C4 Hill in Ham Rong Ward ( Thanh Hoa City) is a relic associated with the glorious feats of arms of our army and people in the war to protect the historic Ham Rong Bridge. Although nearly half a century has passed, this place still bears the heroic mark of a bloody time.
The C4 Hill battlefield is located on Dragon Mountain, about 500m from Ham Rong Bridge.
The C4 Hill battlefield is located on Dragon Mountain, about 500m from Ham Rong Bridge. During the war, this mountain was not covered in green like it is now, making it an ideal location for our army to choose as an anti-aircraft artillery position to attack American aircraft.
The anti-aircraft artillery position on C4 hill was formed on May 31, 1965 with the main force being Company 4 of Regiment 228, Air Defense - Air Force. This was the main force during the period of fighting against the first destructive war of the American Empire at the "Ham Rong fire coordinates".
Road to the top of hill C4
On an area of about 120,000 square meters, the troops arranged an artillery position including a command bunker in the central area, two artillery platoons B1, B2, 6 batteries, a club bunker and two ammunition bunkers. On the roof of the command bunker, there were two positions less than one square meter wide and about 1.2 meters deep for the deputy company commander, deputy political commissar and equipment.
On the roof of the command bunker there are two positions less than one square meter wide and about 1.2 meters deep for the deputy company commander, deputy political commissar and equipment.
At the radar observation station (located on hill C5 not far away), the company commander and political commissar, when seeing enemy planes flying into range, ordered the command bunker to raise the flag so that the batteries could aim straight at the enemy and fire.
The anti-aircraft artillery position on C4 hill was formed on May 31, 1965 with the main force being Company 4 of Regiment 228, Air Defense - Air Force.
Surrounding the command bunker were bunkers, which were also the main fighting positions of the six artillery batteries numbered from one to six. Batteries 1-3 were located on the east side, while the remaining three batteries were located on the west side. The bunkers were originally built mainly of clay and reinforced with tree trunks or ammunition crates. Each bunker was about 8 meters in diameter and nearly 1.5 meters deep.
Club basement entrance
Inside each bunker there will be two small A-shaped bunkers, each just big enough for about two people to crawl inside. The A-shaped bunkers are for soldiers to hide in when the enemy drops bombs.
In 2013, the bunkers on the old C4 anti-aircraft artillery site were restored by local authorities, modeled after the memories of the soldiers who fought there. The old materials were replaced with concrete, painted to imitate wood and brown earth.
Inside the cellar is about 30 square meters wide, with two narrow entrances and exits. Inside are tables, chairs and some necessary items arranged neatly and cleanly.
The C4 hill battlefield became a terror for American pilots during the 9 years of bombarding Ham Rong, but also witnessed many sacrifices of our troops. The fighting position of Battery 4 - also known as the "death battery". According to historical documents, in the battle with the US Air Force on September 3, 1967, the entire battery of 11 soldiers heroically sacrificed themselves.
During the years of steadfastly sticking with the army and people of Ham Rong to protect the target, Company 4 fought more than 400 battles, contributing to shooting down 117 modern jet aircraft, including two B52s and one drone.
Batteries 1-3 are located in the East, the remaining three batteries are located in the West.
Right next to the location where Battery 4 fought in the past, there are still large bomb craters, traces of enemy bombs and bullets dropped on this hill.
Not far from the command bunker, to the west, is the club bunker used as a resting and living place for soldiers after battles. The bunker is about 30 square meters wide, with two narrow entrances and exits. Inside, there are tables, chairs and some necessary items arranged neatly and cleanly.
A bomb crater at C4 hill caused soldier Do Huu Toai to die in the battle on July 14, 1966.
On April 4, 1975, Company 4 left the C4 high point and marched to Nha Trang to protect the liberated zone, officially completing the historic mission of protecting Ham Rong Bridge. In 1969, Company 4 was the first unit of Regiment 228 to be honored by the State as a Hero of the People's Armed Forces.
Hill C4 was ranked as a national historical site in 1975. Two new large steles were erected to record historical relics and the list of 20 martyrs who heroically fell on the battlefield of Hill C4.
Statistics from Thanh Hoa Provincial Military Command show that in 9 years of fighting, the army and people of Ham Rong have protected the target, together with Company 4 fought more than 400 battles, contributing to shooting down 117 modern jet planes, including two B52s and one drone. After these feats, many martyrs have remained in this area.
Because the top of C4 hill is not too high, every day local people often walk or cycle up here to sightsee and exercise. The area around the old artillery site is now covered in green with pine forests and other large woody plants.
C4 Hill was ranked as a national historical site in 1975.
According to the representative of the Ham Rong Historical and Cultural Relic Management Board, every year, along with neighboring relics such as Ham Rong Bridge, Long Quang Cave, Power Plant, Dong Son Ancient Village... the artillery site on C4 Hill welcomes tens of thousands of tourists and locals to visit and learn about history.
Ha Anh
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