Promoted from Squad Leader to Deputy Squad Leader
On a day in the historic April, we visited Mr. Nguyen Khac Nhu - former combat assistant of the 66th Regiment (called Dong Son Group in 1975), Division 304, Army Corps 2, who, along with his comrades, entered the Independence Palace at noon on April 30, 1975 to arrest President Duong Van Minh's cabinet and then took him to Saigon Radio to declare his surrender.
Mr. Nhu's house on Hoang Hoa Tham street, Binh Thanh district, Ho Chi Minh City. Mr. Nhu looks quite healthy and clear-headed compared to his age of 77, telling me the story of his life and the historic moment on April 30, 1975
Mr. Nhu was born in 1948, from Vinh Bao, Hai Phong but has lived in Hanoi since childhood. In 1967, after working as a technical staff member of the Automatic Phone Station, Hanoi Post Office for a year, he joined the army.
After more than two months of training in Ninh Binh, Mr. Nhu was assigned to the reconnaissance Company of the 66th Infantry Regiment, Division 304. After more than 3 consecutive months of traveling from North to South, around April 1968, his unit began participating in fierce fighting in the Quang Tri battlefield.
"The 66th Regiment was then tasked with attacking Huong Hoa district, Ta Con airport and enemy units to support the battlefield. The main goal was to both destroy the enemy and push the US soldiers out, creating conditions for the forces and people inside to rise in 1968, The battlefield in Quang Tri during those years was also very fierce and I was injured in a battle, said Mr. Nhu.
From 1968 to 1973, his unit was attached to the Quang Tri battlefield. Because he always completed his tasks well, he was promoted from the First Captain to the Deputy Company of the reconnaissance Company and 5 months later was promoted to the Company Captain. In 1973, he was selected by the unit to go to Hanoi to report a typical performance in arresting prisoners before the shooting time.
Not thinking about being a participants in the country's historical event
On the morning of April 30, 1975, his unit was stationed in Phuoc Tan commune, Bien Hoa city when Army Corps 2 assigned him the task of organizing a deep periculture located in the deep periculture of the Army Corps, under the direct command of the Army Command.
After stopping for a moment to recall memories, Mr. Nhu continued: At that time, our 5 brothers, including Captain Pham Xuan The, the Vice-captain of Dong Son Group, commanding the deep forehead, I was the combat assistant, comrade Bang Nguyen That was in charge of information 2W, the soldier of communication Nguyen Huy Hoang and driver Dao Ngoc Van, all sitting on a Jeep, which was a spouse of the enemy's Brigade battle.
Along the way from Bien Hoa to Saigon, many enemy resistance groups still stubbornly resisted, especially at Rach Chiec Bridge and Saigon Bridge, causing many of our soldiers to die right before the time of the liberation of the South". Speaking of this, Mr. Nhu was silent for a moment as if to commemorate his teammates.
When the men's car reached Van Thanh bridge, crossed Hang Xanh intersection, crossed Thi Nghe bridge, and reached the gate of the Zoo, they stopped to ask for directions.
At this time, a man holding the flag of the National Liberation Front of South Vietnam received the road and got in the car to go to the Independence Palace. When he saw the second tank of our army rammed the gate of Independence Palace, Captain Pham Xuaner ordered the driver to go into the palace.
“When the car arrived at the steps, we took off the gun.
We were completely surprised, just thinking that the opponent had run away. When we entered the Liberation Palace, Mr. Duong Van Minh said: "I am waiting for the liberation army to enter to hand over". At this time, Captain Pham Xuan The loudly said: "You have been arrested, you have to declare surrender, there is nothing to hand over", Mr. Nhu recalled.
After that, they asked President Duong Van Minh and Mr. Vu Van Mau, the Prime Minister of Saigon Government at that time, to go to Saigon Radio to declare the surrender.
"Mr. Duong Van Minh said that the situation in Saigon at that time was very dangerous, so he suggested that we take his car for safety, but we did not agree and asked Mr. Minh and Mr. Mau to get on the Jeep to go. Because we were afraid that when passing by, a bad guy would see Mr. Minh in the car and act recklessly, we arranged Mr. Minh to sit between the driver and Captain Pham Xuan The in the upper row.
Below me, Mr. Mau also sat between me, the 2W information soldier and the security guard. At that time, we were all ready to protect the safety of Mr. Minh and Mr. Mau. Because we did not know the way, Mr. Minh was the one who directed us to Saigon Radio Station, Mr. Nhu excitedly said.
The reporter asked: "Why don't you guys take President Duong Van Minh's car for safety?". Mr. Nhu honestly said: "To be honest, I was also shy at that time, I didn't know the way, so I didn't know where his driver would take me, so I just took my motorbike to be sure."
On the afternoon of April 30, 1975, they brought Mr. Minh and Mr. Mau back to the Doc Lap Palace to hand over to the Commander of the 2nd Corps.
Mr. Nhu added: On the night of April 30, 1975, when I lay recalling the event of that noon, I was also startled, because along the way to Saigon Radio Station, weapons, military equipment, and military equipment of Saigon soldiers were thrown all over the road. If the enemy had shot Mr. Minh down, we would have had an "incident" right away.
In fact, we do not have a scenario of what we will do if we arrest the Saigon government cabinet. But we have done everything possible so that Mr. Duong Van Minh can declare unconditional surrender as soon as possible, to avoid wasting blood on both sides and innocent people".
Then the next day, May 1, 1975, the men's unit withdrew to take shelter in Phuoc Tan commune, Bien Hoa city and then continued to search for FULRO forces in Di Linh and Bao Loc districts of Lam Dong province.
In 1976, due to poor health due to disability (Mr. Nhu is a 4/4 disabled soldier) and the impact of chronic malaria, Mr. Nhu applied to change jobs to work at Bien Hoa Industrial Company at that time, and in 1982 applied for early retirement. Also here, he met, fell in love and married his wife. Currently, the couple has two grown children and are living happily in Binh Thanh District, Ho Chi Minh City.
Mr. Nhu confided: Like many generations ago, when the Fatherland was in danger, we were ready to hold guns to protect the independence and freedom of the country and people. Compared to many comrades and people who sacrificed, were seriously injured, were imprisoned, imprisoned, and brutally tortured, I was only slightly injured and survived the prolonged and fierce war, which was a very lucky and happy thing.
Does anyone think about merits, think that they will be participants in historical events of the nation or country? Now seeing my country developing like this is really beyond my comprehension. I just hope that, under the leadership of the Party, the country will forever be peaceful, the nation will be prosperous and happy".
