Forever the epic Truong Bon

On the occasion of the 55th anniversary of Truong Bon Victory (October 31, 1968 - October 31, 2023), Nghe An Newspaper had a conversation with Mr. Phan Trong Loc - Director of Truong Bon National Historical Site Management Board.

PV:Many young generations when coming to My Son land, Do Luong district all want to understand more about the legendary road named Truong Bon. Can you share some valuable historical information related to this road?

Mr. Phan Trong Loc:Truong Bon is a steep pass 5 km long, nearly 70m high on Thung Nua mountain range, located on strategic route 15A or also known as route 30 - passing through My Son commune, Do Luong district.

During the years when the US imperialists escalated their bombing of the North, Truong Bon had a particularly important strategic position, because it was the place connecting our traffic arteries from the great rear in the North to support human and material resources for the battlefield in the South.

With a strategic vision, the Party Central Committee and the Government promptly directed the construction of the strategic route 15A and mobilized all forces, time, and transportation capabilities through Truong Bon to provide timely support to the battlefield. In order to destroy Truong Bon and cut off our traffic arteries, the US imperialists launched a mad attack.

From 1964 to 1968, they dropped 18,936 bombs of all kinds and tens of thousands of missiles on this heroic land, destroying 211 villages along the route, killing many people in My Son commune, Nhan Son commune, Do Luong district. Thousands of cadres, soldiers, youth volunteers, workers in the Transport sector, and militia were injured, of which 1,240 cadres and soldiers have forever remained in the motherland.

However, the bombs and bullets of the American invaders could not subdue the iron will and determination of our army and people: "Live clinging to the bridge, clinging to the road - die steadfastly and bravely", "The heart can stop beating - but the road cannot be blocked".

Our military and civilian forces have maintained the traffic arteries, contributing over 2 million working days, digging and filling millions of cubic meters of earth and rock, and safely transporting 94,000 military vehicles across the “Truong”. At the same time, they transported and cleared millions of tons of goods; mobilized 4,500 bicycles, 4,500 three-wheeled vehicles... to clear goods across the “Truong” when attacked and blockaded by the enemy.

In this fierce war, all forces fought steadfastly, intelligently, and bravely. Truong Bon became the pinnacle of the people's war, the combined strength of many forces directly participating in the fight and serving the fight.

PV:Over time, the name Truong Bon has become more sacred and meaningful in the flow of national history. I think that, in part, it is due to the heroic sacrifice of 13 youth volunteers of Company 317...?

Mr. Phan Trong Loc:That’s right! In Truong Bon, there have been many heroic sacrifices that have contributed to the legend of Truong Bon. A typical example is the sacrifice of 13 Youth Volunteers of Company 317 - Team 65 - Youth Volunteers General Team against the US to save the country.

The 317th Youth Volunteer Company was the main unit so it was mobilized to perform missions on many routes. After more than 3 years of serving at important traffic hubs, in early 1967 the unit was ordered to move to the Truong Bon fire coordinates.

In July 1968, facing fierce attacks by US aircraft, Company 317 launched a 100-day, night campaign to ensure traffic flow. The unit selected 14 soldiers (12 women and 2 men) to be on duty 24/7 to observe and warn US aircraft. At the same time, they marked the location of unexploded bombs to work with engineers to defuse bombs, fill bomb craters, secure the road surface, then stayed up all night wearing white shirts as "living markers" to guide thousands of trucks carrying goods to the South to safely pass through key points.

After more than 100 days and nights of campaigning, with the permission of the General Command, Company 317 proceeded to review and approve the discharge of 8 comrades whose 3-year term of service had ended, who had many achievements in the unit and whose family circumstances were especially difficult. However, on the night of October 30, 1968, Company 317 received an order from the Command to urgently clear traffic for the military convoy to cross Truong Bon to the South before dawn.

Faced with that situation, all 8 people volunteered to go to the scene with the unit to carry out the task with the spirit of "One hour in the unit is one hour on the battlefield"; "No blood or bones will be spared until the road is cleared". At 4:00 a.m. on October 31, 1968, the entire unit urgently focused on filling bomb craters. At 6:10 a.m., the work was about to be completed as planned. Suddenly, there was an alarm of American aircraft bombing. The soldiers in the unit had time to retreat to the shelter. Only 14 soldiers who were on duty with the unit and were assigned to be on combat duty withdrew to the shelter last.

Immediately, groups of American planes rushed in to bomb, 172 bombs fell on the formation on duty, Truong Bon was submerged in a sea of ​​smoke, 13/14 soldiers bravely sacrificed when there were only a few hours left for American planes to stop bombing the entire North.

With gratitude and remembrance of the heroic martyrs who sacrificed at Truong Bon, on September 23, 2008, the President of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam issued Decision No. 1304/QD-CTN, conferring the title of Hero of the People's Armed Forces to a group of 14 Truong Bon youth volunteers, belonging to Company 317, Team 65, Youth Volunteer Force against the US to save the country in Nghe An province.

PV:From that historical significance, Truong Bon National Historical Relic Site has become a "red address" connecting the past and the present, a place where tourists come to understand more deeply the historical value of Truong Bon victory. So, in recent times, how has the Relic Site Management Board made efforts to meet the people's expectations?

Mr. Phan Trong Loc:With the attention of the Party and the State, in order to build Truong Bon into a "red address" to educate revolutionary traditions for today's and tomorrow's young generation, on April 19, 2010, Nghe An Provincial People's Committee issued Decision No. 1591/QD.UBND-CNXD approving the Investment Project for construction of the project: Preservation and restoration of Truong Bon Historical Relic Site.

Together with Nghe An province, the Central Committee of the Ho Chi Minh Communist Youth Union, the Ministry of Transport and many agencies, units, collectives and individuals at home and abroad have invested, donated and supported the construction and restoration of the relic site on an area of ​​217,327m2.²with a total investment of 365 billion VND. The project started on October 27, 2012.

Overcoming all difficulties, by April 2014, the main items of the project were completed. Based on that reality and considering the request of relevant departments, branches and units, on April 16, 2014, Nghe An Provincial People's Committee issued Decision No. 1520/QD-UBND to establish the Truong Bon National Historical Relic Site Management Board to soon meet the people's desire to visit and pay tribute to the heroic martyrs.

From the assigned tasks, the Management Board of the relic site has effectively promoted the value of the relic site, improved the reception and service for visitors, the quality of explanations, the work of preserving and collecting artifacts to enrich the historical value of Truong Bon. The reception and service work is carried out methodically, solemnly and scientifically. The delegations through the registration department are guided on the content and schedule of the tour, are arranged with solemn ceremonies, listen to explanations about the glorious history of Truong Bon, hold memorial ceremonies at the church, visit construction items, visit traditional houses...

The Management Board of the relic site has also strengthened the work of caring for and protecting the landscape and environment, cleaning the relic site to ensure it is green, clean, beautiful and civilized. At the same time, it focuses on collecting artifacts and restoring evidence to highlight the historical value of Truong Bon; Paying attention to connecting tours and tourist routes to attract a large number of visitors to Truong Bon.

PV:The digital revolution has set new requirements for traditional education, awakening the historical values ​​of red addresses and cultural heritage of the nation. What changes has Truong Bon National Historical Site made in its activities to keep up with that work?

Mr. Phan Trong Loc:At Truong Bon National Historical Site, the application of digital technology has had positive changes. Currently, management and operation information, data, and historical information have been fully updated on electronic information systems such as websites and social network apps and have been accessed, researched, and studied by many people.

For the museum of the relic site, technology has been invested in integrating an electronic sand table model combined with historical films about Truong Bon to serve tourists and people. The model has been enjoyed and impressed by many tourists, especially students. However, it must be realistically recognized that the application of digital technology in the management and promotion of relic values ​​is still new.

In the coming time, there needs to be a more effective plan and it is possible to build a model of tourism, learning about history and culture through the application of 3D virtual reality, VR technology with intuitive and attractive images. These will be "tools" to effectively support the construction of tourism products to attract visitors to the relics, along with spreading the value of heritage and history, contributing to the preservation and promotion of the great value of the relics.

PV:On the occasion of the 55th anniversary of Truong Bon Victory, Nhan Dan Newspaper in collaboration with Nghe An province organized the Art Program "Truong Bon - Heroic Footprints", can you share more about this event?

Mr. Phan Trong Loc:Special Art Program "Truong Bon - Heroic Footprints"will be held on the evening of October 29 at Truong Bon National Historical Site Square, broadcast live on Nhan Dan Television, Nghe An Radio and Television Station, and relayed on 30 local television stations nationwide and many social networking platforms.

The program consists of 2 chapters: Chapter 1: The glorious history; Chapter 2: The red fire steps into the future with the participation of many famous artists. For the first time in Nghe An, the program uses drone performance art (unmanned aerial vehicles) to create a vivid, novel, and emotional effect for the audience.

At the program, the Organizing Committee will present 14 savings books to the relatives of 13 heroic martyrs of Truong Bon Youth Volunteers and historical witness Tran Thi Thong. In addition, 50 gratitude houses, worth 2.5 billion VND, will be donated to join hands with Nghe An province in carrying out social security tasks.

The program promises to contribute to deepening the message of “When drinking water, remember its source” of the nation, expressing gratitude to the heroic martyrs and those who have contributed to the revolution. From there, it contributes to educating the tradition and responsibility of the next generation to their homeland and country.

PV:Thanks for the chat!