Armed Forces of Military Region 5: 80 years of steady progress under the Victory Flag

"80 years of heroic history is a priceless asset, an important asset, and a great spiritual motivation for officers and soldiers of the armed forces of Military Region 5 to continue to march firmly under the Victory Flag."

After 80 years of building, fighting and growing, the armed forces of Military Region 5 have always stood firm under the Victory Flag, achieved many glorious feats of arms, contributed worthily to the cause of national liberation, building and defending the Fatherland, fulfilling international obligations, and glorifying the tradition of "Self-reliance, self-strengthening, overcoming difficulties, enduring hardships, being ingenious and creative, fighting steadfastly, and winning gloriously."

Uphold the oath "Sacrifice for the Fatherland"

On March 12, 1945, - the first armed unit led by the Party was born, with the oath "Sacrifice for the Fatherland" , lighting the revolutionary fire throughout the South Central region. From Quang Nam , Binh Dinh, Phu Yen to Khanh Hoa, Ninh Thuan, Dak Lak, guerrilla and self-defense teams were formed one after another, becoming the core with the People's uprising to seize power in the August Revolution of 1945.

On September 2, 1945, after the founding of the Democratic Republic of Vietnam, there was a need to quickly form an administrative- military organization in the new situation.

On October 16, 1945, implementing the directive of the Party Central Committee and President Ho Chi Minh , War Zone 5 and War Zone 6 were established, marking the birth of the armed forces of Military Zone 5 - a milestone opening a heroic golden page of history.

During the resistance war against French colonialism, the army and people of Zone 5 fought bravely on all fronts. In Quang Nam - Da Nang, our army and people held out steadfastly, holding the enemy at bay for a whole month.

Comrade Pham Van Dong at that time praised: " Compared to the whole country, the Quang Nam - Da Nang Front is ranked as the strongest and most resilient."

That spirit also shone on the Central Highlands battlefield, where the heroic soldier Ngo May embraced bombs to destroy the enemy at the Suoi Voi - Roc Dua battle (1947), becoming a brilliant symbol of the spirit of "Determination to die for the survival of the Fatherland".

From 1947 to 1954, the armed forces of Military Region 5 built and firmly protected the free zone of Nam-Ngai-Binh-Phu. The free zone became the direct rear for the temporarily occupied battlefield of the South, a reliable support for the revolutionary movement in Southern Laos and Northeastern Cambodia. To maintain the free zone, it is necessary to mention the outstanding battles of the armed forces of Military Region 5.

President Ho Chi Minh's letter of commendation to Inter-zone 5 after the Dak Po victory, the battle considered the "Dien Bien Phu" of Inter-zone 5 in 1954. (Photo: Military Zone 5)

At the Kon Plong Fort Battle (1951), for the first time, a main force regiment attacked a solid fortification in a rugged mountainous area and won. After that, it continued to win the An Khe Campaign, forcing the enemy to disperse the troops of the At-Lang operation, thereby firmly maintaining the Free Zone and successfully breaking through the Mang Den - Mang Buk - Kon Ray defense line, liberating Kon Tum (February 1954). Consecutive victories were achieved at the Dak Po Battle (June 1954) and the Bo Bo Battle (July 1954), contributing significantly to the victory in the resistance war against the French.

"Loyalty and perseverance" famous feat

After the Geneva Agreement, the revolutionary movement of Inter-zone 5 entered the most difficult period. Under the leadership of the Inter-zone Party Committee, the revolutionary fire still burned strongly from the Tra Bong uprising (1959), opening the Dong Khoi movement with consecutive resounding battles such as Na Nieu (1962) defeating the "helicopter transport" , Ky Sanh (1964) smashing the "armored transport" and Ba Gia (1965), contributing to the bankruptcy of the "special war" strategy of the US - puppet.

In 1965, the US imperialists massively landed in Da Nang, Chu Lai, Quy Nhon, the armed forces of Zone 5 were the first to directly face the invading enemy.

The Regional Party Committee, Military Region Party Committee, and Military Region 5 Command quickly led the construction of the "American-destroying belt" , launched the movement "Find the Americans to fight, hunt the puppets to destroy" , with the motto "grab the enemy's belt to fight" . The resounding victories of Nui Thanh (May 1965) and Van Tuong (August 1965) opened the period of "Courageous, resilient, leading the way to destroy the Americans".

From Tet Mau Than 1968 to 1972, the Dak To - Tan Canh, Hiep Duc, Cam Doi, Tien Phuoc, Ba To campaigns,... the armed forces of Military Region 5 continuously made achievements, dealt heavy blows, defeated the "local war" and "Vietnamization of the war" strategies, contributing to forcing the US to sign the Paris Agreement and withdraw troops from Vietnam.

In particular, in the Nong Son - Thuong Duc Campaign in 1974, the 2nd Division destroyed the Nong Son - Trung Phuoc stronghold (July 1974), supported the armed forces of the 4th Front in coordination with the Ministry to capture Thuong Duc district (August 1974), opened wide the door to the Southwest of Da Nang, creating an important practical basis for building a strategy to liberate the South.

In the spring of 1975, the armed forces of Military Region 5 fought fiercely, continuously attacking and destroying the district capital of Tien Phuoc - Phuoc Lam (March 1975), liberating Tam Ky, Quang Ngai and Da Nang. Continuing with the main force of the Central Highlands front and the main force of the Ministry, they attacked and liberated Binh Dinh, Phu Yen, Khanh Hoa, Ninh Thuan, and Truong Sa archipelago, participating in the historic Ho Chi Minh campaign, together with the army and people of the whole country, creating the Great Victory of Spring 1975, liberating the South and unifying the country.

Firmly step under the Victory Flag

After the country was reunited, the armed forces of Military Region 5 continued to overcome the consequences of war, hunt down remnants, resolve the FULRO issue, protect the southwestern border and fulfill their international duty to help the Cambodian people escape genocide.

During the 10 years (1979-1989), tens of thousands of officers and soldiers of Zone 5 excellently completed their missions and were honored as "Buddhist Army" and "Uncle Ho's Soldiers" in the hearts of the people of the two countries.

Entering the period of innovation, the Military Region's armed forces and localities maintained political security and social order and safety, especially in the Central Highlands.

The military region focuses on building a "skillful, compact, and strong" force as the core of the all-people national defense, linking socio-economic development with strengthening national defense and security, and building solid defense zones for military regions, provinces, and cities.

Military Region 5 is also the pioneer unit in proposing many policies and innovation models of strategic importance such as the transition from "district military fortress" to "provincial and city defense area" (1988), the military cell model (1989), which became the Party's general policy in leading the construction and operation of militia and self-defense forces nationwide.

The Military Region's economic-defense delegations, with the motto "3 sticking, 4 together", always accompany localities in economic and cultural development, hunger eradication and poverty reduction, improving people's lives, especially in remote, isolated, particularly difficult areas and strategic areas.

Colonel Luong Dinh Chung, Party Secretary and Political Commissar of Military Region 5. (Photo: Military Region 5)

The image of the "Zone 5 soldier" risking his life to be present on the front lines rescuing people during the Da Nang floods (2022), searching for victims in Tra Leng, Phuoc Loc (2020) or fighting the COVID-19 pandemic is always engraved in the hearts of the people.

With great contributions, the armed forces of Military Region 5 were honored to be awarded the Ho Chi Minh Medal, the First Class Military Exploit Medal, the First Class Fatherland Protection Medal and especially twice the Gold Star Medal. The entire Military Region has 942 collectives and 474 individuals awarded the title of Hero of the People's Armed Forces.

Continuing the tradition - Standing firm in the new era

In the current period, facing the complicated and unpredictable developments of the world and regional situation, the Party Committee and Command of Military Region 5 continue to thoroughly grasp the Party's military and defense guidelines; build a clean and strong Party organization, a comprehensively strong "exemplary and typical" armed force of the Military Region. The focus is to successfully implement the Resolution of the 11th Military Region Party Congress with three breakthroughs:

1. Innovate and improve training quality to meet requirements and tasks in the new situation; focus on building discipline, strictly complying with laws, discipline and ensuring safety;

2. Promote the application of science, technology, innovation and digital transformation in performing the tasks of the Military Region's armed forces;

3. Building a team of cadres at all levels, especially leading cadres, with sufficient qualities, capacity, and prestige to meet task requirements in the new situation.

Colonel Luong Dinh Chung, Party Secretary and Political Commissar of Military Region 5 proudly said: "80 years of heroic history and glorious tradition are invaluable assets, important provisions, and great spiritual motivation for officers and soldiers of the armed forces of Military Region 5 to continue to march firmly under the Victory Flag, ready to receive and excellently complete all assigned tasks, contributing with the entire Party, people and army to firmly defend the Fatherland, and steadily enter a new era - the era of the Vietnamese nation's rise" ./.

Thanh Phong (Vietnam+)

Source: https://www.vietnamplus.vn/luc-luong-vu-trang-quan-khu-5-80-nam-vung-buoc-duoi-quan-ky-quyet-thang-post1070227.vnp