The heroic fighting years
In early 1978, the situation at the northern border was extremely tense. Having just ended the war to protect the Fatherland at the southwestern border, our army and people had to fight to protect the northern border of the Fatherland.
On January 8, 1978, the Central Military Commission issued a Directive "All Military Regions and Services, especially the Air Defense Service and the Navy, must be at the highest level of combat readiness." And to receive help from the Soviet Navy, in early February 1979, the Ministry of National Defense instructed the Navy and the Air Defense Service to select forces to establish the first surface-to-sea missile battalion of the Vietnam People's Navy.
Due to the requirement of secrecy, the Battalion's initial name was the 43rd Naval Battalion. On May 28, 1979, the name was changed to the 43rd Artillery Battalion B, the day the Ministry of National Defense issued a decision to establish the 679th Shore Missile Battalion under the Navy, the predecessor of today's 679th Naval Group and 679th Naval Brigade.
On December 21, 1979, the Battalion began receiving equipment and weapons provided by the Soviet Union. By the end of August 1980, the Battalion's officers and soldiers had mastered the equipment and weapons.
According to Lieutenant Colonel Dao Cao Sy - Political Commissar of Brigade 679: In combat readiness and combat training, the Brigade has organized and participated in many drills to successfully complete its tasks, thereby demonstrating the spirit of solidarity, overcoming all difficulties, successfully completing all assigned tasks, always being ready to fight, achieving many achievements, writing glorious pages in the history of the unit.
The power of the Vietnam People's Navy
According to Lieutenant Colonel Dao Cao Sy, Brigade 679 is tasked with protecting the sovereignty of the sea and islands in the Gulf of Tonkin and carrying out other missions when ordered.
During the war years, the Brigade's officers and soldiers were well-trained and highly ready to fight and protect the country's seas. In peacetime, the soldiers continued to train, operate and use weapons and equipment. Currently, the unit is equipped with the Redut - M coastal missile system from the Soviet era, which is still effective today. The most recent time, in 2017, Brigade 679 successfully fired a missile, demonstrating its technical and tactical stability. With the above confidence, in 2024 the Brigade will be equipped with a new set of equipment with advanced and modern features that are not inferior to missiles from advanced countries in the world, in order to strengthen the protection of the sovereignty of the sea and islands of the Fatherland.
According to Lieutenant Colonel Dao Cao Sy, over 45 years has been a continuous and tireless process of efforts by generations of officers and soldiers of the Brigade who have devoted their efforts and intelligence, overcome many hardships and challenges, to excellently complete assigned tasks, and achieve many outstanding achievements. From the initial small and young force of the Vietnam People's Army and Navy, it has now developed into a strong Coastal Missile Brigade; The unit has also quickly built up its forces, researched and learned, to be able to receive and firmly master existing weapons and technical equipment. With the results achieved, for many consecutive years the unit has been recognized as a comprehensively strong unit, "exemplary, typical", and has been awarded by the Party and State with 2 Military Exploit Medals; 3 Fatherland Protection Medals and many other noble awards.
Continuing the tradition of his father and brother
Major Hoang Thanh Thien, Deputy Squad Leader, Squad 2, Firepower Team, Brigade 679 said: My most memorable memory was in 2017, I participated in a missile firing in the field in Cam Ranh, Khanh Hoa. The weather there was extremely hot, up to 40 degrees Celsius, the training process was very hard, but my teammates and I still tried to do well, after the first round of shots, the missile hit the target and completed the mission.
“Currently, I have a child in high school, who is also planning to pursue a military career. He wants to continue the tradition of his ancestors, contributing to the preservation and protection of the country,” said Major Hoang Thanh Thien.
Major Vu Van Trang, born in 1990, Captain of the Firepower Team, Brigade 679. Hometown: Hung Thang, Tien Lang, Hai Phong City. Since he was in school, Vu Van Trang dreamed of serving in the army. In 2008, after graduating from high school, Trang registered for the Naval Academy, majoring in Missile and Artillery. After graduating, Vu Van Trang was assigned to work at the Brigade.
Every day, Major Vu Van Trang and the Firepower Team train officers and soldiers according to the Brigade's plan, preserve and maintain technical equipment and carry out assigned ad hoc tasks. During his work, Major Vu Van Trang has achieved the title of Emulation Fighter for many years and received a certificate of merit.
“Through time studying and working, being trained with teammates, helps us to flexibly and creatively apply to carry out assigned tasks. In 2017, I directly participated in the missile test firing mission in Cam Ranh - Khanh Hoa. I and the gunner team hit the target, completing the assigned task” - Major Vu Van Trang said.
Major Vu Van Trang is now married and has two young children. His youngest son is named Vu Hai Quan - a name that conveys love, faith and hope for the future. "I hope that when he grows up, he will continue to contribute to the Army, to the growing Navy, and to contribute to protecting the sovereignty of the sea and islands of the Fatherland" - Major Vu Van Trang said.
