Unit worthy of being twice Hero of the Armed Forces

Veteran Pham Ngoc Anh (middle) and generations of Border Guard officers and soldiers revisit the old battlefield. Photo: Hoai Thu

Unforgettable memories

The small, simple, green house of veteran Pham Ngoc Anh, former officer of the People's Armed Police (Border Guard), Cua Hoi Border Control Station, is located in an alley in Hai Giang 1 block, Nghi Hai ward, Cua Lo town. The place where he lives is not far from Cua Hoi port, which is also the location where Cua Hoi Border Control Station was previously stationed. This is also the unit that Border Guard soldier Pham Ngoc Anh was attached to throughout his life, especially during the period from 1963 to 1979 - the fierce war period, officers and soldiers of Cua Hoi Border Control Station together with local people fought many heroic battles against the bombs and bullets of the American invaders.

Now, although he is old and his health is poor, every time he recalls those years, he still cannot help but be moved. Images of the events with many comrades from those years appear clearly in his mind. He said: In 1965, the resistance war against the US by the army and people of both the South and the North had important changes. The "Special War" strategy failed completely, so the US imperialists switched to the "Local War" strategy, stepped up the activities of the air force and navy, and increased bombing and shelling of the North.

In Nghe An, from February 1965, the US Air Force increased attacks on key points, especially in border areas. They operated continuously day and night to detect and prevent support activities from the North to the South. On March 31, 1965, the combat position of the Cua Hoi Border Control Station (abbreviated as Cua Hoi Station) discovered 2 US jet planes flying from the sea into Cua Lo airspace. Border Guard soldiers (at that time were armed People's Police officers) and Nghi Thuy commune militia fiercely intercepted them, and 1 enemy F105 was shot down in Cua Lo sea area.

Mr. Pham Ngoc Anh shares memories of his time fighting at Cua Hoi Border Control Station. Photo: Hoai Thu

At 13:00 on May 10, 1965, American planes from the sea fiercely bombed the Cua Hoi Fishing Enterprise and the hamlets of Hai Giang and Hai Nam. A large area was hit by American bombs, and the fire was raging. Comrades Luu Dinh Thoi, Pham Van But, Nguyen Dinh Nho, and Nguyen Truong Dat of the Cua Hoi Station were ordered to rush to the rescue. Here, a large 6-room house was on fire, collapsing on a shelter, from which the groans of children could be heard. Comrade Nho and other comrades rushed in to unload it, one by one bringing out 16 lucky children who were still alive. Next, the comrades in the team rushed in to rescue a cooperative's fishing net warehouse from the fire, saving a female worker and many other properties of the Cua Hoi people.

At that time, at the air defense position of Cua Hoi Border Control Station, comrades Nguyen Thanh Truong, Nguyen Khac Yen, Nguyen Van Phu, and Luu Dinh Thoi kept a close eye on each enemy plane. From afar, an F105 crashed into the station's position and launched rockets.

“At that moment, our soldiers seized the opportunity to simultaneously open fire and blow “fire whips” into the enemy’s faces. An American plane spewed flames and flew out to sea. People on both sides of the inlet cheered and encouraged the brave and intelligent fighting spirit of the border soldiers,” he recalled.

Mr. Pham Ngoc Anh

The next day, May 13, 1965, the US enemy sent many groups of planes to attack Hai Giang, Hai Trieu hamlets, Nghi Hai commune with higher density. The officers and soldiers of Cua Hoi Station coordinated with the C280 unit of Nghe An Provincial Military Command to fight and shoot down 1 F105 aircraft. At the same time, the combat position of Cua Lo Border Post also shot down 01 American F105 aircraft. And on the night of April 15, 1966, Sergeant Nguyen Khac Yen - Deputy Captain of the Armed Team of Cua Lo Station 96 continued to make achievements, single-handedly with a machine gun, fired 09 bullets, shooting down 1 American aircraft.

With generations of Border Guard officers and soldiers, revisiting the old battlefield. Photo: Hoai Thu

Recalling old memories, Mr. Pham Ngoc Anh took us to visit the place where Cua Hoi Border Control Station used to be located.

Looking out at the river, Mr. Pham Ngoc Anh remembered the times when they destroyed torpedoes of the American invaders. Not only did they drop bombs, the American planes also blockaded Cua Lo seaport with bombs and mines. Determined to use every measure to clear the channel so that ships could enter and exit smoothly and safely, the officers and soldiers of Cua Hoi Border Control Station researched and used a circular piece of cardboard, dividing and marking the circumference into 360 degrees to represent the Cua Tram area.

This graduated circle is fixed in a bunker, assigned to a person on duty, when the enemy drops bombs or mines, the person on duty has the duty to mark the circle to remember. Based on the positions of those bombs and mines, the station can determine the channel and the entrance and exit of the channel.

On July 23, 1968, the American invaders sent dozens of planes to bomb and scatter countless magnetic bombs on Cua Hoi creek. Meanwhile, at sea, a convoy of 24 boats carrying supplies was entering the river mouth. Faced with this situation, the Cua Hoi Station's officers and soldiers decided to use magnets to detonate 4 bombs marked on the station's homemade "Magnetic Bomb Compass". These 4 bombs were in the middle of the river, to free up a waterway for ships and boats. After nearly 3 hours, the officers and soldiers persistently searched and re-scanned many times. 3 bombs exploded, and the remaining 1 bomb did not explode even after being rubbed 18 times. The station's inspection team concluded that the "bomb was a dud" and allowed the convoy to enter.

“At that time, I got on the leading boat to use a pole to stick into the riverbed to mark the location of the unexploded bomb. However, because the riverbed was narrow, many boats had to go near the bomb's location, so the group was still uneasy, so Sergeant Nguyen Dinh Nho waded out and stood at the bomb's location to command the group of boats to pass by one by one. Another time, in an urgent situation, my teammates and I dived into the riverbed to directly remove the torpedo so that the boats could pass in time. That action of the officers and soldiers of Cua Hoi Station made the workers of Nghe An Sea Transport Company admire, many people wrote letters of thanks to the officers and soldiers on duty at the air defense station" - veteran Pham Ngoc Anh shared.

At 1:00 a.m. on May 29, 1972, dozens of American aircrafts came to drop flares and fiercely attack the Cua Hoi area. The station gate area was covered in smoke and fire, the anti-aircraft artillery positions of the Nguyen Viet Xuan Battalion of the militia of Nghi Hai and Nghi Hoa communes, and the Cua Hoi Station's combat position coordinated the fight. The battle lasted for more than an hour, one enemy F4 was shot down, caught fire and flew into the sea, the remaining planes dropped bombs indiscriminately and fled. Then, on May 31, 1972, the Cua Hoi Station's combat team made an outstanding achievement, shooting down an AD6 aircraft right from the first volley.

Comrade Luu Van Chang used an azimuth table to mark the magnetic bomb that fell into the creek in 1966. Photo: Provided by the Nghe An Border Guard's Traditional Department

On the night of June 4, 1972, Sergeants Nguyen Huu Tiep, Nguyen Dinh Huu, and Nguyen Van Sang, despite the fierce bombing by American aircraft, bravely rushed in to extinguish the fire to save the rice warehouse, keeping 78 tons of rice safe. On September 4, 1972, after dealing with the aftermath of an airstrike on Hai Giang hamlet, Nghi Hai commune, on the way back, the soldiers of the station were attacked by a group of American AD6 aircraft. Everyone found a shelter to fight back when a bomb fell on the bunker, killing comrades Luu Van Chang, Ngo Dinh Nhat, Phan Van Chien, and Ho Van Loc, and seriously injuring comrade Pham Van Vinh.

Continuing the tradition

Border guards patrol at sea. Photo: Hoai Thu

Today, firmly walking with the "baggage" that generations of officers and soldiers have worked hard to build, Cua Hoi Border Control Station always maintains the will to be ready to fight and work, always maintaining solidarity and mutual support with the people in the stationed area.

Every year, the station has inspected and controlled thousands of people and vehicles entering and exiting to do business and produce in the area; strictly ensuring legal requirements; ensuring absolute safety for people and vehicles passing through to do business and exploit seafood.

In addition, the station also carries out the task of supporting the people and local authorities in preventing and fighting natural disasters, conducting rescue operations; propagating and promptly reminding vehicles and people in the area when there is news of storms in the East Sea. Being ready for search and rescue situations at sea.

In recognition of the contributions of the officers and soldiers of the People's Armed Police (now the Border Guard), Cua Hoi Border Control Station was awarded the title "Hero of the Armed Forces" twice on August 25, 1970 and September 3, 1973.

Mr. Pham Ngoc Anh met and talked to recall the heroic tradition with officers and soldiers of Cua Hoi Border Control Station. Photo: Hoai Thu

Generations of border guards here, some with white hair, some young, share a steadfast heart, pride and determination to excellently complete their tasks.