Back to the historical battlefields: Lesson 4

The road to the historical site of the revolutionary victory on A Biah hill. Photo: THANH CHUNG

From the fierce battle …

A Biah Peak in Hong Bac Commune is 937 m above sea level, located in the middle of the mountainous forest near the Vietnam - Laos border. This area also has 3 other peaks of approximately the same height, forming a tripod position. If this place is occupied, the entire A Luoi valley with a radius of about 20 km can be controlled.

After being "shocked" by the Tet Offensive and Uprising of 1968, the US army frantically swept through and launched many attacks throughout the Thua Thien Hue area, especially the A Luoi area. The enemy chose A Biah as a gathering point to push the liberation army close to the border, breaking the strategic transportation corridor 559. When discovering a main force unit of our army was stationed here, the US army decided to launch an attack to control this high point.

The US military mobilized combat forces equivalent to 2 divisions. In addition, there was also effective support from the Saigon army. To support the plan of a quick attack and quick victory in A Biah, the US built 5 military bases east of the Ho Chi Minh trail and stationed air forces at Phu Bai airport, Da Nang, ready to receive orders. With the plot of "destroying everything, killing everything, burning everything", the US military built 5 layers of firepower. The upper layer was B52 aircraft dropping bombs at each coordinate, the next layer was dive-bombing jet aircraft, then mobile armed helicopters, then ground artillery, the last layer was infantry firepower with modern weapons.

Faced with the enemy's military might, our army and people were not shaken. Judging the enemy's intentions, the Tri Thien Military Region sent Regiment 3 (Division 324) to A Luoi to respond. Fighting alongside Regiment 3 were local troops and guerrillas from communes in District 3, Western Thua Thien.

Soldiers who participated in the A Biah battle return to the old battlefield. Photo: Hue Today Newspaper

After many hours of bombing and shelling, at noon on May 10, 1969, the US used helicopters to land soldiers in the A Biah area. The battle was fierce, with both sides fighting for every bunker and every meter of land. The liberation army proactively attacked and crushed the enemy's march, causing 1,600 casualties and destroying many vehicles and weapons of war. After more than a week of intense fighting, seeing that the goal of destroying many enemy forces had been completed, on the night of May 18, Regiment 3 began to retreat, leaving only a diversionary force behind in A Biah.

…to the destination of peace

After the battle of A Biah, the American soldiers were caught in a nightmare when they had to go through the fiercest, most terrifying and bloodiest battle. This was also the greatest loss of the American army before withdrawing from the South. They were extremely confused because they could not explain why with superior air force and artillery, they still failed at A Biah. Before entering the war, the American army gave this battle the beautiful name "Snow falling on Apache peak" but in reality it became "Blood falling on the mountain peak". The American press called this battle Humberger Hill (''Hamburger Hill'' of the American paratroopers).

Despite the deliberate cover-up, the news of the "Hamburger Hill" battle with its terrible casualties still flooded the newspapers and penetrated into the political arena, deepening the internal conflicts in the United States. The victory of A Biah not only marked the failure of the strategic calculations of the American army but also a major failure within the United States. After this battle, the United States had to radically change its strategy, from "Local War" to "Vietnamization of the war".

For our army, the battle of "Hamburger Hill" was considered a double victory, not only helping us regain the initiative on the battlefield but also strengthening our iron belief and determination to "fight to drive out the Americans and topple the puppets".

Green has returned to Hong Bac commune, A Luoi district, but people here still remember the historic battle of A Biah hill. Photo: THANH CHUNG

A Biah today is different from the past. Many vestiges of war have been eroded, replaced by the green of mountains and forests, of life. The road to the A Biah revolutionary historical site is full of lychee hills bearing the image of the Dong - Hai Duong region. People here say that it is a tree that helps escape poverty, bringing a prosperous life. In Hong Bac commune, where the name "Minced Meat Hill" shocked the West, up to 95% of the population are Pa Co people. Although bordering the border and far from the center, Hong Bac has received attention for infrastructure investment.

Nowadays, A Biah is a famous tourist destination in A Luoi district. This place fosters revolutionary traditions and educates patriotism for the younger generation. Not only that, many foreigners also make the effort to visit A ​​Biah. They want to see with their own eyes the place that was once a place of terror for American soldiers. Even many American soldiers who fought in A Biah have returned to the old place, not to deepen hatred but to appreciate the value of peace.

Mr. Ho Van Nga (born in 1974) in Le Ninh village, Hong Bac commune said: “When I was born, the historic battle of A Biah had been over for 6 years. However, from generation to generation, no one does not know about this victory. Every son of the homeland is proud of the place name A Biah, which is fierce but heroic.”

Next: Opening the "door" to Saigon from the east

NGUYEN MO

Source: https://baohaiduong.vn/tro-lai-nhung-chien-truong-lich-su-bai-4-tran-doi-thit-bam-410004.html