The battle between 4 of our tanks and 24 enemy tanks at the gateway to Saigon through the memories of General Doan Sinh Huong

Lieutenant General Doan Sinh Huong (76 years old, from Quang Ninh ) is the former Commander of the Tank - Armored Corps, former Commander of Military Region 4. Enlisted at the age of 17, he spent 43 years in the military. From a soldier to a general, he made many achievements in the resistance war against the US to save the country as well as in the cause of building the country. Especially the 2 titles of Brave American Destroyer at the age of 19, Hero of the People's Armed Forces at the age of 26.

Lieutenant General, Hero of the People's Armed Forces Doan Sinh Huong

PHOTO: NVCC

During the historic days of April, Lieutenant General Doan Sinh Huong had a conversation with Thanh Nien Newspaper about the fierce fighting years. He was proud that he had contributed a small part in the resistance war against America, with victory belonging to the heroic Vietnamese people.

The 17-year-old's desire to go to the battlefield

In 1966, at the call of the Fatherland, the young man Doan Sinh Huong, only 17 years old, volunteered to join the army, becoming a soldier of Division 308, Vanguard Army Corps.

At that time, the anti-American movement to save the country was going on very strongly. All villages were recruiting soldiers, the young people in the village were eager to join the army, everyone wanted to contribute. Mr. Huong had just finished 7th grade (equivalent to 9th grade now) and volunteered to join the army. At that time, he was about 1.4 m tall, weighed only 48 kg, not qualified. However, because he was "too enthusiastic", the doctor "closed his eyes" and let him join the army.

"At that time, not being able to join the army, not being able to participate in the youth volunteer force, young people felt like they were disadvantaged, not equal to their peers. In my mind, I never thought about studying, I only had a burning desire to go to the battlefield, to contribute to the Fatherland. Not yet entangled with love, during those years, I lived and fought carefree, completely," he said.

At that time, not being able to join the army or participate in the youth volunteer force, young people felt disadvantaged and not equal to their peers.

When he left for the army, his father only told him: "We still have a few fields, try to complete your mission and then come back to work." That saying followed him throughout the battlefield, giving him the motivation to overcome everything.

The first campaign Mr. Huong participated in was Route 9 - Khe Sanh (1967 - 1968, in Quang Tri), a battlefield that was likened to "the second Dien Bien Phu" because of its fierceness. Next, he fought in fierce battlefields such as Quang Tri, Route 9 - Southern Laos campaign, and was then sent to study at the Army Officer School 1. After completing the course, he was assigned to be the Tank Company Commander of the Armored Corps, then went to the Central Highlands battlefield.

Mr. Huong talks about the nickname "Central Highlands squirrel"

PHOTO: NVCC

With his "few to fight many" battles and his "variable" tactics, his teammates gave him the nickname "Central Highlands squirrel". Explaining this nickname, Mr. Huong said: "There were many times, amidst the rain of bombs and bullets, the situation changed continuously. To protect my teammates and complete the mission, I had to move quickly and nimbly from one position to another, looking for the enemy's weaknesses, or promptly giving orders to change the direction of attack and defense. Perhaps, my agility and dodging like a squirrel in the forest made my teammates give me that nickname.

My comrades in the unit called me "the Central Highlands squirrel" not only because of my speed but also because of my sudden and timely appearance in the most difficult places."

The "blossoming in the enemy's heart" tactic contributed significantly to the liberation of the Central Highlands.

At dawn on March 4, 1975, the Central Highlands campaign officially began. After a number of battles to create momentum and feint the campaign, on March 10 and 11, our army attacked with combined arms strength to liberate Buon Ma Thuot City. This was the decisive battle of the campaign, a battle that "hit the right nerve", disrupting the strategic command and overturning the enemy's defense in the Central Highlands, opening the 1975 Spring General Offensive and Uprising.

When attacking Buon Ma Thuot City, the Central Highlands Campaign Command decided to attack the 23rd Division Headquarters - the enemy's command center in Dak Lak Province and the entire Central Highlands. The way to attack this base was to use an elite force equipped with tanks and armored vehicles with the task of sweeping through the enemy's outer positions, then breaking straight into the center of the 23rd Division Headquarters using the "blooming" tactic, causing the enemy's command to be in disarray. All 5 armies attacking Buon Ma Thuot City took the 23rd Division Headquarters as the final meeting point.

Photo of Mr. Huong when participating in the Central Highlands campaign

PHOTO: NVCC

During the Central Highlands campaign, Mr. Huong was honored to participate in a battle considered the key of the key. That was the battle that penetrated deep into the 23rd Division Command Headquarters.

Mr. Huong recounted that at that time, Company 9 consisted of 10 tanks and was reinforced with 8 armored vehicles (K63) under his command, coordinating with an infantry battalion to penetrate deep into Division 23. This was a mixed deep thrust of the campaign including: tanks, armored vehicles and infantry, a bold way of fighting of the campaign.

"We secretly hid the tanks, then traveled more than 300 km of forest roads to the assembly point, 40 km from Buon Ma Thuot. Then, we attacked from the west straight into the enemy base, attacking from the inside out. This was a way of fighting that "blossomed in the enemy's heart", a bold, unexpected way of fighting that confused and disoriented the enemy's command; creating conditions for the attack forces to quickly capture Buon Ma Thuot City," said Mr. Huong.

Then, on March 17, Mr. Huong's 9th Company coordinated with the 320th Division to capture Cheo Reo Town - Phu Bon. After this battle, according to mission requirements, the T54B tanks of the 9th Company were assigned to another unit, the company was tasked with finding and collecting enemy tanks to fight with the infantry on Highway 7 through Phu Tuc, Cung Son and down to liberate Tuy Hoa (Phu Yen).

Tank 980 of Tank Company 9 commanded by Lieutenant Doan Sinh Huong penetrated deeply and captured the Command Post of Division 23 on March 10, 1975.

PHOTO: NVCC

In Phu Yen, Mr. Huong's tank destroyed the 4-gun 105mm artillery position on Nhan Thac hill. Company 9 and Division 320 captured Tuy Hoa town on April 1, 1975. In that battle alone, tanks commanded by Mr. Huong burned 2 enemy warships at Tuy Hoa estuary.

In particular, during the preparation at the assembly point, Company Commander Doan Sinh Huong had the initiative to attach 10 more artillery shells to each tank, increasing the number of combat shells of each tank from 34 to 44, ensuring long-term combat. This initiative to add more shells was later applied by the entire 273rd Regiment in the historic Ho Chi Minh Campaign.

We kept charging forward. Some of our teammates who opened the door to let the tanks in were shot down by the enemy. The next one continued to charge forward.

"The 980 tank that I once commanded has now become a monument of victory, a testament to the ferocity of that historic moment. At that time, the situation was very difficult, we kept charging forward, some comrades who opened the door to let the tank in were shot down by the enemy, the next one continued to charge forward. The battle was the embodiment of extraordinary will and determination," Mr. Huong proudly said.

After liberating the Central Highlands, Company 9 under the command of Captain Doan Sinh Huong participated in the historic Ho Chi Minh Campaign, in which the fierce battle at the gateway to Saigon on Bong Bridge became a legend about the art of "using the few to fight the many".

4 vs 24 suicide battle at the gates of Saigon

Mr. Huong recalled that on the morning of April 29, 1975, his 9th Company was assigned to capture and hold Bong Bridge at the gateway to Saigon so that our troops could advance. The company's tank convoy initially had 15 tanks captured from the enemy, but due to damage along the way from the Central Highlands and lack of spare parts, they were forced to abandon some tanks, leaving only 4 when they reached Bong Bridge area.

When he arrived at Bong Bridge, Mr. Huong discovered a column of 24 enemy tanks and 2 trucks advancing towards us. The situation at that time was extremely dangerous, our forces were too thin compared to the enemy.

"I felt a little guilty because I only had 4 tanks. However, this thought only flashed through my mind because I immediately thought of the important mission assigned by the Corps: "Company 9 must hold Bong Bridge at all costs". At that time, I pressed the radio to notify the company's Political Commissar (Mr. Huynh Van Dich) and ordered the tank formation to retreat and hide troops on both sides of the road," Mr. Huong recalled.

Realizing that a direct confrontation of 4 vs 24 would certainly be disadvantageous, the commander decided to order troops to hide on both sides of the road, waiting for the enemy tank formation to cross Bong bridge. When the enemy tanks crossed the bridge one after another, the leading tank was about 500 meters away from him, he ordered fire, causing the leading tank to catch fire, blocking the entire convoy.

Next, he ordered to shoot the last tank but the bullet missed, he immediately fired a second shot, the last tank burned. Thus, the front was blocked, the tail was locked, the enemy was forced to rush into the rice field and return fire frantically.

Mr. Huong and his relatives took a photo next to tank 390.

PHOTO: NVCC

"At this time, with fewer vehicles but high fighting spirit, and the advantage of terrain ambush, I calmly commanded each sniper vehicle to attack the enemy formation. We focused fire on key positions, taking down each vehicle one by one. When about 12 enemy vehicles were burned, the enemy completely lost the ability to fight. They began to panic, abandoned their vehicles to surrender or tried to flee and were destroyed by us. In just over an hour, we held Bong bridge, causing the enemy formation to flee in disarray," Mr. Huong recounted.

After that battle, Mr. Huong's 9th Company consolidated its formation and continued to advance past Hoc Mon to attack the enemy's Quang Trung camp and then attacked the Bay Hien and Lang Cha Ca intersections, Tan Son Nhat airport and the puppet general staff.

"My success is all thanks to my teammates"

After the country was liberated, Mr. Huong was one of six individuals in the entire army honored to be awarded the title of Hero of the People's Armed Forces.

Mr. Huong (right) was awarded the title of Hero of the People's Armed Forces.

PHOTO: NVCC

"To be honest, I fought without thinking about titles or rewards. At first, I didn't think I would be recognized as a hero. When I was instructed to make achievements to receive additional rewards, I still didn't think about this honor. When they searched carefully, most units in the 3rd Army Corps introduced my name. That surprised me a lot," Mr. Huong said, adding that the noble award was for him, but it was also an honor from the collective.

I fight without thinking about titles or rewards.

Mr. Huong once intended to leave the army, but after receiving the title of Hero of the People's Armed Forces, he reconsidered and decided to continue to serve the army long-term, strive and work.

Mr. Huong talks about the photo when participating in big battles

PHOTO: DINH HUY

"That title was not the reason I joined the army, but it became a great motivation for me to continue to contribute. Looking back, I realized that achievements are not only personal efforts, but also solidarity and support from teammates. For me, every achievement and success I have had up to today is thanks to my teammates who have always stood by my side," Mr. Huong was moved.

After that, Mr. Huong was sent to study in the Soviet Union, returned as Brigade Commander at the age of 34, then Division Commander at the age of 37. At the age of 41, he became Commander of the Tank - Armored Corps, then became Commander of Military Region 4 and retired under the regime in 2010.

Mr. Huong when holding the position of Commander of the Armored Corps

PHOTO: NVCC

During his time as Commander of the Tank and Armored Corps, Lieutenant General Doan Sinh Huong always wondered how to make tanks not only a means of combat but also a powerful assault force, capable of operating in all terrains from mountains to plains. For tanks, high mobility (able to travel on permitted terrain) and strong firepower (ability to fire quickly and accurately) are required.

I always think about how Vietnam can produce tanks, instead of having to buy them.

"One thing that always makes me think is how Vietnam can produce tanks, instead of having to buy them. I think that to have long-term combat power, we need tanks and autonomous technology to develop armored forces," he said.

Source: https://thanhnien.vn/tran-4-xe-tang-ta-doi-dau-24-xe-tang-dich-tai-cua-ngo-sai-gon-qua-ky-uc-tuong-doan-sinh-huong-185250429210802735.htm