Untold stories in Truong Bon

When thinking of Truong Bon, people only think of the brutality of the life-and-death war 50 years ago. But few people know that this legendary land was once imbued with the love between the army and the people so that the traffic flow was not interrupted, so that the transport convoys could reach the battle on time… And, few people understand why Truong Bon was once considered a fire coordinate.

Military-civilian relationship on the legendary road

Mr. Nguyen Tat Lu is over 80 years old this year but is still very clear-minded. 50 years ago, Mr. Lu was the head of Hamlet 9, My Son Commune. Therefore, he was the one who knew best about all the activities that took place in the hamlet.

Talking to us about the years when Truong Bon was fiercely attacked, Mr. Lu said: Around the end of 1967, the 317th Youth Volunteer Company was stationed in Hamlet 9, My Son Commune and lived in people's houses. In addition to digging trenches, fortifications, and filling bomb craters, the Youth Volunteers also participated in production with the militia and people.

Youth Volunteers fill bomb craters in Truong Bon. Photo: Document

According to Mr. Lu, at that time, Hamlet 9, My Son Commune, was just a few dozen houses leaning against the mountainside. From where the 317th Youth Volunteer Company and the engineering troops were stationed in Hamlet 9 to the Truong Bon fire coordinates was only about 1.5km. The people of Hamlet 9, My Son Commune, were the solid rear base that provided fire for the Truong Bon frontline.

Mr. Lu recalled: Hamlet 9, My Son commune at that time had 39 households; of which 33 households had Youth Volunteers and soldiers living together. My family also had three Youth Volunteers living in the house: Ms. Thu, Ms. Hung, and Ms. Duong. Every day, whatever we ate, the women ate; one day it was potatoes and cassava, the next day it was mixed rice.

Not only Mr. Lu's family, dozens of other households in Hamlet 9, My Son Commune at that time were also the common home for many Youth Volunteers of Company 317 and Engineers. The days of duty at the Truong Bon fire line were arduous and hard but always filled with warm military-civilian affection.

Meeting the benefactor again - The photo captures the moment when Squad Leader Tran Thi Thong met her teammates. Photo courtesy: Huu Nghia

Until now, Mr. and Mrs. Dao Van Thuy and Mrs. Nguyen Thi Hong still cannot forget the faces of the Youth Volunteers who returned to the village 50 years ago. The memories of the days of eating, living together, digging trenches and participating in production together with the Youth Volunteers… have become a part of life, and every time she mentions them, she still feels emotional and nostalgic.

Ms. Hong recalled: "At that time, my family lived in a 5-room apartment building of My Thai Cooperative. My husband and I discussed giving two rooms to the TNXP uncles and aunts. At that time, uncles Hap, Thoa, Tran, Phuong and aunt Duong were living in the house."

Early in the morning or right after each bombing, when the alarm bell rang, the Youth Volunteers, soldiers, and militiamen carried hoes, shovels, guns, and ammunition across the fields to the Truong Bon front line to fill in bomb craters. At night, to avoid detection by enemy aircraft, the Youth Volunteers turned themselves into living markers for the transport convoy to cross the field.

Perhaps, for the people of Hamlet 9, My Son Commune at that time, the Youth Volunteers and the soldiers were family members. The army and the people lived together during the most difficult and fierce days of the resistance war against the US.

“We consider the Youth Volunteers and soldiers as our own children. We feel sorry for them because they eat so much noodles, so we occasionally give them cassava, potatoes, or buttered rice…”, Ms. Hong said.

Now, some are gone, some are still alive, those who once stood shoulder to shoulder, shared cassava and potatoes with the Youth Volunteers and soldiers at the Truong Bon frontline can be counted on the fingers of one hand. But, one thing is certain: the 33 farmer households at that time who ate, lived, worked, and fought with the Youth Volunteers and soldiers were the 33 steadfast anti-American fortresses; fueling the Truong Bon frontline.

Mr. Nguyen Tam Con - Former captain of Youth Volunteers Company 317 confided: The people of Hamlet 9, My Son Commune were a solid support for Youth Volunteers and soldiers during the days of fighting the Americans.

Why is Truong Bon a fire coordinate?

Soldiers and Youth Volunteers make a battle plan to protect Truong Bon. Photo: Document

During the escalation of the war to destroy the North, the US Empire crazily dropped thousands of tons of bombs and ammunition on Route 30 (now National Highway 15A) with places like Truong Bon, Om Bridge, Ky Lon Slope.... The former head of Hamlet 9 of My Son Commune (at that time) Nguyen Tat Lu asked us: Why is Truong Bon called the fire coordinate? But, how can we, the next generation, answer that question?

Mother Nguyen Thi Khanh is 99 years old and has difficulty walking. Every July 27, Khanh's mother hopes to visit the grave of her daughter, martyr Nguyen Thi Hoai, who died at the age of 16 in Truong Bon. Photo courtesy

Explaining this, Deputy Manager of Truong Bon Historical Site Dang Cong Chinh said: Truong Bon is a fire coordinate because it is located on strategic route 30 (now National Highway 15A) in a unique, steep position.

On the other hand, this is a location nearly 10km from the 12-valley cave (in Tru Son commune), which is the military supply depot of the North. The US imperialists attacked Truong Bon to cut off our supply route. Perhaps that is why, in the period from 1963 to 1973, at the locations around Truong Bon, 1,240 soldiers and Youth Volunteers died while on duty.

In that life-and-death confrontation, the US Empire clashed with the engineering force, the Youth Volunteers, and a group of farmers from Hamlet 9 who were leaning on each other to write the slogan "live on the bridge and road, die bravely and steadfastly".

The mission of the engineering troops and Youth Volunteers at the Truong Bon fire line was to clear the road and clear mines for the convoy to go to battle. Regardless of day or night, from the rear of Hamlet 9, they carried hoes, shovels, guns and ammunition across the My Son field to the Truong Bon front line.

On this occasion, returning to Truong Bon (My Son - Do Luong) in the smoke of incense, I was filled with many emotions. This is the place where 1,420 cadres, soldiers, and youth volunteers sacrificed their lives. Truong Bon "fire coordinates" forever resonate with the song of victory, the indomitable steadfastness of our army and people in the cause of fighting against the US to save the country. Photo: Document

October 31, 1968 became the most tragic day when 13 young men and women of the suicide squad of the 317th Youth Volunteer Company died forever at a very young age. The people of Hamlet 9, My Son Commune lost 13 brave and courageous sons.

Mr. Lu choked up: Early in the morning, everyone was preparing to go to the fields to produce when American planes came flying in. A series of deafening explosions rang out. After the explosions came the alarm bell and the announcement that many Youth Volunteers had sacrificed their lives. Everyone in the neighborhood was crying because they considered the Youth Volunteers as family.

Half a century has passed, the traces of bullets and bombs and the losses of the war have receded. But one thing is certain: the love between the army and the people at the Truong Bon fire coordinates will remain forever and will be remembered as a symbol of national pride.