When Major Nguyen Huu Cu stepped out of the tank with a bloody face and a radiant smile, he caught the eye of the French reporter, becoming the iconic photo of victory day.
51 years after the country's reunification, Major Nguyen Huu Cu, 84 years old, still keeps two black and white photos taken at noon on April 30, 1975 at his home in Ham Tu village, Trieu Viet Vuong commune, Hung Yen province.
The first photo captures his radiant smile in the courtyard of the Independence Palace. The second photo shows a haggard tank soldier, his hands wrapped in bandages, his clothes soaked in blood.
Mr. Cu recalled that on the afternoon of April 30, 1975, when he stepped out of the tank's cockpit, the image of a tired, injured soldier immediately attracted the lens of a French reporter. Seeing this person signal to look into the camera, he suddenly smiled. The contrasting moment between the bloody face and the naturally born radiant smile was later used by many international media outlets as a symbol of victory.
A few minutes earlier, the camera also recorded the scene of Brigade 203 Political Commissar Bui Van Tung approaching to ask about his wound. The wound is still bleeding on the forehead and arm due to being hit by shrapnel from the night of April 29. During 12 hours of pain, the tank commander entered Saigon. When he was asked to give first aid, he discovered that blood had soaked his shirt.
Many years later, these two photos were found by former teammates in foreign archives and handed over to the military. They printed it out and brought it to his home to give to him. "The moment of entering the Independence Palace amid flags and flowers that afternoon will forever live in me," he said.
From technical soldier to tank commander
Ø Nguyen Huu Cu is the fourth child in a family of 10 siblings in Hung Yen. In June 1963, just graduating from high school, 21-year-old Nguyen Huu Cu joined the army. After training at Artillery Regiment 168 (Northwestern Military Region), he was assigned to major in tank electricity in Vinh Phuc. In 1966, he transferred to work at Company 11, Tank Regiment 203 (later Tank Brigade 203).
In February 1968, his unit mobilized to the South, participating in combat at the Thua Thien Hue front, followed by the Route 9 - Southern Laos Campaign in 1971. From the position of technical soldier, he gradually demonstrated his ability and held the position of Deputy Political Commissar, Company and Battalion Political Commissar.
In 1972, as Political Commissar of Battalion 397, Mr. Cu and his teammates on 31 T-54 tanks took on the task of protecting Quang Tri Citadel. The tank team divided into many small groups, protecting the outer perimeter blocking points to disrupt the enemy's armored counterattack. Combat requirements require absolute precision. Mr. Cu reiterated the principle of tank soldiers: "Once you shoot, you must hit the target, because as long as you reveal your position, you will immediately be subjected to return fire, there will definitely be casualties."
Ø Cu said that tank soldiers that day ate and slept right in the vehicle compartment. Lacking enough force, the soldiers gathered rubble and sandbags to build battle emplacements, using B40 and B41 guns, machine guns and grenades.
Through the wireless information system, casualty information codes were continuously broadcast. The losses further strengthened the unit's determination to hold on. "The only purpose is to intercept the enemy so that the sacrifice of our comrades will not be meaningless," Mr. Cu said.
After 81 days and nights, only 3 of the battalion's 31 tanks returned.
Final battle
In early 1975, his battalion participated in the liberation of Thua Thien Hue and Da Nang, then received orders to march quickly to the South.
On the afternoon of April 26, 1975, the unit received orders to attack Nuoc Trong base (Dong Nai) - an important defense line east of Saigon. On the night of April 29, his tank collapsed into a large bomb crater. When he climbed out to check, shrapnel hit him, injuring his head, arms and legs. He temporarily bandaged himself then continued to command the vehicle to escape the bomb hole and refused his teammates' request to change people.
On the morning of April 30, Battalion 1 advanced to Saigon Bridge. Battalion commander Ngo Van Nhu was hit and died. Mr. Cu assumed responsibility for commanding the entire battalion to continue moving forward. At the bridgehead, two enemy M48 tanks occupied a high position and continuously opened fire. Mr. Cu ordered the forces to spread to both sides and attack diagonally on the bridge to destroy the blocking point. "All units cross the bridge, heading straight to the Independence Palace!", the commander's command rang out over the radio.
The convoy crossed the bridge, moved through the Hang Xanh area, Thi Nghe bridge, heading straight to the Independence Palace.
At noon on April 30, 1975, two tanks 390 and 843 belonging to Company 4, Battalion 1, Brigade 203 knocked down the iron gate and entered the Independence Palace yard. The entire force pointed their guns into the sky, firing all their 12.7 mm ammunition boxes. Mr. Cu and his teammates went inside and controlled the Saigon government cabinet.
After the country's reunification, Mr. Cu went to supplementary school. At the end of 1975, he got married. In 1978, he commanded the unit to go to Laos on an international mission, and retired in 1986.
Ø received many noble awards: Victory Medal, Liberation Soldier Medal, Glorious Soldier Medal, Victory Medal (awarded by the State of Laos).
Returning to his hometown, he refused local working positions to focus on doing business, making up for the time spent away from his wife and children. Mrs. Ngo Thi Nga, 71 years old, his wife, always appreciates her husband's silent sacrifice through the years of war.
More than five decades later, looking back at that brief moment in history, the old major could not hide his tears. Memories of brave battles and the sacrifices of his comrades became memories that followed him throughout his life.
"Some of my teammates fought with me, some survived, some died. The smile of victory that day was exchanged for the blood and tears of those who died," Mr. Cu said.
