Lieutenant General, Hero of the People's Armed Forces Pham Xuan The: Let's preserve and cherish the value of today's peaceful life

Lieutenant General Pham Xuan The.

PV: Lieutenant General, the historic victory of April 30, 1975 is still a bright mark that lives forever in the hearts of every Vietnamese person. And, for those who were directly involved in that great victory, the joyful atmosphere of the entire nation celebrating the 50th anniversary of the Liberation of the South and the reunification of the country must have brought you many emotions?

Lieutenant General Pham Xuan The: The war has been over for a long time, but every April, many mixed emotions come back to me. It is the nostalgia of the years I lived and fought on the fierce battlefield; remembering the historic moment of the nation, completely liberating the South, unifying the country. Everything is still intact in my heart. In my memory, I cannot forget the comrades and teammates who fought and died with me in every battle. After that fierce war, so many of my comrades and teammates remained forever on the fierce battlefield in exchange for national independence. I and those who are lucky enough to return and enjoy a peaceful , happy, and prosperous life today would like to forever remember and be grateful for the sacrifices of the heroic martyrs.

PV: Although I have read and seen many articles, films, and documentary images about the great victory of April 30, 1975, about heroes like you... but for generations born in peace, there are still many things that are unknown about that historical moment.

Lieutenant General Pham Xuan The: In early April 1975, our army won a resounding victory, liberating a series of provinces on the southern front. At this time, the army and people of the whole country focused their efforts on Saigon - Gia Dinh, conducting a general offensive and uprising at the enemy's last stronghold, ending our nation's great resistance war against the US. During the historic Ho Chi Minh Campaign, I was the Deputy Commander of Regiment 66, Division 304, Corps 2. Regiment 66 was assigned the task of being the reserve force of the division, ready to replace Regiments 9 and 24 that were attacking and capturing the Nuoc Trong base and the puppet infantry officer school in the former Thai base. When Regiments 9 and 24 completed the task of capturing the above 2 bases, Regiment 66 was tasked with being part of the Deep Penetration Corps of Corps 2, quickly attacking the inner city of Saigon.

The photo shows him and his comrades capturing President of the Saigon government Duong Van Minh and Prime Minister Vu Van Mau from the Independence Palace to the radio station to announce their surrender.

At exactly 5:00 p.m. on April 29, the deep penetration force set off, the 66th Regiment along with the tank and artillery forces of the Corps marched into Saigon. On the march, we continuously faced fierce resistance from the enemy... At about 6:00 a.m. on April 30, we marched to the Saigon bridgehead. Here, the enemy forces on land and on the river were very strong, they fired fiercely at the liberation army formation. At this time, the superiors ordered us to use all means to capture the bridge and cross it, not allowing the enemy to destroy the bridge. After 20 minutes of fighting, our troops burned 2 enemy tanks on top of the Saigon bridge, burned and sank 2 enemy warships on the river, but the enemy still stubbornly resisted fiercely. At about 8:00 a.m. on April 30, in the face of our strong attack, the enemy's resistance weakened, then they fled. We quickly crossed the bridge to occupy the other end of the bridge, not allowing the enemy to destroy the bridge. At this time, the enemy's tank bridge was on fire fiercely. Each of our tanks had to move quickly because the fire was raging and the bullets in the tanks were still exploding violently.

In this battle, our army also lost 2 tanks; a number of soldiers were sacrificed, including the tank battalion commander who died right on the gun turret. Faced with such sacrifices and losses, our army became even more determined to liberate Saigon as quickly as possible. On the way forward, we crushed all enemy resistance. The enemy fled, the 2nd Corps' deep penetration force continued to advance deep into the inner city, divided into 2 prongs and charged straight towards the Independence Palace with the goal of quickly capturing and forcing the Saigon government to surrender.

PV: In the historic Ho Chi Minh Campaign, there were many battles with resounding victories of our army. But sir, the image of our army rapidly entering the Independence Palace at noon on April 30, 1975, arresting the entire cabinet of the Saigon government, and leading President Duong Van Minh to the radio to announce his surrender still makes many people emotional and proud.

Lieutenant General Pham Xuan The: At noon on April 30, after resounding victories everywhere, our troops marched straight into the Independence Palace. When the tanks crashed through the gates of the Independence Palace, my Jeep quickly rushed into the yard. At this time, soldiers from Company 2, Battalion 7 and tanks from Brigade 203 also rushed into the yard. We quickly got out of the car, some holding flags and guns in combat-ready positions, and entered the large building. I led my comrades to find a way to the roof of the Independence Palace to plant the Liberation flag, but when I reached the top step of the entrance to the corridor, a tall man ran up to me. He raised his hand and introduced himself: reporting to the commander, I am Brigadier General Nguyen Huu Hanh, assistant to President Duong Van Minh. The entire cabinet of Mr. Minh's government was in the meeting room, inviting the commander to come in and work.

Liberation Army tanks entering the Independence Palace at noon on April 30, 1975. Photo: Archive

Here, President Duong Van Minh told me: We already know that the Liberation Army is attacking the inner city, we are waiting for the Liberation Army to come in to hand over... In my natural reaction, I became serious and said loudly: You are the losers, you were taken prisoner, you must declare unconditional surrender, there is no handover! Whoever has weapons, put them down and hand them over to the Liberation Army!

I firmly ordered President Duong Van Minh and Prime Minister Vu Van Mau to quickly go on the radio to announce their surrender. At the same time, the liberation army went up to the second floor of the Independence Palace and continuously raised the liberation flag to signal that our army had captured the Independence Palace.

PV: After President Duong Van Minh announced his surrender, Saigon was completely liberated. At that time, the land and people of Saigon seemed to explode in joy of victory. As for soldiers like you, how did you feel at that time?

Lieutenant General Pham Xuan The: After our army captured the Independence Palace, the sound of AK guns exploded loudly in the streets. I thought our army was firing guns to celebrate the victory.

After President Duong Van Minh announced his surrender, on the way back to the Independence Palace, we saw the bustling atmosphere on the streets of Saigon. Soldiers and people poured into the streets together waving flags to celebrate the victory. The sound of gunfire celebrating the victory resounded everywhere… I, like millions of Vietnamese people, was happy because the war had truly ended; happy and joyful because we soldiers could return to our families and loved ones.

PV: During the arduous, fierce, and sacrificial resistance war, what haunts you until now?

Lieutenant General Pham Xuan The: We will never forget the memories of the arduous and fierce battle. But for me, what haunts me is the countless sacrifices of my comrades, especially those soldiers who heroically fell just minutes before the liberation of Saigon. How regrettable that was. Over the years, to somewhat ease the pain of the martyrs' families, I have always accompanied the search for martyrs' remains in all the old battlefields with the desire to bring back as many of my comrades as possible. This is also my gratitude for the heroic sacrifices of the heroic martyrs who contributed to the glorious victory of the nation, completely liberating the South, unifying the country, so that we can live in peace, happiness, and prosperity.

PV: After 50 years of war, our homeland and country have been changing and developing day by day. To have achieved this, more than anyone else, Lieutenant General is the one who understands the meaning and value of a peaceful and happy life today…

Lieutenant General Pham Xuan The: After 50 years of complete liberation, our country has developed rapidly and strongly; the people are living in prosperity and happiness. As the late General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong once said: "Our country has never had such a foundation, potential, position and international prestige as it does today."

We must understand that our ancestors and previous generations had to pay with the blood of the entire nation to have what we have today. During the war, our nation was an indomitable heroic nation. And in the current process of innovation and integration, our country is not inferior to any nation in the world... The soldiers of the Vietnam People's Army who returned from the war have always joined the entire Party, the entire people, and the entire army in building a rich and strong country and preserving peace; no enemy or force can shake the peace-loving will of our people.

On this occasion, I would also like to tell the young generation one thing: Know how to cherish the past, cherish history, inherit and promote the good values ​​of national traditions; strive to study, practice, maintain revolutionary achievements, and contribute to the cause of building and firmly defending the socialist Vietnamese Fatherland.

PV: Thank you very much, Lieutenant General!

Phuong Dung (Implementation)

Source: https://baohanam.com.vn/xa-hoi/trung-tuong-anh-hung-llvtnd-pham-xuan-the-hay-gin-giu-tran-quy-gia-tri-cuoc-song-hoa-binh-hom-nay-160413.html