Commemorating the 50th anniversary of the opening of the Ho Chi Minh Trail on the sea.

(Baonghean)On the morning of October 12th, a ceremony commemorating the 50th anniversary of the opening of the Ho Chi Minh Trail at sea was held at Squadron 137 (Region 1 - Naval Command).

Attending the commemoration ceremony were Rear Admiral Dinh Gia That - Deputy Political Commissar of the Navy, Comrade To Hong Hai - Member of the Standing Committee and Head of the Propaganda Department of the Provincial Party Committee, representatives of the leadership of Ha Tinh province, nearly 60 veterans and relatives of martyrs of the "No Number" ships (Ho Chi Minh Trail on the sea) from Nghe An and Ha Tinh provinces.

On behalf of the veterans of the "No Number" naval convoy, Lieutenant Colonel Nguyen Dinh Sin recalled the heroic memories of the "No Number" convoy. On October 23, 1961, the General Staff of the Vietnam People's Army decided to establish the 759th Water Transport Unit (the predecessor of today's 125th Brigade), which also marked the opening day of the Ho Chi Minh Trail at sea.

From its inception until the reunification of the country, the Ho Chi Minh Trail on the sea fully and exceptionally fulfilled its strategic support mission for the Southern battlefield, with hundreds of ships sailing out to sea, transporting thousands of tons of weapons, goods, medicine, and tens of thousands of people from the Northern rear to the Southern front lines, directly contributing alongside the entire nation to bringing the resistance war against the US to complete victory.

On behalf of the Naval Command, Rear Admiral Dinh Gia That highlighted the immense contributions of the "No Number" fleet, the glorious tradition, the independent spirit, self-reliance, and self-strength of the entire nation's military and people; the noble nature, courageous spirit, and determination to win of the entire Party, army, and people that created the Ho Chi Minh Trail on the sea, a legendary route demonstrating the correctness, creativity, and uniqueness in the Party's art of revolutionary war leadership. At the same time, he honored and acknowledged the great sacrifices and significant contributions of the officers, soldiers, and people of the coastal localities through which this legendary transport route passed during the resistance war against the US. The 50th anniversary of the opening of the Ho Chi Minh Trail on the sea is of great significance, aiming to further uphold the responsibility of officers, soldiers, and people nationwide towards the cause of national construction and defense, especially in implementing Vietnam's maritime strategy in the new situation.

Rear Admiral Dinh Gia That delivered a speech at the commemoration ceremony.



Veterans and relatives of fallen soldiers from the "No Number" naval convoy at the meeting.





Rear Admiral Dinh Gia That presented commemorative medals and donated money for the construction of charitable houses for war veterans.



Veterans presented a photograph of the unmarked, double-hulled ship, built in Nghe An, to the Naval Command.



Representatives of the Nghe An Provincial Youth Union presented savings passbooks to war veterans.



Leaders of the Naval Command, Nghe An province, and veterans of the "No Number" naval fleet at the meeting.

At the meeting, representatives from the Naval Command presented commemorative medals for the Ho Chi Minh Trail at Sea, and donated 20 houses of gratitude (each worth 60 million VND) to veterans; the Central Youth Union presented 14 savings accounts to several veteran families in Nghe An and Ha Tinh provinces. Lieutenant Colonel Nguyen Dinh Sin, representing the veterans of the "No Number" naval fleet, presented the Naval Command with a photograph of a double-hulled ship built in Nghe An, reminiscing about heroic memories.

The commemoration ceremony at Squadron 137 was the first in a series of state-level celebrations marking the 50th anniversary of the Ho Chi Minh Trail's opening, taking place at 12 locations nationwide.

A state-level rally commemorating the 50th anniversary of the opening of the Ho Chi Minh Trail at sea will be held in Hai Phong city on October 21st.

Tran Hai - Duc Chuyen