, even in the most difficult and fierce situations.

Permanent Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Hoa Binh, along with provincial leaders and delegates cut the ribbon to inaugurate the Saigon Garden - Da Ban Victory Memorial Site in April 2023.

Permanent Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Hoa Binh and Minister of Justice Nguyen Hai Ninh, former Secretary of Khanh Hoa Provincial Party Committee, removed the banner to inaugurate the Saigon - Da Ban Victory Memorial Site in April 2023.

Glorious feats

According to historical records, the achievements of Battalion 59 were very rich and comprehensive by fighting flexibly, from small to large, from dispersed to concentrated, from independent combat to combined arms combat... Especially, the creative application of the combat method "Closely combining guerrilla warfare with concentrated combat of the main force" to the specific conditions of the battlefield, the functions and tasks of the battalion should meet the increasingly high combat requirements, contributing to defeating the enemy's plot to pacify and concentrate the population, the trick of combining the system of watchtowers and posts with the enemy's anti-sweep troops, wearing down and destroying many enemy forces, many solid posts, including the enemy's elite combat troops.

Permanent Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Hoa Binh talks with veterans in April 2023.

After 9 years of fighting and building, from the time when it was an independent special forces combat unit in the enemy's rear as well as when it matured and fought in the main regiment, Battalion 59 participated in many operations and 6 major campaigns in the provinces of Inter-zone 5. The officers and soldiers of the battalion fought bravely, destroying dozens of watchtowers, bunkers, 11 fortified posts, dozens of large anti-sweep battles of the enemy; eliminating more than 2,000 enemies from combat, capturing thousands of large and small guns on the battlefields of Quang Nam - Da Nang, Khanh Hoa, Gia Lai, Kon Tum. Among them, there were excellent, highly effective battles such as the battle to destroy Fort Nhut on the top of Hai Van Pass, capturing the French officer in charge of the post; the attack to destroy Fort Thuong An and the bunker at the beginning of the pass in An Khe; the coordinated battle to destroy the post and attack the Mobile Corps in Pleiring, destroying more than 800 enemies. In addition, the battalion also closely coordinated with local troops to defeat major enemy sweep operations in Dien Hoa (Quang Nam), Da Ban war zone (Khanh Hoa), killing 400 enemies...

The glorious feats of the 59th Battalion contributed to the final victory of the resistance war against the French colonialists; they were recognized by the Party, the State and the people through the history of the local Party Committees, through the Victory Steles in Quang Nam - Da Nang, Gia Lai, Kon Tum, Khanh Hoa. During the resistance war against the French, many cadres and soldiers of the battalion fell in all the battlefields of the Central and Central Highlands regions, many heroic sacrifices were recorded in the history of the 803rd Regiment, the history of the 59th Battalion and the history of the local Party Committees, such as comrades Nguyen Luu, Nguyen Ba Duong, Tran Xung... With the achievements, in 1951, 1953, 1954, the 59th Battalion was awarded the Third Class Military Exploit Medal, the First Class Military Exploit Medal and many other noble awards by the Minister of National Defense.

Veterans visit traditional houses at the Saigon Garden - Da Ban Victory Memorial Site in April 2023.

Colonel Phan Van Tuan - Commander of Division 305 said: Proud and continuing to inherit and promote the traditions of previous generations, officers and soldiers of Division 305 today always strive to excel in studying, training, and working, worthy of the sacrifices and hardships of officers and soldiers of Battalion 59 and the tradition of the division. The outstanding achievements, combat experiences, lessons in building and organizing the armed forces, good battles, and brave examples of officers and soldiers of Battalion 59 during the resistance war against the French have been and are being flexibly and creatively applied by units of Division 305 in work, training, and building the all-people national defense in new conditions, contributing significantly to building a strong and comprehensive armed force of Military Region 5 and consolidating the "solid people's heart position".

Article: THE ANH

Photo: CONG DINH

Source: https://baokhanhhoa.vn/chinh-tri/202410/huyen-thoai-ve-tieu-doan-59-anh-hung-51b48cd/