THE AIR DEFENSE UNIT AT UNCLE HO’S MAUSOLEUM
Major PHAM TIEN DONG
Team Leader of Team 2, Unit 275
President Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum High Command
In April 2001, during the 9th Party Congress held at Ba Dinh Square, Hanoi, Unit 275 of the President Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum High Command was assigned a task: to organize an air defense unit. The unit included Lieutenant Pham Tien Dong as the team leader, and Professional Second Lieutenants Tran Ngoc Duong and Tran Van Quang as team members. These comrades were part of the special reconnaissance forces under Unit 275, possessing good moral qualities, high discipline, experience in organizing observation posts, excellent marksmanship, and good health. Upon receiving the mission, they comprehensively understood the purpose and requirements of the task, sharing a common determination to successfully complete the mission and defeat any aerial activities from hostile forces. Our goal was to contribute to maintaining the political security of the country, especially in the historical area of Ba Dinh, and to contribute to the success of the Party Congress.
The air defense mission included timely observation, detection, communication, and alerting the shelter units, engaging in combat with enemy aircraft causing explosions, limiting explosive activities or spreading leaflets, and protecting the security formation around the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum.
The air defense unit built a strong determination to carry out the mission based on the guiding ideology: 'Be proactive, courageous in intelligence, have close coordination, and be resolute in fighting for victory.' We actively trained, supplemented their skills, and enhanced combat proficiency. Additional essential knowledge for the air defense mission was acquired, such as characteristics, altitude, and speed of low-flying targets (sports aircraft, small aircraft, etc.). We needed to grasp the tactics of distributing leaflets by subversive elements, who often flew low to avoid anti-aircraft forces, releasing leaflets at predetermined locations, utilizing evening, dawn, or midday to evade our low-altitude firepower; We practiced shooting techniques against low-flying aircraft using infantry guns (observing target detection, posture, shooting movements, etc.). We identified advantages, preparing thoroughly in constructing defensive fortifications, weapon equipment, training in various combat scenarios, and organizing close coordination with forces in the protection area. Simultaneously, they recognized challenges such as mainly relying on naked-eye observation for high-speed targets, shooting low-flying targets using interception methods, and facing difficulties during adverse weather conditions such as light rain or fog, which significantly affected the shooter's visibility and target detection. Engaging low-flying targets demanded a high level of combat readiness, which, when prolonged, affected the health of the military personnel.
The air defense position was assigned on the rooftop of a 5-story building, providing a wide observation range to detect distant targets, control intersections, and traffic axes, protect the security formation, and facilitate the coordination of firepower to eliminate enemy aircraft hovering over the area of the Mausoleum and Ba Dinh Square.
After two months of fulfilling the mission, the Air Defense Unit excelled in completing the assigned task, receiving commendation from the High Command. Lieutenant Pham Tien Dong, personally, was awarded a certificate of merit by Unit 275.
To achieve this result, the team operated 24/24 hours, totaling 1,440 hours without a break, with two personnel on each shift, regardless of weather conditions, continuously observing the sky and the ground. They did not overlook any unusual occurrences, consistently reported promptly, and maintained seamless communication. The air defense unit endured harsh weather conditions, persevering through the scorching heat and intense sunlight, resulting in tanned skin and faded uniforms. Team members continuously rotated shifts, sharing the burning heat of May, feeling as if there was a fire constantly hitting their bodies. During the moments of dizziness and dry throats, they had to change shifts every 15 minutes. Multiple times a day, each person alternated to remain active, going to the lower floors to update superiors on the mission, reporting the situation, eating a meal, providing water for their teammates, and then immediately returning to the high floor for their watch, without a single moment of relaxation or loss of vigilance.
Previously, I was a Navy soldier safeguarding sovereignty, maritime security, and islands in the northern part of the country. I stood guard against the airwaves, where the wind originated, and in distant islands. Although both tasks aimed to ensure security in the sky, between two vast skies of our beloved homeland, now standing guard comes with a different determination, a different will, filled with excitement and pride. It is the task of ‘For a peaceful sleep of Uncle Ho' – a glorious mission that demands absolute safety. It is the execution of a mission right in the heart of the capital, in the historical sky of Ba Dinh – where President Ho Chi Minh proclaimed the Declaration of Independence, giving birth to the Democratic Republic of Vietnam under the sky where Uncle Ho spent his last breath before departing into eternity. I am so proud to guard the sky with the serene resting place of Uncle Ho within the Mausoleum.
Carrying out a crucial, glorious task, we encountered numerous advantages, but we also couldn't avoid certain difficulties. In the late nights, when the city was quiet under the glow of streetlights, and the citizens of Hanoi were peacefully asleep, our guns were loaded with ammunition. Looking up at the star-filled sky, we couldn't escape moments of introspection, contemplating life and our profession – the military profession – a unique calling that cannot always be put into words. It is not a profession where every shortfall can be compensated, and one of the most formidable deficiencies is family life and the love between couples. Thoughts, emotions, and romantic relationships are challenges for us, soldiers. All three members of the team were preparing to start their own families. Some temporarily postponed introducing their girlfriends to their families, waiting until after the mission. Others had to explain and encourage their relatives about the reasons for being on duty or answer questions like, 'The streets are lively; why do you have to be on duty?". For a long time without meeting and inquiring about our loved ones and friends, despite being stationed amid a bustling urban area, we, from our high vantage point, observed couples strolling arm in arm through the streets, enjoying the tranquility of our beloved capital. Without a high determination, self-discipline, and adherence to regulations, it would be easy to abandon our duty to attend to personal matters, significantly affecting the unit's mission performance. However, our loyalty to the Party, to the homeland, to the long-term preservation of the absolute safety of President Ho Chi Minh’s body and the Mausoleum's structure, along with the shining qualities of the Mausoleum Protection Force, has been consistently upheld and demonstrated. Every hour, every day, every week, and every month, we maintained a state of high combat readiness, overcoming all difficulties. Throughout the mission, the Air Defense Unit received frequent guidance, inspections, encouragement, and praise from the Chief of High Command and the Chief of Unit 275. The Air Defense Unit successfully completed its mission, ending after two months of maintaining a high state of combat readiness.
Even today, we - the Air Defense Unit of that year - continue to carry out the mission of guarding the Mausoleum, constantly learning from our experiences in security and protection. We wholeheartedly remain faithful to the long-term preservation mission, ensuring the absolute safety of President Ho Chi Minh’s body and the Mausoleum's structure. We continue to contribute our small efforts, adding to the tradition: 'Loyalty, unity, self-reliance, proactivity, and creativity.' We are always and forever proud, honored to be soldiers guarding within the ranks of the President Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum High Command – the Hero of the People's Armed Forces during the renovation period.
