Days and Months which have been
Entered into Military History
Colonel Ngo Van Dinh
For many years, I have wanted to forget all the storms which have passed though my life and all the torments which were caused by the last days of the war. However, every time I have wanted to forget them, I remember them the clearest. How could I forget? They are always present in my mind and in my heart. They are the blood inside my arteries and veins. They are the beatings of my heart. The instant, I forget will be the instant I am motionless and with closed eyes, long after my last breath.
I write, not to praise a branch of service or an individual, or even myself, but to pay a spiritual debt to my sacrificed brothers in arms. This is only so that their souls will not be sad for being left in limbo. We have the duty to write and praise them for having sacrificed their lives for our South Vietnam's freedom and justice. We have to write to confirm that in this war, we have fought with dignity and courage and without blood thirst or inhumane acts to the people, not in the same front but of the same race as us.
o0o
When I was nineteen years old, I entered the Army, class Cuong Quyet of Dalat Military Academy.
The graduation was held on 1-10-1954. On the same day, President Ngo Dinh Diem issued a decree of forming the Marine Corps. I was transferred to Company 7, Riverine Force. It was the first contingent of the 1st Amphibious Battalion which was formed in 1955. At the end of 1955, the battalion participated in battles to rout the Binh Xuyen Force at their last resistance pouches at Rung Sat. The Battalion also defeated the Religious sect's forces of Tran Van Soai and Ba Cut in Rach Gia.
The Battle of Giong Rieng occurred on 6-12-1955. It coincided on my birthday.
In the following years, the Marine Group participated in pacification operations in Giong Trom (Kien Hoa) or in the development of supporting operations such as the Song Tinh Thuong Campaign 3-1-1963. The secret sanctuary Do Xa which the VC had considered as their impenetrable stronghold was destroyed by the 2nd Battalion (of Captain Nguyen Thanh Yen) and the 4th Battalion (of Captain Bui The Lan).
However, the Marines were better known by people after the victory of the 2nd Marine Battalion (Commander: Captain Nguyen Thanh Yen; Company Commanders: 1st Lieutenant Pham Nha, Captain Nguyen Van Hay, 1st Lieutenant Nguyen Nang Bao, 1st Lieutenant Ngo Van Dinh) at Dam Doi on 10-9-1963. The 2nd Battalion was ordered by IV Corps (of Major General Huynh Van Cao) to reinforce the An Xuyen district (of Major Nguyen Thanh Hoang). The Battalion smashed a big VC force. The victory at Dam Doi of the 2nd Marine Battalion was a big triumph of the ARVN in 1963. Four Company Commanders were awarded the 5th grade National Order medal and also the medal of gallantry with palm by President Ngo Dinh Diem.
In the Coup on 1-11-1963, the 1st Marine Battalion (of Captain Tran Van Nhut) and 4th Battalion (of Captain Le hang Minh) were the main attacking units. I do not want to judge these military activities, but in days following the coup, the south fell into political chaos and into social disorder. Successive coups shook the national upper structure and discouraged allies. This was the biggest error of the leaders of South Vietnam. It also gave Hanoi communist bandsmen a good opportunity to increase their military activity in the south. They increased the number of sabotages in many places and tried to destroy the Special Forces Camps along the border. Their attacks at the Special Force Camp Hiep Hoa lead to the operation of Hoi Dong Sam (22-11-1963).
It was organised to pursue the VC at the Vietnam-Kampuchea border and was performed by the 2nd Marine Battalion of Captain Co Tan Tinh Chau.
The battle of Binh Gia occurred on 31-12-1964. It was a movement in the new strategy of the communists. The 4th Marine Battalion duelled with a NVA regular regiment. Major Nguyen Van Nho, the battalion commander, Captain Tran Van Hoan, the executive officer, 1st lieutenant Troung Ba Han, the Doctor of the battalion and many others were killed. This was heart-breaking for the Marine group.
In the centre of Vietnam, violence burst out and a great victory was awarded to the 2nd Marine Battalion in the Battle of Phung Du on 8-4-1965. The unit smashed a regiment of the NVA 3rd Division "Gold Star". A Marine Task Force commanded by Lieutenant Colonel Nguyen Thanh Yen was reinforcing the 22nd Infantry Division of Brigadier General Nguyen Thanh Sang. The task force was composed of 1st Marine Battalion of Major Ton That Soan and 2nd Marine Battalion of Major Hoang Tich Thong. The second of section of this Task Force was composed of commanders such as:
- Captain Pham Nha (Company 1)
- Captain Nguyen Van Hay (Company 2)
- Captain Nguyen Nang Bao (Company 3)
- Capaain Ngo Van Dinh (Company 4).
After this victory, these four commanders were awarded the fourth grade National Order Medal and a Gallantry Medal with palm by President Nguyen Van Thieu.
The Marine Group became the Marine Brigade in 1965. Major General Le Nguyen Khang was the commander. During this time, it had:
"Four Battalions, the 1st, the 2nd, the 3rd and the 4th.”
"Two Task Forces, A and B, commanded by Lieutenant Colonels Nguyen Thanh Yen, Ton That Soan and Hoang Tich Thong”.
These two Task Forces brought four "citations before the ARVN" to the Flag of Marines.
Colonel Soan was awarded many medals:
"The 4th Grade National Order after the Tet offensive in 1968”
"The 3rd Grade National Order in 1972”
"Chung Mu Medal, awarded by the South Korean President in 1967”
"Two US medals: a Silver Star "V" a Bronze Star”
The 1st and 3rd Marine Battalions participated in violent battles in the Quang Nam and Quang Ngai Provinces.
"Battle of Ba Gia (29-5-1965) by 3rd Battalion in Period 1
"Battle of Ba Gia (1-6-1965) by Task Force B composing of the 1st and 3rd Battalions in Periods 2 and 3.
In 1966, battlefields in the centre of Vietnam boiled up with the operations of Task Force B (composing of the 3rd and the 4th Battalion in Viet An (6-8-1966). There was also political turmoil during that year, with the participation of Buddhists in the centre of Vietnam. The 1st and 2nd Marine Battalions brought order back.
During this year, the 5th Marine Battalion lost its Commander, Major Duong Hanh Phuoc at Mo Duc.
On 29-6-1966, the 2nd Marine Battalion moved via convoy from An Hoa (Hue) to Quang Tri, to reinforce the 1st Infantry Division. The 2nd Battalion was ambushed but it then counter ambushed at Pho Trach and Phong Dien Thua Thien. Forty-two Marines were killed; among them were the Battalion Commander and the chief of S5 of the Battalion. There were ninety-five wounded and among them were ten officers and the senior US advisor of the Battalion. The NVA had fifty killed. When the NVA withdrew, they were blocked by US forces who killed two-hundred and twenty-three communists and captured nine prisoners of war. Many of the NVA's personal firearms and a 75mm cannon were seized (according to Captain Thomas Campbell reports). Captain Ngo Van Dinh, the executive officer of the 3rd Marine Battalion was appointed to replace Lieutenant Colonel Le Hang Minh as the 2nd Marine Battalion Commander on 29-6-1966 in the battle field. Major General Le Nguyen Khang, the commander of the Marine Brigade, was promoted to Lieutenant General on the day of the ARVN, 19-6-1967. The ceremony was organised in the JGS.
In 1967, the 5th Marine Battalion was commanded by Major Pham Nha. Its Executive Officer was: - Captain Nguyen Xuan Phuc.
The Company Commanders were:
- 1st Lieutenant Ho Quang Lich (company 1)
- 1st Lieutenant Co Tan Tinh Chau (younger brother, company 2)
- 1st Lieutenant Doan Duc Nghi (company 3)
- 1st Lieutenant Do Huu Tung (company 4)
- 1st Lieutenant Huynh Van Phu (headquarters company).
The 5th Battalion was reinforcing the US 9th Infantry Division and won victory in the Battle of Rach Ruong (3-12-1967), at the border of the Dinh Tuong and Kien Phong provinces and caused the US general commander of the 9th Infantry Division to respect the Vietnamese Marine Corps. It was a great victory for the 5th Battalion in 1967. A number of Marines were awarded US and Vietnamese Medals. Major Pham Nha and Corporal Hieu were awarded Silver Star. It was 1st Lieutenant Ho Quang Lich that was promoted to Captain "in the Battlefield" and awarded a US bronze star. The flag of the 5th Battalion and Major Pham Nha were praised before the ARVN.
In 1967, Task Force B (commanded by Lieutenant Colonel Ton That Soan) reinforced the 7th Infantry Division. The Task Force was composed by the 1st Battalion of Major Phan Van Thang and the 2nd Battalion of Major Ngo Van Dinh. On the ceasefire night of 31-12-1967, two VC regional regular Battalions 261 and 262 attacked the position of the 2nd Marine Battalion, which had been protected by Company 2 of Captain Dinh Xuan Lam.
The 1st and the 2nd Battalion caused heavy losses to the enemy and seized many weapons, which were later displayed in the Flag square of Giao Duc District of Dinh Tuong Province. After the battle, the flag of the 2nd Battalion was praised before the ARVN for the fifth time.
In 1968, in the Tet Mau Than Offensive, Task Force A of Lieutenant Colonel Hoang Tich Thong and Task Force B of Lieutenant Colonel Ton That Soan operated in Saigon and Hue. All the Battalions achieved many good deeds. The 6th Battalion destroyed the VC unit which had infiltrated the Binh Hoa district and seized many weapons. During the whole period of Tet Mau Than, the 2nd Marine Battalion either reinforced the Capital Special District or the National Police Headquarters or was directly commanded by the Marine Brigade. The 2nd Marine Battalion had annihilated most of the NVA units which had infiltrated into important areas such as: the general management school in JGS, the Y Bridge, the Binh Tay alcohol company, the 6th district, the Saigon radio station, the An Quang pagoda, Khong Tu Street in Cholon and Racecourse Phu Tho. The 2nd Battalion also blocked and then destroyed NVA units which had entered Saigon through the Phu Lam district, Kinh Bridge in Thi Nghe and the Highway Bridge.
The Battalion then was praised before the ARVN for the sixth time. Major Ngo Van Dinh was promoted to Lieutenant Colonel on 19-6-1968. Lieutenant General Le Nguyen Khang decorated the flag of the Battalion and Major Ngo Van Dinh at the Flag square of the Marine Brigade Headquarters on 1-10-1968. The 2nd Battalion was the first unit of the Marine Brigade being allowed to wear a fouragere of "National Protection Order" colours.
On 1-10-1968, the Marine Brigade transformed into the Marine Division which was composed of the Headquarters, two Brigades, A and B, and supporting units. Lieutenant General Le Nguyen Khang was the Commandant of the Division, Colonel Nguyen Thanh Yen was the Executive Officer and Colonel Bui The Lan was the Chief of Staff.
In the battle "From Cau Khoi to Boiloi", the 2nd Marine Battalion performed operations from 14-9-1968 to 19-9-1968. Its staff was composed of:
- Lieutenant Colonel Ngo Van Dinh Commander.
- Major Nguyen Kim De, Executive Officer.
- Captain Dinh Xuan Lam, Chief of S3.
Company Commanders:
- Captain To Van Cap.
- Captain Tran Kim De.
- Captain Tran Van Thuong.
- Captain Vu Doan Dzoan.
The 2nd Battalion eliminated VC Battalion 14 D, the regular main force of Tay Ninh Province and NVA Regiment 33 of regular forces. The flag of the 2nd Battalion was praised before the ARVN for the seventh time. On the 28-2-1968, President Nguyen Van Thieu, Lieutenant General Le Nguyen Khang (Commandant of Marine Division) and officials of the Government arrived at the 2nd Battalion Rear Base in Thu Duc to visit this unit.
In 5-1970, Brigade 258, Commanded by Colonel Ton That Soan, performed an operation across the border to enter Kampuchea. During this operation Colonel Ton That Soan was proposed by the Commander of IV Corps to be promoted to Full Colonel "in the Battlefield" since 1-7-1970. Colonel Soan transferred Brigade 258 to Lieutenant Colonel Nguyen Thanh Tri who had been 1st Battalion Commander on 1-6-1970. Brigade 147, commanded by Lieutenant Colonel Hoang Tich Thong, and Brigade 369, commanded by Lieutenant Colonel Ngo Van Ding, successfully crossed the border, to perform operations inside Kampuchea under the direct command of IV Corps commander Lieutenant General Ngo Quang Truong.
In 7-1970, Brigade 369 performed operations to dissolve the enemy pressure on National Route 4, from Phnom Penh to Sihanouk Ville. The 8th Battalion of Major Nguyen Van Phan and the 9th Battalion of Major Nguyen Kim De achieved this successfully after violent battles on hills and mountains on both sides of the route. These two battalions received many medals. Lieutenant General Ngo Quang Troung, the IV Corps commander, visited the Brigade 369 Headquarters in the battling area and praised these Battalion Commanders. Colonel Bui The Lan, the executive officer of Marine Division, arrived in Neak Luong to visit the units. Lieutenant Colonel Ngo Van Dinh, the commander of Brigade 369 led Colonel Bui The Lan to visit wounded marines in Neak Luong Hospital and then visit the 8th and 9th Battalions on the battlefield. On this occasion, Colonel Lan decorated a number of medals to marines of these two Battalions.
During this time, the 2nd Marine Battalion of Major Nguyen Xuan Phuc belonged to Brigade 147, which was commanded by Lieutenant Colonel Hoang Tich Thong. The 2nd Battalion defeated a NVA regiment in Prey Veng Kampuchea. The Battalion was praised before the ARVN for the eighth time and was allowed to wear the tri-coloured Fouragere.
In 12-1970, Lieutenant Colonel Ngo Van Dinh transferred Brigade 369 to Lieutenant Colonel Pham Van Chung. Since the day of formation until 1970, the Flag of Marine Division was praised before the ARVN five times, due to victorious performances from battalions which either operated separately or under direct Commands of the Brigades.
At the beginning of 1971, the Marine Division Headquarters participated in Operation Lam Son 719 at Southern Laos. This was the first time that the Marine Division, which was led by executive officer, Colonel Bui The Lan, directly commanded three Brigades:
- Brigade 147 of Colonel Hoang Tich Thong.
- Brigade 258 of Lieutenant Colonel Nguyen Thanh Tri.
- Brigade 369 of lieutenant Colonel Pham Van Chung.
In this operation, the marines were the units with the least casualties. After the operation, President Nguyen Van Thieu awarded a gallantry medal with palm to the flag of the Division for the sixth time. The Division was allowed to wear the Fouragere of "National Protection" colours.
After the operation Lamson 719, Colonel Hoang Tich Thong transferred Brigade 147 to Lieutenant Colonel Nguyen Nang Bao.
In 1971, Lieutenant Colonel Nguyen Thanh Tri transferred Brigade 258 to Lieutenant Colonel Ngo Van Dinh. He then attended the Command and Staff College at Quantico, Virginia, USA. When he returned to Vietnam he was appointed as the Executive Officer of the Marine Division in mid 1972. Colonel Tri was one of the officers who had many Vietnamese medals and probably the one who received the greatest number of US medals in the Division:
- A bronze star with "V"
- A Navy commendation with "V"
- Three silver stars with "V" for victories during the time he was the 1st Marine Battalion Commander.
In the beginner of October 1971, Battalion 9 belonged to Brigade 369. This Brigade was commanded by Lieutenant Colonel Pham Van Chung and reinforced the 1st Infantry Division. Operation Lam Son 810 was organised and the Brigade was given the mission to recover an US base named Dong Cu Mong. This base had previously been abandoned after the overrun by the NVA. The 9th Battalion had to arduously fight in order to reoccupy the base and recover a hundred bodies of friend units (US and Vietnamese). After Operation Lam Son 810, Major Nguyen Kim De, the commander of the 9th Marine Battalion was awarded the 4th Grade National Order and a gallantry medal with palm. However, he never received a US medal. When Operation Lam Son 810 ended, Lieutenant Colonel Pham Van Chung was promoted to Colonel.
In the Easter Offensive, 4-1972, Brigade 258 achieved a great performance at the battle of Pedro from 9-4-1972 to 12-4-1972. It was the first time that the NVA infantry was accompanied by tanks in MRI. The 1st, 3rd and 6th Marine Battalions, supported by the 3rd Artillery Battalion, caused heavy casualties to a NVA infantry regiment. A NVA tank regiment was destroyed. Their tanks were either fired at and burst into flames or destroyed by mines. Not a single NVA tank evaded. Major Do Huu Tung, the Commander of the 6th Battalion was promoted to Lieutenant Colonel. Lieutenant Colonel Ngo Van Dinh, the Brigade Commander was promoted to Colonel from the ninth of April 1972.
The battle at Dong Ha Bridge lasted from 1-4-1972 to 8-4-1972. The 3rd Marine Battalion fought courageously here. Its staff was composed of:
- Major Le Ba Binh, the Battalion Commander
- Major Tran Kim De, Executive Officer
- Captain Tran Cong Bang, Chief of S3
* Company Commanders:
- 1st Lieutenant Nguyen Van Hao (Headquarters company)
- 1st Lieutenant Nguyen Kim Chung (Company 1)
- 1st Lieutenant Giang Van Nhan (Company 2)
- Captain Le Quy Binh (Company 3)
- 1st Lieutenant Nguyen Van Duong (Company 4)
The 3rd Battalion succeeded in stopping the NVA Divisions accompanied by tanks which had been advancing toward Dong Ha Bridge. Many NVA tanks were burned. Their infantry suffered heavy casualties.
After the battle, Major Le Ba Binh was specifically promoted to Lieutenant Colonel. He was also awarded a Silver Star by the President of the US. This medal was given to Lieutenant Colonel Le Ba Binh by the USMC General Boomer, Walter E, in Washington, 2003. (General Boomer was a Major in 1971 and was then Advisor to the 4th Marine Battalion at Firebase Sarge)
Lieutenant Colonel Binh was also awarded a fourth Grade National Order when the 3rd Marine Battalion had been performing operations in Ai Tu.
On the 3-5-1978, Lieutenant General Le Nguyen Khang transferred the Position of Commandant of Marine Division to Colonel Bui The Lan. Lieutenant General Khang became the Executive Officer of Operations in the JGS. In the beginning of May 1972, violence commenced at the My Chanh River defensive line, fifteen kilometres South of Hai Lang. Colonel Pham Van Chung commanded Brigade 369. The 2nd Marine Battalion (of Lieutenant Colonel Nguyen Xuan Phuc), the 5th Marine Battalion (of Major Ho Quang Lich) and the 9th Marine Battalion (of Major Nguyen Kim De) successfully defended the My Chanh line and managed to block the massive NVA force (composing of infantry and tanks) which had intended to directly advance to Hue.
Major Nguyen Kim De, the Commander of the 9th Battalion was specifically promoted to Lieutenant Colonel in this battle. President Nguyen Van Thieu attached the Lieutenant Colonel Stripe on him in a ceremony at Hue. It was at the same time that the other officers, among them Colonel Bui The Lan (the Commandant of the Marine Division) was promoted to Brigadier General.
After the Brigade 369 blocked and destroyed the NVA units, which had been trying to cross the My Chanh River to advance southwards, Colonel Pham Van Chung transferred the Brigade to Lieutenant Colonel Nguyen The Luong. Colonel Chung became the Forward Chief of Staff of Marine Division. Later, he was appointed as Chief of Province Quang Nam and at the same time Chief of Subtactical Zone Quang Nam. Colonel Chung commanded operations and brought back complete safety to the Cam Thanh area, close to the Hieu Nhon district. He was proposed by Lieutenant General Ngo Quang Truong, Commander of I Corps and MRI, to be awarded a 4th Grade National Order and a gallantry medal with palm in September 1973.
On 28-6-1972, the operation to recover Quang Tri began. This was the second time that the Marine Division directly commanded three Brigades, namely Brigades 147, 258 and 369.
On 11-7-1972, the Commander of the Marine Division, Brigadier General Bui The Lan, decided to allow the 1st Marine Battalion jump ahead to the Bich La Nam Hamlet, Trieu Phong district, two kilometres north east of Quang Tri. It was an important position. Its occupations would facilitate the attack on Quang Tri. "Jumping into the enemy territory" was a hard and very challenging operation but the marines reached their goal.
During this operation, thirty-two helicopters of different kinds were utilised. Seventeen CH53 helicopters (the latest from the US, 1972) were able to carry sixty soldiers each. Fifteen Chinook CH46 helicopters carried twenty soldiers each. They were all used as transport for the whole battalion. Arriving at the landing zone, a helicopter was hit by a Russian SA7 rocket and burst into flames. Most Marines on board were killed. Of the thirty-two helicopters, there were a total of twenty-nine that were hit by the NVA anti-aircraft bullets. One of them exploded at the landing zone, two fell out of the air (one down to the sea). The 1st Battalion, commanded by Major Nguyen Dang Hoa, suffered heavy losses. The 1st Battalion had to battle against an overwhelming NVA force which was supported by tanks. However, they still held their ground and resisted the NVA attacks.
The 2nd Matine Battalion managed to make contact with the 1st Battalion on 14-7-1972. Immediately after the 1st Battalion had jumped into the Trieu Phong district on 11-7-1972, the Commandant of the Marine Division ordered the 2nd Battalion to advance rapidly at all costs to join the 1st Battalion which had been encircled and cut into pieces by the NVA on the Vinh Dinh River bank.
Looking at the map, full of NVA blocking posts, forty kilometres in length, on Village Route 555, from Thua Thien to Quang Tri, the Commander of the 2nd Marine Battalion, Major Tran Van Hop, frowned and looked at us as if he wanted to share an audacious and sophisticated decision. Group B was commanded by Captain Pham Van Tien. It was composed of Company 1 of Captain Lam Tai Thanh, Company 2 of Captain Tu Duc Tho, Company 4 of Captain Le Quang Lien and Company 5 of 1st Lieutenant Huynh Van Tron. These companies, in turn, attacked and dislodged all the NVA blocking posts to advance to Quang Tri. In the morning of 13-7-1972, the 2nd Battalion arrived at Ngo Xa Dong, only twelve kilometres away from Bich La Nam where the 1st Battalion had been.
While the 2nd Battalion was temporarily positioned to give Companies a boost meal with beef (from wild cows), a naval forward observer climbed down from a tree top and informed that he had detected fleeing NVA infantry and tanks with lots of smoke rising from Thanh Le Village. Everybody abandoned their boost meal and became busy with destroying the NVA tanks. After waves of US airstrikes and Marine Artillery 105mm Howitzers shells, Companies 4 and 5 were the main forces in attacking Thanh Le Village, where the NVA Tank Regiment 202 Headquarters had been positioned. Although suffering heavy damage from our airstrikes and shells, the NVA tanks still hid in the bushes and waited for us. These two Companies were supported by the M113 APC's Battalion 3/18 of Captain Minh Den. The Crazy Buffalos quickly advanced on the rice fields until the edge of the Thanh Le Village, when the NVA tanks rushed out and sprayed bullets on the Marines. There were some initial sacrifices but Companies 4 and 5 were able to cling to the rice field edges and fired 66mm M72 rockets at the NVA tanks. The M113 APC 106mm cannons also accurately fired at the NVA tanks which burst into flames. The NVA soldiers were burned.
Marines then mastered the situation and occupied the target. Eighteen NVA tanks, namely T54, PT76, PTR85 and PTR65 were destroyed. Seven T59 (command tanks) and T54 were seized intact (with this victory, the 2nd Battalion received the first prize of the MRI, given by President Nguyen Van Thieu).
In the afternoon of 13-7-1972, the 2nd Battalion arrived at Ta Huu Village, close to the Ba Ben Bridge. The 2nd Battalion helped medivac wounded marines. The medevacuation was performed at night with many hardships. The helicopters could not even land. The 2nd Battalion had to use Jeeps which had been left behind by the 3rd Infantry Division and Quang Tri district units, to medevacuate about 200 wounded and killed marines of the 1st Battalion. This was due to the inability of the big M541 vehicle carrying all of them.
During the medevac, I had to quarrel with the US advisor Donavan. He insisted in carrying back four bodies of an US helicopter crew first while many wounded Vietnamese Marines needed top priority. After a night of performing the arduous task of pulling aluminium sampans full of wounded marines across the Vinh Dinh River, by rope, the 2nd Battalion crossed the Vinh Dinh River in the morning of 14-7-1972 at Bich La Trung. They replaced the 1st Battalion at Bich La Nam on that same day.
In the Easter Offensive, the NVA crossed the seventeenth parallel with:
- four Divisions: 304, 308, 312 and 325A
- four Independent Regiments of the B5 Front. They were the Sapper Regiment 126 and Regiments: 31, 246 and 270
- two Tank Regiments: 203 and 204, which added up to about two hundred tanks
- In addition to the above mentioned units, two Artillery Regiments: 38 and 68 and the Surface-Air Missile Regiment 84.
Brigadier General Bui The Lan gave the responsibility of Recovering Quang Tri to the following unit:
1. Brigade 258
- Commander: Colonel Ngo Van Dinh
- Executive Officer: Lieutenant Colonel Do Dinh Vuong
Brigade 258 was composed of:
- 1st Battalion of Major Nguyen Dang Hoa
- 2nd Battalion of Major Tran Van Hop
- 5th Battalion of Major Ho Quang Lich
- 6th Battalion of Lieutenant Colonel Do Huu Tung
- 9th Battalion of Lieutenant Colonel Nguyen Kim De
- 1st Marine Artillery Battalion of 105mm Howitzer of Major Doan Trong Cao.
2. Brigade 147
- Commander: Colonel Nguyen Nang Bao
- Executive Officer: Lieutenant Colonel Nguyen Xuan Phuc.
Brigade 147 was composed of:
- 3rd Battalion of Major Nguyen Van Canh
- 7th Battalion of Major Nguyen Van Kim
- 8th Battalion of Major Nguyen Van Phan
- 2nd Marine Artillery Battalion of 105mm Howitzer, of Major Dang Ba Dat.
3. Brigade 369
- Commander: Colonel Nguyen The Luong.
- Chief of Staff: Lieutenant Colonel Doan Thuc.
This Brigade served as a reserve for the Marine Division and had Battalion 4.
Since the day the Marine Corps had become a Division on 1-10-1968 to 30-4-1975, there were only two important operations directly commanded by the Marine Division Headquarters, namely: Operation Lam Son 719, under the order of the then Executive Officer, Colonel Bui The Lan and Operations to Recover Quang Tri, by Brigadier General Bui The Lan, Commandant of the Marine Division.
Quang Tri was recovered on 16-9-1972, seven weeks after 27-7 when the Marine Division had replaced the Airborne Division. The Marine Division had heavy losses because it was on the offensive side. The NVA was on the defensive side and were four times as numerous. They also had a strong Rear Base (North Vietnam) very close and ready to reinforce them when they are in need.
This victory was very different from those gained by the other units within the different areas as the ARVN was on the defensive side.
The recovery of Quang Tri was considered most important militarily and politically at the time: Paris Peace Talks, Vietnamisation.
This victory was an arduous one and there were the heaviest human losses from both sides. From 5-72 to 16-9-172, the Marine Division had 3500 killed and many thousands wounded in action. The NVA units lost more than half of their soldiers. Their tank regiments 203 and 204 were considered completely destroyed.
It was the most violent battle. The Marine Division won the most triumphant victory in the Vietnam War. On 20-9-1972, President Nguyen Van Thieu and government officials arrived in Quang Tri. Brigadier General Bui The Lan, the Commandant of the Marine Division, led the President, General Cao Van Vien (the Chairman of JGS) and Lieutenant General Ngo Quang Truong (I Corps commander) to visit the 6th Battalion and led them around the ruined city. Meanwhile, the NVA 130mm still occasionally fell.
Brigadier General Bui The Lan was awarded the third grade of the National Order and a gallantry medal with palm. Receiving the news that Marines had completely controlled Quang Tri City and had swept the last NVA out of the Dinh Cong Trang Old Citadel at 17.00 on 15-9-1972, President Nguyen Van Thieu sent an official telegram to the General, Chairman of JGS:
“I request you to transfer to:
- The Lieutenant General, I Corps Commander
- The Brigadier General, Commander of the Marine Division
- All Marine units and their fighters who had destroyed the communist invaders and dislodged them out of Quang Tri City and the Old Citadel.
My warmest praises and congratulations and at the same time the immense admiration from myself and the government which were gathered at the Independence Palace on the morning of 16-9-1972.
Four days before the deadline of a three month campaign to recover this province and after many weeks full of hardships and sacrifices, all units of all ARVN service branches in I Corps have been imprinted with brilliant golden marks in the heroic history of our race.
The communist plots to occupy Quang Tri, Binh Long and Kontum and to cling to a psychologic and political name to cheat public opinion, were smashed by all of you.
Once more I congratulate all of you in this victory. I respectfully bow myself before soldiers who have sacrificed their lives for the great cause of the nation.
I will visit you."
President Nguyen Van Thieu
of the Government of South Vietnam.
Lieutenant General Ngo Quang Truong, Commander of I Corps and MRI sent a telegram to the Commandant of the Marine Division:
“To Brigadier General, Commandant of the Marine Division,
I saw our National Flag flying above the Quang Tri sky shortly after the Marines strong arms had raised it inside the Old Citadel on 16-9-1972.
I wanted to see your victory on the battlefield. I could not be prouder to have been able to Command the Marine Division in the largest scaled campaign of the ARVN. From Ben Hai to Ca Mau the heels of the Marines had endured many challenges and hardships to gain victory. However it must be said that this was the first time that the Marine Division had fought in such a special situation, facing the most numerous difficulties against an overwhelming enemy. That is why the victory in Quang Tri where you had smashed the enemy and liberated the city was the most triumphant victory.
In May 1972, when Quang Tri had been lost to the enemy, the Marine Division managed to hold the ground at the My Chanh defensive line and thus contributed to the first success with the Airborne Division and 1st Infantry Division in the duty of keeping Hue. Hundreds of thousands of civilians of Quang Tri and Thua Thien Provinces had to flee southwards under the enemy pressures. However, at the My Chanh defensive line, you successfully stopped the NVA advances and also limited raids were then organised in Hai Lang to regain the active role and hinder enemy attacks. Operation Song Than 5 on the 13-5 at Hai Lang and Da Nghi, Operation Soang Than 6 on 24-5 at My Thuy and Operation Song Than 8, crossing the departure line My Thuy on 8-6, threw heavy blows on the enemy and caused damages to their plans of attack. All these operations prepared for our counter-offensive on 28-6-1972, which was the beginning of the Campaign Lam Son 72.
Marine and Airborne Divisions caused an interesting surprise to the NVA and also the ARVN's other Service Branches in that the two Divisions pushed the enemy back and partly destroyed the NVA battle capacity even though the ratio of man power was only one to four.
The hardest battle commenced on 27-7-1972, when Marine Division received areas of responsibility in Quang Tri, from the Airborne Division.
Marines, after fifty-one days of reoccupying inch after inch, house after house, have finally recovered the whole of Quang Tri City and killed 14,000 NVA soldiers, seized 4350 weapons, destroyed or seized 71 artillery pieces and 73 NVA tanks. (These numbers were obtained from the beginning of May 1972 to 16-9-1972)
The NVA had used a force of four regular Divisions to keep Quang Tri. Those Divisions were famous in the North and the Centre Vietnam and especially in Dien Bien Phu: 304, 308, 312 and 325. The Marine Division had confronted them, with more endurance and audacity and thus defeated them.
This victory was built with many soldiers' bones and blood, with your unsurpassed endurance and with the talent and skills of the Brigadier General and officers. Through this letter, I want to express my admiration towards the Marine Division for the immense sacrifice of all of you and I wish to repeat the great pride I possess in having been able to command you in the biggest challenge of the largest scaled campaign of the ARVN.
I request the Brigadier General to transfer my praises to all officers, underofficers and the ranks of the Marine Division.'
Lieutenant General Ngo Quang Truong
Commander of I Corps and MRI
o0o
The Marine Division also received many telegrams from commanders of the US Marine Big Units, who congratulated the Quang Tri victory.
The US President also awarded the Legion of Merit Commander to Brigadier General Bui The Lan. Major General Homer Smith who commanded the Defence Attacheé's office (D.A.O.) decorated the medal to Brigadier General Bui The Lan at the Forward Headquarters of the Marine Division at Huong Dien, at the end of 1974. This was a highly noble medal from the US, which was reserved for awarding foreigners with good deeds and belonged to an ally of the US. According to an Advisor of I Corps, this was the first time that the Legion of Merit Commander award was given to a Vietnamese General during the Vietnam War.
Note: The Legion of Merit of the US has four grades, from the lowest to the highest, it ranks:
- Legion of Merit Legionnaire
- Legion of Merit Officer
- Legion of Merit Commander
- Legion of Merit Chief Commander
(This is the highest degree of the Legion of Merit)
President Nguyen Van Thieu also awarded medals to the soldiers of the Marine Division.
Colonel Nguyen Nang Bao and Colonel Ngo Van Dinh were awarded the 3rd Grade National Order and a gallantry medal with palm during this Quang Tri City victory. The flag of the Marine Division was praised before the ARVN for the seventh time after the recovery of the Old Citadel and Quang Tri City. It was praised the eighth time before the ARVN after the Marine Division held ground in 1973 and 1974. The Marine Division was allowed to wear the Three Colour Fouragere.
President Thieu decorated the Flag of the Marine Division in a parade of the MRI's units in Hue. Brigadier General Lan, commanded the whole ceremony. Colonel Ngo Van Dinh, the Commander of Brigade 258, commanded the marine contingent which attended the ceremony. Major General Howard H. Cooksey, the Senior Advisor of the MRI (FRAC) proposed to award the whole Marine Division a medal from the US President, for the victory in Quang Tri.
All nine Marine Battalions, three marine Artillery battalions, Engineering Battalion, Medical Battalion and supporting Battalions performed many remarkable deeds in 1972. Although having very heavy losses, the Marine Division was still the unit which had had the highest number of participating soldiers in the ARVN.
The battle at Cua Viet occurred after the recovery of Quang Tri. The ARVN tried to reoccupy Dong Ha and Cua Viet. The NVA, although having heavy losses, still resisted strongly with their 130mm Artillery. As their last effort to reoccupy an important strategic target, namely Cua Viet, the Marine Division formed a special Task Force named Tango. The Task Force was commanded by Colonel Nguyen Thanh Tri, the Executive Officer of the Marine Division. It was composed of:
- The 2nd Battalion
- The 4th Battalion
- A Company from the 5th Battalion
- Three Companies from the 9th Battalion
The Task Force was supported by the 20th Tank Regiment, three Artillery Battalions and a Naval Artillery from the US 7th Fleet.
The Task Force advanced to the Long Quang area in Bo Xuyen and moved along the sea shore in the direction of Thanh Hoi, Gia Dang and Cua Viet. The main goal was to reoccupy a Naval Base at the mouth of the Mieu Giang River, twelve kilometres away from the front line of the Marine Corps and to raise the National Flag before the ceasefire scheduled time. In contrary to the long campaign to recover Quang Tri and the Old Citadel, the operation was planned as a Blitzkrieg to occupy the target in 25 hours.
On 20-6-1974, M48 tanks which reinforced Brigade 258, fired at and sunk a NVA Military Cargo Ship, the T-174 from Regiment 5 of the NVA Navy. The ship entered the area of responsibility of Brigade 258. It carried dry rations and ammunition.
In February 1975, in Tet At Mao (Lunar New Year), Brigadier General Bui The Lan, the Commandant of the Marine Division, was promoted to Major General by President Nguyen Van Thieu. The ceremony was organised at the Headquarters of the 1st Infantry Division. Lieutenant General Ngo Quang Truong, I Corps Commander and Major General Hoang Van Lac were present at the ceremony.
On 29-3-1975, the whole Marine Division withdrew from the MRI to arrive at Vung Tau in order to receive resupplies and equipment. Brigade 468 withdrew out of Da Nang with no casualties. On 8-4-1975, the Marine Division Headquarters ordered the Brigade 468 Headquarters, the 8th Battalion of Lieutenant Colonel Nguyen Dang Hoa and the 16th Battalion of Major Dinh Xuan Lam to move to Saigon to reinforce the Capital Special District. Only the 14th Battalion of Lieutenant Colonel Nguyen Van Canh stayed in Vung tau. When Brigade 468 arrived at Ba Ria, the Independence Palace was bombarded. The Brigade received order to return to Vung Tau. The next day it moved again to Saigon. The convoy stopped at Bien Hoa. Colonel Ngo Van Dinh presented himself to Lieutenant General Nguyen Van Minh, the commander of Capital Special District. The orders to reinforce the district were then cancelled.
Brigade 468 then reinforced III Corps. During this time, the Marine Division Headquarters, Brigades 147, 258 and 369 were still located at Vung Tau. Brigades 147 and 369 were considered as unable to immediately resume activities. They needed to be resupplied and reequipped. Brigade 258 was comparatively able to battle. On 21-4 to the 22-4, Brigade 258 of Colonel Nguyen Nang Bao and the Forward Headquarters of the Marine Division, commanded by Colonel Nguyen Thanh Tri, moved to Long Binh. On 24-4-1975, I received the order to go to Brigade 147 and replace Colonel Luong to reorganise the unit. I had not achieved anything by the date 30-4-1975 and it ended my military career in a battle without any violence.
Thirty years ago, in the Easter season (9-4-1972) there was a sky-shaking battle between Marine Brigade 258 and the outnumbered NVA units at Ai Ti, Quang Tri. On that day, a NVA Infantry Regiment and a NVA Tank Regiment attacked the positions of units belonging to Brigade 258, at Phuong Hoang and Ai Tu. This was the first time in the Vietnam War that the NVA sent the Tank Regiment into the battlefield. Their Infantry Regiment was defeated. Only a small number of them managed to escape. However, the NVA Tank Regiment was completely destroyed. Not a single tank succeeded in escaping.
In the morning of 12-4-1972, Captain Doan Duc Nghi, the Executive Officer of the 1st Battalion, led two companies, eight M48 Tanks and a Battalion of M113 APCs to counter attack. After three days of pursuing the remainder of the NVA, the group returned. In the late afternoon of 15-4-1972, when approaching the Ai Tu Combat Base, his group was ambushed by two NVA Battalions. After some hours of battle, the NVA suffered heavy losses. Two hundred NVA were killed in foxholes, bunkers or trenches within this area. However, a bullet coming from a distance killed Captain Nghi. When receiving the news, through the US advisors Radio System, that he had been killed, I was stupefied for a long time. I have known him since the day he had been graduated from the Nha Trang Officer School with the rank of 3rd Lieutenant. He then became a platoon leader in Company 4, which was commanded by me. He went into operation with me in Dam Doi in 1963 and then Phung Du in 1965.
Captain Lawrence H. Livingston, his advisor on the day, is now Lieutenant General of the US Marine Corps. After this battle, Captain Livingston was awarded the Navy Cross by the US and the T59 Tank that was captured by the Marines was displayed in the Saigon Town Hall for public viewing. After that, the ARVN offered it to the US Armed Forces as a gift. During the Korean War, the US Armed Forces wished to capture a T59 Tank for examination and research purposes but no opportunity had come. I do not know where the T59 is located on US soil. Nghi, our fatherland thanks you. You will probably see your commanders and friends again: Le Nguyen Khang, Nguyen Thanh Yen, Nguyen Bach Mai, Nguyen Ngoc Khoi, Nguyen Ngoc Diep, Le Van Can, Tran Dang Tuc, Dang Van So, Le Hang Minh, Nguyen Quoc Chinh, Nguyen Tuan Kiet, Nguyen Van Cau, Nguyen Xuan Phuc, Tran Van Hop, Nguyen Van Hay, Nguyen Hong and others whom I could not recall. They served under the Flag of the 2nd Marine Battalion since the day of its formation until 30-4-1975.
When he was the Executive Officer of the 1st Battalion, Major Tran Van Hop was the Executive Officer of the 2nd Battalion, replacing Lieutenant Colonel Nguyen Xuan Phuc. Major Hop died when he was in the concentration camp of the Communists after 1975.
This year, 2004, in Easter, I recall all that had happened on the 9-4, thirty two years ago. There was a unit which won a big victory for the ARVN. The unit was Brigade 258 and you.
The overwhelming NVA, assisted by modern and sophisticated equipment, attempted to invade South Vietnam but was defeated by the Vietnamese Marine Corps.
Colonel Ngo Van Dinh
San Jose 19-6-2004
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