Stories about soldiers on the cultural and artistic front

On January 5, 1952, in a letter to artists on the occasion of an art exhibition, President Ho Chi Minh advised: “Culture and art are also a front. You are soldiers on that front.” Taking to heart his teachings, generations of artists and writers across the country in general and Binh Dinh province in particular joined the army and people in the province to fight against the invading American imperialists, liberate the nation, build and defend the Fatherland.

In March 1968, at the Doi Che base, Cat Son commune (Phu Cat district), the Binh Dinh Province Film Projection Team was established (under the Propaganda Department of Binh Dinh province) with 5 members, including: Tran Van Tuan (team leader), Ly Hong Xum, Do Huu Ly, Bui Quang Chau and Ho Van Hoa. The team was equipped with a 16mm film projector, generator, speakers, and amplifier to serve the officers and soldiers at the base. The films shown in the first screening at the Doi Che base included: Vo Chong A Phu, Noi Gio...

Mr. Ho Van Hoa - 75 years old, a member of the film projection team, recalled: “When we were first established, we mainly tried to use the film projector ourselves. I still remember the first time we showed the film, we were not proficient enough so we installed it upside down and could not watch it, but everyone was excited. Provincial Party Secretary Nguyen Trung Tin laughed and encouraged everyone to try their best to serve.”

From 1968 to 1969, the Binh Dinh Province Film Projection Team both worked in production and served everywhere at the Provincial Party Committee's offices, war invalids' camps, and army bases. From 1970 to 1972, the Team was equipped with an additional 35mm film projector and added more personnel to serve the people in the districts of Vinh Thanh, Van Canh, Tay Son, Phu Cat, Phu My, Hoai An, and Hoai Nhon.

According to the summary of the Propaganda Department of Binh Dinh province, from 1968 to 1975, the Binh Dinh Provincial Film Projection Team provided 675 screenings for more than 6 million cadres, soldiers and people to watch movies, contributing to encouraging the fighting spirit and liberating the province.

The Binh Dinh Bai Choi Opera Troupe (under the Provincial Traditional Arts Theater) is currently inheriting the career of the Binh Dinh Provincial Liberation Art Troupe. Photo: NGOC NHUAN

2. In March 1962, at the Tu Croong village base (Vinh Thanh district), the Provincial Party Committee established the Binh Dinh Province Propaganda and Arts Team (under the Propaganda Department of Binh Dinh province). In October 1962, the Team changed its name to the Binh Dinh Province Liberation Art Troupe with 14 members, led by Mr. Nguyen Nghia and Ho Quang as the Political Commissar. From 1962 to the end of 1964, the Binh Dinh Province Liberation Art Troupe mainly served at the Provincial Party Committee's conferences, military units at the base, and people in the communes of Binh Quang (Vinh Thanh district), Binh Giang, Binh Khe (Tay Son district), and some places in An Lao district.

In early 1965, the troupe recruited more actors and musicians to serve in liberated areas in the province. At this time, short plays such as Song Roar Phuoc Ly, Thuyet Xuong Anh Hung Nguyen Kim, Thuyet Xuong Deo Nhong... contributed to shaking and enlightening the enemy to follow the revolution.

Folklore researcher Nguyen An Pha - 76 years old, former actor of the Liberation Art Troupe of Binh Dinh province, recalled: “At the end of 1964, the troupe performed at Dong Pho, Binh Giang commune (Tay Son district) to serve the people. At that time, our revolutionary base was planted in the enemy's Bao An Company and led them to watch. After two nights of performance, many people in this company were enlightened, left the enemy's ranks and joined the revolution.”

During the period from 1966 to 1973, the Liberation Art Troupe continued to be supplemented with additional forces, divided into 3 groups including: 1 production group, 1 group performing music, dance, and Bai Choi and 1 Hat Boi group to serve all liberated areas in the province. Among them, many actors, musicians, and leaders of the troupe sacrificed their lives while on the journey to bring songs and voices to encourage the spirit of the army and people to resist and protect the Fatherland.

3. At the end of 1971, Binh Dinh Provincial Party Committee decided to establish an additional Tuong Opera Group under the Binh Dinh Provincial Liberation Art Troupe to meet the propaganda needs in the field of culture and art during the Spring-Summer Campaign. The Tuong Opera Group consisted of artists and musicians: Vo Van Nhon - Group Leader; Nguyen Van Nong, Nguyen Van Long, Dinh Cao Dung, Nguyen Thai Chin, Van Tram, Nguyen Thi Mai, Nguyen Thi Phung...

In early 1972, the Tuong Troupe of Zone 5B entered the base in Binh Quang Commune (Vinh Thanh District) to stage plays and teach the actors of the Tuong Troupe two plays: Tran Binh Trong and Tam Nu Do Vuong (also known as The Flame of Hong Son). From then on, the Tuong Troupe, together with the Song, Dance, and Bai Choi Troupe of the Liberation Art Troupe of Binh Dinh Province, traveled everywhere to perform for cadres, soldiers, and people.

In March 1973, the Binh Dinh Provincial Party Committee decided to change the name of the Tuong Opera Group to the Binh Dinh Provincial Tuong Opera Group under the Propaganda Department of Binh Dinh Province, continuing to carry out the task of propaganda for the resistance war. The group was led by Mr. Vo Van Nhon as Head of the Group, Mr. Huynh Ly as Deputy Head of the Group and Secretary of the Party Cell.

Artist Nguyen Thai Chin - 71 years old, former actor of Binh Dinh Province's Opera Troupe, recalled: "At that time, we had just increased production and toured liberated areas in Hoai An, Hoai Nhon, Vinh Thanh, Phu My under the direction of the Provincial Propaganda Department. We mainly traveled on foot at night, and whenever the enemy fired flares into the sky, we quickly hid to avoid detection. There were nights when the enemy raided and fired bullets and artillery, we had to turn off the kerosene lamps to avoid detection, hide, and then return to base."

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Many of the "soldiers" on the cultural and artistic front of the province have passed away while serving their compatriots, cadres and soldiers, but their contributions to the resistance war will last forever, thereby contributing to affirming the important position and role of culture and art in the cause of national liberation.

During the resistance war against the US, 10 cadres, actors, and musicians of the Binh Dinh Province Liberation Art Troupe sacrificed their lives, including: Ho Quang, Truong Huy Nghia, Hoang Ngoc An, Nguyen Van Minh, Nguyen Meo, Nguyen Tuan Anh, Nguyen Dan Nay, Tran Vu Trung, Nguyen Ngoc Ha, and Do Thi Cuc. One member of the Binh Dinh Province Cinema Team who sacrificed his life was Ngo Van Duyen.

DOAN NGOC NHUAN

Source: https://baobinhdinh.vn/viewer.aspx?macm=1&macmp=82&mabb=343490