50th anniversary of the liberation of the first district of the South

On April 7, Provincial Party Committee, People's Council, People's Committee, Fatherland Front Committee of Binh Phuoc Province and Loc Ninh District solemnly celebrated the 50th anniversary of the liberation of Loc Ninh district (April 7th 1972 - April 7th 2022); to receive the second-class medal of Independence and announced the Prime Minister's decision to recognize six communes, towns and Loc Ninh district as safe zones during the resistance time against the US.

Attending the ceremony were members of the Politburo, Permanent Deputy Prime Minister of the Government Pham Binh Minh; former President Nguyen Minh Triet; Member of the Politburo, Minister of National Defense Phan Van Giang; together with leaders, former leaders of ministries, departments, central branches, generals, Vietnamese heroic mothers, leaders of some provinces and cities in the region. Nguyen Van Loi, Member of the Party Central Committee, Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee, Head of Provincial Delegation of the National Assembly, on the side of Binh Duong province, attended the ceremony.

Deputy Prime Minister Pham Binh Minh awards second-class Independence Medal granted by the President to the Party, government and people of Loc Ninh district.

Fifty years ago, due to new developments on the battlefield, the Politburo and the Central Military Commission decided to launch a strategic offensive in 1972 on the Southern battlefield. In particular, the offensive in the Southeast was codenamed "Nguyen Hue campaign", in which Highway 13 was taken as the main direction of the attack, Loc Ninh base was chosen as the key battle zone to start the campaign.

At exactly 5.30 am on April 5th 1972, the Campaign Command issued an order to open fire on the enemy, determined to liberate Loc Ninh district. The main troops besieged and attacked enemy military bases throughout Loc Ninh district. The 31st Company and guerrillas occupied Bao An station in Village 2, Loc Khanh, Loc Binh, Loc Tan. The people of Loc Ninh simultaneously stood up to strip civilian defense guns, search for and call on U.S. soldiers to surrender. At exactly 5.00 pm on April 7th 1972, Loc Ninh district was completely liberated. The opening victory of the Nguyen Hue campaign fully liberated Loc Ninh district - the first district in the South to be liberated - and created great strength, cheered all over the front, contributing to increasing the strength on the fronts of military, political and diplomatic struggle, fully liberating the South, unifying the country.

At the ceremony, the Party, government and people of Loc Ninh district received second-class Independence Medal granted by the President for their exceptional achievements in contributing to the cause of socialism building and Fatherland protection.

On this occasion, the Prime Minister recognized six safe communes and safe district of Binh Phuoc during the resistance time against the US.

Reported by Tri Dung – Translated by Ngoc Huynh