"Golden Star" in the land of heroes

Born on the "motherland" of Binh Dinh during the most brutal months of the war against American imperialism, the 3rd Golden Star Division (now the 3rd Division, under Military Region 1) left behind glorious achievements.

Sixty years ago, on September 2, 1965, in the Ba Boi forest, An Nghia commune (now Bok Toi commune, Hoai An district), the 3rd Division was officially established. This was the first main force division of Military Region 5. The division's motto was "Loyal, brave, victorious in battle, annihilated upon encountering the enemy, determined to fight and defeat the invading American enemy." Immediately after its establishment, the Division Party Committee proposed to the Military Region 5 Command that the division be named "Golden Star Division"; using the image of the "Golden Star" to remind officers and soldiers to bravely fight under the glorious flag of the Fatherland, for the independence and freedom of the nation.

The historical site of Ba Boi Forest - the founding location of the 3rd Golden Star Division. Photo: HP

Glorious achievements

Immediately after its formation, the Division went straight into combat. Its first historic clash with its strongest opponent, the 1st Airborne Division of the US Army, took place in the Thuan Ninh Valley (Binh Tan commune, Tay Son district) on September 18, 1965. The Division killed 200 enemy soldiers, shot down and destroyed 51 aircraft, delivering a severe warning blow to the invading US forces as they had just arrived in the Zone 5 battlefield.

In particular, during the Spring Offensive of 1975, the Division was tasked with cutting Highway 19, contributing to the victory of the Central Highlands campaign, and simultaneously attacking and crushing the strategic Phan Rang defense line, completely liberating Ninh Thuan province. During the historic Ho Chi Minh Campaign, the Division undertook one direction of the 2nd Army Corps (Huong Giang Army Corps), and with the spirit of "speed and boldness," the Division attacked and liberated Phuoc Tuy province (Ba Ria) and Vung Tau city (now Ba Ria - Vung Tau province), contributing to the liberation of the South and the reunification of the country.

More than a year after the reunification of the country, in June 1976, the Division was ordered to march rapidly over a thousand kilometers to protect the northern border, ready to fight in the new territory. From February 17, 1979 to January 1986, the Division, together with other units and the people and armed forces of Lang Son and Ha Giang provinces, defeated more than 120,000 invading troops from the North, firmly defending every inch of the sacred land of the Fatherland.

Over 60 years of building, fighting, and maturing, the 3rd Golden Star Division participated in over 5,600 battles, eliminating and dispersing more than 150,000 enemy troops, shooting down and destroying hundreds of aircraft, thousands of military vehicles, and other enemy war equipment. With these achievements, 20 collectives and 17 individuals of the Division were honored by the State with the title of Hero of the People's Armed Forces, along with many other prestigious awards. However, the Division also had over 22,000 officers and soldiers who bravely sacrificed their lives, including over 18,000 martyrs who died in the Binh Dinh battlefield and over 10,000 comrades who left a part of their blood and bones on other battlefields.

Unwavering loyalty and devotion

Having spent 10 years in the countryside of Binh Dinh, the names Hoai An, An Lao, and Tay Son encapsulate the deep affection between the unit and the people in this war-torn land. Later, when assigned to the Northeast region of the Fatherland, Binh Dinh remained a familiar destination for generations of officers and soldiers of the Division on their "return to the roots" trips.

The 3rd Division organized a visit to the historical site and presented gifts to Heroic Vietnamese Mother Vo Thi Dao (commonly known as Mother Nhuong, residing in Hoai Nhon town), who sheltered and treated wounded soldiers of the unit during the resistance war against the US. Photo: TRAN KHANH

At the end of March, the Division organized a working trip to the province to pay tribute to its historical sites, such as: the Ba Boi Forest historical site - where the Division was founded; the Nui Cheo historical site and Xuan Son hill (Hoai An district); the mass grave of soldiers of Battalion 6 (in Dap Da ward, An Nhon town)... In addition, Division 3 also coordinated with local Party committees and authorities to present 50 gifts (1 million VND/gift) and provide financial support for the construction of 5 houses for 5 families of war veterans and meritorious individuals of Division 3 with difficult circumstances (80 million VND/house)...

Colonel Hua Chien Thang, Political Commissar of the 3rd Division, affirmed: "Binh Dinh is the cradle of our formation, the place that provided manpower and resources, nurturing the Division's gradual growth and strength. There is a sacred, blood-related relationship between the 3rd Division and the people and military of Binh Dinh."

Fifty springs have passed since the reunification of the country, its independence and freedom. The remains of the martyrs of the 3rd Golden Star Division have blended into the soil of Binh Dinh, into the trees and plants, becoming streams flowing within the motherland, merging with the traditions and roots of the nation.

Provincial Party Secretary Ho Quoc Dung (left) and Standing Deputy Provincial Party Secretary Le Kim Toan (right) escort the remains of martyrs from the 3rd Golden Star Division who died in 1975 in the battle at Hill 174 to their burial place at the Martyrs' Cemetery in An My commune (Hoai An district). Photo: HP

Over the past period, various levels and sectors in the province have organized many activities to search for and collect the remains of martyrs in general, as well as officers and soldiers of the 3rd Golden Star Division who died in Binh Dinh province, and have achieved positive results. Notably, the province has searched for, collected, and organized solemn memorial services and burials for the martyrs of the Division who died in 1966 at Xuan Son Hill and elsewhere.

Peak 174 in Hoai An district.

Colonel Nguyen Xuan Son, Political Commissar of the Binh Dinh Provincial Military Command, stated: "This is a meaningful and practical act, not only as an expression of gratitude but also as a responsibility of today's generation towards the older generation who bravely sacrificed themselves for the cause of national liberation."

According to Colonel Nguyen Anh Tuan, Commander of the 3rd Division, building on the glorious tradition of the heroic 3rd Golden Star Division, in recent years, in response to the new demands of national construction and defense, the Party Committee and command of the 3rd Division have directed its agencies and units to proactively and consistently carry out political and ideological education, raising the revolutionary vigilance of officers and soldiers, and always receiving and successfully completing all assigned tasks. The Division also regularly organizes trips to its founding place to educate officers and soldiers about the principle of "drinking water, remembering the source," and the glorious traditions of the Division in its formation, combat, construction, and growth.

SPRING OF THE YEAR

Source: https://baobinhdinh.vn/viewer.aspx?macm=1&macmp=1&mabb=355193