A time of "fire and flowers"

(Baonghean) - The war has been over for 40 years, the country continues to overcome difficulties to develop sustainably. The lesson of solidarity in the resistance war against the US has been promoted, creating national strength... These days, memories of the "fire and flower period" seem to add more motivation for generations of Vietnamese people to move forward, in which, there is always the active companionship of the army and people of Nghe An.

Crossing the sea to the South

Dien Ngoc Commune (Dien Chau) on an afternoon in April 2015. Recalling the unnumbered ship crossing the sea to the South that year, Mr. Ngo Tri Ban's face was pensive. A heroic youth overcoming many hardships and sacrifices remains forever in the heart of that naval veteran.

Nghe An police force guides cars carrying goods and weapons to the southern battlefield via Cam - Nghi Loc bridge (1965). Photo: St

In 1969, Ngo Tri Ban, a young man from the coastal area, was recruited into the navy. After a period of training, he was assigned to the iron ship named Nhat Le, number 69B, which belonged to the unnumbered ship group that specialized in transporting weapons to the southern battlefield via the Ho Chi Minh Trail at sea. The young man from the coastal area eagerly accepted the position of chief engineer and second gunner of the 12.7mm gun.

One day in early November 1970, after the unit organized a "living funeral", Ban and 22 sailors from Ha Long Bay, carrying 200 tons of weapons and equipment across the sea to support the South in destroying the US. Sometimes disguised as a fishing boat, sometimes as a merchant ship with the flags of countries in the region, the ship weaved through the sea to hide from the enemy. The unnumbered ship drifted at sea for nearly 4 months to avoid the enemy's gaze. Until one night in April 1971, after reaching the requested location, the ship headed towards Ca Mau Cape.

Mr. Ngo Tri Ban (right) (from Dien Ngoc, Dien Chau) recalls his comrades who died on Ship No Number during the battle to fight back against enemy ships and planes in the waters of Ca Mau (April 1971).

When about 20 nautical miles from Cape Cay, they suddenly encountered an enemy warship. Under the command of Captain Phan Xa, the crew fiercely fought back and suffered nearly half of the casualties. Having no other choice, the captain fired a signal flare toward the mainland to report the news, and at the same time ordered the remaining soldiers to take the wounded and dead from the ship and detonate explosives installed in the ship's hold. Ngo Tri Ban was the last to leave the ship. When he swam about 50 meters, his whole body seemed to be pushed up high because the ship carrying 200 tons of weapons and goods exploded violently and sank into the sea... Overcoming the waves, Ban and 15 other crew members were found by local guerrillas and continued to fight until the day the South was completely liberated.

Mr. Nguyen Dinh Sin, Head of the Liaison Committee of the War Veterans of the Nghe Tinh Unnumbered Ship Group (currently living in Hung Loc Commune, Vinh City) said that according to the data of the Navy Command, from 1961 to 1975, the "Ho Chi Minh Trail at sea" had 1,789 unnumbered ship trips transporting 150 thousand tons of weapons, equipment of all kinds and 80 thousand cadres. Generations of cadres and soldiers of Group 125 fought more than 30 times with enemy ships, fought back 1,200 times of enemy aircraft attacks, shot down 5 aircraft and burned many enemy boats; excellently completing the assigned tasks. In that brilliant feat, there were worthy contributions from 54 children of Nghe An homeland.

Song of the Path

During the years of fighting against the US to save the country, tens of thousands of young men and women of the Youth Volunteer Force, regardless of the sun, rain, bombs and bullets, filled bomb craters and opened the way to the South. For the female Hero of the People's Armed Forces Ho Thi Thu Hien, the memories of a "time of fire and war" are still intact.

In a quiet house in Le Mao ward (Vinh city), Ms. Hien told us about the heroic period of her youth. In 1969, at the age of 22, while she was the Secretary of the Youth Union of the commune (Hung Phu, Hung Nguyen), she volunteered to join the Youth Volunteer Force and was appointed as a company commander. Her unit was sent to serve the fierce Tri-Thien front, Route 9 in Southern Laos. Her hands and those of her teammates were calloused from carrying goods, transporting the wounded, filling bomb craters, and clearing roads. Bombs, hunger, lack of sleep, and terrible malaria could not shake the hearts of the Nghe An boys and girls in their 20s.

...One time, the company discovered 3 magnetic bombs in the middle of the road. Hien thought that if they used dynamite to destroy them, it would be safe but the road would be greatly affected, but if they used force to push the bombs down the abyss, the damage would certainly be less. Company leader Ho Thi Thu Hien made a bold decision. She volunteered to set up a suicide squad under her direct command, using bamboo poles to pry open the magnetic bombs. After holding a memorial service, the suicide squad approached the 3 bombs, using their hands to dig the ground and using bamboo poles to push the bombs. From afar, the entire Youth Volunteer Force company and the drivers held their breath and watched, then all shivered when all 3 bombs emitted a loud explosion. But then they burst into tears when they saw all the suicide squad members running out onto the road with dirt. With her outstanding achievements, in 2009, Ho Thi Thu Hien was awarded the title "Hero of the People's Armed Forces" by the State.

Mr. Mai At, Chairman of the Association of Former Youth Volunteers of Nghe An, former Chairman of the People's Committee of Vinh City, said: At the end of May 1965, in the first week of launching the "3 ready" movement, nearly 10,000 young men and women from all over the province, of all backgrounds and religions, volunteered to register. Many people wrote their applications in blood. If during the resistance war against France, Nghe An province had 11,800 young people joining the Youth Volunteer Force, this number was nearly 30,000 during the anti-American period. Nghe An Youth Volunteer Force joined hands to ensure traffic on 52 routes with over 2,300 km of provincial and national roads, 200 km of roads in Laos, 200 km in Quang Binh and Quang Tri provinces, 3,500 km of district roads, 250 km of rivers, sea routes, Le canal, 60 km of railways passing through key points... All contributed their strength and intelligence with the army and people of the whole country to liberate the South and unify the country.

Battle spirit

In early 1975, cadres from the North in general and Nghe An in particular lived in an indescribable jubilant atmosphere. Victory from all regions resounded. But a lot of human and material resources were still needed for the battlefield. Mr. Dau Ngon (90 years old), residing in Dien Thanh commune (Dien Chau), still remembers the "Dien Hong Conference" organized by the district on a day in early 1975. Here, many elderly people in the district expressed their determination to encourage their children and grandchildren to join the army, participate in the frontline labor force and volunteer to contribute rice, pigs and chickens to feed the troops. At that time, the district sent 12% more troops than planned.

People in Minh Thanh parish (Yen Thanh) still remember the image of Mr. Tran Van Trang in Yen Thinh parish happily sending his youngest son off to the army. This was the 6th time he had handed over his sons to the army, to the front against the US. Meanwhile, in Dien Ky commune (Dien Chau), Ms. Dang Thi Tiep, a parishioner and mother of a martyr, also came to the military enlistment site to encourage the new recruits. In the March 1975 military enlistment, the number of young parishioners enlisting in the army increased 4.1 times compared to the whole year of 1974.

Mr. Ha Van Tai (residing in Hung Loc commune, Vinh city), former Deputy Secretary of Vinh City Party Committee, recalled: In just one day in early 1975, Vinh city sent 1,023 young men to join the army, exceeding the assigned quota by 20%, equal to the quota of both 1975 and 1976. This was the highest result since 1959 - the first year of military service. From 1959 to 1975, Nghe An had over 163,000 young men and women joining the army, nearly 30,000 people participating in the Youth Volunteer Force and tens of thousands of people participating in the volunteer laborers serving on the battlefields. It is a matter of pride that no matter what position they hold, the children of Nghe An uphold the traditions of their homeland, make outstanding achievements, and contribute worthily to the great victory of the nation, so that the country can join the long song of solidarity throughout the country.

Viet Long