Truong Bon gratitude medley

(Baonghean) -In the glorious history of defending the country of the Vietnamese people in the 20th century, there was the glorious contribution of the Vietnamese Youth Volunteer Force - a force without stars, stripes, insignia, or ranks. A force born in the resistance war against the French and re-established in the hot months of the resistance war against the Americans to save the country. Among those glorious contributions, there was the sacrifice of the soldiers of the Truong Bon Youth Volunteer Force on the morning of October 31, 1968.

On the morning of October 31, 1968, the 10th of September, Mau Than, in 4 hours, from 6:10 to 10:10, the US conducted 3 bombing raids (not just 1 raid), dropping 170 bombs on an area of ​​120m long and 50m wide, aiming to destroy the key point of Truong Bon! With the destructive power of 170 bombs on an area of ​​6,000m², average 35m²Withstanding a bomb, even the iron bones and copper skin were not intact due to the density and destructive intensity of such a bomb! From the place where I tried to put myself in the midst of that fierceness, I cannot forget the first time I met Mr. Nguyen Xuan Thoa, a former Company Commander in the midst of the hardships of everyday life.

Former Youth Volunteers were moved by the statue of their fallen comrades at Truong Bon. Photo: HN

Nguyen Xuan Thoa (1936-2010)

In mid-April 1997, I found Ms. Huong, Squad Leader of Squad 5, and Mr. Nguyen Xuan Phuong, Deputy Captain of Company C317, in charge of engineering. That afternoon, I asked Mr. Phuong to sit in the back of the car to lead the way, departing from Ms. Huong's house, winding about 30 kilometers of dirt road to the mountainous commune of Son Thanh, Yen Thanh district to meet Mr. Thoa. In the hot early summer afternoon sun, when I arrived at Mr. Thoa's gate, I deliberately turned off the motorbike so that Mr. Phuong could go in first, while I was sweating profusely, leading the motorbike behind. When I entered the yard, Mr. Phuong spoke up: -Report to the Company Commander, there is a journalist who wants to see you!

Mr. Thoa was in shorts and a tank top, busily reinforcing the roof of the rainwater tank. He stopped and angrily walked in: - What kind of journalism are you guys doing? We are like frogs crying to the heavens. Why did you write so many articles and only come to see me now? I calmly said: - Sir! I don't care how many articles about Truong Bon were published, where they were published, who wrote them. Today, I am a reporter from Lao Dong Newspaper and want to see you because the truth has not been revealed. I request you to check my press card.

Without even looking at the card, nor inviting me into the house, Mr. Thoa quietly went into the kitchen. I reluctantly followed Mr. Phuong into the drinking table and... waited, a moment later Mr. Thoa came out wearing his familiar Youth Volunteer Uniform. Without saying a word, all three of us were silent. I did not miss every small movement from the host's still angry face. Mr. Thoa personally made tea and poured out 3 cups, I did not drink because I was still waiting for him to invite me. Suddenly, he turned around and opened the wooden cabinet, took out a half-full bottle of wine with a banana leaf cork, carefully rinsed 3 cups and poured 3 cups full of wine. Still without saying a word, he raised the wine cup in front of the guests. Mr. Phuong and I understood and raised our glasses, but I deliberately did not drink to wait for the host's command. Mr. Thoa still did not invite me so I closed my eyes and finished my cup, or more accurately, I drank the whole of the host's "take it out on the wrong person" attitude. It seemed that Mr. Thoa realized his anger, he picked up my press card and looked at it:

- Now you just record, if someone has a "death sentence", before I die I will still tell the truth. It hurts so much, journalist. Retired as a civilian, no power, no money, alone, not brave enough to protect the truth, that's why I'm in this situation.

Then he bowed his head on the edge of the table as if to apologize to his comrades and teammates. I looked at Phuong, Phuong held back his emotions and looked into the distance. I had gone through many social events and had never met him and had to drink a cup of wine as bitter as the cup of wine that Thoa poured out. However, patience helped me meet and have Thoa open his heart, thanks to that I knew "the truth of the truth", as well as knew where to find Tran Thi Thong, from which came the report "Nguoc Truong Bon" in the Vietnam Labor Newspaper, No. 74, published on May 10, 1997, contributing to the relief of the anger of thousands of former anti-American Youth Volunteers who had returned to civilian life. After that "public opinion bomb", the former Nghe An Youth Volunteers met several times in Vinh, the Liaison Committee always asked Hoang Thi Ngoc Diep to personally deliver the invitation for me to attend, but the former C317 Youth Volunteers considered me an exceptional member.

I remember one time Mr. Thoa took the initiative to hold my hand and remind me of the old story: - The day Mr. Phuong brought you to my house. Because I was so upset that "the frog's cry could not be heard by the sky", I spoke harshly. Please sympathize with me, because I am facing a truth that needs to be clarified!

I was moved to feel the warmth transmitted from his hand, and clearly saw the turmoil in my heart from the depths of that apology. There still stood the responsibility of the highest commander of C317 to his comrades and teammates who had sacrificed, to hundreds of former Youth Volunteers who had returned to normal life and were struggling in hardship. Even though they were “lowly and powerless”, they were always living witnesses, fighting side by side with him to protect a historical truth that had been distorted by someone.

On October 6, 2008, before the 40th anniversary of the Truong Bon incident, and receiving the title of Heroic Unit of the People's Armed Forces, I and Mr. Dinh Van Ngu, Chairman of the Nghe An Transport Industry Union, went to burn incense to pay respect to the Truong Bon Youth Volunteers and give gifts to the families of the Truong Bon Youth Volunteers. In Yen Thanh district, there were 9 families of martyrs scattered in 9 communes, and in a whole day we only visited 6/9 families. That day in Son Thanh commune, after burning incense to pay respect to Martyr Tran Thi Doan, Mr. Ngu and I went to visit Mr. Nguyen Xuan Thoa's house, but a few days before, Mr. Thoa had been admitted to Nghe An General Hospital for treatment, so we could not meet him. Then...

On December 1, 2010, in Lang Thanh commune, after having in hand 4 pages of the Scene Report, before leaving Mr. Hoang Thanh Van's house to return to Vinh, I asked Mr. Tam Con to lead the way to Son Thanh commune to visit Mr. Thoa. Unexpectedly, Mr. Con told me that Mr. Thoa had passed away several months ago due to a serious illness. The Party Committee and the government of Son Thanh commune, and the former Youth Volunteers of C317 in Yen Thanh district coordinated to organize a solemn and complete funeral for him. Misfortunes never come singly. About 3-4 months after Mr. Thoa passed away, his wife followed him to the eternal world. While the incense smoke was still rising on the two altars, it was Mr. Thoa's daughter and her husband's turn to pass away one after another within a month. Next, the niece who worked in the South, because she was pregnant, returned to her hometown to wait for the birth, but before the day of her birth, she also passed away...

So when the group entered the house to burn incense to pay respect to the steadfast former Captain of C317, we only met his daughter who married a man from the next village. For the past few months, she had to leave her children with her grandparents, and returned home alone to watch the incense on her parents' altar. Mr. Nguyen Tam Con and I searched through the plastic bag that Mr. Thoa used to store documents during his lifetime, but there were no papers related to the C317 period. We only found two photocopies of articles written about Truong Bon that he kept. They were my reportage about Truong Bon, and Mr. Vuong Trong's article "Day tan Truong Bon". Through the photocopies, I did not know which newspaper this article was published in.

Ms. Tran Thi Thong (middle) - the sole survivor of Truong Bon Steel Squad and former Youth Volunteers reunited. Photo: HN

Martyr Hoang Thi Nhung

We went to Mr. Hoang Thanh Van's house in Dong Sum village (village 11), Lang Thanh commune. Mr. Van is the older brother who is worshiping his martyr sister. The couple Hoang Dinh Lien (died in 1986) - Tran Thi Hoat (died in 1992) gave birth to 4 children: Hoang Thi Duyen, Hoang Thanh Van, Hoang Thi Nho, Hoang Thi Nhung. Mr. Van is the only son in the family, in early 1965 he joined the army, in mid-1965 Nhung joined the Youth Volunteer Force, at that time Mr. Lien and Mrs. Hoat's family was in Lac Thien hamlet, Phu Thanh commune (in 1978 they moved their house to Lang Thanh commune). The family was both lonely and extremely poor, at the end of 1965 the superiors allowed Mr. Van to be discharged from the army and return to his hometown to take care of his parents.

Mrs. Vuong Thi Phong, Mr. Van's wife, recalled: People said that O's sister-in-law was difficult to get along with, but O Nhung and I were as close as sisters. Before O left for the Youth Volunteer Force, there was nothing in the house to celebrate her farewell, so I gave her a pair of newly made silk pants that I had tried on once and then kept for later. In 1967, O was able to visit home. That day, O said: - Sister, I gave the silk pants you gave me before I joined the army to my employer's daughter! My employer's family was as poor as ours, and my daughter went to school without a change of pants. I felt so sorry for her but couldn't do anything to help her!

Mrs. Phong pulled her shirt to wipe away her tears and continued. I love O, who was so young, who heroically sacrificed but left nothing behind in her body. Until today, I still can't stop thinking: Earth returns to earth. O's body was so white and smooth, yet it was like a clod of earth, completely shattered after a fall. O sacrificed in the morning, late in the afternoon, Mr. Nguyen Duc Hinh, who worked at the Policy Department of Nghe An Provincial Military Command, came home to tell her the news. Previously, Mr. Hinh had held an engagement ceremony for Ms. Duyen (O Nhung's sister). After that, Ms. Duyen went to the frontline to serve the battlefield in Upper Laos. She returned to her hometown and died in 1956 due to illness. Currently, Mr. Hinh is a retired captain in her hometown. When O Nhung was in the youth union in her hometown, there was a man named Nguyen, a person from the same commune, who often came back to get to know her. Later, Mr. Nguyen also went to the Youth Union and married a woman from Bac Thai province.

During the time O Nhung was in the Youth Volunteer Army, there was a man named Loi from Nghi Hop commune, Nghi Loc district, who worked at Song Con farm. The two loved each other. After O Nhung died, Loi stayed at Mr. Lien and Mrs. Hoat's house for a month to personally take care of the incense at the altar of his lover. Since then, the family has not seen Loi return. With such a deep heart and noble gesture, which seemed to only exist in the golden generation of the time of national salvation, Mr. Van and Mrs. Phong really wanted to know where Mr. Loi was so that the family of Martyr Hoang Thi Nhung could meet him and say thank you.

We were allowed by Ms. Nhung to open the "archive" to learn more important details about the bombing that destroyed the Truong Bon key point. As I know, the original file of Martyr Hoang Thi Nhung is very complete, including: A brief biography established on October 3, 1968. A self-assessment and selection of cadres to attend vocational high school established on July 3, 1968. A brief biography handwritten by Ms. Nhung on October 3, 1968. A personal history check form handwritten by Ms. Nhung without a date. A brief biography of the martyr established on October 31, 1968, and a chart of missing martyrs established on November 3, 1968. The inventory record of comrade Hoang Thi Nhung's personal belongings was made on October 31, 1968 (after her death), according to which: 1 green nylon, 1 student book, 1 set of squares, 1 handkerchief, 2 white towels, 1 white pillow (unfinished), 5 long shirts (2 colors), 1 red sweater, 1 umbrella, 1 rented hair, 1 black horn comb, 4 black trousers (1 dress pants), 6.6m zinc-colored fabric, 6.7m ash-colored fabric, 30 dong silver, 6.5kg rice coupon, 1/2 piece of soap, (...), a total of 18 different types.

All transferred to family members.

Martyr Nguyen Thi Phuc

As the older brother who is worshiping his martyr sister, Mr. Nguyen Trong Quang (born in 1934), residing in Yen Son village (village 6), Phuc Thanh commune, Yen Thanh, said: The grave of martyr Nguyen Thi Phuc has been gathered at the family cemetery in his hometown. The couple Nguyen Trong Phan - Nguyen Thi Dich had 7 children: Nguyen Trong Quang, Nguyen Trong Luu, Nguyen Trong Duc (died in infancy), Nguyen Thi Em (died at a young age), Nguyen Thi Phuc, Nguyen Thi Loc, Nguyen Thi Vinh.

In her village school years, Ms. Phuc sometimes went to school and sometimes worked in the fields at Ho Ri. Due to her poor family circumstances, after finishing 7/10th grade, she had to quit school to work to support herself. Before she joined the Youth Volunteers, Mr. Bui Sau from Do Thanh commune came to her house several times to talk about it. Mr. Sau was tall and gentle, and used to sit and talk with Mr. Quang and his brothers in the family. Later, he joined the army and died. She was shy, so when she joined the Youth Volunteers, her brothers in the unit often criticized her for being sloppy. She said: "When you guys finish eating, don't wash the dishes, that's messing with me." After 18 months of joining the army, at the end of 1966, Ms. Phuc was able to come home for 2 days to visit her family. At that time, Mr. Quang was working as an accountant for the cooperative and was often away from home. She said: - The unit is stationed in O Ro, Tan Ky district, I can come home for a few days. If you stay home and take care of your mother, it will help me feel secure in my duty. After the day of the bombing that destroyed Truong Bon, although there was no news about Ms. Phuc, that day Mr. Quang was riding his bicycle to the next village, suddenly a bird with a very long tail fell into the spokes of the front wheel. The next day he received a death notice stating Ms. Phuc had died.

A few years ago, while collecting relics of Truong Bon martyrs, Mr. Tam Con found a letter written by martyr Nguyen Thi Phuc to his comrade Mai Viet Than. Mr. Con said: At that time, Phuc Thanh commune had 3 people, Nguyen Thi Phuc, Nguyen Thi Phuong, Mai Viet Than, who joined the Youth Volunteers on the same day, in the same unit. During the time the unit was on duty in Rao Gang area of ​​Thanh Chuong district, Mr. Than and Ms. Phuong fell in love with each other. After that, Mr. Than was transferred to C334 to transport goods by river to serve the battlefield. The following is the content of Ms. Phuc's letter to Mr. Than:

T 317 Thanh Chuong... 66

Dear brother remember.

A tree far from its branches still remembers its roots.

Even though we are far apart, we still remember each other.

Dear brother! Today I came back from military training and I kept thinking about you far away who have lived with me for quite a long time. At that moment I immediately opened my backpack and took out a pen to write a few lines to send to you.

First of all, I would like to ask about your health. Is there any change in your work? Please let me know.

Dear brother! It has been quite a long time since we have been apart. The days we have lived together are few, but the days we have been apart are long. I don't know when we will meet again so we can tell many stories. Brother, there is a saying:

There must be a bridge over that river.

We brothers are far apart, but one day we will meet again.

Dear brother! No matter what, we will meet again.

Dear brother! I just received the letter you sent me. When I held your letter, I felt troubled in my heart. I read your letter and heard that you were admitted to the Party. I am very happy and excited to have a brother who has made such progress. I am very happy, brother.

Dear brother! Now that we are away on a mission far from home and our homeland, we are still young, so we miss home. That is why we always have to write poems to each other to encourage each other in our work. Usually, when you are in a commune, now that you are in another commune, we consider ourselves as one commune, don't look further, but we always exchange on this small piece of paper. I hope you don't forget your fellow countrymen.

Dear! Let me ask you something, do you agree? Dear! Why haven't you written a poem to Ms. Phuong since you left? Is there something going on between you and her? But dear, no matter what, you should write a poem to her, don't leave. Well, that's just what I said, it's up to you, and you should think again.

Here I ask you to put down your pen, I will write many poems in the future, and in the end I wish you and your friends always happy, healthy and achieve many good results. It is my fault, I put down my pen to wait for your poem. I hope you will understand. I am your fellow countryman, this poem is because I am busy, the next poem will talk a lot. (Signature)

Nguyen Thi Phuc

Those are the sentiments of a Truong Bon Youth Volunteer Soldier that we found from the "archive" during a trip to find documents to write about the legendary Truong Bon.

Notes: SYMPHONY