That is Colonel Van Minh Truong, born and raised in village 5, Ham Liem commune, currently living in Dai Thien village, Ham Hiep commune, Ham Thuan Bac district, this year he is 87 years old, 60 years of Party membership.

Meeting him in a simple, neat and airy house, with a small garden deep in the alley of a quiet countryside. Over a steaming cup of tea, he confided: “Our country is completely unified as it is today, there have been countless soldiers who sacrificed and overcame hardships to regain independence and freedom for the Fatherland. This is the merit of the Party, of our army and people”. Occasionally stopping to sip tea, Colonel Van Minh Truong, Commander of the 812th Infantry Regiment, the main, strategic unit of the South Central region (former Military Region 6) continued to tell about the battles, memories of his comrades and teammates from the past to remember, making everyone emotional.

He directly commanded Regiment 812, fought to liberate 4/6 provinces under Military Region 6, including Binh Thuan, Binh Tuy, Lam Dong, Tuyen Duc. He coordinated with the main force of the Ministry, Military Region 5 and local forces to liberate the two provinces of Quang Duc and Ninh Thuan.

Based on a correct and scientific analysis of the battlefield, the Central Committee determined to mobilize the greatest efforts of the entire Party, the entire army, and the entire people in both regions, in 1975-1976, when the historical opportunity arose in early or late 1975, to immediately concentrate forces to liberate the South.

Carrying out the Politburo's determination, the Southern Central Highlands was chosen as the main battlefield, in which Buon Ma Thuot was the key opening battle.

To coordinate with the main battlefield, the Military Region 6 Command determined to use the 812th Regiment and the 200C Special Forces Battalion together with the armed forces of Binh Tuy province to capture Hoai Duc sub-region in the shortest time, developing towards the Southern Central Highlands.

Determined to complete the mission well, the regiment focused on preparing forces and issued a resolution for action. At this time, the Command Board of Regiment 812 had a change, comrade Van Minh Truong, Deputy Head of Binh Thuan Province, became the Regiment Commander, replacing comrade Pham Ty who had returned to the Military Region.

At 11pm on March 16, 1975, all three forces including Regiment 812; Special Forces Battalion 200C, Company 88 of Binh Tuy province opened fire. After 3 days and nights of fierce fighting, we destroyed the enemy's ammunition depot system; at 2:40am on March 20, the regiment's artillery fired heavily at the sub-region; at 4:43am, Battalion 200C crossed the western gateway and occupied the Nin Tho bridgehead, C3 Battalion 840 captured the northern gateway, the enemy fought back fiercely. At exactly 6:40am on March 20, 1975, the front flag flew on the roof of the information and logistics area of ​​Hoai Duc sub-region. On March 22, we took control of Tanh Linh, opening the way for our troops to attack the plains and advance to the sea.

With a stormy offensive spirit, the regiment under the command of Regiment Commander Van Minh Truong, our army captured Duc Trong; Da Lat in 2 days (April 2-3, 1975). Immediately after receiving orders from above, the Regiment sent Battalion 186 to stay and take over Da Lat, the rest advanced to liberate Binh Thuan with Battalion 200C to destroy Thien Giao sub-region.

At 9:00 p.m. on April 8, 1975, Ma Lam district town; Thien Giao sub-region, the northern shield of Phan Thiet town, was destroyed; not allowing the enemy to return, we captured Sa Ra, Tuy Hoa, Phu Long town, and assigned Battalion 15 to guard Phu Long bridge. The enemy counterattacked to retake Phu Long bridge, but our firepower, including 105mm artillery; H12; DKZ, suppressed the entire area, including Cang PsePic airport.

Having received the news that on April 16, 1975, our army liberated Ninh Thuan, at 1:00 p.m. on April 18, Comrade Van Minh Truong, Regiment Commander; Comrade Vu Ngoc Dai, Deputy Commander of the Binh Thuan Liberation Command contacted and reported the plan to liberate Phan Thiet to the Coastal Army (2nd Corps). On the same day, we captured Ta Zon; Lau Ong Hoang; Phan Thiet airport, crossed Phu Long bridge along Highway 1A to liberate Phan Thiet (3:00 a.m. on April 19, 1975). After liberating the mainland, our army coordinated with Group 382 to liberate Cu Lao Thu Island (now Phu Quy Island), the last piece of land in the extreme South Central region.

During 43 days and nights (March 16 - April 27, 1975), the 812th Infantry Regiment of Military Region 6 made great efforts to coordinate with friendly units to successfully complete the mission of completely liberating the southernmost part of the Central region, contributing to the whole country's successful end of the resistance war against the US to save the country. With these particularly outstanding achievements, on September 12, 1975, the 812th Regiment was honored by the Party and State with the noble title of Heroic Unit of the People's Armed Forces, he smiled brightly. Worthy of the 12 golden historical words "Self-reliance, self-strengthening, heroic fighting, glorious victory" - Colonel Van Minh Truong's voice gradually choked up, that image still remained intact.