Economic - Defense Group 4 (Nghe An Military Command): Exploring the West

(Baonghean) - Economic - Defense Group 4, formerly known as Infantry Regiment 4, was awarded the title of Hero of the People's Armed Forces during the resistance war against the US. Currently, the Group is under the Military Command of Nghe An province, stationed in the two border districts of Ky Son and Que Phong. Promoting tradition, officers and soldiers of the unit are working with ethnic minorities to develop the economy and ensure national defense and security in border areas.

Heroic feat

The 4th Infantry Regiment was born on April 26, 1973, amidst the smoke and fire of bullets and bombs, when the resistance war against the US to save the country was entering its most fierce phase. Since its establishment, the name of the 4th Regiment has been associated with the victories of battles and historical places such as Bac Binh, Phu Bai, Mang Ca, Thuan An port, Bac Song Bo, O O, Co Bi, Tan Thanh, Nam Song Thach Han, Pho Lai, Phong An, Phong Thu, high points such as 42, 50, 51, 57, 61, Cho hill,...

During the historic Ho Chi Minh Campaign, the Regiment's attacking spearheads continuously won victories, contributing to decisive victories on the O Lau, Lai Bang, Quang Dien, Tu Ha, Phu Bai rivers, liberating Phong Dien, Quang Dien, Huong Tra, destroying the enemy's 147th Marine Brigade; together with the Tri-Thien Military Region and the 2nd Army Corps, completely liberated Thua Thien Hue, contributing significantly to the victory of the 1975 Spring General Offensive.

Cadres of Group 4 guide people to take care of Shan Tuyet tea.

When the Northern Border War broke out, with the spirit of "wherever there is an enemy, we will go", on February 19, 1979, the Regiment was present at the Lang Son border, establishing a defensive line and protecting the border. In 1994, after completing the mission of soldiers guarding the northern border, the officers and soldiers of Regiment 4 returned to the cradle of Military Region 4. Stationed in Cam Tien, Can Xuyen Town - Ha Tinh, they were tasked with combat readiness training (SSCD), managing reserve troops in Ky Anh, Huong Khe and some other localities of Ha Tinh.

Since 2002, Regiment 4 has been transformed into Economic - Defense Group 4 (KTQP) under the Command of Military Region 4, stationed in the border area of ​​Ky Son district. In April 2015, the Group was merged with the Provincial Military Command with the task of border defense, coordinating the construction of Ky Son Economic - Defense Zone and expanding to Que Phong district in the West and Northwest of Nghe An province.

Steadfast on the border fence

We arrived at the Economic - Military Zone 4 in the early days of August. The first flood of the season made the road from Khe Kien (Tuong Duong district) to the border area of ​​Nam Can, Na Ngoi of Ky Son district much more difficult with broken roads, potholes and hairpin bends. Amidst the floating white clouds, the spacious headquarters and rows of public buildings of the Economic - Military Zone 4 stood out in the majestic picture of the mountains and forests of the border region. At 9am, the ground was covered in mist. The working atmosphere at the Zone was bustling and urgent like a construction site. At the foot of Phu Kha slope, a group of soldiers was pouring concrete on the road to the Shan Tuyet tea production areas and medicinal herb farms. At the factory, another group of soldiers was preparing to produce batches of dong vermicelli. Another team was actively treating the environment of the fish pond...

Economic Group 4 buys cassava for people.

Leading us to visit the artichoke medicinal plant garden that is about to be harvested, Colonel Nguyen Huy Hoang, Political Commissar of Group 4 confided that to have a spacious, clean and closed premises in the middle of the border mountains and forests as it is today, many generations of cadres and soldiers of the Group had to sweat and work hard. In the early 2000s, Puxalaileng was known as a shelter for leeches, snails, fleas and wild grass. The Mong people in the vast area still replant opium. The situation of illegal migration to Laos is difficult to control. Crimes, especially drug crimes, are complicated.

That day, the soldiers of Group 4 pioneered the exploration of new lands with the determination to build the economy, ensuring solid national defense and security in the border area. The Khe Kien - Na Ngoi, Na Cang - Phu Quac, Ka Duoi - Tang Pan routes that were previously only accessible on foot have now been invested in by Group 4, becoming strategic routes in the socio-economic development of the border area. “Perhaps Ky Son is the most special area of ​​the Western Nghe An region. The weather in Na Ngoi is so unusual, there are 4 types of climate in one day. The rainy season has terrible flash floods. Many times witnessing the results of the brothers' labor for weeks being swept away by floodwaters in an instant, everyone feels very sorry, but with the spirit of a soldier, the brothers have overcome and overcome the harshness of the border climate”, Political Commissar Nguyen Huy Hoang shared...

In the Ky Son and Que Phong border belt areas, the production teams of the Group became units stationed in villages spread across 8 communes with 165 km of border with Laos. This is also the area where 70% of the Mong ethnic group lives, the people are very poor, customs are backward, shifting cultivation and illegal migration are common. The soldiers of Group 4 not only perform the task of stationing in villages, supporting people in building production models, but also perform the task of mass mobilization, propagating the law, and encouraging people not to illegally cross the border.

Currently, in all villages in the area under the responsibility of Group 4, there are effective economic models such as growing passion fruit (such as Tri Le commune of Que Phong district), growing ginger, cassava, lilies, and Shan Tuyet tea (communes in Ky Son district) and are effectively helping the Mong, Thai, and Kho Mu ethnic groups have the opportunity to escape poverty. Colonel Vi Hieu, Head of Economic-Defense Group 4, affirmed: “It is a process of gradually changing the awareness of the people. The Group's way of doing things is to hold hands and show them how to do things, the cadres make models and then patiently guide the people. While making models, they also take advantage of capital sources to build infrastructure such as low-voltage and medium-voltage electricity; inter-village roads; natural water supply or irrigation dams...”.

Group 4 also has many good ways to help people escape poverty and stabilize their lives such as: Building a bank of buffaloes, cows, and native black pigs, giving breeds to people in turn; sending teams of young volunteer intellectuals to the village to help people develop the economy; inviting people to production teams to visit and learn from the model... With those specific and practical ways, up to now, the area that Group 4 is in charge of is gradually changing its appearance. In particular, by linking production, processing, and consumption of products for people, Group 4 has introduced Puxalaileng branded products to the market such as dong vermicelli, Shan Tuyet tea, artichoke extract, and passion fruit.

On the new front, the officers and soldiers of Economic-Defense Group 4 are promoting their heroic tradition, dedicating their talents and efforts to complete their tasks, gradually improving the material and spiritual life of the people and maintaining national defense and security at the border.

Nguyen Khoa