Marine Battalion 16,
Combated at Long Thanh
Major Dinh Xuan Lam
On 28-4-1975, the NVA continued to push on Trang Bom and Long Thanh, entering areas that were of Marine Brigade 468's responsibility. Two Battalions, 16 and 8, combated strongly and used Artillery to slow the speed of the advancing enemy.
On 29-4-1975, Thu Duc Military School at Long Thanh was left open. The enemy continued to advance southwards with 2 main prongs:
"The 1st prong was along National Route 1, aiming at III corps headquarters and Bien Hoa airbase.
"The 2nd prong advanced along Interprovince road Ba Ria - Saigon, passing by Long Binh base toward Highway Bridge near Saigon.
Facing this situation, I ordered my Battalion to use 106 mm Recoilless rifles, 57 mm Recoilless rifles and M72 LAWs, positioned along National Route 1 and Railway, to block the enemy. We saw a NVA unit which was composed of 5 tanks being accompanied by Infantrymen and was advancing in a barren field. It was an advantage for us. We simultaneously fired. Two NVA tanks burst into flames. NVA infantrymen retreated disorderly to a sugar canes field.
Battalion 16 reported the result to Brigade 468 headquarters and asked Artillery to annihilate that NVA unit. Artillery rounds pounded that sugar canes field. This was the first time Battalion 16 was equipped with Jeep-mounted 106mm recoilless rifles. They were excessively versatile, mobile and greatly useful in the battlefield. This platoon of 106 mm heavy guns was commanded by 1st Lieutenant Duc, the Executive Officer of Company 1, Battalion 16. He was an excellent officer, very brave and always zealously fought in battlefields. He courageously tried to stop the NVA advance in this battle and was killed.
Major Dinh Xuan Lam
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