Thuong Tu Gate today - "Witness" of history that day. Photo: Bao Minh

The campaign to liberate Tri Thien Hue began on March 8, 1975 and ended on March 26, 1975. On the northern flank of Hue city from the main corridor, the battle opened on March 8, 1975. The mission of Company 5, Battalion 10 was to attack the puppet military sub-region at kilometer 9. The armed platoon of Huong Tra district and the Huong Thai task force attacked Huong Chu sub-region, organized rallies, incited the masses to rise up, and provided rear support for the forces attacking the sub-region. The Thanh commando attacked Huong So sub-region, An Hoa bridge, and An Hoa police station. The Huong Binh commune task force attacked Thong market, supporting the Thanh commando.

The marching formation crossed An Luu hill and was ambushed by the enemy. The counter-ambush was very fierce, the enemy fled, the units advanced, advanced to the intended target, but encountered the enemy ambush in the fields, at the entrance of Bon Pho and Co Buu villages, so our forces suffered heavy losses. The plan to attack Huong Tra sub-region, Huong So sub-region, and An Hoa bridge could not be carried out.

Then, building on the victory of the opening battle of the Central Highlands campaign, our army captured Ban Me Thuot city. Armed forces and communal work teams simultaneously conducted raids on sub-regions, armed propaganda, mobilized the grassroots, cadres, and encouraged puppet soldiers to desert, and neutralized the government apparatus in villages, hamlets, and communes.

In the following days, with their stubborn nature, determined to stop our attacks on the plains, the enemy increased their blockades. Every night, the working teams and the attack teams encountered enemy ambushes, tripped over mines, and suffered many casualties. However, the armed forces of the district and the city's special forces showed great determination, organized many battles on the border and outskirts of the city, destroyed many enemies, and broke a number of blockades. In particular, they destroyed the enemy's defense line at Hill 365 through De slope, opening a clear corridor to welcome the main army from Tro Trai and Highway 12 to Khe Dien to the forest gates.

The second phase of the campaign to liberate the homeland was carried out more vigorously and decisively, in a more favorable atmosphere and situation.

On March 22, 1975, the main attack force consisted of the armed forces of the district military command, the 12th Company of the province, and a battalion of the 4th Regiment. Comrades: Nguyen Huong Tho, Provincial Party Committee member, Secretary of the Huong Tra District Party Committee, Commander; Ba Con, Secretary of the Quang Dien District Party Committee, Deputy Commander, marched from Khe Trai to Khe Dien to the Huong Thanh forest gate to liberate the communes below the national highway and south of Quang Dien. On the way, the enemy blocked the march and prevented them from returning. The reinforced battalion and a part of Quang Dien returned to Phong Dien and advanced north of the Bo River.

Next, the situation was very urgent, comrade Nguyen Huong Tho and the district cadres had to ride the road to Khe Dien, pass the 365 checkpoint - De slope to the stopping place of Huong Thai, Huong Thanh, Huong Van, Huong Binh, Huong Ho, Huong Mai and the special forces unit in the North of Hue - comrade Secretary of the District Party Committee and comrade Thai Long, deputy captain Thanh directly conveyed the determination of the Military Region, seize the opportunity to liberate Hue city in the shortest time.

With the determination to hit the set target, on the night of March 21, 1975, the Northern City Special Forces unit approached the target, attacked with B40, B41 firepower, and M79 personal mortars on Huong So Sub-region, An Hoa bridge, and An Hoa police station. The battle was a resounding victory, causing a great echo.

A day later, on the night of March 23, 1975, Company 2 and the Huong Tra armed forces, the Huong Thai Task Force and the Special Forces coordinated a fierce attack with B40, B41, DK82 firepower, collapsing many houses and destroying the enemy's 105mm artillery position. The battle was a victory, opening the door for the main army to enter and liberate Hue city. Unfortunately, on the way of retreat, they encountered an enemy ambush in the rice fields, the enemy fired heavily at the formation, 10 comrades were killed and wounded. This was an extremely heroic sacrifice - a sacrifice only 24 hours away from liberation.

On the night of March 24, 1975, each army advanced in 3 directions, the commandos headed to Van Thanh - Thien Mu, entered Bach Ho bridge, and advanced towards Hue. The 2nd and 3rd directions towards the communes of Huong Binh, Huong Ho, Huong Thai, Huong Thanh, and Huong Van also quickly advanced to the targets, coordinating with the forces on the national highway to completely liberate Huong Tra district.

Comrade Nguyen Huong Tho quickly established an armed company and named it the Commando Team of the North Wing 2 to support the Hue front. I had the honor of welcoming this unit at 6:00 a.m. on March 25, 1975, at Thuong Tu Gate. We hugged each other with joy until tears flowed - tears of happiness at the moment our homeland was completely liberated.