During the resistance war, the enemy consistently regarded War Zone D as a formidable revolutionary stronghold: “War Zone D endures, Saigon falls.” Throughout the two resistance wars against the French and the Americans, the revolutionary forces in this region executed numerous assaults on the enemy, achieving significant victories. Among these, a particularly notable battle exemplifying the ingenuity, creativity, resolve, and determination of our forces is the engagement at Ba Kien Bridge Watchtower on March 19, 1948. Subsequently, this date was designated as the traditional day of the Special Forces, a unit characterized by its “barefoot, steel-willed” ethos.
Site of historical imprints
During the historic days of March, we visited the Ba Kien Bridge Watchtower Victory Monument, also known as the March 19 Victory, located in Du Khanh Quarter, Thanh Phuoc Ward, Tan Uyen City. The monument has since undergone a more comprehensive restoration. The memorial stele, standing 3 meters high and 2 meters wide, is constructed of reinforced concrete and features a relief depicting three guerrillas assaulting the fort. In the left corner, a red ceramic stone stele is affixed, inscribed with a gilded tribute from Uncle Ho to the special forces: "Especially elite - Greatly brave - Boldly resourceful - Dangerous attack, great victory." This memorial is situated within a total area of 1,800 square meters, established in 2002. In 2024, Tan Uyen City will proceed with the restoration project for the Ba Kien Bridge Watchtower Victory Monument, which will encompass the watchtower section, the fine arts section, and the depiction of the three Tan Uyen guerrillas, thereby recreating the historical battle at the Ba Kien Bridge Watchtower.
Mr. Doan Hong Tuoi, Chairman of the Tan Uyen City People's Committee, stated that the project plays a vital role in educating individuals about traditions, enhancing awareness and pride in the nation's illustrious revolutionary struggle, and inspiring the current generation to uphold this legacy, thereby contributing to the economic and social development of the community.
Seventy-seven years have elapsed since the victory at Ba Kien Bridge Watchtower on March 19, 1948, yet this achievement remains a source of pride for the people of Tan Uyen. The land of Tan Uyen, known as War Zone D, is where the distinctive style of special forces combat originated, closely associated with the esteemed hero Colonel Tran Cong An. According to research conducted by Dr. Huynh Ngoc Dang, Chairman of the Binh Duong Province Historical Science Association, hero Tran Cong An embodied the spirit of Dong Nai. His life, characterized by a synthesis of heroic deeds and a remarkable personality, mirrors the flowing form of the Dong Nai River in his homeland. He was a courageous, resourceful, and innovative thinker, consistently seeking ways to surmount challenges and fulfill his assigned duties. His contributions extend beyond mere statistics of enemies defeated or weapons and equipment seized; they are reflected in his tangible actions. He pioneered a theoretical "breakthrough," giving rise to a unique combat style that laid the foundation for the establishment of a truly elite, combat-ready force within the Vietnam People's Army, namely the special forces.
Perpetuating the tradition
Historical records indicate that after a thorough examination of the watchtower's structure and the operational protocols of the guards, the guerrilla team from Tan Uyen district, led by Mr. Tran Cong An (also known as Hai Ca), devised a tactical approach. This involved utilizing a small contingent to stealthily infiltrate the base of the watchtower, ascend via a ladder, and deploy grenades into the tower. On the night of March 18, 1948, the guerrilla team was divided into three groups; two were assigned to obstruct enemy reinforcements, provide fire support, and maintain an open exit, while the third group, consisting of three members—Tran Cong An, Ho Van Lung, and Nguyen Van Nguyen—was tasked with the assault on the watchtower. Mr. Tran Cong An led the operation, armed with ten grenades (nine of which were homemade), one rifle, and one ladder. For concealment, the three soldiers stripped to their bare skin and coated their bodies with mud that matched the terrain of the watchtower area. Successfully navigating obstacles, the covert team approached the watchtower undetected. Seizing the opportunity during a guard change, the three soldiers swiftly ascended the ladder to the firing hole, where they launched eight grenades inside, resulting in the elimination of ten enemies and the acquisition of eight firearms and twenty grenades, before discreetly retreating to their base.
| “Anyone returning to the Eastern region has heard of Mr. Hai Ca’s reputation.” The surprise assault, characterized by “using the few to combat the many,” marked a pivotal moment with the initial attack on Ba Kien Bridge Watchtower on March 19, 1948, which established a new approach to warfare and subsequently gave rise to the valiant Special Forces, instilling fear in the enemy. It was from this remarkable achievement that Colonel Tran Cong An was honored with the title “Hero of the People’s Armed Forces” by the President on August 23, 1996. |
The triumph at Ba Kien Bridge Watchtower garnered significant attention. This marked the inaugural instance in which guerrillas successfully assaulted a watchtower with a limited force, utterly dismantling the enemy entrenched within a formidable fortification. This victory laid the groundwork for the establishment of a specialized unit aimed at neutralizing enemy forces stationed in watchtowers across the Southern battlefield. It stands as a testament to the intelligence, resourcefulness, bravery, and creativity inherent in the fighting spirit, which is rooted in patriotism and the indomitable resolve of the nation as a whole, and Tan Uyen in particular, in the pursuit of national liberation, encapsulated by the principle of "Using few to defeat many, using small to defeat large, using high quality to defeat large quantity."
From the triumph at the Ba Kien Bridge Watchtower, a novel approach to combat emerged in the Southern battlefield, establishing the groundwork for subsequent special forces operations. At that time, War Zone D served as the site of this successful experiment, initiating a campaign to dismantle watchtowers across the nation's battlefields and becoming the birthplace of a new branch of our military—the esteemed Special Forces.
The Battle of Ba Kien Bridge Watchtower on March 19, 1948, marked a significant victory, leading to the establishment of this date as the annual commemoration of the heroic Special Forces. Upholding the legacy of the heroic Special Forces in general, and that of the hero Tran Cong An in particular, contemporary generations of special forces pledge to dedicate themselves to learning from their example throughout their lives. They aim to contribute to the ongoing development of the Special Forces, ensuring it remains an elite unit, perpetually prepared to undertake and successfully accomplish all tasks assigned by the Party, State, and military, thereby embodying the esteemed motto: "Especially elite, wonderfully brave; creative and resourceful; dangerous attacks, great victories."
Reported by Thu Thao - Translated by Vi Bao
