Attending the ceremony were Lieutenant General Nguyen Van Bong - Secretary of the Party Committee, Political Commissar of the Navy; Mr. Nguyen Xuan Ky - Member of the Party Central Committee, Secretary of the Quang Ninh Provincial Party Committee; Delegates representing the Navy Command, Border Guard, Vietnam Coast Guard, Military Region 3, Air Defense - Air Force; Veterans delegates, heroes of the people's armed forces...
Fully 60 years ago, the US imperialists staged the "Gulf of Tonkin Incident" to deceive the American people and world public opinion, under the pretext of waging a destructive war against North Vietnam using air force and The navy aimed to prevent reinforcements from the large rear of the Socialist North to the front line of the South; destroying our economic and defense establishments, in order to weaken the will and determination of our army and people to fight to liberate the South and unify the country.
The US empire began by sending the destroyer Maddox to blatantly violate our sovereignty and provoke deep into our waters and was bravely attacked and chased away by three torpedo boats of the Vietnam People's Navy on August 2. .1964.
On August 4, the US imperialists falsely accused the Vietnamese Navy of unjustly attacking US ships in international waters. Using that as an excuse, on August 5, 1964, the US launched a simultaneous air raid on our naval bases and important economic targets along the northern coastal strip from Hon Gai (Quang Ninh) to Gianh River (Quang Binh).
Due to careful preparation in advance, in the first test of fire with the US Navy and Air Force, the Vietnam People's Navy cooperated closely with the Northern army and people to courageously fight back fiercely. In this battle, the Vietnam People's Navy and the people of the North fought heroically, shooting down 8 planes, wounding many others, and capturing the first American pilot alive in the sea and airspace of the region. North.
In Quang Ninh, many groups of modern American jets from the 7th Fleet flew in to bomb and bombard our naval port in Bai Chay and some parts of Hong Gai town (now Ha Long City). ). In the first fire test, the army and people of Quang Ninh shot down 3 US aircraft, of which 2 crashed on the spot, capturing the first US pilot - Lieutenant E.Alvarez, piloting an A4D aircraft, who was shot. Falling at 2:43 p.m. on August 5, 1964 at Hon Moi lagoon - Ha Long Bay.
Speaking at the memorial ceremony, Lieutenant General Nguyen Van Bong emphasized that the victories on August 2 and 5, 1964 of the Navy, Air Force and people of the North dealt a strong blow to the prestige of the US Navy. , shocking the Pentagon; At the same time, strongly encouraged the will of the army and people throughout the country to be determined to defeat the American invaders.
This is the first typical victory of the Navy after 9 years of establishment - opening the history of glorious battles and victories of the heroic Vietnamese People's Navy; At the same time, this was also the first victory of the Northern army and people against the destructive war of US imperialism.
In that battle, many officers, soldiers and people heroically fell and were injured; including 78 Navy officers and soldiers who heroically sacrificed their lives.
