Colonel Nguyen Manh Tuong has served in the
following units of ARVN:
- Graduated in January 1st, 1955 – Thu Duc Reserve Officers
Promotion #5 For the People (1954-1955) ~ Same with
Brigadier-General Le Van Hung and Lieutenant-Colonel Nguyen Van
Huong Rinh (Contact Services/ Technical Directorate), with the rank
as of Second-Lieutenant and served in the Airborne Corps.
- Involved in the coup with General Nguyen Chanh Thi and
incarcerated at Con Dao island prison (1960-1964)
- Bureau #3 Chief (Contact Services/ Technical Directorate)
- Technical Directorate Headquarters
- National Police
- 22nd Infantry Division
- Sub-Zone Binh Dinh
- Infantry Division #5 (Brigadier-General Le Nguyen Vy’s Assistant
in Operations)
- Prisoner at Hoang Lien Son (North Vietnam)
- Prisoner at Xuan Loc Z30A (South Vietnam)
- 1993 sentenced to 12 years imprisonment with the charge of trying
to overthrow the Communist Govenment
- Released in 1998 thanks to the intervention International
Commission
- Emigrated to U.S. in 1999 (Program H.O.)
- Passed away in June 2011 in San Jose California
- Buried in Southern California
http://TSNKT.blogspot.com
The War history of the ARVN is a military history with so many
famous and glorious victories and the ARVN has been hailed
internationally as one of the top combative forces in the world, but
it is also an army full of bitterness, sorrow, shame, torment,
humiliation by being forced to succumb in the most painful way. The
ARVN has fought bravely with victories which are remembered now and
later forever. There were ARVN generals, talented and clever
commanders , brave and virtuous, upright who were honored. There
were heroes who died for the Nation and who continue to be
worshipped in the Nation’s spirit, and also there were the
well-trained combative units which continue to shine brightly in the
military history. There were sites where fierce battles happened
that continue to resound from this long time ago until today, and
also, forever later.
But it is a pity that there were so many anonymous soldiers who
fought and scared to death the enemy, then who have quietly make a
sacrifice of their lives to protect the freedom for theircountry,
and there were talented and clever commanders who were forgotten,
then disappeared in the darkness of time.
This unintentional injustice which guiltlessly went by with time is
like adultery; was it becausethey were secondary warriors compared
to the reservist forces , the Infantry Divisions ...? These Regional
Forces and Popular Forces, inherently equipped and also
insufficientlysupported about logistics, they were considered
sub-combat units, but in fact they were thecore and indispensable
units of the war that, day and night had to face the enemy, without
having any carefree moment like to go back to the the city-rear as
the reservists did after thebattle, to be rewarded and warmly
welcomed.
It is a pity that, these men and no one else, had to sacrifice
themselves to protect every inch square of land, to the point that
they even refused any reward, including spiritual rewards. Anexample
of such a case was about a Popular Forces platoon leader, who
combined also the position of My Hiep Village Chief, in the Phu My
District, Province of Binh Dinh who refused the honour nomination of
Hero Warrior in 1973 – He didn’t accept the reward of a Taiwan trip;
he begged Colonel Nguyen Manh Tuong to allow him to stay to be able
to defend his village. He said:
- "Please Colonel allow me to stay home. If I leave now, My Hiep
Village would be precarious! ". We have to add that the local
guerrillas were well known as tough and merciless; "StoneChurch",
“Ba Dan Slope" were name places not unfamiliar with Province Binh
Dinh people, thanks to the atrocious and brazen local group of
guerrillas.
One of the forgotten areas was the battlefield of Binh Dinh and also
were the soldiers of the"Tay Son, Fabric Tunics Peach Flag" land.
And this article should be seen as a belated apologyof a surviving
soldier of the Binh Dinh battlefield.
Binh Dinh battlefield - not later – was already always a violent war
zone during the resistance fighting against the French. Territories
names like An Khe, Hoai An, An Lao. . . were foreverterrible marks
for the French expeditionary army, partly because of the strategic
location of these lands, and also because of the local people.
During the period of the resistance against the French, the French
expeditionary army, despite so many many strives, had never pacified
and controlled the area, and it was also why a not small number of
patriots were deceived by the communists from Hanoi who had raped
the People label and convinced these men to valiantly fight in their
ranks.
After the Geneva Accords, some of them regrouped to the North, while
a large number stayedto quietly build their infrastructure. The
people of Binh Dinh, with the patriotic tradition of theland of
Quang-Trung, were propaganda tricked by the disguised People flag,
and it was why numerous Binh Dinh people looked towards Hanoi. But
these people’s ethos is the distinction between Nationalism and
Communism and this trait lead to the tragedy of a merciless
conflict.Knowing this, the Communist Military Region 5 had always
considered the Binh Dinh battlefieldas a decisive one, forcing them
to put all efforts, propaganda, and manoeuvre to promoteslaughtering
one another and building up hatred.
Binh Dinh battlefield had always involved the most veteran units of
the Communist Military Region 5. When Chu Huy Man was the Region
Commander, he used to maneuver the "heroic"Division 3 Gold Star ,
and the To Die Battalions, the 405th Special Reconnaissance
Battalion which was rewarded the red flag, with the Regional
Regiment and the elite District units underthe command of the most
fanatic and cruel officers, not to mention the reinforcement in 1965
by the Phu Yen Local Regiment commanded by the “one-breasted Nguyen
Thi Lanh, nicknamed the immortal Female”.
Binh Dinh battlefield erupted violently in the early months of 1965,
while the Republic of Vietnam was floating in instability. Fierce
battles taking place all around, stretching from Phu Ly to Bong Son
with front line Phu Ly, Dai Thuan, Phu My, Pass Nhong, Diem Tieu,
Van Bao, Phu Cu. . . seemed to have started at once. It was not by
hazard that suddenly, in September of 1965, the Red Elder Division
(Aero-calvalry First Division), then the 101th Division, the 173rd
Parachutist Brigade which were the most combative of the American
troops had to take turns to be present at Binh Dinh, to control An
Khe and Kon Hanung Secret Zone. It was not without reason that the
first rated Tiger Division of the Korean Army was assigned to
protect security along Highway 19, but couldn’t fulfill the complete
safeguard of this vital route.
Binh Dinh province was considered the largest in the country with an
area of about 10,000 kilometers square, extending 120 km in length
from Cu Mong Pass to Binh De Col, and stretching 90 km across from
Phuong Mai Point onto the boundary with Pleiku Province, with 3 / 4
of the area as immense jungles, including the secret zone of Kon
Hanung in the North of An Tuc district, bordering the provinces of
Kontum and Quang Ngai. Secret zones An Lao, Van Canh, Vinh Thanh,
Base 226th between the three districts of eastern Vinh Thanh,
western Phu My and southern Hoai An. They called this secret zone as
the iron triangle encompassing the mountainous region of My Tho
belonging to the District of Phu My, where they hided their units
then pushed out for the most violent attacks . The registered
population count in January 1973 was 996,673 people (this figure was
not absolute), divided into 14 districts: Hoai An, Hoai Nhon, Phu
Cat, Tuy Phuoc, Tam Quan, Van Canh, Nhon Binh, and Nhon Dinh.
(Later, Vinh Thanh, Tam Quan, Van Canh were transformed to
Administrative Correspondence Directorate, and only An Lao, the
scene of Double Springs, Hill of the Cross fierce fightings in 1964,
has been lost.)
As of the end of 1972, the Regional and Popular Forces belonging to
Binh Dinh Sub-zoneincluded the Headquarters of the 2 Groups 271st
and 272nd, 18 Battalions of Regional Forces,12 Independent
Companies, 620 Platoons of Popular Forces (not mentioning the number
of Country Building Forces and People's Self-Defense Forces). To
reinforce the battlefieldsituation, there were the 22nd Infantry
Division with 4 Regiments: 40th, 41st, 42nd, 47th but theRegiments
40th and 41st must be positioned permanently in Binh Dinh. The 2nd
Corps only had the 4 Regiments of the 23rd Division and 2 Regiments
left of the 22nd Division distributed evenly for the rest of the
provinces of the Corps responsible territory. In addition, during
the most crucial period, Groups 6th and 4th of the Rangers were sent
to reinforce to guard thethree districts north of Binh Dinh. Even
with such a large force, it was still not enough tospread out and
pacify.
The last civil Chief of Province was Mister Bui Thuc Duyen, and then
after that, the transition was accomplished with the officers of the
RAVN at the end of 1963: Colonel Tran Van Tuoi,Colonel Nguyen Thanh
Sang, Major Tran Dinh Vong , Major Thinh, Lieutenant-Colonel LeTrung
Tuong, Lieutenant-Colonel Tran Dinh Vong (second assignment),
Colonel Nguyen MongHung, Colonel Phan Minh Tho, Colonel Nguyen Duy
Bach, Colonel Nguyen Van Chuc, ColonelHoang Dinh Tho and the last
Province Chief concurrently also Sub-zone Chief was ColonelTran Dinh
Vy.
Colonel Nguyen Van Chuc, a professional senior officer of the Corps
of Engineers became Chief of Province combining the position of
Sub-zone Chief in mid 1971, with the sub-zone Depity Chief as
Colonel Ha Mai Viet (Armoured Army), and Chief of Staff as
Lieutenant-ColonelNguyen Van Cu from Army’s Ordnance. This was the
period when the officers who didn’t belong to fighting units had to
deal with the heaviest military pressure on the battlefield of Binh
Dinh.
During this violent situation, the key positions were filled in by
officers who had served in Sub-zone Binh Dinh as long as at least 10
years, growing up through battle experience, very knowledgeable of
lethal sites and of personnel but they were considered as at a too
low-level (Major), not worth for command and leadership. So Colonel
Chuc submitted the demand to the Joint General Staff for 50
Lieutenant-Colonels to replace the incumbent officers. JGS approved
and transferred 30 officers of the rank of Lieutenant-Colonel of all
branches to Binh Dinh Sub-zone. JGS supplied 16 of them, and 14 by
the Army Corps 2 Headquarters to meet the requirements of Colonel
Chuc. The vast majority of these middle and senior level officers
were disappointed, feeling like been exiled with these mismatched
positions. The only person who accepted the job with all his heart,
with wisdom and enthusiasm was Lieutenant-Colonel Nguyen Manh Tuong.
He left as Director of the Center of Operations for 2nd Army Corps
to become Logistics Deputy Chief of Staff under Army
Lieutenant-Colonel Nguyen Van Cu, the Chief who used the PRC25 like
a telephone ... Fortunately, Lieutenant-Colonel Nguyen Manh Tuong
came, responsible of a modest position but with talent and a great
military mind, coupled with enthusiasm and a pure heart. It was this
dynamic Commander who won glorious victories, rescueing Binh Dinh
which seemed almost lost with the Division 3 Gold Star completely
invading the three Binh Dinh northern districts of Tam Quan, Hoai
Nhon, Hoai An. Major Hong Bao Hien, Hoai Nhon District Chief died in
the battleground, and the defending forces of the three districts
had to retreat by sea because of the overall strength of the enemy.
Soldiers were confused , the city of Qui Nhon was abandoned, 70% of
the population fled to the South. In the meantime, battles broke out
everywhere. The 22nd Division Regiments from De Duc (Phu My), were
mobilized to strengthen the front of Tan Canh. Colonel Dat,
22ndDivision Commander and a number of staff officers were captured,
the situation became an extreme chaos, and Qui Nhon city was
bombarded. Sub-zone Headquarters hardly had any adequate plan to
deal with a situation which was getting more critical.
The Operation Center of sub-zone Binh Dinh was solidly built by the
U.S. military as an underground fortress, fully furnished, capable
to withstand the enemy bombardment, includingair strike, well
defended but was still destroyed by infiltrated traiterous elements.
Major ThaiXuan Lu, and two officers (one Korean - one American)
became war casualties, Captain BuiTrong Thuy seriously injured. The
Operation Center was completely destroyed.
Previously, the Center Director was concurrently assumed by the 3rd
Bureau Chief, and it comprised of 1 air support officer, 3 officers
L19 Air Observation for 3 shifts, each one consisting of 1 officer +
1 non-commissioned officer + 1 private. Since the Center was
fortified, due to the battle demand, 3 U.S. advisers teams including
1 major + 3 captains + 3privates also assumed the shifts parallely
with the Vietnamese ones. Besides, the Center was reinforced with an
ALO / FAC air force team, 1 navy officer and a sophisticated
communicationsystem with experienced audio specialists.
The author who wrote this worked at the Center from the time that
Chief Warrant Officer LeVan Loc was Bureau 3 Chief,
second-lieutenant Hua as air support officer. After a short time,
when Hua was transferred, I was assigned to replace him in the L19
Air Observation team, including lieutenant Lia, second-lieutenant
Phu, Chief Warrant Officer Sy, Chief Warrant Officer Tuan. In those
days, sometimes Sub-zone Head was Major, with the assistant only as
captain (Captain Nguyen Be) and the chiefs of Staff like Captain
Thai Sanh Tham, Captain TranNgoc Dien, Captain Do Vu, Captain Trinh
Tieu. With passing time, even having gaining experience, they only
moved up slowly the laddle, their titles not changing.
At the end of 1971 Lieutenant-Colonel Nguyen Huu Thong became Center
of Operations/Binh Dinh Sub-zone Director . About three months
later, he was appointed Commander of 42ndRegiment, 22nd Division.
(Colonel Thong committed suicide at the beach of Qui Nhon on
March31st 1975 when the 42nd Regiment retreated from An Tuc to the
stand and die position at AnKhe Pass. Here 42nd Regiment fighted off
F10 Communist Divisions, refusing them the passing to spill down
from An Khe Pass, killing 600 enemies. F10 had to make a detour
around the Nam Trieu Chain to run over and invade Qui Nhon. Colonel
Thong together with Colonel Thieu’s 41st Regiment pulled back to
liberate the city, beating off the F10 and Communistlocal forces,
then stayed to defend to death Qui Nhon until the last bullet.)
I would like to recall that when Colonel Thong left, I also
submitted to be assigned to the position of Binh Dinh Political
Warfare Company Commander. The next year in 1972 because of the
demand of the war, I was called back to the Operation Center to
assist Major Nguyen NgocXuan, Head of the 3rd Bureau also
accumulating the title of Center Director. The Center role was to
monitor the war situation, to recognize all the activities of the
defense forces in the province, to ask for flare lighting, to ask
for emergency artillery support depending to the battle situation,
and to evacuate the wounded.
Only with territorial forces consisting with 18 Local Battalions, 12
Independent Companies, 620 Popular Forces Platoons, the Center had
to be able to verify the 3 habitual troops and ambush points for
each platoon. This meant that every night the Center received
encoded reports from the units, decoded them, then updated on the
map "Friendly Activities" with all occurring military operations
throughout the province with statistics of friendly and enemy
casualties. The Center had to record emergency aerial strikes, and
planned every detail for the next day early morning briefing. This
was done by the officer on duty and the officer assistant who would
brief had to master every detail and to answer with certainty any
event within 24 hours. Even the results of the air strikes by the
USAF or VNAF must be initialled and taken full responsibility by the
Center.
It was a turbulent and schizophrenic period. Three District Chief
majors who had lost battles were transferred to become the 3 on-duty
Teams chiefs, and captains who had plenty of experience and who
mastered thouroughly their duties were pushed down as
assistantofficers. Among these 3, only Major Thai Xuan Lu tried hard
and fulfilled his responsibility, but the other twos, usually were
absent with vague reasons supplied from the residence ofColonel Ha
Mai Viet, the Sub-zone Deputy Chief, then I had to directly replace
these absent on-duty Teams Chiefs!
(The reason for me to write down a lot is to explain how qualified
and worth I was to writeabout war in Binh Dinh, and about the
accuracy of victories by the local Popular and Territorial Forces.
And the more important one was that I was later lucky and proud to
be placed directlyunder the authority of Lieutenant-Colonel Nguyen
Manh Tuong.)
Lieutenant-Colonel Tuong was transferred to Binh Dinh with the new
responsibility as Deputy Chief of Staff for Military Operations
while assuming also the position of Center of Operations Commander.
With his dynamism plus a spirit of selfless and infinite service for
the country, added to a shining talent, he had overshadowed
higher-level commanders, and this made him an exile: he was ordered
to establish immediately a Light Command Post on the top of the
mountain Ba Hoa without any road exiting down from it, and therefore
he had no more opportunity to permanently administer the Center of
Operations. Yet after the destruction of it, he was suspected and
investigated. . .
Fortunately, he escaped the sword of death thanks to the fact that
he came down to the Center no more than once, by been so busy at Ba
Hoa Mountain. Not only him, but I was alsosuspected to be an
underground communist when Colonel Dat, the 22nd Division Commander
and a number of his Field Command Post officers were captured.
Colonel Chuc worked to be promoted to Binh Dinh Field Commander
because he wanted to be able to mobilize all the forces at will; it
was why Colonel Chuc usually stayed at the 22ndDivision Headquarters
at Ba Di Mountain (about 15 km flight distance from Qui Nhon on top
of a large hill) as a real Division Commander should behave. One
day, in the afternoon, Qui Nhonwas shelled, causing injuries to
three civilians. I had to communicate directly with Colonel Chuc at
the Division Headquarters. After having reported everything to him,
he ordered me through the Post Hot Line:
- “Call Major Sang to pass my order to pull out 2 platoons of the
Popular Forces at the Mountain Han and Vung Chua to defend the
city!”
Abandoning these two high positions meant allowing the communists to
bombard Qui Nhon. I gasped by hearing his order, fearing that I
didn’t hear him correctly. I asked him to repeat the oral order.
Once again, Colonel Chuc repeated his order then hung up. I was
sweating, then phoned Lieutenant-Colonel Tri (Chi?) to check about
this order. He confirmed that he was standing besides Colonel Chuc
and also heard clearly this order. I asked Lieutenant-Colonel Tri a
favour by recording this in detail in the in-duty diary book of the
Division Center of Command and I also wrote accurately in the diary
book of the Sub-zone Post of Command. At the same time, I personally
invited Major Sang to come by the Center to accuse reception of this
order, and also to communicate again with Colonel Chuc to be
detailed about it. After that, I didn’t know if Major Sang directly
asked for confirmation with Colonel Chuc or not, but immediately
that night, the VC rained cannon-balls on Qui Nhon, and the
placements of their guns were exactly Han Mountain and Vung Chua,
from where the two platoons of Popular Forces just withdrew by order
of Colonel Chuc. I reported to Colonel Colonel Chuc, he asked:
- "Then where were now the two platoons of Popular Forces at
Mountain Han and Vung Chua?"
I repeated his afternoon command of the day, he yelled in the phone:
- "I did not order this to you, it was the VC who ordered it to
you!"
And hung up. Less than 30 minutes later, Lieutenant-Colonel Dieu,
Military Security Chief ofthe Zone came to investigate; I explained
everything and gave to him the diary book of the Center.
Lieutenant-Colonel Dieu had to hurry to the Division Command Center
to compare,then after that, Lieutenant-Colonel Dieu informed me that
Colonel Chuc had confirmed his order, but was too busy and forgot
about it (!).
Up to now, 30 years have passed, I always remember and is grateful
to the 22nd Division Center of Command Lieutenant-Colonel Chief. I
did not have any discontentment with Colonel Chuc, and instead
always respected him. Not only that, I was very impressed by his
militaryengineering professional talent. The reason that I mention
this to the readers is to let themsympathize with him as not been
properly used, creating for Lieutenant-Colonel Nguyen Manh Tuong too
many obstacles in all aspects. Fortunately, not long after that,
Colonel Chuc was appointed Director of Military Engineering, and
promoted to Brigadier-General, along with the majority of
Lieutenant-Colonel rank officers that he asked for who were then
really "liberated."
Lieutenant-Colonel Tuong was appointed as Political Warfare College
Chief of Staff , but heasked to stay at the battlefield of Binh Dinh
which was really boiling. Colonel Hoang Dinh Tho, the actual Quang
Tin Province Chief, was transferred to become Province Chief
combining the position of Sub-zone Binh Dinh Chief. Colonel Tho was
an outstanding officer in many aspects;from there on, the face of
the Sub-zone changed completely with men under him:
- Deputy Chief: Lieutenant-Colonel Nguyen Manh Tuong
- Chief of Staff: Lieutenant-Colonel Nguyen Duc Trung
- Bureau 1 Chief: Major Vo Duc Tin
- Bureau 2 Chief: Major Kieu Van Sam
- Bureau 3 Chief: Major Nguyen Ngoc Xuan
- Bureau 4 Chief: Major Du Van Ha
- Deputy Chief of Staff/Political Warfare: Lieutenant-Colonel Nguyen
Lam
- Bureau of Information Chief: Major Quy
And the Center of Operations was given back the old stable days.
After efforts to relieve the enemy pressure on the southern
districts, on May 7 of 1972 the operation to re-capture the northern
part of Binh Dinh with 22nd Division as prime force has cleared the
three northern districts of the enemy forces. At the same time, the
22nd Division forces belonging to Military Zone 2, together with the
Rangers had fought off the communist forces from Sa Huynh
embouchure. The war situation relatively calmed down. However, under
the military view, this was the quiet period before the storm, when
the enemy was re-organizing and preparing for another fierce battle.
Predicting that, Lieutenant-General Nguyen Van Toan of Military Zone
2 Headquarters specifically summoned Colonel Hoang Dinh Tho,
Province Chief and also Sub-zone Chief with Lieutenant-Colonel
Nguyen Manh Tuong Sub-zone Deputy Chief to the villa Hoang Cam at
Qui Nhon. Following concerns about the enemy’s intentions, he said
(according to Lieutenant-Colonel Tuong later recount):
- "2nd Corps with too large an area of responsibility, is also a
region with permanent enemy pressure, yet under me, there are only 2
Divisions, the 22nd and 23rd, almost 8 Infantry Regiments. Just Binh
Dinh has permanently hold on 2 regiments, with the 6 left, I have to
cover a too large territory. With the ever increasing enemy
pressure, I need you two to help me; in any way try to use the
Regional and Popular Forces to replace some of the responsibility of
the two "boys" 40 & 41 (40th and 41st Regiments) to allow me to have
more ability to cope with the situation ahead, that I predict, will
become more and more violent. I suggest Tho to assign the military
responsibility to Tuong; I put all my faith in you two! ".
After that, I never saw Lieutenant-Colonel Tuong having a minute of
rest. Even when his wife and children from Saigon came to Quy Nhon
to visit him, they had to wait the whole week without been able to
see him. This dedicated warrior had forgotten his personal happiness
and even self-igonred. He shared his troops’ austere life . He was
everywhere, always around the smallest units to take care, to
comfort and to settle his soldiers’concern . He monitored, checked,
selected, organized, trained the Regional and Popular Forces, the
men of which were picked among the units with proven fighting and
heroic experience, then specially trained as shock and
reconnaissance units. These soldiers, through training courses,
could cope with any entrusted special duty, including the Hawk
tactic with heli-transport. Sub-zone reconnaissance inter-teams with
two companies, consisting of brave and experienced soldiers were
placed under the command of Lieutenant Khuynh, one of the elite
officers of the armed forces. These inter-teams accomplished
glorious victories, and didn’t fail his trust in them.
Thus, after a short time, the Regional and National Forces’s spirit
raised up, self-confident that they were worth any veteran forces.
Not only had them protect safely the vital ways and effectively
stopped any ennemy intention but also they were continuing to expand
their controlled area. By the end of 1972, the security situation
got better day after day and soldiers’ spirit went up while at the
same time the enemy was cornered in.
The Clearance battle of De Gi
The De Gi Base was a tip of land, an embouchure between Phu My and
Phu Cat Districts. It was an important naval base under the command
of Navy Lieutenant- Commander Cat. To the north, through a wide
creek water which lead from the sea to the Freshwater Marsh, was the
Radio Detection Station built alone on a mountain top. Highway 1 was
at the west of the base, linking to it from the Phu Ly bridge was
the 21km long provincial road running parallelly to a small river
which flowed into the Nuoc Ngot Marsh, sandwiched between the
northern slopes of the Ba Mountain (also known as Hon Chung). De Gi
Base, a strategic embouchure with the sophistically equipped Radio
Detection Station, could control a vast East Sea area. From here,
the connection lead to base zone 226th among mountains, adjacent to
the 3 districts Phu My, Hoai An, Vinh Thanh, and open down to a
large plain at the South, including the Binh Khe , Phu Cat, An Nhon,
Tuy Phuoc districts .
Since the Sa Huynh embouchure was recaptured by 2nd Division ,
cutting off any possibility of transporting enemy food and weapons
from the East Sea to the inland logistics, Division 3 Gold Star’s
feet were on fire because the orders from Hanoi and 5th Military
zone were by all means to win at least one gate for use in the area
after the armistice to take effect. All efforts of the Division 3
Gold Star and their local forces were useless in trying to extend
their control zone, and instead, the Regional and Popular Forces
forced them into a passive status, always been hunted down. Chu Huy
Man must ultimately accept the Full Force plan submitted by the
Communist Major Vo Van Ung. Chu Huy Man appointed him as Brigade
Chief to implement this plan (which Ung had pledged to finally
achieve the victory). This Brigade consisted of 7 veteran Battalions
belonging to the 3 Gold Star Division:
5 Infantry Battalions
1 Special Mission Battalion
1 Artillery Battalion
Total forces of the Phu Cat District Group
The strict order was that by any cost, Base De Gi had to be taken,
regardless even if the truceagreement already came into effect. The
fight broke out at dawn on January 27th 1973. TheRadio Detection
Station occupied by the Navy Coastal 21st Group was unexpectedly
overwhelmed by the ennemy Special Mission Battalion.Genh Mountain
was a mountain caplooking down at the Navy base, and stationed by a
former unit of the Korean Tiger Divisionwhich had quietly withdrawn
without notice to transfer it to Vietnamese forces, allowing the Phu
Cat District communist forces to occupy it.
At 8 am on January 27th 1973, right at the first minute that the
Armistice Agreement came in effect, Base De Gi was attacked by the
full force of the Communist Brigade. From Genh Mountain, from the
Radio Detection Station, thousands enemy rounds of ammunition poured
into the base. The naval forces defending the base, only about 1
tenth of the enemy forces, heroically fought back and repulsed
several waves of assault, causing heavy loss of human lives to the
enemy. Met by this fierce resistance of the defense force, they used
speakers to urge the defending force to surrender. Through the
communicating system, Major Cat condemned this violation of the
Armistice Agreement. Their Brigade Commander, Lieutenant-Colonel Vo
Van Ung theorised that by the Hanoi time, the truce didn’t start
yet. At the same time he beheaded a Popular Forces man and threw the
headless corpse on a 3-wheeled Lambretta onto the entrance of the
Naval base, with threats of "Surrender to live, to fight is to
beheaded, no one will escape! "
Instead of scaring the defenders with this brutal act, it had
increased the soldiers’ determination to become like steel, who
squashed every suicidal attack of the enemy. The enemy's artillery
from two high positions rained down, the helicopters couldn’t land;
at the same time, enemy fire from the Genh Mountain and the Radio
Detection Station dominated the whole area.
This offensive violation of the Armistice Agreement by the VC was
reported to the International Commission for Control of the
Agreement stationed at the Training Camp of Phu Cat with the request
to be recorded to the minutes. Facing this violent behaviour of his
Communistbrothers, the Polish Delegation Head could’t deny it, and
had to sign the minutes (later this Polish Head was sacked!).
Amid all the Communist efforts to encroach and appropriate the land,
then to secure the population before and after the cessation of
hostilities, the residential local units and forces in Binh Dinh in
particular, and around the whole country in general, had to spread
out everywhere to stop the enemy's plot. The ennemy encountered
fierce combativeness of the Regional and Popular Forces who not only
prevented them to achieve their intention, but also severely
destroyed their might in every battle. Even the main vital roads :
National-Highway 1, from Pass Cu Mong to Binh De, Highway 19 from Ba
Di to Pass Mang Giang, the soldiers of R&P Forces had unbelievably
and absolutely secured the traffic.
Facing this situation, the ARVN General Staff has urgently airlifted
the 7th Rangers Inter-Group commanded by Lieutenant-Colonel Bui Van
Huan from Military Region 1 as enforcement, with instructions just
to be used only as an auxiliary force, not as prime combatant one.
2nd Corps held an emergency meeting at Phu Cat Airport to cope with
the situation, including the Corps Commander, Lieutenant-General
Nguyen Van Toan, 22nd Infantry Division Commander Major-General Phan
Dinh Niem, Binh Dinh Sub-zone Chief Colonel Hoang Dinh Tho, Binh
Dinh Sub-zone Deputy Chief Lieutenant-Colonel Nguyen Manh Tuong,
Rangers Inter-Group Commander Lieutenant-Colonel Bui Van Huan,
Deputy Army Chief of Qui Nhon City Lieutenant-Colonel Nguyen Van
Thanh, Phu Cat District Chief Lieutenant-Colonel Khong Trong Huy. .
. The meeting was to plan the military clearance operations and to
select the commander for this expedition. At that moment, an express
official message came from the Presidential Palace. President Nguyen
Van Thieu had intructed to give absolute command power to
Lieutenant-Colonel Nguyen Manh Tuong and required to avoid as much
as possible damage to the people in operational areas.
(Later it was known that the Phu My and Phu Cat Districts people
through their elected representatives, filed a request to President
Thieu to give the responsibility for military operations to
Lieutenant-Colonel with the reasons as: with the expedition Eagle
800th , thepeople loss was heavy, and later with the Korean forces
defending this area, it was even worse. But particularly with
Lieutenant-Colonel Tuong, when he came to Binh Dinh, even withplenty
of operations and more clashes with the Communists, the people had
no loss of life or property ...)
Thanks to the people of Binh Dinh’s trust, the former military
operations were named Total Triumph. The name for military
operations to clear De Gi by Lieutenant-Colonel Nguyen ManhTuong was
Peace to the People. As the military commander, Lieutenant-Colonel
Tuong asked 2nd Corps Commander Lieutenant-General to have all the
operations absolutely keptconfidential. (Even after that,
Lieutenant-Colonel Tuong still always kept any military initiatives
absolutely secret, ordering Battlefield Headquarters to stop any
radio communication until the final victory.)
This security policy had lead to another great victory: the
elimination of the 405th HeroicSpecial Mission Battalion Commander
Major, capturing its whole commanding staff, confisticating numerous
weapons when attacking into their den at the boundary of Binh
Dinhand Phu Yen, breaking their advancing punch to attack the fuel
and ammunition depots of theMilitary Zone II at the Pass of Binh Son
(Binh Dinh ).
Lieutenant-Colonel Nguyen Manh Tuong kept this military operation
specially confidential, even the Operation Center did not know, no
one knew and even the participating units who were the selected
Popular Forces for this raid only were informed at the last minute.
Until theLieutenant-Colonel himself went on air at 3 am to order the
Operation Center and the MilitarySecurity plus the Military Police
to come to the airport to have the prisoners and war booty
delivered.
Even with the communist attempt to destroy the Air Force Military
Base 60th, by the counteroffensive battle to relieve Phu Cat Airport
in May 5th 1974, Lieutenant-Colonel Tuong had useda cavalry surprise
attack to hit "Even the Thunderstorm couldn’t close its ears",
annihilating the 2nd Regiment of the 3 Gold Star Division.
The request was fully approved, and forces were placed under the
Lieutenant- ColonelNguyen Manh Tuong, including:
7th Rangers Inter-Group: reserve forces
2 Battalions belonging to 41th Regiment, 22nd Infantry Division
1 Battalion belonging to 42nd Regiment, 22nd Infantry Division
1 M113 Armoured Vehicles Group
1 Artillary Battalion
1 Advanced Research Company
1 Battery of 115 mm
1 Battalion of Tuyen Duc Regional Forces
The correlation comparison between us and the enemy was, we 3,
ennemy 5, i.e. 3 / 5. Theexpected result was not really very bright
with an offensive military operation to relieve troops by a subdued
number compared to the enemy combatants, while they were waiting in
a pre-selected and arranged front by them. And added to that, the
order was to clean up everything in only 7 days.
While everyone agreed that this military operation couldn’t end up
with good results, Lieutenant-Colonel Tuong still believed in
victory. Using the tactic of surprise, of absolute confidentiality,
he then requested Brigadier-General Phan Dinh Niem, 22nd Infantry
Division to allow him to use the Division Advanced Research Company
to rapidly conquer Genh Mountain,and a Rangers Inter-Group Battalion
to retake the Radio Detection Center which were the two high spots
been occupied by the Phu Cat District Communist First Group and one
Special Mission Unit belonging to the 3rd Gold Star Division which
already sweared to die to defend the place. Brigadier-General Niem
refused with the reason that the Advanced Research Company was in
the period of convalescence, therefore unable to fully accomplish
the assigned duty. Feeling the Division Commander’s worry of
casualties, Lieutenant-Colonel Tuong didn’t mind and said that he
would use instead 1 Regional Forces Company to accomplish this
honourific responsability.
No one, or at least except Corps Commander Lieutenant-General Nguyen
Van Toan who already knew Lieutenant Colonel Nguyen Manh Tuong’s
military capabilities and talents as the former Director of Corps 2
Center, did trust Lieutenant-Colonel Tuong. Major-General Phan Dinh
Niem doubted about the Regional Forces’ effectiveness.
Lieutenant-Colonel Tuong affirmed that an army combativeness didn’t
depend on its name but on its training, its spirits and also on the
unit commander himself. He would only ask Lieutenant-General Corps
Commander to promote right away to Captain the Lieutenant commanding
the Regional Forces Company. Lieutenant-General Toan accepted this
request with the condition that he to be the victor .
Immediately after leaving the meeting room, Lieutenant-Colonel Tuong
went to the Regional Forces 209th Battalion under Captain Nguyen Ba
Gat. He met privately with Lieutenant Phuoc, the 1st Company
Commander of the Regional Forces 209th Battalion and let him know
that his unit would have to conquer Genh Mountain with the speedy
tactics just by using only grenadesin the battle, and he promised,
if victorious, he would immediately on the field add the captain
stripes on Lieutenant Phuoc’s uniform. Lieutenant Phuoc promised
that he would easily take Genh Mountain in no more than 30 minutes.
(Lieutenant Phuoc said that, since childhood, he used to herd the
buffalos in this area, and heknew better than anyone else all of the
Genh Mountain terrain, and attacking with grenadeswas the most
effective way). Lieutenant-Colonel Tuong discussed the expedition
conduct withthe officer whom he understood and chosen. He only
required Lieutenant Phuoc not to disclose this secret military
operation with anyone, even to his closest ones.
On N1 day, before midnight, one Rangers Company was dropped down
like thunder to attackon the Radio Detection Station; in less than
half an hour, its had controlled the terrain, kicking out from the
target the forces of 3rd Division Golden Star with the enemy leaving
behind numerous personal weapons and dead bodies.
Date N at 5 am, Lieutenant Phuoc’s 209th Company came closed to the
front then suddenly started to attack with hundreds of grenades;
just 15 minutes later, the Phu Cat District Communist ran away,
leaving on the scene deads, wounds and weapons. The 1st Company of
the RF 209th Battalion victory was so complete and brief that nobody
could believe it . On its side, it had only one soldier slightly
injured by his own grenade fragments. At the same time, Captain
Tri’s Battalion of the 42nd Regiment (becoming in 1975
Lieutenant-Colonel) from the southern foot of Ba Mountain moved over
the summit of it then stormed down to attack the ennemy rear. The
surprise of the assault was so that the enemy Brigade Commander
threw away his personal bag filled with documents to flee. The 2
Battalions of the 41st Regiment together overwhelmed the unprepared
ennemy who only could run away.
Also on day N, the M113 Armoured Vehicles Group landed on the beach
a few kilometers south of the base to attack the enemy forces which
were besieging it; nearly all the ennemy artillerycontracted, their
soldiers even trampled on their comrades dead bodies to escape.
The pursuit operation started and just five days after the date N,
the military operation was finished with a complete victory, with no
loss on the friendly units. The military operation AnDan 1/ 73
accomplished its goal and calmed down the population with the
involvement of the Dalat Political Warfare Student Officers Company
during their civil affairs practice before the graduation of the
Third Promotion of Political Warfare Officers. Just in 5 days, a
complete victory, the re-establishment of a stable life for the
people of the Phu My and Phu Cat areas, without any people loss of
life and property, ensuring the total accomplishment of the
Presidential Palace orders were really deserving Binh Dinh People's
trust and love bestowed on them.
And the next day, President Thieu invited all the ambassadors to pay
a visit to De Gi which was just cleared of communist forces, still
plenty of evidence of a violation of the armistice by theVietnamese
Communists , and the President treated them with the reputed raw
fishes recipes of De Gi, the famous land of these quiet soldiers,
the Binh Dinh Regional and Popular Forces...
(Around June 1973, Communist Major Vo Van Ung suddenly defected to
rally to South Vietnam. By his account, , the De Gi defeat took out
3 / 4 combatants of the Communist Inter-Group, the majority dead
plus numerous wounded and priosoners taken. Division 3 Gold Star was
shaken, Military Region 5 amazed, Hanoi in shame. Ung was downgraded
to aspirant. Whenrallying, he earnestly pleaded to meet the author
of all his misery: Lieutenant-Colonel NguyenManh Tuong.
Vo Van Ung, a native from village Hoai Nhon, Binh Dinh, was a battle
seasoned famous officerof the Division 3 Gold Star who raised up
from the rank of a private. Lieutenant-Colonel Tuong received him
with kindly smile, gentle and simple. Ung frankly admitted that he
could not haveimagined that one day he would be defeated with such a
shame. But he really admired theunusual and lightning military
operation that he never even dare to think of. But there was only
one thing that he didn’t esteem much:
- "Sir, if I was you, my two remaining battalions would not be able
to escape, no one else would survive, with air bombing and artillery
and completely cornered."
Lieutenant Colonel Tuong still gently smiling, streched out the
military operations map andsaid:
- "Look here, I already expected what you worried, however, if I did
like that, there would be so much people loss of life and property.
For me, even if to be able destroy completely your 2 battalions only
to have just one people uselessly dead, I decided not to! ". Ung
couldn’t expect that in his life, he was to meet a military genious,
and specially with a so philantrophic behiavour in this dead or
alive struggle ...
Clearance battle of Phu Cat airport
After De Gi battle, Division 3 Gold Star military potential was
almost destroyed to none, enemy's military activities were reduced
almost to nothing. The two 4th and 6th Rangers Inter-Groups were
distpatched to control the ennemy at Hoai Nhon and Tam Quan
Districts and a section of Phu My district which was the 41st
Regiment responsibility. The security situation was relatively
stable. Highways 1 and 19 ran smoothly and were Regional and Popular
Forces responsibility. The Communists sent a letter expressly
denouncing Lieutenant-Colonel Nguyen Manh Tuong as the one who was
encroaching upon their already controlled areas, violating the
armistice. It was ridiculous because at the Phu Cat Center of
Training, even the Armistice Control Commission Head was forced to
recognize that the culprits were the Ciommunists themselves. In
addition, the ambassadors of all countries had personally visited
the base shortly after it was retaken, and were the most reliable
witnesses. Therefore, this letter wasn’t taken into consideration..
During the period from January 1973 to May 1974, more and more
hamlets with the securitycategory "V" were gradually raised to “A”,
the secure area surrounding Qui Nhon City kept expanding, despite
the ennemy effort to counter-attack which failed completely .
At the same time, although the military situation was relatively
calm, it was the hardest periodfor Lieutenant-Colonel Tuong. He was
present everywhere, improving the training of the units, and also
reorganizing and coordinating them. One of the units that he had put
all the effort to establish then train was the Sub-zone Joint
Reconnaissance Team. He went to every Regional and Popular Forces
platoon to try to find out and select each combatant. He tried to
understand all the soldiers’ personal situation, life, thoughts and
feelings, and he picked out courageous and astute individuals to
give the commanding responsibility from squad leader and above.
Lieutenant Khuynh was appointed Sub-Sector Joint Reconnaissance Team
Commander, with the strength of two companies. All his hard work had
been compensated in the battle to relieve Air Force Tactical Base
60th of Colonel Nguyen Hong Tuyen which was stationed at Phu Cat
Airport.
Air Force Tactical Base 60th
Phu Cat Airport was a major military airport, built by the U.S. Air
Force in the years 1966-1967. It sit at the boundaries between the
three districts of An Nhon, Binh Khe and Phu Cat, stretching towards
South West - North East direction, running from the Van Son
Mountains, besides the Con river, then raising to Mot Mountain,
closed to the Phu Ly bridge of Phu Cat District. PhuCat airport was
huge, even larger than Phu Hiep airport (Phu Yen). All jet aircrafts
could use it at ease. When U.S. troops left Vietnam, Air Force
Colonel Nguyen Hong Tuyen assumed responsibility as Air Force
Tactical Base 60th Commander. From here, all types of aerial support
mission were born to effectively cover combat operations in a huge
area.
On a Sunday morning in May 1974, Colonel Hoang Dinh Tho, the
Provincial Chief and also Sub-sector Binh Dinh Commander was in
Saigon for a meeting. Lieutenant-Colonel Tuong was Commander ad
interim. It was still very early. Warrant Officer Nguyen Dinh Doc, a
non-commissioned officer full of talent and experience (he lives now
in Canoga Park, Southern California) of the Sub-zone 2nd Bureau
submitted to Lieutenant-Colonel Tuong an ennemy decoded message with
only a mere 10-word "At Chu Bai unit already in set-up regrouping
position". This meant that Gold Star 3rd Division was about starting
a major operation, however, its goal remained unclear.
As a commander who always mastered the friendly forces’ situation,
combined with his ownseparate intelligence gathering system, he
deeply knew the enemy capability, its strength andhabits, and also
the Gold Star 3rd Division commanders’ personalities. He carefully
and objectively followed and updated all the enemy forces movements,
de-selecting along the procedure its goals and its troop moving
ability.
Finally he affirmed that the goal of this “At Chu Bai" was the 60th
Tactical Air Force Base.Immediately he called the base commander
Colonel Nguyen Hong Tuyen, who luckily was athome (Base 60th), and
informed him that there was something extremely important to
discusswith and asked him to wait there for him to come because the
magnitude of the problemcouldn’t be spoken by phone. Colonel Tuyen
urgently sent an helicopter to immediately pick up
Lieutenant-Colonel Tuong .
To maintain confidentiality, they were the only two present in this
secret meeting. Lieutenant-Colonel Tuong reporeted to Colonel Tuyen
that tonight the ennemy would attack his Base. So named “At Chu Bai”
enemy forces should certainly be a very powerful force.
Base defense forces included Air Force military personnel and
Regional Forces Battalion 263rdwith about 600 Army soldiers under
Major Pham Huu Ky which was assigned at the beginning to reinforce
the base protection. However, given the huge size of the base,
defending forceshad to be streched too thin. The air-strip lied
along the direction North-East-North and South-West-South, and
forced the Base to accomodate along it.
Eastern flanks of the base were dense residential areas of the three
districts of An Nhon, Tuy Phuoc and Phu Cat where the enemy couldn’t
hide and move heavy weapons. So it was for sure that the communist
offensive would come from the west side of the base, which was
sparsely populated. Far away, in the West was Vinh Thanh Mountain,
borderlessly adjacent to the enemy secret sanctuaries. The northern
plains of Binh Khe District, from De Mound upwards were stunted
grounds which, after year and year of torrential rains pouring down
from Vinh Thanh, were transformed to eroded zones plenty of dried
eel-like cracks, ideal for troop movements, secret and very closed
to ennemy target from the Vinh Thanh Mountain eastwards, adjoining
the Phu Cat Airport.
The western slopes were dominated by two high hills. One at
North-West-North, inside the defense perimeter, Hill 69th, was
occupied by a platoon of Regional Forces Battalion 263rd. The other
one right at the West was Hill 151th about 1 kilometer away from the
Base with a Popular Forces platoon belonging to the Sub-sector Binh
Khe.
To attack a target as large and important as Air Force Tactical Base
60th, Lieutenant-Colonel Nguyen Manh Tuong estimated the ennemy
forces to be from the regiment level and above, strengthened by air
defense batteries, by artillery , by missiles units to counter the
base planes, not allowing them to be airborn, and at the same time,
used to destroy the arsenals and the critical targets thanks to the
detailed maps provided by the traitors. The Base Commander Colonel
ordered a total curfew, at the same time, every defense plans were
quietly carried out to be ready for the enemy. Facing such a serious
situation, Lieutenant-Colonel Truong didn’t have any reserve force
other than the Sub-sector Reconnaissance Inter-group commanded by
Lieutenant Khuynh with about 250 soldiers. To defend and not let the
enemy overwhelm the Base was essential, but to counterattack to
destroy the enemy was a more important issue.
Right at that moment, a convoy transporting a Rangers Battalion to
the Lam Son Training Camp for fighting skill upgrading was passing
through. After surmounting many difficulties in this Sunday morning,
Lieutenant-Colonel Tuong was allowed by Major General Phan Trong
Chinh to dispose of it to strengthen the defense of the airport, but
with the promise not to use it for attack and clearance. Realizing
that with the remaining forces, he couldn’t attack directly but
would have to use the cavalry to carry a quiet at the beginning then
thundering and speedy thrust to the enemy flank at the most
unexpected time. Lieutenant- Colonel Truong asked the Military Corps
permission to use the Armoured Vehicles Group stationed in An Khe to
protect the roads for supply convoys from Qui Nhon to Pleiku. But
Lieutenant-General Toan, Corp 2 Commander was in Saigon for meeting,
Aspirant-General Cam, Deputy Commander was not present, and the
on-duty officer informed that they didn’t know where he was.
In such an urgent situation, Lieutenant-Colonel Tuong had to fly the
specially dispatchedhelicopter by Colonel Tuyen to An Khe, met
Lieutenant My, the Armoured Group Commander, pretended that the
Corps had put his Group under his command, then also ordered the
temporary suspension of supplies convoys to the Highlands until new
order. The Armoured Group was ordered to speed down An Khe pass to
Binh Khe to wait for order.
He explained the attack plan. The Armoured Group and the
Reconnaissance Inter-group’ responsibilities were to push on the
southern flank of the enemy, with the northern Con Riverbank as
starting point. His plan was that Reconnaissance Inter-group
accompanied the armoured carriers to thrust northwards with the
maximum fire power, with maximum speed, without stopping to collect
the war booty, the goal was to split apart the enemy front. In
themeantime, he would use the Rangers Battalion to fake a direct
front strike force, with all the firing power of the artillery to
engage the enemy.
Lieutenant-Colonel Tuong landed on the north bank of the Con River
about 50 m far away fromQuang Trung Temple, then lead Lieutenants My
and Khuynh into it to accomplish the Incense Burning ceremony,
praying the protection and benediction of the valiant hero who had
swiftly anihilated the 20 thousand Qing troups in the Spring of
1789. Then together they flew the helicopter to reconnoiter the
terrain because the area encompassing Binh Khe North, PhuCat West,
An Nhon offered many disadvantages for a lightning attack by tanks
and required the commanders to rigorously master the topography.
Using just one Armoured Group plus one Reconnaissance Inter-group as
the attacking spearhead to be the main force to assault enemy troops
with the strength and firepower 10 times more than his wasn’t
something anybody dared to try, not even to only think about. But
inpast and present war history, from East to West, there were famous
generals who accomplished victory in many situations thanks to the
elements of surprise and speed.
That Sunday night, the Tactical Air Force Base was ready for the
enemy. And indeed, the Communist army started with thousands of all
types of ammunition rounds. The Gold Reconnaissance Battalion moved
in impetuously to attack the high post 151th defended by a Popular
Forces Platoon belonging to Binh Khe Sub-sector. Hill 151th was lost
and occupied by the enemy who used it to dominate the airport. Only
Hill 69th located inside the North-West-North perimeter defense,
defended by a Battalion 263rd Platoon which sweared to fight to
death, had repulsed several attacks of the enemy. The Gold Star 2nd
Regiment, nicknamed as the "ace playing card" expected with the
element of surprise and firepower advantage to easily breach the
defensive line and overwhelm the base. But it didn’t know that we
were waiting for it, then fiercely pushing back all tentatives.
Meanwhile, at the front line, the Rangers Battalion, equipped with
heavy weapons, started to open thundering fire, and with disguised
vehicles as tanks, draw all the fire power of the enemy who believed
that our tanks started to attack ... Right while the communists were
attacking the base, the Sub-zone Reconnaissance Inter-Group silently
moved forwards to hit the ennemy’s left flank. In the dense
darkness, hypnotized by the faked outwards attack of the tanks
(disguised by the Rangers), the whole Gold Star Regiment and their
reinforce units condensed all their fire power on it. They didn’t
expect that Death was closing on their left side. Only when the full
firepower of the armored forces and the Reconnaissance Inter-Group
deafly hit them like a thunderstorm that terror submerged the enemy
line, and still not yet able to turn to fight, layers and layers of
enemy forces were cut down ...
In the dark night, when they started to realize of the sudden attack
on their left flank, torrents of fire already poured down on them,
multitude fell dead, others wounded, while many threw away their
weapons to flee to be finally gunned down. The entire Gold Star
"Hero" Regiment 2nd instantly was broken in pieces and its men just
tried to run to escape... The Gold Star Division 3rd Reconnaissance
Battalion from the 151th hill didn’t know anything, until a company
from the Sub-sector Reconnaissance Inter-Group lead by Lieutenant
Khuynh hit them from behind with just grenades. The Gold Star
Reconnaissance Battalion Commander was cut down from the first
minute, the whole unit been only able to run in all direction for
their life without even keeping their weapons, terrified by the very
unexpected thrust carrying death from their rear ... Ennemy deads
sprawled around on the hill, among them some of the Popular Forces
who were sacrified at the start of the battle. It was a terrible
retreat, leaving behind numerous diversified weapons for our troops.
Conversely, as a sacred miracle, our attacking forces ended up
almost unscathed.
Lieutenant Khuynh took off the personal bag from the Gold Star
Division 3rd Reconnaissance Battalion Chief dead body. All the
enemy's intentions were recorded in the captured documents showing
that this battle was just the beginning for a much bigger one on the
whole territory of Binh Dinh Province. Their plans were spoiled and
broken from the beginning. While the surviving Regiment 2nd remnant
of the Gold Star Division 3rd was fleeing away, Sub-sector Phu Cat
organised an urgent heli-mission with 2 Popular Forces Platoons to
jump down on the battlefield as planned to clean it up. They
confisticated a brand new type of “missile thrower” with
disseminated huge rockets (this was the newest weapon of the
Communist China firing with an up-to-date and sophisticated aiming
mechanism. The United States had asked to borrow it to study,
because it was the most advanced missiles firing weapon by Communist
China been taken in battlefield in the South Vietnam, many times
more accurate than rocket launchers previously found). Also were
seized:
- one 120 mortar
- four 82 cannons
- one 122 cannon
The number of individual and heavy weapons, plus human casualties
left on the battlefield was uncounted, almost the whole enemy forces
were destroyed. The negligible loss offriendly forces was a real
miracle. The only exception was the sacrifice of the Popular Forces
Platoon stationed on Hill 151st at the beginning of the battle.
After the victory, Brigadier-General Cam, Deputy Commander of 2nd
Corps, proposed to General Toan to punish Lieutenant-Colonel Tuong
with 30 strictly forbidden days by having disposed of the Armoured
Group without the authorization of this ‘wandering around general”
general (!!!), while the Aerial Tactical Base 60th two Air Force
lieutenant-colonels were promoted to Colonels right on the front,
and only a restricted number of officers, non-commissioned officers
and privates were promoted ... This injustice deeply surprised and
outraged Colonel Nguyen Hong Tuyen as well as everybody involved in
the operation. Even Air Force Commander Lieutenant-General Nguyen
Van Minh also was angry. He had paid a visit to the Base to hold a
victor celebrating banquet and congratulated by speaking about
Lieutenant-Colonel Tuong as a “saviour” of his Service Arm. He also
ordered all his men to never forget all the amazing effort of the
man who had saved them and brought victory to them, without missing
to always giving priority to Lieutenant-Colonel Tuong public and
private demands . From now on, Colonel Tuyen always tried his most
to satisfy all Lieutenant-Colonel Tuong’s request for air support.
It was the reason why the 22nd Infantry Division put up the protest
against this with the General Staff which sent a Colonel to
investigate. Colonel Tuyen explicitly replied:
- "It was so easy to understand, Lieutenant-Colonel Nguyen Manh
Tuong has helped us with all his might when we were in danger, given
us emergency aid and quickly liberated our shotdown crews.
Meanwhile, the Division did not do anything for such requirements.
Therefore, naturally we have to support with all our capability
Lieutenant-Colonel Tuong.
To treat like that the commander who ‘fathered’ the Phu Cat Battle
victory had vexed Lieutenant-General Minh who couldn’t stay silent.
So in a meeting of generals in Saigon, with the presence of General
Tran Thien Khiem, the current Prime Minister, Lieutenant-General
Minh had raised this question. Khiem asked General Cao Van Vien
about it to have Vien explained that the “quotas were completely
filled!”. General Khiem ordered Lieutenant-Colonel Tuong’s file to
study and immediately signed a decree promoting him to Full
Colonel.It was around August 1974.
After being promoted to Colonel, a belated reward, Colonel Tuong was
transferred as Operations Deputy Chief for General Le Nguyen Vy, 5th
Infantry Division Commander. Since that day, I didn’t see him again
until late 1977 when I met him at Hoang Lien Son Prison during a
labour work of carrying some kinds of bamboos. I stood respectfully
in military protocol to greet him, choked with tears . He remained
relaxed as in the old days, still with the same eyes and same smile
of the old time. It seemed that the maltreatment in prison didn’t
affect him. This old soldier who had won so much respect from me
before, now made me feel so much more respectful with his impassive
way of calmly enduring degrading humiliation of a jail life.
Seven years later, in 1984, I had the chance to see him again at the
Z30A Prison Camp, Xuan Loc, where he lived quietly an exile life as
a true religious devout man. He taught me about Zen, about inner
energy strength, about how to master the "deep-long-soft-slow"
energy. Zen meditation really helped him through everything,
including disease which couldn’t invade the old warrior’s body. He
very rarely had any family visit, leading an extremely frugal life,
but yet he still shared his humble tiny gifts, for the unfortunate
co-prisoners, regardless of relationship, just keeping for himself
the salty soy sauce jars. In prison, I heard many people recalling
his time as 5th Division Operations Deputy Commander, recounting the
marvellous final withdrawal of his military career, with all his
noble qualities, not only by 5th Division officers but also by many
people who lived close to him during his prison life .
It was until 1992 that I met him again in Saigon. He lived alone in
an alley on Cong Ly street.Day after day, he visited those who
needed treatment from him. He did not accept anyremuneration from
patients cured by him. In free time, he ascended the Vinh Nghiem
Buddhist Pagoda bell tower to read the Books of Prayers.
In 1993, I was imprisoned again by the Vietnamese Communists with
the crime "conspiracy to overthrow the government". But fortunately
the World intervened and I was released in late 1998.
In early 1999, I came to the USA thanks to a belated examination and
acceptance under the H.O. Program. And it was so much joy to be able
to see him again. Accepting the request of the military writers
group which were publishing the fascicule "Military History Nameless
Battles", I have asked his permission to write a modest essay
concerning the period of time he has attended and led the battles in
the hard and dangerous battlefield of Binh Dinh, with all the
glorious victories accomplished by the silent soldiers of the
Regional and Popular Forces whom by his talent and virtue were lead
to miraculous victories while self controlling to assure at the most
people’s life and property . Many times he ignored my most sincere
and ardent requests. While I just wanted to record the
accomplishment of a talented military commander into the Military
History, the man had clean up everything from his mind for his Zen
world. And also because, with the tragic death of the Army of the
Republic of Vietnam in the dark April 1975, all victories have
become so painful, and remind them hurt so much that every one of us
just had to silently repent his or her deeds which had contributed
to this defeat.
With him, there are 3 scourges in the world which are:
1/ Small deed but big emolument
2 / No talent but high status
3 / Tiny mind but grandiose scheme
I absolutely felt myself for his pain, but I told him "The Republic
of Vietnam was forced to be killed by many reasons. However, the
Army of the Republic of Vietnam did fight very bravely, so many
people have died, sacrifying their blood for a Free Vietnam, and by
this time these anonymous warriors, these million people are living
in the darkness , in a shameful ill-treated existence, in pitiful
suffering ... So, raise our voice, PLEASE GIVE BACK THE HONOUR TO
THESE SILENT SOLDIERS, give back to the future history the existence
of a Republic of Vietnam and of an Army of the Republic of Vietnam
which had dear sons and daughters worthy while unyielding, heroic
while sacrifying, glorious while dying unjustly. Mention that, in
honor of these soldiers who fought, then lain down like a cool
spring, is like offering the fragrant incense for our suffering
Vietnam Motherland. And finally, thanks to my arguments, he finally
agreed to let me write the lines which are bringing back the glory
for the South Vietnam soldiers.
Translated from Tran Thuc Vu
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