The heroic spirit of Ba Gia will forever resound.

VHO - Returning to the Ba Gia battlefield after 61 years, the soldiers of yesteryear still retain their pride in the historic victory. The spirit of Ba Gia continues to be preserved, becoming a driving force for today's generation to uphold the heroic tradition, build and protect the Fatherland.

Mr. Le Van Tho, former reconnaissance squad leader and special forces officer of Military Region 5, emotionally recalled his heroic memories.

Today, the Ba Gia region is a peaceful expanse of green stretching across the countryside. In the solemn atmosphere beside the Ba Gia Victory Monument, former soldiers silently offer incense to commemorate their comrades, memories of a glorious battle 61 years ago resurfacing as if it were yesterday.

Despite having returned to the old battlefield many times, each step on the land once stained with the blood of fallen comrades still evokes deep emotion in these former soldiers. For them, the Victory at Ba Gia is not only a glorious milestone in the nation's history but also a sacred memory of their youth dedicated to the Fatherland.

Mr. Le Van Tho, 80 years old, former reconnaissance squad leader and special forces commander of Military Region 5, slowly lit an incense stick before the victory monument. The old soldier's voice lowered as he recalled the days leading up to the campaign.

Ba Gia Victory Monument - a significant site for educating about revolutionary traditions.

In late 1964 and early 1965, the forces of Military Region 5 secretly deployed to prepare for the battlefield. Mr. Tho's squad was reinforced to Regiment 1, carrying out reconnaissance missions in the Go Cao outpost area - an important enemy stronghold.

“The objective of the campaign was to attack key points, destroy enemy reinforcements, and gradually wear down and eliminate enemy forces. Therefore, reconnaissance had to be extremely accurate. We secretly infiltrated deep into the enemy's defense system, thoroughly familiarizing ourselves with every underground bunker, ammunition depot, artillery position, and command post to prepare for the decisive battle,” Mr. Tho recalled.

During those difficult times, the bond between the army and the people became a tremendous source of strength. Despite their own hardships, the local people were always ready to protect and shelter the officers and soldiers.

"Some households sheltered two to three soldiers. The people were the direct rear support of the campaign. Without the people's support, it would have been difficult to achieve the resounding victory at Ba Gia," Mr. Tho affirmed.

Officers and soldiers of Regiment 1 respectfully offered incense to pay tribute to the heroic martyrs who sacrificed their lives for the independence and freedom of the Fatherland.

In the summer of 1965, acting on the resolve of the 5th Military Region Command, the Ba Gia campaign officially commenced. From the night of May 28 to the early morning of May 29, 1965, for the first time, the main forces of the 5th Military Region launched a large-scale offensive into the delta region.

With the innovative combat motto "Grab the enemy by the waist and strike," our troops adopted close-quarters, bold, and unexpected tactics, flexibly combining mobile attacks, ambushes, and surprise assaults. In a short time, our forces completely controlled the battlefield, swiftly annihilating the enemy's elite units.

On May 31, 1965, the resounding victory at Ba Gia went down in history as one of the outstanding achievements of the army and people of Zone 5. This victory contributed to the failure of the US imperialist "Special War" strategy on the Southern battlefield.

“The campaign was highly effective. We attacked at close range, minimizing the enemy's firepower and mobility. From that victory, the saying 'As fast as lightning, as swift as Ba Gia' became a source of pride for the people and soldiers of Zone 5,” Mr. Tho recounted emotionally.

It wasn't just those directly fighting with weapons; behind the front lines, the medical corps also played a crucial role in the overall victory.

A moving reunion of former soldiers from the Ba Gia Regiment as they return to their old battlefield 61 years after their historic victory.

Mrs. Truong Thi Lai, 81 years old, a former nurse at the C12 Clinic of the old Son Tinh district, still vividly remembers the tense days of preparing to receive wounded soldiers.

“We knew there would be a major battle, so we focused on preparing medicine, medical equipment, and emergency response plans. In extremely difficult conditions, the entire unit was determined to receive and provide first aid to the wounded as quickly as possible to save our comrades' lives,” Ms. Lai shared.

More than six decades have passed, but the courageous spirit and unwavering determination of the soldiers and people of Ba Gia remain as valuable as ever. The victory at Ba Gia has become a symbol of Vietnamese military art, affirming the strength of people's war and the remarkable maturity of the armed forces of Military Region 5.

Notably, this was the first time on the Southern battlefield that our main forces completely annihilated a mixed enemy combat group equipped with modern weapons. For this outstanding achievement, Regiment 1, Division 2, Military Region 5 was awarded the Second Class Liberation Military Merit Medal and an honorary flag bearing the inscription: "Loyal to the Party, devoted to the people, the victory at Ba Gia marked the first major achievement." From then on, the unit was proudly named the Ba Gia Regiment.

Continuing the glorious tradition of previous generations, officers and soldiers of Regiment 1 returned to their roots, offering incense to commemorate the heroic martyrs at the former battlefield.

The current generation of officers and soldiers of the Ba Gia Regiment are determined to uphold the heroic traditions, improve the quality of training, and enhance combat readiness.

Lieutenant Colonel Phung Ngoc Tuan, Deputy Commander of Regiment 1, affirmed: "Building on the heroic traditions of the Ba Gia Regiment, the officers and soldiers of the unit today always uphold their determination, actively train, improve their combat readiness, build a strong and comprehensive unit, and excellently fulfill all assigned tasks."

Sixty-one years have passed, and many witnesses to the Ba Gia Victory now have gray hair. Time may have moved on, but the spirit of Ba Gia lives on in the hearts of every citizen of Quang Ngai, in the glorious tradition of the armed forces of Military Region 5, and in the pride of the generations of officers and soldiers of the Ba Gia Regiment today.

That victory will forever remain an immortal epic of patriotism, indomitable will, and the aspiration for independence and freedom of the Vietnamese people.

Source: https://baovanhoa.vn/doi-song/vang-mai-hao-khi-ba-gia-232790.html