War veteran Hoang Phuc Hung

During his military career, Hung fought on multiple battlefields. His most unforgettable moment, however, was the final assault of the 1975 Central Highlands campaign.

At the time, as a Senior Lieutenant at a military unit, which is now Regiment 98, Division 316, Hung commanded an attack force against the headquarters of the 23rd Division, stationed in Buon Ma Thuot town and considered to be an elite unit by the enemy.

"I looked up and saw our flag with a yellow star fluttering atop the enemy’s main flagpole. To mark this historic moment, I asked a fellow soldier to lower the flag, and I used a pen to inscribe on the bottom right corner: ‘B2-C1-D7 – Bac Thai unit hoisted this first flag on the enemy’s F23 Headquarters (Buon Ma Thuot) at 11:00 AM on March 11, 1975.’ Bac Thai was the code name of Regiment 149 during the battle of Buon Ma Thuot. I signed my name below the inscription," Hung recalled.

The successful assault on Buon Ma Thuot was a turning point in the Central Highlands campaign. Hung and his comrades played a vital role in securing the victory. That original flag is still preserved in the hall of Regiment 98, Division 316. The flag that flew above the enemy’s headquarters is now a sacred relic, a testament to the resilience, sacrifice, and indomitable fighting spirit of the soldiers of Division 316, particularly Regiment 98.

After the war, Hung stayed in the military and eventually becoming a lecturer at the Political Academy. However, deep in his heart, he carries an unfulfilled duty. As a commander who led soldiers into battle, he witnessed firsthand the sacrifices of his comrades—many of whom fell at the enemy’s last stronghold and never saw Vietnam’s victory. To this day, many of them are still missing.

"After serving in the army for more than 30 years, the memories of the hardships, the camaraderie, and the sacrifices of my comrades will never fade from my heart. Many of those who fought alongside me never returned, and some families are still searching for their loved ones’ remains. Thanks to their sacrifices, Vietnam enjoys peace today. That’s why I feel a deep responsibility to help find the remains of my fallen comrades," said Hung.

The victory flag and Hoang Phuc Hung’s inscription. (Photo: VOV)

At the age of 70, Hung continues to search for information about his fallen comrades. Whenever he finds even the smallest clue—a name or a story—he records it in his notebook and reaches out to the families of the missing.

Thanks to his dedication, many families have finally located the resting place of their loved one. Reuniting the living and the fallen gives Hung a measure of solace and a way to honor those who sacrificed their lives for the nation’s independence.

Memories of that historic victory and his battlefield experiences, are carefully preserved in his wartime journal—a book he has safeguarded for decades. Its pages, now yellowed with time, hold precious inscriptions that bear witness to an era of fire and blood.

Every time Hung opens the journal, the battles of the past vividly return to his mind. Of those moments, the battle on March 11, 1975, and the victory flag bearing his inscription are the most unforgettable.