The People's Harbor and the Numberless Ships on the Legendary Road

(Baonghean) -In 1954, the Geneva Agreement on Indochina was signed. The countries participating in the Conference solemnly declared to respect the independence, sovereignty, unity and territorial integrity of Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia.

The United States was the country that directly assisted France in the war of aggression against Indochina and was a member of the Geneva Conference, but it blatantly declared: "The United States is not bound by this content", from there it hastily kicked the French colonialists out of Indochina, used the 17th parallel of Vietnam as a temporary military demarcation line, imposed neo-colonialism in South Vietnam, turned the South into a US military base, and divided our country. From here, a new period of Vietnamese history began: the period of fighting against the US to save the country. In 1957 and 1958, they implemented many plans, issued many laws that outlawed communism and dragged the guillotine throughout the South, forcing the puppet government of Ngo Dinh Diem to declare that South Vietnam was in a state of war.

Faced with that situation, the 15th Central Committee Conference (January 1959) determined: The path to liberating the South was the “path of revolutionary violence”; the South needed to receive human and material support from the North, and the South needed to have many weapons to fight the enemy. According to the Politburo’s Directive, in May 1959, the Central Military Commission decided to establish a Research Department for Military Support Activities for the South. Implementing the Party and Central Military Commission’s policy, on May 19, 1959, the Politburo assigned the Ministry of National Defense to organize a “Special Military Task Force”, codenamed Group 559, to open the Truong Son Road and support the Southern battlefield. Next, the Politburo decided to open a strategic support route by sea to the South, without waiting for the road transport route along the Truong Son range to be completed.

Implementing the Politburo's Directive, in July 1959, the General Military Commission (from 1961 the Central Military Commission) decided to organize a strategic sea transport route and establish Battalion 603 with the task of researching and finding means of transport by sea to support weapons for the Southern battlefield under the name of "Gianh River Fishing Group". Then, on October 23, 1961, Deputy Minister of National Defense Hoang Van Thai, on behalf of the Ministry of National Defense, signed Decision No. 97/QP to establish Group 759 with the task of supporting weapons for the South by sea. Lieutenant Colonel Doan Hong Phuoc was appointed as Group Leader. The Group's agency included the General Staff, the Political Department, and the Logistics Department; the Group's initial force consisted of 38 officers and soldiers, including 20 comrades from the boats of Ben Tre, Tra Vinh, and Lien Khu V that had just been deployed. Due to its special nature and mission, Group 759 was placed under the direct leadership of the Central Military Commission. At the end of 1961, the Group's work plan was approved by the Central Military Commission and the General Command; on February 12, 1962, the General Department of Politics issued Decision No. 09/QD to establish the Party Committee of Group 759 with comrade Pham Thai Hoa as Secretary. In August 1962, the Central Military Commission issued a resolution on opening a strategic sea transport route, with the breakthrough direction being the Southern provinces, then developing to Zone 6 and Zone 5.

The first officers and soldiers of Group 759 went on the first road-clearing trip.
October 1962. Photo archive



Secret ships on the way to support the South (Internet photo)

The establishment of Group 759 marked an important historical milestone, opening a new step in the development of the strategic sea transport route. This was a completely correct and wise decision, demonstrating the great determination of the entire Party, people and army. From here, the creative and unique strategic transport route like a legend on the East Sea called "Ho Chi Minh Trail at Sea" was formed. And October 23 every year became the traditional day of Group 759 in the past, the 125th Naval Brigade today, and at the same time "Ho Chi Minh Trail Opening Day at Sea".

Along with the Ho Chi Minh Trail on the Truong Son mountain range, the Ho Chi Minh Trail at sea represents the close connection between the great rear base in the North and the great front line in the South. Compared to the Ho Chi Minh Trail on land, the volume of weapons transported by the Ho Chi Minh Trail at sea is much less, but it provides timely support to the coastal areas of the Central and Southwest regions, where land transport has not yet reached. The feats of each unnumbered ship supporting the battlefield demonstrate the infinite loyalty to the Party, the Fatherland and the people, the spirit of intelligence, creativity, and brave sacrifice of the officers and soldiers of the Vietnam People's Navy in all situations; demonstrate the solidarity between the army and the people, between the officers and soldiers of the navy and the units, Party committees, authorities and local people in coastal areas, where the ports receive weapons. This is the path of will and creativity, unique to Vietnam; inheriting the glorious tradition of the nation's rivers and seas and developing to new heights in the conditions of arduous and fierce war. The Ho Chi Minh Trail at sea is a glorious feat of arms of the entire nation, first of all due to the strategic determination, wise and talented leadership of the Party and beloved Uncle Ho; the efforts to overcome all difficulties and hardships, and the spirit of solidarity of generations of officers and soldiers in the heroic Navy.

The numberless ships overcame all challenges because they carried the sacred sentiments of the great Northern rear that always turned towards the South. And from the ports of the people's hearts, the numberless ships quietly carried out extraordinary missions, providing timely support with human and material resources, bringing confidence and optimism to defeat the American invaders to the army and people of the South.

Tran Van Dong