Born in the "motherland" of Binh Dinh during the most fierce days of the war against American imperialism, the 3rd Sao Vang Division (now the 3rd Division, Military Region 1) left behind glorious achievements.

60 years ago, on September 2, 1965, in Ba Boi forest, An Nghia commune (now Bok Toi commune, Hoai An district), Division 3 was officially established. This was the first main division of Military Region 5. The motto of the Division was "Loyalty, bravery, going into battle is victory, meeting the enemy is destruction, determination, determination to fight, determination to defeat the American invaders". Immediately after its establishment, the Party Committee of the Division proposed to the Military Region 5 Command to name the Division "Golden Star Division"; using the image of "Golden Star" to remind officers and soldiers to bravely fight under the glorious flag of the Fatherland, for the independence and freedom of the nation.

Ba Boi Forest historical site - where the 3rd Sao Vang Division was established. Photo: HP

Brilliant achievements

Immediately after its establishment, the Division immediately entered combat duty. The first historic confrontation with the strongest opponent, the 1st Airborne Division of the US Army, took place in Thuan Ninh Valley (Binh Tan Commune, Tay Son District) on September 18, 1965. The Division killed 200 enemies, shot down and destroyed 51 aircraft, delivering a stern warning to the invading US troops as they arrived on the battlefield of Zone 5.

In particular, during the general offensive and uprising in the spring of 1975, the Division was tasked with cutting Route 19, contributing to the victory of the Central Highlands campaign, while simultaneously attacking and destroying the strategic defense line of Phan Rang, completely liberating Ninh Thuan province. During the historic Ho Chi Minh campaign, the Division took charge of one direction of the 2nd Corps (Huong Giang Corps). With the spirit of "Lightning speed and boldness", the Division attacked and liberated Phuoc Tuy province (Ba Ria) and Vung Tau city (now Ba Ria - Vung Tau province), contributing to the liberation of the South and the reunification of the country.

More than a year after the country's reunification, in June 1976, the Division was ordered to urgently march thousands of kilometers to protect the northern border, ready to fight in the new area. From February 17, 1979 to January 1986, the Division, together with friendly units and the people and soldiers of Lang Son and Ha Giang provinces, defeated more than 120,000 Northern invaders, firmly protecting every inch of the sacred land of the Fatherland.

During 60 years of building, fighting and growing, the 3rd Sao Vang Division has participated in over 5,600 battles, annihilating and disintegrating over 150,000 enemies, burning and destroying hundreds of planes, thousands of military vehicles and enemy war vehicles. With those achievements, 20 groups and 17 individuals of the Division were honored by the State with the title of Hero of the People's Armed Forces and many other noble awards. However, the Division also had over 22,000 cadres and soldiers who heroically sacrificed, of which over 18,000 martyrs sacrificed on the Binh Dinh battlefield and over 10,000 comrades left a part of their blood and bones on the battlefields.

Loyalty

10 years of attachment to the countryside of Binh Dinh, the names: Hoai An, An Lao, Tay Son have encapsulated the affection between the unit and the people in the land of fire, so that later, when receiving the task of standing in the Northeast of the Fatherland, Binh Dinh is still a familiar address in the "return to the source" trips of generations of officers and soldiers of the Division.

Division 3 organized a trip to the source and visited and presented gifts to Heroic Vietnamese Mother Vo Thi Dao (commonly known as Mother Nhuong, in Hoai Nhon Town), who took care of and treated wounded soldiers of the unit during the resistance war against the US. Photo: TRAN KHANH

At the end of March, the Division organized a working delegation to march to the source and show gratitude in the province. The delegation visited red addresses associated with the Division's tradition such as: Ba Boi Forest historical site - where the Division was founded, Nui Cheo historical site, Xuan Son hill (Hoai An district); Mass grave of soldiers of Battalion 6 (in Dap Da ward, An Nhon town)... In addition, Division 3 also coordinated with local Party committees and authorities to present 50 gifts (1 million VND/gift) and support money to build 5 policy houses for 5 families of meritorious people, war veterans of Division 3 in difficult circumstances (80 million VND/house)...

Colonel Hua Chien Thang, Political Commissar of Division 3, affirmed: “Binh Dinh is the cradle, the place that provides human and financial resources, nurturing the Division to gradually grow and develop. Between Division 3 and the army and people of Binh Dinh, there is a sacred, flesh-and-blood relationship.”

50 springs since the day the country was unified, the country was independent and free, the flesh and bones of the martyrs of the 3rd Sao Vang Division of the past have blended into the motherland of Binh Dinh, into the grass and trees, becoming streams of water flowing in the motherland, blending into the traditional roots of the nation.

Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee Ho Quoc Dung (left) and Standing Deputy Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee Le Kim Toan (right) bring the remains of martyrs of the 3rd Sao Vang Division who died in 1975 in the battle at Hill 174 to the burial place at the Martyrs' Cemetery of An My Commune (Hoai An District). Photo: HP

In recent times, all levels and sectors in the province have organized many activities to search for and collect the remains of martyrs in general as well as officers and soldiers of the 3rd Sao Vang Division who died in Binh Dinh and have achieved positive results. Notably, the province has searched for, collected and organized a memorial service and solemn burial for the martyrs of the Division who died in 1966 at Xuan Son hill and in

Peak 174 in Hoai An district.

Colonel Nguyen Xuan Son, Political Commissar of the Binh Dinh Provincial Military Command, said: "This is a meaningful work, not only a gratitude but also a responsibility of today's generation towards the generation of fathers and brothers who heroically sacrificed for the cause of national liberation."

According to Colonel Nguyen Anh Tuan, Division Commander of Division 3, promoting the glorious tradition of the heroic Gold Star Division 3, in recent years, facing the new requirements of the task of building and defending the Fatherland, the Party Committee and Command of Division 3 have directed agencies and units to proactively and regularly do a good job of political and ideological education, raise the spirit of revolutionary vigilance for officers and soldiers, and always receive and complete all assigned tasks well. The Division also regularly organizes trips to the source - the place where the Division was founded to educate officers and soldiers about the morality of "When drinking water, remember its source", the glorious tradition of the Division during the process of formation, fighting, building and growing.

SPRING