A day with the C20 Special Reconnaissance Unit

(Baonghean.vn) - The 20th Reconnaissance Company (Provincial Military Command) is a unit that undertakes many important tasks in the Nghe An Armed Forces. In both wartime and peacetime, its officers and soldiers have always upheld and maintained the tradition of "Safety, secrecy, and mission completion".

Professional Lieutenant Bui Minh Duc - ringing the unit's wake-up bell.

Established on September 2, 1969, in Minh Thanh commune (Yen Thanh district) during the height of the resistance war against the US, and coinciding with the passing of beloved President Ho Chi Minh, the 20th Special Reconnaissance Unit, upholding his teachings and proving itself worthy as a soldier of the Soviet homeland, whether on our battlefield or in friendly territory, has always proven itself an "unsinkable" force in all circumstances, in all areas, and in any situation.

These places still bear the marks of a bygone era in our neighboring country, associated with countless hardships and sacrifices of the unit. From Sam Che, Mo village, and the Nam Xoong stronghold (Muong Ngan district - Xieng Khouang province - Laos), the unit, together with C18 special forces and a company of the 43rd battalion, opened fire and completely destroyed the Nam Xoong stronghold, capturing prisoners, seizing all enemy weapons, communication equipment, and warehouses, liberating the people of Mo village from enemy control, and liberating a vast area from Mo village and Nam Xoong to the border of Muong Ngan district in Xieng Khouang province.

Still remembered in the unit's history are Nam Chat, Nam Kieu, Phu Sam Sum, Muong Nham, Phu Luong Noi, Muong Moc... At Nam Chat, during a reconnaissance mission on the front lines, the unit lost one comrade and two were wounded. However, the unit's reconnaissance force successfully completed its mission, providing effective support to the fighting forces, achieving resounding victories, and continuing the liberation of areas from Na Khon, Nam Xoong to Co Hay near Bo Li Khan district in Khammouane province.

The unit commander briefed the participants on their duties before the training session.

In May 1988, following orders from above, the entire unit withdrew to Vietnam, ending over 18 years of fighting to assist Laos (November 1969 - May 1988). In Vietnam, the unit established a command post at Hill 249 on Tu Va Mountain, a forward observation post at Hill 281 in Hung Tay to monitor Vinh City, Nghi Loc, Hung Nguyen, and Nam Dan, and at Hill 441 on Than Vu Mountain to monitor the coastal areas of Dien Chau, Nghi Loc, and the area behind Yen Thanh. In addition, supplementary observation posts were established at Hill 273 in Yen-Tien-Thiet, Den Cuong, Len Hai Vai, Quynh Van Mountain (Quynh Luu), Ru Tret (Nam Dong - Nam Dan), and Hill 300 at Truong Bon Junction. Not only did the unit closely monitor observation posts directly serving the Command Headquarters, but it was also ordered to conduct reconnaissance missions to hunt down paratrooper commandos who had infiltrated areas in Tay Thanh Chuong, Tam Thai commune, and Luu Kien commune (Tuong Duong district), and to hunt down frogman commandos along the Nghi Yen and Nghi Thiet coastal areas (Nghi Loc district), and to coordinate with other forces to capture enemy pilots who had parachuted in Nghia Dan and Yen Thanh.

The unit's officers and soldiers are practicing unarmed combat.

Returning to peacetime, back to their beloved homeland, the officers and soldiers of the C20 Special Reconnaissance Force remain steadfast and loyal to their assigned mission. The unit has operated throughout the province, primarily focusing on gathering domestic and local intelligence, combined with field training in the districts of Quỳnh Lưu, Diễn Châu, Nghi Lộc, Vinh City, Hưng Nguyên, Nam Đàn, Đô Lương, Yên Thành, Tân Kỳ, Quỳ Hợp…

Overcoming the K100 obstacle. Private Phan Van Thao, who enlisted on December 13, 2013, from Duc Tho - Ha Tinh, confided: "At first, jumping over the K100 obstacle was very difficult. Sometimes I had to grit my teeth to complete the exercise. I'm very happy that my unit commander recognized me! Now, I feel very proud to be a soldier in the C20 special reconnaissance unit."

Every year, the unit is assigned by the Provincial Military Command to be a vanguard in the province's flood and storm prevention efforts, directly on the 42nd dike line from Hung Loi to Hung Khanh and on the La Giang dike line (Duc Tho). A prime example is the 1978 flood season, during a severe storm with strong winds and high floodwaters, when 12 comrades immersed themselves in the water day and night to block the flow, ensuring the Trung Luong sluice gate (La Giang dike) did not break and participated in rescuing 23 people swept away on the Lam River. After two days and nights battling the storm and flood, the unit successfully protected the sluice gate and dike line, saving 31 people. They were awarded a commendation by the Nghe Tinh Provincial People's Committee and received a Third-Class Military Merit Medal from the State.

Overcome obstacles and complete missions in all circumstances.

A daily obstacle course exercise for the unit's officers and infantry weapons.

Recognizing the unit's achievements throughout its history, the 20th Reconnaissance Company has been awarded two First-Class Military Merit Orders, three Third-Class Military Merit Orders, one First-Class It Xa La Order, and one Second-Class Order for its noble international duties by the Vietnamese and Lao governments. In addition, it has received hundreds of commendations and certificates of merit from the Ministry of National Defense, the Military Region Command, the Provincial People's Committee, and the Provincial Military Command. Continuously from 1980 to the present, the unit has consistently achieved the status of a strong and exemplary Party branch and a victorious unit. Every year, it has been a leading unit in maintaining political security and public order in Vinh City and Nghe An province.

First Lieutenant Nguyen Viet Cuong, political officer, took us on a tour of the unit to see a day in training at the Special Forces Command. He shared, "As one of the core units of the Provincial Military Command, the unit always clearly defines its political tasks and consistently does a good job of political and ideological education for the troops. Not only does it cultivate morality and character, but the unit also improves the quality of training, professional skills, and is always ready for combat, participating in grassroots development, and successfully completing all assigned tasks."

After training, the officers and soldiers of the unit watched a news report about activities commemorating the 70th anniversary of the founding of the Vietnam People's Army.

The C20 police force is preparing for training for new missions.

Having witnessed firsthand the soldiers of this unit sweating on the training ground during a training day, and hearing the saying "Sweat on the training ground saves blood on the battlefield," I realized even more clearly that, with the tradition and pioneering spirit of each soldier here, the Fatherland will forever remain peaceful.

Tran Hai