Inauguration of the Memorial Area for the 45th Artillery Company of Ha Tinh

The bell-ringing ceremony at the memorial site.

Construction of the Memorial Area for the 45th Artillery Company in Ha Tinh province commenced in June 2025, with a total budget of nearly 7 billion VND from the local government and social mobilization sources.

The project is designed in a solemn manner, harmonizing with the historical site's surroundings, and includes many components such as: a memorial house, a memorial stele, a ceremonial preparation house, an access road to the historical site, grounds, lighting, etc.

The construction of the memorial is not only a practical act of "showing gratitude," but also contributes to preserving and promoting the historical value of the Bai Dua site, creating a sacred memorial location that meets the needs of the people and relatives of the martyrs for visiting and offering incense.

Memorial site of the 45th Artillery Company of Ha Tinh at Bai Dua (Co Dam).

According to historical records, before 1960, Artillery Company 45 was a coastal defense artillery company under the command of Naval Patrol Zone 2, stationed in the port city of Hai Phong . In 1961, the unit was transferred to Xuan Hoi commune (formerly Nghi Xuan district) with the objective of protecting the coastal area of North Central Vietnam.

Following the Gulf of Tonkin incident on August 5, 1964, the unit was transferred to the local armed forces, under the command of the Ha Tinh Provincial Military Command (now the Ha Tinh Military Headquarters).

To ensure secrecy, the 45th Artillery Company frequently moved between positions located in the former communes of Xuan Hoi, Xuan Truong, Xuan Yen, Xuan Lien, and Cuong Gian.

At approximately 2 PM on July 12, 1968, upon detecting a US warship encroaching on the coastline 8km away, the unit stationed at the Bai Dua artillery position in Cuong Thinh village (formerly Xuan Lien commune, now Co Dam commune) was ordered to open fire.

At that moment, nearly 30 enemy aircraft of various types circled and roared in the sky, firing rockets and missiles indiscriminately. The artillery position, consisting of 4 long-range 105mm guns and 4 12.7mm guns, was engulfed in flames, and the entire position was leveled.

The unequal battle lasted about two hours, resulting in the immediate deaths of 20 officers and soldiers, many of whom bravely sacrificed themselves right on their artillery platforms during the fierce battle against the American imperialists.

The memorial site for the 45th Artillery Company of Ha Tinh was built to fulfill the aspirations of a wide range of people both inside and outside Ha Tinh province.

The battle ended, enemy aircraft retreated, and comrades and militia forces quickly arrived to treat the wounded and prepare the bodies of the deceased for burial. The remains of the martyrs were interred in the Bong Bong hill area, formerly Xuan Lien commune.

Following the battle on July 12th, Artillery Company 45 was ordered to the rear to clear a path. To date, some of the remains of the fallen soldiers have been interred in the Nghi Xuan Martyrs' Cemetery, while others have been brought back to their hometowns by their relatives for burial.

To honor and commemorate the heroic sacrifices of the artillery company's martyrs and the people during the resistance war against the US, the Party committee, government, and people from all walks of life inside and outside the province have joined hands to build a memorial area to mark the immortal achievements of the officers, soldiers, and people who bravely sacrificed themselves in the Bai Dua area, Co Dam commune.

DUC DONG

Source: https://nhandan.vn/khanh-thanh-khu-tuong-niem-dai-doi-phao-binh-45-ha-tinh-post951884.html