The 308th Division or the Pioneer Army Company under the 12th Corps is the first established main infantry division of the Vietnam People's Army. Established on August 28, 1949, in Don Du town, Phu Luong district, Thai Nguyen province (from October 24, 1973, to November 21, 2023, the division was in the formation of the 1st corps).
The first command of the Company consisted of Lieutenant General Vuong Thua Vu as the Company Commander and Political Commissar and Cao Van Khanh as the Deputy Company Commander. The division organization includes: 102nd Regiment with the traditional name of Capital Regiment; The 36th Regiment with the traditional name is the North-North Regiment; The 88th Regiment with the traditional name is Tu Vu Regiment.
On November 28, 1955, the Ministry of National Defense of Vietnam established the E38 artillery of the F308, in February 1967 the Regiment was transferred to the Ministry to receive a new task, leaving only 1 artillery battalion carrying the name of the 13th Battalion. Due to the requirement of a large number of military synergies, on December 12, 1971, the E58 artillery was established and developed to this day.
During the Indochina War, the F308 participated in 13 campaigns. Typical in the Dien Bien Phu Campaign: The beginning was the battle to destroy the enemy at Independence Hill, then the French line at Ban Ke hill contributed to smashing the Northern shield. Then, with a fierce battle on Hill A1, the company joined with friendly units to break the Eastern defense area of the enemy base group, while fighting and counterattacking, in charge of the western army.
This division trained regular troops for complete regiments and sent troops to each front in turn. The first units of the Division marched out of North Vietnam into the battlefield of South Vietnam fighting from the end of December 1965.
The division directly participated in 3 campaigns: Khe Sanh Campaign, Route 9 Operation in Southern Laos and Dong Ha Quang Tri Campaign.
In early 1968, the F308 marched into the Quang Tri battlefield, participating in the 4th phase of the Road 9 – Khe Sanh campaign. For more than a month, it fought dozens of battles, ranging in size from companies to battalions, many battles actively attacked the enemy during the day, eliminated nearly 2,000 US marines, shot down 39 aircraft, destroyed 11 artillery pieces, mortars of all kinds and many weapons and equipment of the American army.
During 52 days and nights participating in the Route 9 – Southern Laos campaign, F308 destroyed 4,023 soldiers, captured 127 alive, destroyed the 17th Army Corps of the Republic of Vietnam and 4 battalions, severely damaged the 1st Ranger Regiment and the 1st Parachute Battalion, destroyed 337 military vehicles of all kinds (including 205 tanks and armored vehicles, 48 artillery pieces, large-sized mortars, nearly 500 guns of all kinds, and tens of tons of weapons, ammunition and technical equipment.
In 1972, the Vietnam People's Army launched the Spring-Summer Campaign, the division participated in the Tri-Thien direction, destroyed the Dong Ha-Lai Phuoc stronghold cluster, which was considered the milestone of the offensive, the largest combined military battle of the Vietnam People's Army up to that time. In the second phase of the campaign, the F308 and its reinforcement units, in the general offensive of the campaign, held the Army of the Republic of Vietnam (at that time the ARVN was supported by the US air force and warships): Killed 3,500 soldiers, captured 322, destroyed 110 tanks and armored vehicles, shot down 45 aircraft, etc. collected 5 large artillery pieces and many military vehicles, disbanding 3 infantry regiments and 2 armored tank convoys. In total, after nearly a year of fighting on the battlefield of Quang Tri with many successive waves, the Division fought nearly 800 battles large and small from a group, a platoon to a battalion, regiment and reinforced division, eliminated more than 10,000 enemy soldiers, destroyed and collected 151 armored tanks, 17 guns from 105 mm to 155 mm, shooting down 23 aircraft of all types.
However, in Quang Tri, the unit also suffered heavy losses of life with casualties of over 70% of the force. Many levels of companies and battalions had to replace commanders 6-7 times, the front companies were wiped out and the number of troops was replaced (in the memoirs, there was a battle where "no one was a cadre or soldier present from the beginning"). In early 1973, the Central Military Commission withdrew the 308th Division to North Vietnam to organize a formation.
On October 24, 1973, the Politburo advocated the establishment of the 1st Corps of the Vietnam People's Army (Quyet Thang Corps). During the Ho Chi Minh Campaign, the 308th Division was assigned to stay in North Vietnam, while the entire 1st Corps was transported directly to Song Be province. According to the tactics of the Vietnam People's Army, the 308th Division performs the task of "guard" and suspected soldiers and is also a strategic reserve force. In fact, the 308th Division was working on dike to overcome storms and floods, so it had not moved in time for the situation and was agreed to "be assigned to stay".
On August 28, 1979, the division was transformed into the first mechanized infantry division of the Vietnam People's Army (Decision No. 705/QD-TM signed by Lieutenant General Le Trong Tan, Deputy Minister of National Defense of Vietnam, Chief of the General Staff of the Vietnam People's Army). The payroll organization of the division at this time consisted of 3 motorized infantry regiments: 36, 88, 102; 58th Artillery Regiment, 216th Air Defense Regiment; 13th Battalion of Jet Artillery, 1036th Tank Battalion, 17th Engineer Battalion, 18th Information Battalion, 20th Reconnaissance Battalion, 24th Military Medical Battalion, 25th Transport Battalion and a number of affiliated companies.
The current central political tasks of the Division are: Training of SSC, training of new soldiers, training of mobilization reserves, performing military foreign affairs tasks, organizing the management, exploitation, preservation and preservation of a large volume of military equipment with many types to ensure the regular and long-term combat power of the Division. The tradition of the Pioneer Army is summarized in 14 golden words: "Pioneer, Heroic, Solidarity, Discipline, Speed, Decisive Battle, Decisive Victory.".
Comrade Nguyen Huu Tien was born in 1901 in Lung Xuyen village, Duy Tien district, Ha Nam province, was shot by the French in Hoc Mon, former Gia Dinh province, on August 28, 1941 along with a number of comrades who led the Nam Ky uprising.
From 1927, Nguyen Huu Tien was admitted to the Vietnam Revolutionary Youth Association. In 1929, he joined the Indochina Communist Party. In May 1931, he was arrested by enemy spies in Hanoi. After that, he was sentenced to 20 years of hard labor, 20 years of house arrest, exiled to Son La prison, and in December 1933 he moved to Con Dao. In April 1935, he escaped from prison, returned to work in Saigon, Cho Lon, and was in charge of the Party's printing agency. At the end of July 1940, he was arrested by the enemy at the Party's newspaper office. Comrade Nguyen Huu Tien was the one who drew the red flag with a gold star and this flag first appeared in the Nam Ky uprising on November 23, 1940. During the first session of the National Assembly, the delegates decided to take the red flag with a gold star in the middle drawn by Nguyen Huu Tien as the national flag of our country.
- In Ba Diem, Hoc Mon, on August 28, 1941, the French colonialists executed comrades: Nguyen Vǎn Cu (born on July 9, 1912) - General Secretary of the Party; Nguyen Thi Minh Khai (born on 1-1-1910) - Member of Nam Ky Country Committee, Secretary of the Saigon City Party Committee; Phan Đǎng Luu (born 5-5-1902) - Member of the Party Central Committee; Vo Vǎn Tan (born 1894) - Member of the Party Central Committee; Ha Huy Xi - Member of the Party Central Committee. In front of the enemy's guns, the comrades were calm, refused to blindfold and shouted slogans expressing their iron faith in the final victory of the revolution.
- On August 28, 1945, the first two liberation army detachments entered Hanoi. The first parade of the revolutionary army still had many styles and colors, and the weapons were still rudimentary, but they were admired and warmly welcomed by the people of Hanoi.
- On August 28, 1949, the 308th Company (now the 308th Division) - the first main company of the Vietnam People's Army - was established in Du town, Phu Luong district, Thai Nguyen province. The birth of the 308th Division is a historical milestone, marking the outstanding growth of our Army.
During the resistance war against French colonialism, the Company was one of the main mobile units, often assigned to fight key battles in campaigns, such as: Song Thao, Song Lo, Road No. 4 (1949), Border (1950), Midlands, Road No. 18, Ha - Nam - Ninh, etc Hoa Binh (1951), Northwest (Autumn-Winter 1952), Upper Laos (Spring-Summer 1953). In the Dien Bien Phu Campaign (1954), the officers and soldiers of the Company upheld revolutionary heroism, overcame all difficulties and challenges, coordinated with friendly units to completely destroy the Dien Bien Phu base group, making the victory "Illustrious in five continents, shaking the world". forced the French colonialists to sign the Geneva Agreement, end the war, and restore peace in Vietnam.
The greatest honor for the officers and soldiers of the Company is to be visited by Uncle Ho 05 times. Especially, on September 19, 1954, at the Temple of the Hung Kings (Phong Chau - Phu Tho), before returning to take over Hanoi Capital, the officers and soldiers of the 308th Company were instructed by Uncle Uncle: "The Hung Kings have made meritorious contributions to building the country, our uncles and grandchildren must hold the country together". His instructions became a sacred command for the whole army in general, officers and soldiers of the Division in particular; at the same time, it is also a summons to the whole Vietnamese nation in the cause of building and defending the Fatherland. Deeply inscribed with Uncle's teachings, the Division has successfully completed the task of taking over the Capital, together with the army and people of the whole country to build socialism in the North. In the resistance war against the United States and saving the country, the Division participated in 03 major campaigns and hundreds of battles, destroying a large number of forces, the enemy's vehicles, contributing to the complete liberation of the South and the reunification of the country.
With a long history of achievements in the two sacred resistance wars of the nation, the Division was awarded by the State: Ho Chi Minh Medal, 06 Labor Medals, 96 Military Merit Medals, 17 times commended for merit in front of the whole army; The division and 12 units and 11 individuals were awarded the title of "Hero of the People's Armed Forces" and many noble awards.
International Events
- Louis Pasteur died on August 28, 1895. He was born in 1822 in Jura, France. Paxton studied at the Bodǎngzhong High School before being admitted to the Paris Pedagogical School in 1843. As a doctor of physics and chemistry, he became famous for publishing a scientific report on crystallography. Since 1862, he has focused on microbial research. His research on rabies sparked a strong war and led to the preparation of a vaccine to prevent rabies, making him even more famous in the world. In the capital Hanoi, there is a flower garden called Paxto and there is a statue of him.
- Konstantin Simonov was born in 1915 in Petrograd (Russia), died on August 28, 1979. He is a famous Soviet writer, poet and playwright. During the patriotic war against Nazi Germany invading the Soviet Union, he was a reporter for the Red Star newspaper, appearing in many important campaigns. In addition to lyrical poetry, his play "The Russians" and his story "Day and Night" are two famous works of Soviet literature during the war. For a long time, Simonop has been close to Vietnamese readers through the famous poem "Waiting for you to come back" and the play "The Russians". He also wrote many poems expressing his deep affection for our people in the resistance war against the US to save the country. It is a collection of poems "Vietnam in the winter of the seventies".
Following in the footsteps of people
- On August 28, 1942, from Tuc Vinh, Ho Chi Minh was escorted by soldiers of the Chinese Nationalist Party and taken to prison in Thien Bao district prison.
- On August 28, 1945, at house No. 48 Hang Ngang Street, President Ho Chi Minh spent a lot of time drafting the historical document "Declaration of Independence". The memoirs of Comrade Vo Nguyen Giap wrote: In the small, light-deficient house of the deep house located in the middle of one of the thirty-six ancient streets of Hanoi, Uncle sat at work, sometimes writing, sometimes typing. The maids in the family did not know what the old man had bright eyes, a silver-brown shirt that often left his chest open, or smoked a cigarette. Every time they came to ask him what he needed, he turned around and smiled, chatting a few sentences. Every time he said there was nothing to help with. They didn't know they were witnessing historic moments.
One morning, Uncle and Mr. Nhan (Truong Chinh) called our brothers to come. The Historical Declaration has been drafted. I am reading to pass the collective. As Uncle said later, those were his most refreshing hours. Twenty-six years ago (1919), he went to the Venice Peace Conference, raising urgent demands for people's livelihood and democracy for the colonial people. Even those minimum requirements were not accepted by the imperialists. He saw clearly the truth that it is impossible to count on the charity of capitalists. Those who know can only rely on the struggle and the strength of their own people. At this moment, he is reaping the fruits of eighty years of struggle on behalf of the whole nation. That meal, we could clearly see the radiant joy on his golden face.
- On August 28, 1963, he attended a meeting of the Politburo to hear a report on the implementation of the state plan. He said: "I've always been good at talking, but how do I do it?... I advocate austerity, but what practical measures have the enforcers taken?"
- On August 28, 1969, President Ho Chi Minh's health situation showed signs of serious disorder. However, every time he woke up, he still asked to hear the answer to the question: "How is the war in the South?". Then, encourage everyone: Today, you are healthier than yesterday.
Uncle's words taught on this day in the past
"The Government's policy before and after is still great solidarity. For the old officials as well as for all compatriots, talented and virtuous people, the Government welcomes the responsibility of the country."
It is President Ho Chi Minh's affirmation of the Government's policy towards the participants in the Government in his reply to a reporter of the Independence Newspaper, August 28, 1947 on the participants in the Expanded Government.
Ho Chi Minh has always been correctly aware of the position and role of solidarity in the revolutionary cause. Solidarity in Ho Chi Minh's thought is not a temporary political strategy and trick, but a strategy, an objective requirement of the Vietnamese revolution; throughout, consistent in his thinking and reasoning, which has the meaning of directing profound practice. Therefore, in the composition of the first Government of the Democratic Republic of Vietnam, there were officials of the old regime, who were Catholics.
With the viewpoint and ideology of promoting the spirit of great national unity, President Ho Chi Minh and our Party have built a great solidarity bloc with great strength, making an important contribution to the cause of national liberation and national reunification. Today, our Party and State continue to affirm that the great unity of the whole nation is the strategic line of the Vietnamese revolution; is a great driving force and resource in building and defending the Fatherland. In order to gather and unite all Vietnamese people at home and abroad in the great unity of the whole nation, our Party always attaches great importance to and upholds the spirit of patriotism, the tradition of humanity, tolerance and takes the goal of building a peaceful and independent Vietnam. unity, territorial integrity, "rich people, strong country, democracy, fairness and civilization" as a common point for all classes of people, creating social consensus; respecting differences that are not contrary to the interests of the nation and the nation. The Party takes the alliance of the working class with the peasantry and the intelligentsia as its foundation.
The Vietnamese People's Army comes from the people, fights for the people, under the absolute and direct leadership of our Party in all aspects, always leads by example in studying and following Ho Chi Minh's ideology, ethics and style, is the core force in propaganda, mobilize and unite with the people to implement the policy of great national unity. Through civil mobilization work, participating in building the political system, strengthening national defense and security, and socio-economic development; helping people eradicate hunger and reduce poverty, build a new countryside, prevent and overcome the consequences of natural disasters and disasters, search, rescue and rescue; to carry out ethnic and religious work in localities, especially in deep-lying, remote, border and island areas,... Officers and soldiers of the whole army have actively contributed to building the solidarity bloc of Vietnamese nationalities, building a solid "people's position" as the beloved Uncle always wished during his lifetime.
Uncle Ho's imprint on the People's Army Newspaper
The front page of the People's Army Newspaper issued on August 28, 1970 quoted President Ho Chi Minh: "Our nation is a heroic nation. The people of the North are very heroic! The people of the South are very heroic! All the evil and cunning plots of the American enemy to steal the country and scare off the country will definitely be shattered by the "anti-American, save the country" forces of our compatriots and the unity of our whole people, and burned by the revolutionary flame of our people."