Colonel, writer Nguyen Khac Nguyet tells the story of 'Journey to the Independence Palace'

On the afternoon of April 15, Hai Duong Provincial Library organized a talk show "Journey to Independence Palace" presented by Colonel and writer Nguyen Khac Nguyet.

Colonel and writer Nguyen Khac Nguyet is from Chi Linh City. He is the character in the article "Are there any Hai Duong people on the tanks entering the Independence Palace?", published in the special issue of Hai Duong newspaper on April 30, 2024.

The topic of the talk "Journey to the Independence Palace" is also the title of the book he wrote 10 years ago, on the occasion of the 40th anniversary of the liberation of the South and the reunification of the country.

Mr. Nguyet shared that he has published 17 books, including "Journey to Independence Palace" to help the younger generation know how his father lived and fought to achieve the Great Victory of Spring 1975.

"Journey to the Independence Palace" is not a specific journey of a unit, but is more broadly the journey of an entire nation from the beginning of the war to the day of total victory, filled with blood, sweat, glory, majesty and loss.

In 1972, Mr. Nguyen Khac Nguyet belonged to Company 4, Armored Brigade 203. He drove tank 380 from the assembly point in Vinh Phuc province until the day of total victory.

Mr. Nguyet's 4th Company also had Mr. Vu Dang Toan, Company Political Commissar, vehicle commander; Mr. Nguyen Van Tap (from the same hometown of Gia Loc) who drove tank 390 to crash the gate of the Independence Palace; Mr. Bui Quang Than, the person who planted the flag on the Independence Palace.

In 40 days, from March 19 to April 30, the heroic 4th Company moved 1,000 km, participating in the liberation of 3 major cities: Da Nang, Hue, and Saigon.

At noon on April 30, 1975, the tank squadron of Company 4 entered the Independence Palace. Tank 380 of Mr. Nguyen Khac Nguyet entered a few minutes after Tank 390 of Mr. Toan and Mr. Tap, while Tank 843 of Mr. Bui Quang Than, although entering first, was stuck at the side gate.

At 11:30 a.m. on April 30, 1975, the flag of the Liberation Army flew on the roof of the Saigon government headquarters.

The image of a tank crashing into the gate of the Independence Palace has forever become a heroic symbol of the historic April 30 Victory, completely liberating the South and unifying the country.