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Commemorative ceremony for martyrs and people who sacrificed their lives in the first battle victory at Gianh River Monument Stele. (Photo: CH)

Attending the ceremony were Rear Admiral Pham Van Hung, Deputy Chief of Staff of the Navy; representative of the command of Naval Region 3; Chairman of the People's Committee of Quang Binh province Tran Thang.

60 years ago, on August 2 and 5, 8, in the first battle, the Vietnamese People's Navy chased away the US imperialist destroyer Maddox. After the Maddox ship was driven out of our country's waters, on the night of August 1964, 4, the US imperialists staged the "Gulf of Tonkin incident" to launch a "retaliation" campaign called "Piercing Arrow".

On August 5, 8, the US used dozens of modern fighters and attack aircraft, divided into 1964 surprise attacks at the same time on economic targets, bases, warehouses, and ship shelters of the United States. Our country along the coast from Gianh port (Quang Binh); Cua Hoi, Vinh, Ben Thuy (Nghe An); Lach Truong (Thanh Hoa) to Hon Gai and Bai Chay (Quang Ninh) to destroy our Navy force, starting a large-scale destructive war plan against the North.

In the area of ​​Quang Binh, at 12:30 on August 5, 8, the enemy used 1964 F8U aircraft to fly from the sea to Ngang Pass, divided into 8 groups to bomb the Navy bases at the mouth of the Gianh River and Mui Roon. , shot at the Navy survey ship 2 on duty at Roon mouth and bombarded Gianh port.

Our Navy's ships promptly mobilized for combat, coordinating with air defense forces and militia and self-defense forces to heroically fight back attacks by enemy aircraft. After 25 minutes of fighting, our soldiers shot down one plane and damaged another.

Representatives of the Navy and Quang Binh province leaders offered incense at the Gianh River relic stele. (Photo: CH)

At 16:18 p.m. the same day, the enemy continued to use 11 F8U aircraft to bombard Gianh port for the second time. Right in the first salvo, our soldiers shot down an enemy plane. At Hon La, officers and soldiers of the T1 ship bravely fought back 175 enemy aircraft. Although the ship was hit by bullets and caught fire, a number of officers and soldiers died, and the captain was seriously injured, the officers and soldiers on the ship still stubbornly stuck to their positions, fighting, rescuing, and controlling the ship. maneuver the ship to shore in time.

At the end of the battle, the Vietnam People's Navy, together with the Air Defense and Air Force forces and local people, shot down 8 American planes, damaged many others, and captured the first enemy pilot alive. of America in the northern waters of our country.

Particularly at the Gianh River port, the Vietnamese People's Navy soldiers in coordination with the Quang Binh militia and air defense troops fought bravely and tenaciously, fighting back American aircraft, shooting down 3 aircraft and killing 1. damaged one.

August 2 and 5, 8 became important and proud milestones for the northern army and people and in the history of our people's resistance war against the US to save the country. This is the "First Victory" of the Vietnam People's Navy; At the same time, it was also the first victory of the northern army and people in fighting the destructive war and protecting socialist northern Vietnam.

Port Gianh relic today. (Photo: HG)

At the ceremony, delegates laid wreaths and offered incense to express their deep gratitude to the heroes, martyrs and people who heroically sacrificed for the cause of national liberation, national reunification, and construction. and protect the Fatherland.

After the memorial service, delegates offered incense at the Gianh River Monument Stele; Monument commemorating martyrs at Gianh ferry and releasing flowers and paper cranes on the historic Gianh river.

Source: Vietnam.vn