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Tank Brigade 203 continues heroic tradition
Winning every battle
In the historic April days, we visited Tank Brigade 203, together with officers and soldiers reviewing the glorious days in the Spring 1975 General Offensive and Uprising.
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Tank Brigade 203 practices marches. |
According to Brigade Commander Colonel Pham Manh Phi, upholding the tradition of "Winning every battle", the brigade organized marches to both fight the enemy and replenish its material resources, taking the enemy’s tanks to fight the enemy.
It joined other units to liberate Hue ancient capital (March 25, 1975); attacked the enemy with the strength of the combined army forces to break through the enemy's defense line at Hai Van Pass to advance to liberate Da Nang city (March 29, 1975); marched at a lightning speed, smashing the "steel shield" of Phan Rang, contributing to the liberation of the central coastal provinces.
Following the victories, the brigade quickly marched through the enemy's defense line in southeast Saigon, resolutely attacked the enemy, and provided timely support for the infantry force to make outstanding feats. When there was any chance, the brigade's tanks led a battalion consisting of infantry and armed forces to cross the Saigon Bridge.
On the morning of April 30, 1975, the battle took place fiercely. Many officers and soldiers heroically sacrificed their lives, including Ngo Van Nho. The bridge was arched, so the enemy could see our troops, but our soldiers could not see the enemy’s tanks on the other side of the bridge.
Therefore, our three tanks in the front were hit by bullets, getting torched, and the group had to stop. Facing the extremely difficult, complicated and fierce situation of the battle, under the enemy’s dense bombardment from many directions, Nho bravely opened the tank door to observe and directly used the flag to command the battalion formation to fight the enemy and cross the bridge to enter Saigon. He fell down before the victory moment.
With his particularly outstanding achievements in the resistance war against the US, on April 25, 2013, martyr Ngo Van Nho was posthumously awarded the noble title "Hero of the People's Armed Forces" by the Party and State.
After crossing the Saigon Bridge, the brigade's combat formation quickly fought to capture the central targets, including the Presidential Palace of the Saigon puppet government. The tanks quickly rammed the iron gate and entered the Independence Palace. The entire Saigon puppet government was captured alive. President of the Saigon administration Duong Van Minh read the declaration of unconditional surrender.
"Speeding up" in training ground
Following in the footsteps of their predecessors, officers and soldiers of the brigade today always passionately practice regardless of rain and sunny weather. At the training ground, right after the command to practice the combined driving-fire lesson, the tank crew members quickly maneuver to overcome the obstacles.
Mixed with the "roar" of the tank engine and the sound of the crawler on the muddy training ground are the loud, clear and decisive commands of the commander and the mighty vehicles "speeding up" to occupy the battlefield. With the quick and accurate actions of the officers and soldiers, the target is annihilated.
Despite unfavorable weather and high intensity of training, the officers and soldiers of Tank Brigade 203 seriously carry out the training programme with the highest determination.
Proud of the heroic tradition, promoting the achieved results, in the coming time, the Party Committee and commander of the brigade will continue to direct the unit to focus on making breakthroughs on new, difficult training contents; strengthening night practice and training and multi-day field marches; improve maneuverability and combat readiness, build regularity and discipline, create synchronous, solid, and absolutely safe changes; ensure good logistics and technical work for missions and improve soldiers' lives.
With outstanding achievements in fighting, building and defending the Fatherland, the brigade has been awarded many noble awards by the Party, State and Army. It has always been the leading flag in implementing the emulation movement of the Army Corps over the years.
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