Faced with the enemy relying on their overwhelming military strength and "relying" on modern mine-clearing equipment to act arrogantly, the command of Team S20 discussed and unanimously decided to organize a battle to "show off" to them, preventing the enemy from mobilizing to support and supply each other. After understanding the enemy's activities, marching and transport rules, and mine-finding tricks, Team S20 placed 3 "automatic mine" nests with enough destructive power to destroy 3 transport vehicles on the road they had just repaired. Digging deep holes, the mines were placed on flat wooden boards, with 4 corners supporting 4 columns made of banana tree core. On the wooden surface, there was a piece of hard wood as a spring to transmit pressure from above to the mine fuse so that the mines would explode immediately.

Hero of the People's Armed Forces Nguyen Huy Truong.

On the night of July 20, 1953, Team S20 planted fake mines to probe, but they did not detect them. The following night, the unit planted real mines. On the morning of July 22, as usual, the enemy troops from Ke Sat went to check the road. Their 3 mine detectors scanned and re-scanned; the herd of buffaloes followed, but the 3 mines remained "obediently". After completing the mine inspection, the enemy thought that this section of the road was safe, so they opened it to traffic. The convoy of trucks carrying goods with guards departed from Ke Sat to supply the units. When they reached the mined section of the road, the leading vehicle missed the first mine, but the next vehicle ran over it. The sound of the mine exploding was very loud, and a column of black smoke rose up, covering the vehicles. The vehicles behind immediately stopped, the guards and the survivors jumped onto the road, firing randomly with their guns. The leading vehicle was now in a dilemma and had no choice but to risk its life to drive forward. After rolling for a few dozen meters, the second mine exploded, throwing the vehicle to the side of the road. The enemy was extremely confused and immediately called for a helicopter to come to the rescue.

At around 2:00 p.m., the enemy ordered troops to fill the mine holes, deal with the aftermath, and continue to check, but still did not discover a third mine on this stretch of road. So the remaining mine continued to destroy another enemy transport vehicle.

From then on, on the roads, the enemy did not dare to act as arrogantly as before.

Article and photos: LE HOAI THAO (Recorded according to the story of People's Armed Forces Hero Nguyen Huy Truong, former Captain of Team S20)