Hello everyone,I’m Khanh Linh.

And today I’ll tell you about an important

event in my country – Viet Nam. That’s called “Dien Bien Phu in the air”or
Linebaker II in America. I’ve learned about this in grade 4, I guess and I was
really interested in that lesson so… I’ll not waste your time anymore.Let’s get
started!

48 years ago, in the final stage of the resistance war against the US for national
salvation, on December 18, 1972, the Vietnamese army entered a 12-day battle,
defeating a strategic air raid by air.

The United States has prepared the largest force since World War II –
one hundred ninety seven bombers, one thousand seventy seven aircrafts and
many battleships. Especially the B-52 bomber.

If you don’t know how terrible the B-52 is, what I say below will surprise you.
Each B-52 could carry thirty tons of bombs, and all the B-52 bombers that the
US brought to Vietnam could drop nearly 100 tons of bombs at once. It is
known as the pride of the US air force, a modern weapon of war. The price of
each was about fifteen million dollars at that time. A very large amount.

When President Ho Chi Minh knew the danger of the B-52, he warned "We
must find out its disadvantage, as early as possible". In nineteen sixty five,
when the US brought B-52s into the Vietnam battlefield, Uncle Ho gave the
task to deal with B-52, because "Sooner or later the US will send B-52 to attack
Hanoi. In Vietnam, the US is bound to lose, but it only lost after losing in the
sky of Hanoi". ( video Bác Hồ)

The war began on December 18, 1972. In twelve days and nights, Hanoi, Hai
Phong and a few cities in the North were suffered more than eighty thousand
tons of bombs. Especially for Hanoi, the US dropped more than ten thousand
tons of bombs, destroyed many neighborhoods and villages. The US
government believed that they are 100 persent sure to win with their powerful
weapons.

But our army and people fought bravely. Right from the first battle, our troops
shot down a B-52. Vietnam is the first country to do that.

Do you know the first person who shot down that air craft. He’s Pham Tuan, a
hero of the Vietnamese Air Force, he became the first Asian cosmonaut to fly
into space. There was also Vũ Xuân Thiều, he sacrificed himself when he
crashed into an enemy aircraft because he loved Viet Nam, he knew that he will
die but many people will live and more important that we could defeat the US.
In 12 days and nights, our army shot down eighty one American planes,
including thirty four B-52s; captured fourty three enemy pilots. This is a huge
loss of the US military. The US was completely defeated in Hanoi and Hai
Phong.

That is why the US had to sign the Paris Agreement on January twenty seven,
ninteen seventy three, restoring peace between the two countries.

There are some facts you might not know. Before the battle start, there were 8
B-52 bombers were destroyed by 2 soldiers from Viet Nam. That was crazy
because they did that in Thai Land’s airport where many America planes. The
American were shocked and didn’t know the reason why they could lose one
hundred millions dollars just in a night.

To explain our victory, it’s thanks to the US pilots. Because when they was in
jail, our soldiers treated very kind to them. Everyday, they could eat delicious
food, play sports. They were allowed to celebrate Thanks giving. Even during
the Chrismast they could enjoy the atmostphere like being at their
hometown.America soldier’s meal cost twice as much as Vietnam soldier’s
meal. They even visited the place that they dropped bombs. So they felt very
guilt and didn’t want to fight anymore. They loved peaceful.Then, the US pilots
told our army lots of important informations that we really need. Therefore,
Vietnam has been having a good relasionship with America after war.

Now, you can easily see a B-52 in Hữu Tiệp Lake in Ha Noi.I’m very proud of
my lovely country. It could do many many impossible things that I can’t expect
and now I still not believe that Viet Nam can win against France, America or
Japan. Oh my god that was like a miracle. I want to send all of my love, all the
best “thanks” to our army because if we don’t have them, I can not stand here
today. Thank you so much, our true hero. I own you one. I am much obliged to
you…

Yes, war is terrible. A lot of people must die. So I feel very lucky to have been
born in a peaceful country. I will definitely study hard so that in the future I can
bring peace to everyone in the world. I will do my best to speak for the weak
and against the war. Everyone is born with equal rights to go to school, to be
loved, because we are one.