Stories of women in Truong Bon in those days

Thom's mother story

Ms. Tran Thi Thong - squad leader, was the only survivor of the suicide squad, Youth Volunteer Company 317 in the bombing of Truong Bon by the US Empire on the morning of October 31, 1968.

After discovering her thanks to the gun barrel sticking out of the ground, her comrades brought her to the yard of the My Thai Cooperative (in today's Hamlet 9, My Son Commune) with her hair disheveled, her clothes covered in mud, and her breathing very weak. The people of Hamlet 9 tried their best to save her with all their love.

Mr. Nguyen Tat Lu - former village chief of Hamlet 9, My Son commune at that time said: If it weren't for Mrs. Thom's devoted care, O Thong would not have had today. It was Mrs. Thom who fought for O Thong's life from the hands of death. Mother Thom's real name is Nguyen Thi Phac.

Mother Thom was emotional when recounting the days of war in Truong Bon. Photo: Thanh Nguyen

Although she was 97 years old and in very poor health, when we asked her to tell us about the days she took care of the injured TNXP in Truong Bon, Thom's mother struggled to sit up. And then, the story of two women - Thom's mother and Thong - overcoming death's door in the thatched roof and earthen walls at the foot of Truong Bon that day gradually appeared like a slow-motion film.

At that time, Thom’s mother’s house was near the army’s dining hall, and the Youth Volunteers participated in serving at the Truong Bon front line. Mrs. Hong, Mr. Lu, Mr. Phac… still clearly remember the image of the petite woman with six children on her arm who volunteered to take care of the Youth Volunteer Tran Thi Thong.

On this occasion, returning to Truong Bon (My Son - Do Luong) in the smoke of incense, I was filled with emotion. 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 resilience of our army and people in the cause of fighting the Americans to save the country. Photo: Document

Life during the war was difficult in every way. Mother Thom had to take care of several children alone, and now she had to take care of O Thong, but in every meal and sleep, her mother always prioritized her sister's quick recovery. Every spoonful of porridge, every spoonful of water, was fed to her by Mother Thom with all the love of a hard-working, diligent mother.

A corner of Hamlet 9, My Son Commune today - the birthplace of brave women. Photo: Thanh Nguyen

Thom's mother said intermittently: "There was a time when he was delirious with fever and called out the names of each of his comrades, making me cry and then I rushed out to the garden to find crushed fish mint leaves for him to drink. There was also a time when he wanted to sit up and ask about Hien, Phuc, Tam..., I could only encourage him: they were on duty. I was afraid he would faint so I didn't dare tell the truth." "Thong did not spare his youth, hardships, and sacrifices to fight the Americans, so what's the point of me taking care of him when he was injured?" - Thom's mother confided.

Squad leader Tran Thi Thong on the day she met her benefactor again. Photo: Huu Nghia

Former squad leader of the suicide squad, Youth Volunteer Company 317, Tran Thi Thong, tearfully said: I am very grateful to Mother Thom and the people of Hamlet 9, My Son Commune. In my heart, the land of Hamlet 9 is like my second birth place.

Come to Truong Bon to understand more deeply the years of fighting and sacrifice of our army and people on this fiery coordinate. Photo: Huy Thu

There is a brave women's platoon

“At that time, all the men and boys went to war; we, the ones who stayed behind, could not just sit back and watch the American invaders trample the country. When the My Son commune government called for the formation of a platoon to serve Truong Bon with the army and Youth Volunteers, all of us women enthusiastically signed up,” said Ms. Dang Thi Hoa - Former Deputy Secretary of the Commune Youth Union, platoon leader of the My Son commune strong platoon (at that time).

The platoon has a total of 30 members, almost entirely women, and is divided into two groups operating from the border of Nhan Son commune to the foot of Truong Bon. In addition to the tasks of filling bomb craters, digging trenches and fortifications with soldiers and youth volunteers; the platoon also participates in first aid, transporting the wounded, and acting as a navigator for vehicles to cross the field...

Truong Bon Relic Site, My Son Commune (Do Luong). Photo courtesy

Mrs. Hoa said: After each bombing, when the three gongs from the commune headquarters sounded; we would hold hoes, shovels, guns and ammunition and run across the fields to Truong Bon battlefield to fill in bomb craters for the trucks. Regardless of day or night, after the bombing, our platoon would go on duty. In the years 1967 - 1968, Truong Bon was a "bomb bag". During those nearly two years, the US imperialists crazily dropped thousands of tons of bombs and ammunition on this fiery coordinate. Therefore, Mrs. Hoa and her comrades could not remember how many wounded soldiers were transferred to the rear base for treatment, how many bomb craters they had leveled so that the convoy could roll out in time for the battle.

As one of the 6 members in charge of first aid in the Platoon, Ms. Nguyen Thi Sinh - in hamlet 4, My Son commune still remembers clearly the years she contributed to the Truong Bon frontline.

Many former Youth Volunteers and veterans visiting Truong Bon were filled with emotion as if they were returning to the old battlefield, where they once devoted their youth to the country. There, many of their friends and comrades remained in their twenties like the 13 martyrs of Truong Bon. Photo courtesy of Truong Bon.

Talking to us, memories of 50 years ago suddenly came flooding back to her: at that time, there was hunger and deprivation, but everyone was very enthusiastic. When told to register, they registered, when they heard the alarm bell, they ran. When we mentioned that we had contributed to feeding soldiers, Youth Volunteers, participating in digging trenches, fortifications, treating wounded soldiers... did we expect to be recognized by the government?

“At that time, everyone was very selfless in their duties, not thinking about death, but only hoping that the country would be liberated soon. Now that the government recognizes their achievements or considers some kind of regime, I am very happy, but even without any regime, I am happy,” Ms. Hoa laughed. Their daily meals were mainly mixed rice, sometimes cassava and sweet potatoes were used as a substitute for meals, but it seemed that their youthful energy and hatred helped them overcome all the hardships and fierceness of the war./.