VietNamNet Bridge - Colonel Bui Quang Than, who planted the flag of the National Front for the Liberation of Southern Vietnam on the roof of the Independence Palace in Saigon on April 30, 1975 died at home in Thai Binh province on June 24.



Colonel Than passed away unexpectedly at his house in Thuy Xuan commune, Thai Thuy district, in the early morning of June 24, at the age of 64.

Than joined the army in 1966. He participated in the Ho Chi Minh campaign as the chief of Company 4, Battalion 1, Tank and Armored Brigade 203, Army Corps 2, which was responsible for attacking the Independence Palace.

At noon of April 30th, 1975, Than conducted a tank No 843 into the Independence Palace’s main gate. When a tank No. 390 hit the gate down, Than jumped out with a liberation flag and ran towards the palace to plant the flag on the roof of the palace.



“At that historical moment, a solider had to do that. Anyone in my situation had no alternative. The act belonged to history,” he said after that.

Than has been hailed in recognition of his significant achievements in the war of resistance against the US.

Than remained in the army and rose to the rank of colonel and commanded the tank and armored brigade No. 203 before retiring in 2000, to lead a normal life in his hometown in Thai Binh.

The Independence Palace was later renamed Reunification Palace to signify the reunification of the north and south of Vietnam.



M. Lan