Meet the female battery commander who shot down an American plane in the sky over Nghi Hai

Following Mr. Nguyen Van Cuong - Ward Captain (Nghi Hai Ward - Cua Lo Town), we visited the family of Mrs. Pham Thi Tam, the captain of the 12.7mm Battery that shot down an American plane in the sky of Nghi Hai in 1967.

Mrs. Tam is now in her sixties, tall, strong, and speaks decisively, showing the demeanor of a brave female militiawoman. When I mentioned our Fatherland's sea and islands, Mrs. Tam eagerly asked me what the situation was like. To show our spirit of protecting our sovereignty, Mrs. Tam told us about the 12.7mm female militia platoon during the years of resistance against the US to save the country.

At the age of 16, Ms. Tam volunteered to join the local militia platoon, at that time she was assigned to be the liaison for the Tran Van On army under the responsibility of the District Military Command. In 1967, Ms. Tam was assigned by the platoon to be the leader of the 12.7mm battery. The general mission of the platoon at that time was to threaten American aircraft in order to make them drop torpedoes to divert our sea traffic routes, to keep our cargo boats safe, and at the same time rescue ships in distress at the mouth of the Lach Hoi River.

Ms. Pham Thi Tam (first person, from left) recalls memories of her days as a volunteer worker on the frontline.

When American planes bombed our cargo boats, one day in April 1967, Mrs. Tam directly commanded her battery to shoot down an American plane in the sky over Nghi Hai. Immediately after that event, her battery was reported by Voice of Vietnam as the brave and resourceful Nghi Loc coastal militia unit that shot down an American plane. At one point, the unit's target was exposed, American planes concentrated on bombing, and her entire battery was buried in sand and soil, but was promptly discovered and saved by the people. Immediately after that, her battery joined the battle with the artillery and missile unit stationed in the area, shooting down 3 American planes. As soon as she joined the battle, her unit was assigned to train a platoon of militia and self-defense forces on 12.7mm duty.

After completing the training mission, Mrs. Tam's entire unit continued to participate in the frontline militia in upper Laos and she was assigned as Deputy Platoon Leader of the Nghi Loc 1 Frontline Militia Platoon from September 1971 to May 1972.

Now the lives of the former female militiamen are quite stable, but there is a longing that some of them still do not enjoy any benefits from the State. Mrs. Pham Thi Tam is one of them.

Promoting the brave tradition of the local militia platoon, Nghi Hai ward has for many years maintained the militia platoon well, with the motto of both protecting the Party and the government and participating in labor production. Nghi Hai ward currently manages 1 km of coastline, 3 km of Lam river and especially 2 islands: Mat Island and Hon Ngu Island. In the face of the complicated situation of the country's sea and islands caused by foreign countries, the Nghi Hai ward militia platoon is always trained to ensure the requirements, ready to fight when necessary. This is also the force to protect the peace of the sea and islands so that fishermen can rest assured to catch seafood and develop the economy.

Xuan Hoang