Page 5 - Cờ Bay Trên Cổ Thành Quảng Trị
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ON_I~lEPTEMBEjL
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lbe C1llacine.l bad made IJne mDce mack ill lbe becIJic militacfJ /)iil1tlcfJ ttl lbe ofalitln
(Quoted from President NGUYEN VAN TRIEU)
defense positions scattered around plete control.
the city. At 1000 on 16 September, the colors
Finally the city was liberated from were hoisted during a ceremony held at
the communists, but the Marines did nat the western main gate. This announced
stop there since their utmost objective to the people of the notion and of all
was the Citadel v.here 1500 communists the world the Marines had re-coptured
of the 48th Regiment were ordered to Quang Tri City and the old Citadel. This
fight to the death. great leat was accomplished 4 days
The Dinh Cong Trang Citadel is a SOoner than the time to ble laid out in
square area and looks like a cake from the "Three month Campaign to recon-
the top. It is surrounded with long walls quer territory temporarily lost ts the
and has a perimeter of 2,889 meters. North Vietnamese Communists ".
The walls were built 4 meters thid and Over 1000 enemy troops were killed
8 meters high. Based on history, the within the walls 01 he old Citadel. Those
Citadel was built in the 8th year of the survivors who manage to flee westward
Minh Mang Dsnasty; it's architecture is tried to Cross the Thach Han River. bllt
similar to that of Hue. The old Citadel were annihilared by the Marines 2nd
plays an important role in defense. In and 8th Batalions who were stationed
addition, the interior of the Citadel had outside the city.
on elaborate rlefense system built by Aler 51 days of fighting that began
RVNAF units. on the 27th of July, the Marines had
Taking advantage of those factors exterminated 14000 communists captured
North Vietnamese Communists intended 4350 weapons, 73 howitzers and seized
to use the Citadel as their last defense or destroyed 79 assorted tanks. Most of
position. But the Communists illusion thi~ fighting was inch by inch, house by
quickly vonished when they faced our house, and block by block.
valiant Marines who all know by heart The National Flay was waving high
this sloga n : over the ruined Citadel amid the cheerful
" Any obstacle is surmountable, shouts of our victorious troops.
Any enemy is vanquishable, This scene of joy was witnessed by
Any battlefield is appropriate. " the Marine Brigadier General who had
These words are considered as a commanded the troops and had directly
daily prayer by the Marine's Commander conducted the bailie. He was the one
and all the Vietnamese Marines. man who had been praised by the press.
On the afternoon of the 14th of With the victory of the Quang Tri
September our Marines overwhelmed the Citadel, the Marines have shown their
old Citadel. determination to defend our country as
Although sporadic: resistance conti- pointed out in the coble of congratula-
nued into the night, by 1700 hours on tions from our President on 15 September
15 September 1972, the lost Communist 1972. The history 01 military heroism will
rebel had paid for his crimes and the 3rd record the recaptured of Quang Tri as
and 6th Marine BQtalions were in com- one of Its most brilliant exploits.
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