Last days of
The 2nd Marine Battalion
March 1975 to the 30th of April 1975
Captain Kieu Cong Cu
A. Days in my native province Quang Nam :
On the 15th of March 1975, Major Tran Van Hop, the 2nd Marine Battalion commander, returned from a briefing at Marine Brigade 369 Headquarters. He said that the Battalion would commence movement on the following day. Major Hop spread an operation map on a table, which was made from scrap wood taken from several old Artillery rounds boxes.
I was chief of S3 of the Battalion. Looking at the map, I said, "Ah! I know this area".
With his eyes focused on the map, Major Hop asked with an indifferent voice, "Have you been there before?"
"Major, I was born there and have lived there since my adolescence. It is my native province."
"That may be very convenient for us. This evening, youùll talk to Major Giao and the company commanders over the radio to inform them about your knowledge."
That evening after having a discussion with them, I lay down, struggling to sleep. After many years of war, this time I was to return home to fight in my own native province. I did not know whether I should have been glad or sorrowful about the whole situation. The war had engulfed my native province since the day I started growing up. My father passed away early and this resulted in many complications - particularly the absolute hardship for my mother to take care of her children.
On the morning of the 16th of March 1975, rains ceased, but the clouds continued to hover over us. The whole Marine Brigade 369 progressed on a convoy in the following fashion: Battalion 6, Brigade Headquarters, Marine Artillery 1st Battalion, Battalion 2 and then finally Battalion 9.
Companies of the 2nd Battalion transferred position to Ranger Group 15, then moved to a gathering spot on the north of My Chanh River, National Route 1. Group B of Major Giao followed the 1st Artillery Battalion. I sat in the same vehicle with Major Hop, between two RTO’s. I noted each check point and then reported to the Brigade G3. Each check point stirred my memory with emotion. Residents in Phong Dien, Huong Tra, stopped their labouring in rice fields to look at the passing convoy with sadness in their hearts.
In previous years, from Gio Linh to Dong Ha, Quang Tri, whenever Marines withdrew, they followed, and whenever Marines recaptured a place, they would return back to their hamlet. For nearly five years of positioning in this area, Marines would usually feel nostalgic. The first truck arrived in Kim Long T-junction, a road leading to Thien Mu pagoda, Van Thanh. There was a large amount of lotus flowers surviving in the deep moat around Hue Old Citadel. The convoy passed Nguyen Hoang Bridge, with Trang Tien Bridge not far away, then Quoc Hoc School, and Dong Khanh School. (We did not see any Dong Khanh's school girls at this time.)
This was followed by the Hue radio station, Hue Post and railway station. The party continued in a southerly direction, passing by the Phu Luong training centre and Phu Bai airport - now as quiet as it was once bustling with life. At noon, we arrived to Phu Thu, then climbed Bach Ma pass. This region had a very good climate with a lonely, yet beautiful landscape. Residents had left the territory to avoid shelling. VC had built a secret sanctuary here and had named a regiment positioning known as the Mach Ma regiment. The procession ran along the blue seashore, passing by the villages of Lang Co, Truoi, and Cau Hai.
We finally reached Hai Van Pass. It was more than 10 kilometres long, dividing the two provinces of Thua Thien and Quang Nam. On top of the pass at various positions, the French army had built solid blockhouses to protect this unique, arterial road. In August 1974, VC Bach Ma ("White Horse") regiment occupied this pass, blocking circulation and hindering civilians from fleeing Hue to Da Nang. Through fierce battle and in particular, a night assault, the 11th Airborne Battalion reoccupied the Pass and erased the enemy regiment out of fighting units. Presently, the newly formed Brigade 468 of Colonel Ngo Van Dinh was in charge of the whole Pass. Looking from the top, the ocean in Nam O and Lang Co could be seen. The railway was at the bottom of the Pass, winding through tunnels. There was a village for lepers next to the sea. After the Pass, it was Quang Nam province. The two provinces were divided only by different customs and ways of living, and a different dialect.
The convoy passed by Nam O village which was famous for its manufacture of fish sauce, Hue’s T-junction and Phuoc Tuong's T-junction, left the Nation Route 1 to branch off into the west, passing by Hoa Cam training centre of MRI. It then followed Inter-Province Route 4 to Tuy Loan.
The 6th Marine Battalion passed Ai Nghia town, Phiem Ai, which then entered its area of responsibility at Ha Tan, Ha Nha, Phu Huong to the unique road leading to Thuong Duc district which had been occupied by NVA since August 1974.
The 6th Battalion positioned next to the 3rd Infantry Division of Major General Nguyen Duy Hinh at the north of Vu Gia River. During this season, there was an immense amount of water flowing from numerous streams from the mountains. This river was branched off Thu Bon River which flows in the north east direction, across Cam Le, and poured its way through into Han River in Da Nang.
The convoy carrying the 2nd Battalion stopped at the barren heath called Truong Loc. This was in Dai Loc district, next to the district of Hieu Duc. Another 2 kilometres from that point was Ai Nghia, a small market town - also a part of my native region. This was at the intersection of the three roads, as this area was indeed a prosperous location for business. The structure was easily accessible, and convenient, with the roads and river.
Finally, there were National Route 1 and the old city of Hoi An.
Da Nang city was in the north east. In the west there were both Hiep Duc and Th uong Duc districts, with Bong Mieu gold mines and Nong Son coal mines within the vicinity. This was also a region with three borders, a place for NVA infiltration and their logistics line. Previously, the US set up borders outposts and CIDG camps to follow up NVA activities. When the US had left, these camps and outposts were abandoned.
My mother's house, along with my sister's house, was located near the steel bridge next to the hamlet of Hoan My. I hoped to be able to visit my mother, but it was a virtually impossible wish. However, I managed to have an extremely peaceful and relaxed slumber that night, knowing that I was in my hometown.
The next morning, HU1B helicopters from Non Nuoc airbase arrived to pick up the 2nd Marine Battalion to replace the 5th Airborne Battalion. I met a classmate of mine, Tran Thanh Chuong who was the Chief of S3 of that Airborne Battalion.
The Company of Captain Huynh Van Tron replaced Major Vo van Duc's reconnaissance company. All replacements in each position were finalised on the rangers of Son Ga, Lam Cave, and the Hill 1062. These were important positions where Airborne troops had fought against NVA infantry men of Divisions 304 and 2 after the battle of Thuong Duc had broken out in August 1974. The Hill 1062 was dubbed Blood Hill. If these positions were lost, Da Nang airport, the I Corps Headquarters and many other important ARVN bases would be in the range of NVA rockets and Artillery.
Major Hop and I used to sit on the big flat-tops rocks of Lam cave to observe enemy activities at Thuong Duc with binoculars. NVA were moving their units, weapons and supplies. Convoys of Molotova Trucks and NVA tanks moved and threw up thick dust clouds into the sky.
Major Hop used to call Artillery to shell. On one occasion he even suggested to the whole Artillery Battalion firing Time on Target on the enemies positions, with 36 105mm Howitzers. In times of good weather, the L19 reconnaissance aircrafts gave observations which eventually requested F.5E or A37 to bomb parking lots on enemy tanks. VNAF pilots were exhilarated. They shouted over the radio when enemy tanks were hit. We also heard supplementary explosions and we saw flames from burning places. The enemy also replied to aircraft bombings with a thick network of AAA. I was sorry to see that there were no more Naval artillery and B52 bombings, as they had been absent for some time. Though, the situation in the area was quiet, Marine Brigade 369 headquarters gave an order to prepare for in the up coming days. Dried rations, ammunition, medication and even water would be hoarded up in one month.
Late in the afternoon, when the sunset was wandering on hills in the west, Major Hop played some classical pieces of music on his Spanish guitar. I loved the piece entitled "Romance". I was not particularly good at music, but those sounds seemed to mingle with the dusky atmosphere and compelled me to become indescribably sad. I thought about my mother and how I missed her so much. When my mother saw some marines buying things in that small market town, she had certainly thought of me too.
The situation changed day after day and was increasingly becoming difficult. Following the news broadcasts by VOA and BBC, I felt uneasy. I did not know how my mother and sisters would decide. I confided my thoughts to Major Hop.
"You go and visit your mother and return tomorrow morning with the resupplying team", he said. "Let me call the nearest station to bring you a jeep to pick you up in two hours' time."
I was so glad. I quickly told Corporal Hon to carry a radio ANPRC 25, and myself I carried a M16. Then the two of use followed a trail to descend into the mountain. We walked along the defensive line of the Battalion. Hills in this area were almost completely barren, pockmarked with bomb craters. The trees were shreñed; branches and trunks were cut by bullets and shrapnels. Soldiers had dug fox holes behind mounds of earth. They made the best use of caves, recesses or pre-existing trenches. On neighbouring hills, the enemy was also in hiding and frequently sniped at us. Midway down the slope I met the 6th Battalion positioning next to my Battalion.
The jeep driver was Corporal Muoi. He was waiting for us at Cau Sap, Hamlet Truong An. People walked hurriedly on both sides of the road. Buses, three wheeled Daihatsu vehicles, scooters, and bicycles hurriedly travelled in both directions. Some acquaintances showed signs of happiness when they saw me coming back to my village in my tiger striped uniform - something that I was very proud of.
My mother and my older sisters were very happy when they saw me dismounting a jeep. My brother-in-law told me that the family would be going to Da Nang to stay with my nephew, An, and then find a means to go to Saigon. My mother was 72 years old then and still very healthy.
She told me, "We must go. When the VC come, there will be no chance of surviving".
I agreed with her words, and felt as if a huge burden had been lifted off my shoulders. The next morning, my mother went out to buy crab noodles for breakfast. She urged the two of us to go to the helipad to return to our unit.
The situation quickly changed and everything was slowly deteriorating.
On the 8th of March, 1975, the visiting team of both US upper and lower houses left Saigon. South Vietnam government was now completely desperate and anxious. All hope of receiving 300 million aids in weapons dissipated.
North Vietnam had been given a “green light” by the US. Le Duan quickly ordered NVA General Van Tien Dung to open the West Highland front.
On the night of the 10th of March 1975, at 2.30am, the NVA Division 320 started attacking Ban Me Thuot. Their divisions 968 are 10 crossed Krok River, Sre Pok and advanced towards Kontum and Pleibu. ARVN Major General Pham Van Phu, II Corps and MR2 Commander had Divisions 22, 23 and 3 Ranger Groups of Colonel Pham Duy Tat, and many other units, namely Artillery, Armour, RF and local Forces. Everybody was ready to fight.
Meanwhile at Tri Thien Front, NVA commander had Divisions 324B, 325C, 711 and 304. Vo Chi Cong was their commander. Those units were very close to ARVN units of Lieutenant General Truong in MR1.
The situation was difficult. President Thieu had a strategy to contract the defensive area. But, alas - not a single strategy could be performed when the main arms suppliers to South Vietnam had indifferently turned his back. Refusing to give up, President Thieu felt that it was not the time to vacillate.
What would anyone do in this situation?
In MR1, after Airborne Division withdrew to the South, Marine Division was divided in 2 parts: Brigade 147 protect Bo River defensive line and Brigades 258, 369 and 468 to establish the main defensive line for Da Nang City, from Hai Van pass to Vu Gia River, next to the 3rd Infantry Division.
On the 20th of March 1975, Lieutenant General Truong received order to abandon MR1. Divisions 1, 2, 3 and Marine Division, Armour, Artillery units were ordered to gather at Thuan An, Da Nang , Chu Lai. The order was issued suñenly. Lacking in preparation, the order caused bedlam. During the Vietnam War, no one had ever witnessed such a harrowing and tragic state of affairs.
On the 22nd of March 1975, Ranger Group 15 was heavily under pressure of NVA Division 324B and 325C and had to abandon the defensive line at Phu Loc. NVA long range 130 mm artilleries started shelling chaotically into Hue City, intensifying the disaster.
On the 24th of March 1975, Marine Brigade 147 composing of Battalions 3, 4, 5, 7 and 2nd Artillery Battalion had to withdraw out of Bo river defensive line. Lieutenant General Lam Quang Thi ordered Colonel Nguyen The Luong Brigade Commander to lead troops to Thuan An beach. Ships would come to pick the Brigade to the South.
The retreat was organised under strict surveillance by Marine Battalions, for they had not previously been preoccupied with their families and such. But a NVA unit cut national Route 1 at Nui Da Bac. The overcrowded current of refugees and soldiers of other units returned back to Hue. There was only one escaping route and that was at the opening of Thuan An. Brigade 147 had already completely gathered there and was waiting for LCM's of Admiral Ho Van Ky Thoai, which had been in sea. But NVA closed in upon us and shelled. On the beach, the crowd was immense and was full of different kinds of service branch soldiers. A great pandemonium broke out. Major Nguyen Tri Nam and Captain To Thanh Chieu were killed while they deployed their units. The first LCM came and transported wounded soldiers and the Brigade Headquarters. The second was overloaded, as it almost turned over. NVA heat seeking AT3 rockets did not allow other LCM's to approach the shore.
During all of this, Battalions' Commanders, Majors Nguyen Van Su of Battalion 3, Dinh Long Thanh of Battalion 4, Pham Van Tien of Battalion 5 and Pham Cang of Battalion 7 and Vo Dang Phuong of the 2nd Artillery Battalion - consciously and effectively continued to boost the morale of their units. All battalions fought in the wretched atmosphere and tried to open a bloody path to move to Tu Hien.
Finally, all were arrested at a remote fishing village named Vinh Loc Thua Thien.
On the 25th of March 1975, Brigadier General Nguyen Van Diem, Commander of 1st infantry Division summoned his officers for the last time at Gia Le. He informed them that he had received the orders to abandon Hue, and did not know what to do (in 1971 he had been the Commander of the Infantry Regiment which had entered Tchepone)
Marine Brigade 258, from Bach Ma, withdrew to Da Nang. Only Marine Brigade 468 of Colonel Ngo Van Dinh boarded ships safely at Hai Van Pass foot, near a camp for lepers.
B. The 2nd Marine Battalion at Non Nuoc Beach, Da Nang.
At 7.00pm on the 27th of March 1975, Major Hop received a direct order from the Marine Brigade Commander, Lieutenant Colonel Nguyen Xuan Phuc, to move right in that night. The gathering point was the plain of Hieu Duc Sub-tactical Zone Branch. Each soldier was to carry one personal ammunition unit and three days of dried cooked rice. Everybody was to be ready to move in 15 minutes. The order of movement depended on the positions. Commanding Company had the mission to destroy all ammunitions, dried food and water in three caves, but also to limit the maximum noise and light made.
We moved in complete silence across sañle-shaped hills and sweeping valleys. The sky was empty; there was no moon, or stars. The only light came from some faint illuminating flares in the distance. Sometimes Major Hop had to stop and wait for others to catch up. Though he was careful and steady, there was still a stray platoon.
The next morning we saw the 9th Marine Battalion. I still saw familiar faces. Major Lam Tai Thanh was its Commander now, replacing Lieutenant Colonel Huynh Van Luom, who had become the Executive Officer of Brigade 258.
At 3.00pm the first Marine arrived at the gathering point at Hieu Duc district, near Tuy Loan hamlet on the road to Da Nang. Soldiers went, and civilians followed. This time, I recognised the faces of some of the refugees, and realised they came from my native village. Although there was no NVA artillery shelling like it had occurred in 4-72 on "The Avenue of Horror", any attempt of escape more often than not led to dire circumstances. I tried to ask the few faces I found familiar about my mother and my siblings, but no one knew anything about them.
At 5.00pm the Battalion congregated. Five GMC trucks of I Corps transport company were ready. The first order came: we were to deploy near the steel bridge Cam Le on Han River. However, a moment later, the order was changed: we were to gather at Xu boats ports. It was heard that the Bridge De Lattre de Tassigny on Han River had been destroyed, so we had to use motor boats to cross Han River and gathered at Non Nuoc airbase beach.
At 9.00am on the 29th of March 1975. Battalions 2, 6 and 1st Artillery Battalion and even Battalion 1 of Brigade 258 were at Non Nuoc beach. There were also some VN Navy ships in the open sea.
The beach was inundated with GMC convoys, jeeps, M48, M41 tanks, M113 APC's and trucks pulling 105mm and 150mm Howitzers. ARVN soldiers and civilians added together were about 50,000 with more of them were still pouring in this area.
Generals Ngo Quang Truong, Ho Van Ky Thoai and Bui The Lan had also tried to find a way to board ships like any other soldier.
Lieutenant Colonel Nguyen Xuan Phuc, the Brigade Commander and Lieutenant Colonel Do Huu Tung, the executive officer of the Brigade also arrived on a Jeep with all radios.
Without waiting for any question from Major Hop, Lieutenant Colonel Phuc immediately said, "There have not been any orders, and aren't any more. The radios are silent. A classmate of mine is in his own ship out there. But he has told me that it was impossible to approach the shore. If the ship would not run aground, then it would be sunk by NVA rockets. Those who can swim will benefit from this - and take it easy. I, myself, would --"
He stopped at that word; the message was clear.
Suddenly there was a signal soaring up the sky, one after another. NVA artillery scouts had been here. About three minutes later, NVA 82mm mortars fell at southern end of the run way. Soldiers were still sitting in their places, but civilians were afraid, dashing into hangars to hide. Vehicles full of passengers ran north, along the water line. The shouts of weeping children echoed into the sky. A number of M16 fired; VC had not been seen, but there were already many people being killed by stayed bullets or by being run over by vehicles. It was such a bizarre and twisted situation. I looked at Major Hop. Marines also looked at him, waiting for an order.
He understood us and noñed. "If you can swim, then swim to the ships! If not, try to find a way to return to Saigon by roads".
The order spread quickly. Rucksacks, firearms, ammunition were put down in places, in rows and columns. Many other units did the same. In the sea, there were many people who had tried different ways to reach the ships. Many marines packed their ponchos to form floating buoys as they had learned in training school. Others used foam to make a raft or a buoy, others swam simply by using their limbs. Not far from me there were 2 M113, extremely full of people which darted in full speed in the direction of ships. About 100 metres from the shore, they sank. Women and children were in the interiors of those APC. M48 and M41 tanks ran close to the water line. Crews abandoned them and jumped into the water.
The absolute turmoil was dangerous and frustrating. High and strong waves threw white foam in the sky. People were trying to swim free of the ocean's grip, but they were pulled back and under by the brutal water.
Corporal Hon brought to me a small ruck sac containing dried cooked rice, canned meat, canned fruits and half a carton of Capstan cigarettes, and an empty jerry can. I was touched, looking at him thankfully.
He saluted me. "Captain! You should swim to the ship. I’ll follow Hoa and others to go by foot to Saigon".
I never saw Hon again after that day, though I have asked many people of his whereabouts.
It seemed that in my mind and soul, all emotions and all troubled thoughts had been doused with cool water. Like a believer completely trusting in God, I had no anxiety; I feared nothing. My mind was empty. I sat quietly, smoking and looking in the open sea, until somebody called my name. It was Captain Duong Cong Pho, a classmate of mine, still wearing the Marine Uniform with a rucksack. He was holding a child's hand. His wife was carrying a child that seemed only a few months old. Pho was initially going to present himself to the newly formed18th marine battalion.
"I have a wife and children - I have so much to protect. I could not allow myself to swim. I need return to Da Nang to find another way to escape. But what about you? What are you waiting for? Why don't you swim now?"
After a moment, they bid me farewell and went on their way.
Capstan cigarettes warmed me up, and my heart felt warmed, too. I opened two dried boiled rice bags and poured their contents out. I put a packet of cigarettes and a Zippo lighter in one plastic bag and my personal papers and wallet in the other. So lightly equipped, I was ready to plunge into the sea. When I was young, I had swum across the Ai Nghia river several times in high waters of flooding days. I also had swum many times in Cua Dai and Hoi An Sea.
I felt more confident now. Since waves were so hight and strong, I did not use the jerry- can Hon had given to me. I walked along the sea shore to find a plastic container to hold in my left hand, and looking at the ships' direction, I estimated the distance, and then I slowly walked in. The waves rushed in, trying to pushing me back. In my mind, there was only one, single decision and that was that I had to swim to the ship. Many people had come to the same conclusion as me. I tried to avoid confronting direct waves. I waded in the water, under the belly of the waves until I felt that my feet were no longer supported. With the sand underneath me, I started to swim.
After about two hundred metres, the waves were calmer and it was easier to swim. The sea was full of people; there were already bodies floating on the surface. The enemy artillery r ounds started falling on water. The ship was closer and closer. The minute my hand grabbed a buoy, was also the moment I was lifted up. The ship opened its mouth. There were about two hundred people on the deck among the 2nd Battalion. Major Hop pointed to a buoy nearby. Whoever boarded the ship would throw the buoy to lift the next person to arrive, and so on.
The deck was large, able to contain several hundreds of people. The captain of the ship ordered to approach closer to the shore to save more people. NVA mortars were closer and closer. Many columns of waters soared up in the sky, bringing cadavers with them.
In 1972 I had witnessed NVA 130mm artillery shelling on refugees from Ben Da bridge to Mai Linh district on "the Avenue of Horror". That NVA criminal act was repeated now. There was no reason to justify their inhuman actions. They continued to shell more and more. Someone begged that the ship would turn its bow and sail, but it still courageously rounded up survivors until the last person.
A heartbreaking thing was later narrated to me by a friend in concentration camp. He told me that another friend of mine, Nguyen Van Huong who had attended the same Advance Infantry course with me had been beaten by the ship's propeller when he was going to grasp the ship hull.
Sunset flowed onto the sea. The ship captain ordered to sail in the ocean and then southwards. Da Nang city was filled with lights. Looking at it, I felt tears roll down my cheeks. After so many years of unyielding warfare, scattered with tragic defeats and rousing victories, losses and resupplies, we now had to leave everything in NVA hands. Since its establishment, this was the first time this herd of crazy Buffalos were disbanded. I looked around to find Major Hop, but to no avail. On the deck at that time, there were so many people. It was very hard to move to look for each other. Winds blew strongly. Waves hit the ship hull throwing white splashes of foam into the atmosphere. The sky was full of stars and the night was very cold. Suñenly I felt so lonely.
At 3.00pm on the 30th of March 1975 the ship HQ 404 landed at Cam Ranh Military Port. The weather was so hot that it felt like flames. We walked on the asphalt road with bare feet. Military Polices and Security forces of Marine division lead us into an old barrack of US army. Nearly half of the 2nd Battalion was present. It was pure joy to see them.
Fleets of sampans or boats had unloaded people at the port. They then continued either by road or by sea to Saigon. I tried to recognised acquaintances to ask about my mother and my older sister, but no one knew. At 16:00pm on the 31st of March the VN navy used a very big ship, the HQ 802, to transport the whole Marine Division now numbered about 4000 to Bai Dau Beach, Vung Tau.
C. The last days of the 2nd Marine Battalion :
Marine Division quickly reequipped and resupplied man power. Officers and the ranks returning from Hue and Da Nang presented themselves. A number of military students from Dalat Military Academy or Thu Duc Military School were graduated earlier and were assigned to units. Seven days later, the 2nd Battalion started receiving missions. Company 1 protected Navy Base Vung Tau. Company 4 kept Cay Khe bridge.
At the beginning of April, Marine Division received orders from the JGS to reinforce III Corps. Marine Brigade 468 of Colonel Ngo Van Dinh was composed of Battalion 1 (Major Duong Van Hung), Battalion 8 (Lieutenant Colonel Nguyen Dang Hoa), Battalion 16 (Major Dinh Xuan Lam), 1 long Range Patrol and 1 Marine Artillery Company. The total was about 2500 Marines.
On the 21st of April 1975, Brigade 258 of Colonel Nguyen Nang Bao was composed of Battalion 2 (Major Tran Van Hop), Battalion 4 (Major Tran Ngoc Toan), Battalion 6 (Lieutenant Colonel Le Ba Binh,) 1 Long Range Patrol Company and one Marine Artillery Company.
The Forward Headquarters of Marine Division, led by Colonel Nguyen Thanh Tri, commandeered these two brigades. The situation in the whole south Vietnam deteriorated day after day. The collapse occurred like a domino game:
31st of March 1975: Qui Nhon fell into enemy hands
1st of April 1975: Nha Trang was left open.
4th of April 1975: Da Lat was in chaos.
Before that day, important machines of Atomic centre had been dismantled. The most well performed retreat was that of Dalat military Academy, with all cadets safely returned to Long Thanh.
16th of April 1975 Phan Rang was overrun. General Nguyen Vinh Nghi and VNAF Brigadier General Pham Ngoc Sang were captured.
NVA 4th Army composing of divisions 341, 6, 7 started attacking Xuan Loc, Long Khanh province which was the gate to Saigon. Many close combat occurred. Infantry Division 18 and Airborne Division fought resolutely. RF and LF soldiers were courageously combatting like any other tough fighters. Major General Le Minh Dao decided to keep the defensive line with determination.
"I do not need to know the number of NVA divisions, but my soldiers are ready to kill them", he declared with a rumble.
At the defensive line in Ho Nai Long Thanh, there were many penetrating assaults; defensive forces were becoming more numerous. Units returning from highland or the Centre of Vietnam were reequipped and then reinforced to defend the North and the South of the defensive line. The 2nd Battalion also received new 2nd Lieutenants of classes 29, 30 of Dalat military academy. They were very zealous.
All companies had normal life. Nobody was vacillating in their mind or had any idea of desertion. Groups of NVA sappers came from Tan Uyen, zone D, and had crossed Saigon River. They had intended to infiltrate into the Headquarters of III Corps, but were detected. A number of them were captured, while others were killed on the spot. Where could we send these prisoners? No one wanted them now.
From the other side of Saigon River, NVA rockets fired at Bien Hoa A/irport and III Corps Headquarters daily.
Yesterday, the rear base of 2nd Marine Battalion informed me that my wife had been admitted to Tu Du maternity hospital for an operation for hydatidiform mole. Major Hop told me to go to Saigon to visit her and to return in the afternoon.
On the way, I saw a great number of Northern refugees from Ho Nai streaming to Saigon or following National Route 15 to Vung Tau. Bien Hoa highway was violently congested with vehicles and people. Airborne Battalions kept Dong Nai Bridges, Saigon and many other important key positions. Saigon was teeming with people. The hospital was also brimming with patients. All those who were not going to be operated upon, or were not considered emergency cases, were discharged. I collected my wife and two children, Kieu Cong Cuong and Kieu Phuong Thao, and brought them home, asking my mother-in-law to take care of them. Then, I hurriedly returned to the area of operation. Mrs Tran Van Hop also went there to visit him and then returned home that afternoon.
The situation of South Vietnam was now critical.
On the 23rd of April 1975 at the Northern defensive line, fighting intensified. The 8th Marine Battalion encountered NVA tanks at Long Thanh. Xuan Loc front was broken. NVA flooded toward Gia Kiem. Ho Nai. The 6th Marine Battalion captured many NVA, I heard Captain Tu Duc Tho’s voice in Radio.
"To whom am I to deliver these prisoners?"
From the eastern bank of Saigon River, the Special Forces 81 withdrew and informed that NVA had been gathering in great number in Tan Uyen. In the afternoon 29th of April 1975 the 2nd Marine Battalion received order to protect the III Corps Headquarters. But when our convoy reached the prisoners' camp where VC had been kept, we received order to continue to move to protect the South Korean Bridge on Dong Nai River. That night, VC guerrillas used a megaphone to circulate propaganda and ask civilians to revolt. The outpost elements of Company 4 ambushed them and killed all.
At 6.00 on 30th of April 1975 the 2nd Marine Battalion received an order, very short and in plain language: Move by foot to Song Than Base, then wait for orders.
The barricade on South Korean Bridge was opened. Vehicles and people stormed across the bridge like a torrent. The Battalion moved also in single formation. Weapons were placed in hands or simply just hung off the shoulder, like they were during patrol. The sun rose high. Some Ranger Battalions positioned in rubber plantations on both sides of the road. Civilians looked at the troops marching in silence.
At 10.00am, the Battalion arrived at Duong Son Quan T-junction. Major Hop ordered troops to sit on both sides of the road to wait. He told me to radio our Rear Base to bring trucks to this place to transport troops back to Rear Base.
The music of March on the small radio of Major Hop suddenly stopped. There was the voice of Minh - Duong Van Minh:
"Officers, underofficers and the ranks should stay in place and drop their weapons. We surrender without conditions".
To drop weapons and to surrender without conditions! It was like lightning in the middle of a clear sky. I could not believe my ears. Major Hop also turned his head and looked at me. The two RTO opened the two amplifiers of PRC 25 to hear more clearly. My eyes wide in disbelief, I turned to look at my brothers-in-arms. Even soldiers who used to always joke were completely muted. Everybody was silent. The space seemed being congealed. Time seemed to stop. There was only the sound of rapid hearts beating furiously. It was a sudden and strange transformation. All these emotions that I felt, the unbelievable pounding - this will only happen once in a lifetime.
Why a surrender without condition? In WWII, the German Army had fought until the last minute although Allied Forces had bombed Berlin and flattened it to the ground. Two US atomic bombs had been dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki and caused the Japanese King to surrender. He himself surrendered without conditions but Japanese officers did not accept such a great dishonour. They committed suicide.
Although NVA were close to our capital and aimed all of their rockets and artilleries directly to it, but ARVN still had the strength and fighting morale, enough to perform a final life and death combat. Why did Duong Van Minh force ARVN troops to drop weapon? Why did he tie them with shameful words and dishonourable sentences?
2nd Lieutenant Le Van Loc, Chief of Military vehicles section of the Battalion led 5 GMC truck arriving here. Major Hop entered the Song Than base first, to have a briefing with Colonel Nguyen Thanh Tri. I told Company 1 to mount trucks. I followed in the last vehicle. Company after company put equipments and weapons in store. Then everybody gathered at the flag square of the Battalion Headquarters, waiting for the return of Major Hop. Everybody was sad. I shook hands with each one of them as I did not know the names of all of the men. This was the first time, since the day I returned to this 2nd Marine battalion, that I had met so many people. Many of them wept and I also could not refrain from shedding tears. Until now I had not met Major Do Trung Giao, the executive officer of the Battalion.
Finally Major Hop returned. Every one stood in rows. I was going to present the Battalion to him, but he swung his arm up, gesturing me to stay. The major, trying to keep his voice steady, delivered his final speech to all of us, as soldiers.
"Brothers ! Being soldiers, we only know how to obey orders. You have heard everything. I do not like to repeat, and I will not. All I want to say is -- goodbye to each and every one of you. Thank you for having fought against VC beside me, until the very last minute".
The Major then dismounted the podium and walked straight to his private room. I knew that had he continued to speak, he would have wept. And had our own Major shed tears, it would have become unbearably heartbreaking.
Captain Kieu Cong Cu
In previous years, from Gio Linh to Dong Ha, Quang Tri, whenever Marines withdrew, they followed, and whenever Marines recaptured a place, they would return back to their hamlet. marine blue condo
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