One summer day in 1984, a sudden attack broke the silence over the border, and the Vietnamese special forces destroyed our radar positions, losing 9 fighters and 40 wounded. This blow shook the morale of the army and forged determination. This is not the number of losses, it is the hammer that triggered us to form special forces.
In February 1979, the fighting had just been extinguished on the hills. Let's start with a month-long self-defense counterattack against Vietnam. At that time, our army, like a tiger descending from the mountain, drove the Vietnamese invaders out of our northern border. It was a battle that showed the indomitable of our army, and again this was only a prologue.
In the years that followed, our hostilities with Vietnam did not end, but instead entered a kind of tug-of-war that went back and forth. Vietnam's secret service has played a crucial role in this protracted conflict. Not only are they good at guerrilla warfare, but they also cause us a lot of trouble behind the scenes.
At the same time, we cannot fail to mention the history of the Vietnamese special forces, which have a pivotal position in the Vietnamese army. Their predecessor was a reconnaissance detachment formed by the Vietnamese People's Army during the War of Resistance Against France, that is, in the late 50s. Under the guidance of our instructors, these warriors learned how to conduct reconnaissance and sabotage behind enemy lines. By 1964, these squads had been consolidated into a full-fledged secret service unit, the 305th Secret Service Division, equipped with advanced weaponry.
They weren't good at stubble, and on May 1, 1964, they did a big deal. Six people, two underwater, and four responded, secretly approached the US Navy's aircraft carrier "Card," and then, a huge hole was blown up, and the aircraft carrier, its helicopters, and supplies all sank to the bottom of the harbor, sounding the alarm for the Americans.
On March 19, 1967, the Vietnamese army even established the "Special Forces Command" to unify the command of these daredevils. These guys are simply the trump cards of the Vietnamese army, well-trained, brave and good at fighting, and have caused a lot of problems for us and other enemies.
As the time entered the 80s, the international situation changed greatly, and our relations with Western countries gradually improved. In order to strengthen the army, in 1984 we introduced advanced radar from Britain and Sweden, which had already passed the severe test in the 70s, and in July 1984, the attack taught us that sometimes the best way to meet the enemy is to have the same sharpness as them. Yes, our radar positions were knocked out by them, and this loss turned out to be an anvil for us to forge special forces.
Also in that era, the understanding of special forces mainly came from the heroic images of extraordinary skills and wisdom and courage in Hollywood movies. The real special forces are far more harsh and complex than in the film. That year, we embarked on a new journey, which was to form our own special forces.
The decision was not a spur of the moment. In previous years, the shadow of war had hung over the border. The 1979 self-defense counterattack against Vietnam was short-lived, but it was an all-out show, and it took us a month to let the aggressors know our strength.
This victory did not mean that everything was over, and the conflict in the border region began in 1979 and lasted for the next decade. Vietnam's secret service team has played a special role in this conflict. Their presence makes our borders full of uncertainties.
Returning to our story, after the 1984 attacks, our military leadership realized that traditional tactics and the combat effectiveness of conventional forces alone could no longer fully deal with this new type of threat. What we need is courage and sacrifice, tactics and techniques that keep pace with the times, and the ability to deliver a fatal blow without the enemy knowing it.
At this time, the effectiveness of this model has been proven by the successful experience of the special forces of various countries in the world. From the SAS in the United Kingdom to the Navy SEALs in the United States, these names have become almost synonymous with special operations. We have also begun to set out to form our own elite troops.
After several years of hard work, we finally officially formed the special forces in 1986. They are not only the sharp knives of the army, but also a powerful response to the state in the face of asymmetric threats. Their establishment not only demonstrates our military's determination to meet the needs of a new type of warfare, but also represents an important step in the modernization of national defense.
In the years that followed, the members of the special forces secretly defended the security of the country countless times, and their bravery and sacrifice are rarely known. It is their presence that ensures that our borders are more secure and that the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the country are effectively maintained.