Vietnam: The D445 Battalion Monument and Memorial Inaugurated in Baria – late November 2024
ED: This was sent to me by Ernie Chamberlain – Thanks once again Ernie
The inauguration of the Memorial Park and D445 Battalion Monument in Bà Rịa was celebrated on 22 November 2024.
“The Victory Public Park in Bà Rịa – Vũng Tàu of about 2.5 hectares and costing more than 110 million đồng, has just been inaugurated.
The highlight of the public park is the memorial, and a relief of the victories of the heroic 445 Battalion.” The central granite statue is 25 metres high.
445 Battalion Victory Monument (November 2024)
“445 Battalion (Tiểu đoàn 445) was established on 19 May 1965 in Đất Đỏ District of Bà Rịa – Vũng Tàu Province.
Both sides of the monument formally memorialize the names of 762 ((sic – see footnote[1])) of the 445 Battalion’s martyrs who died. 1,500 were wounded.”
Former soldiers visited the victory park on its inauguration day, commemorating the Bình Giả Victory on 2 December 1964, and the 80th anniversary of the establishment of the Vietnam People’s Armed Forces – 22 December 1944 – 22 December 2024.
“… 445 Battalion directly confronted the American forces, their lackeys and vassals (see footnote 2), and the puppet forces in hundreds of battles killing and wounding thousands of the enemy. … 445 Battalion achieved many excellent victories, participating in 1,000 battles, and defeating many strategies and tactics of the enemy. In April 1975, the 445 Battalion coordinated closely with the 3rd Yellow Star Division to attack and liberate Bà Rịa – Vũng Tàu, contributing significantly to the Spring Victory of 1975. With its excellent special achievements in the Resistance War against the Americans, the 445 Battalion was honoured by the Party and the Nation by the confirmation of the title of Heroic People’s Armed Forces in June 1976.”
Footnote 1: [1] The official 2004 Vietnamese-language “History of the D445 Battalion” includes at Attachment II : List of the 445 Battalion’s 539 named Battalion martyrs with date-of-birth,
home village, rank/position, date of death – noting that the list is incomplete and continues to be reviewed.”
Footnote 2: “Australians” – or “Úc”, do not seem to get a specific mention on the memorial/monument or the announcement, but the Vietnamese communists’ “euphemism” for the Australian military was “lackeys/vassals” of the Americans (see: Chamberlain, E.P., 2016 ; 348,200 words – with maps, photographs – free-to-read on the Internet at:
[1] The official 2004 Vietnamese-language “History of the D445 Battalion” includes at Attachment II : List of the Battalion’s 539 named D445 martyrs with date-of-birth, home village, rank/position, date of death – noting that the list is incomplete and continues to be reviewed.
