In his opening speech, Colonel Nguyen Van Ninh, Head of the 571st Division's Traditional Liaison Committee, proudly affirmed: The 571st Division is the first strategic reserve mobile transport unit of our Army, established on July 12, 1973 with the mission of transporting logistics materials, equipping weapons and ammunition, and mobilizing forces to battlefields; carrying out international missions to help Laos and Cambodia. When it was first established, the 571st Division had 4 regiments and a number of battalions and affiliated units with more than 2,600 vehicles of all kinds, accounting for 65% of the total number of vehicles and 50% of the vehicle regiments on the Truong Son strategic support route at that time.

Welcome performance by Truong Son members.

During the 1975 Spring General Offensive and Uprising, the entire division used more than 1,000 transport vehicles, quickly moving the 1st and 2nd Corps to the assembly point, ready to enter the opening campaign many days ahead of schedule. In the East, 600 vehicles carrying rice and ammunition from Dong Ha were transported by the division's convoys to Da Nang to serve the combat troops in a timely manner. On Highway 1, with the task of moving the 2nd Corps, the division's transport vehicles both marched and fought the enemy, participating in the liberation of coastal provinces, quickly approaching Saigon to attack the enemy's lair, liberating the South...

Colonel Nguyen Van Ninh speaks

One of the outstanding achievements of the division in the historic Ho Chi Minh Campaign was the transport vehicle numbered CR.1283 driven by comrade Duong Quang Lua (currently living in Cau Go, Yen The, Bac Giang) which successfully maneuvered infantry and special forces into the enemy's last lair. This was the first military transport vehicle to arrive at the Independence Palace at the exact moment the Saigon puppet government announced its surrender to the revolution.

Recalling that historic day, veteran Duong Quang Lua said: “At 9:30 a.m., my car and comrade Nguyen Van Nam's car belonging to Company 5, Battalion 964, Regiment 512, Division 471 were assigned the task of moving the reconnaissance unit to closely follow the tank squad of Brigade 203, Corps 2 to cross Rach Chiec bridge to attack the Independence Palace. During the maneuver, one side of my tire was punctured by enemy shrapnel. Due to the requirements of the mission, I did not have the conditions and time to repair it, so I continued to drive the special forces and infantry to follow the tank formation of comrade Bui Quang Than to attack and occupy the Independence Palace.”

Driver Duong Quang Lua and the first military transport vehicle at the Independence Palace on April 30, 1975. Photo taken

Talking to veterans, we learned that during the resistance war against the US to save the country, the forces of the 571st Division were present in almost all Indochina battlefields with a total journey of more than 72 million km through all types of terrain from plains, urban areas to forests and mountains. Thousands of tons of goods, hundreds of thousands of officers and soldiers entered and exited the battlefields safely. With outstanding achievements in combat and combat service, the 571st Division, 2 regiments, 8 battalions, 4 companies and 7 officers and soldiers of the division were awarded the noble title of Hero of the People's Armed Forces.

Giving gifts to show gratitude to comrades who were cadres, regimental-level commanders and equivalent of Division 571 in the past.

“I have worked and fought in the 571st Division for more than 10 years. Witnessing many difficulties, hardships, losses and sacrifices of the unit since its early days and its growth and development later, I am always proud of my comrades and teammates. The war has been over for half a century, but we still remember each other and being able to reunite like this is very precious!”, veteran Nguyen Quan, 94 years old, currently living in Bac Kan , former Head of Propaganda Department of Division 571 confided.

The joy of meeting comrades of the veterans of Division 571

With the aim of preserving and promoting the unit's traditions and showing gratitude and camaraderie, on May 15, 1995, the 571st Division's Traditional Liaison Committee was established. To date, the Liaison Committee has gathered thousands of members to participate in its activities.

Over the past 30 years, the Liaison Committee has organized well the activities of the source, published books, helped members in difficult circumstances, families with meritorious services... in accordance with the motto and purpose. Every two years, from all over the country, veterans of Division 571 gather in the capital to meet, share and encourage each other to continue promoting the fine traditions of Uncle Ho's soldiers, Truong Son soldiers who are good at resistance and good at nation building.

TUAN TU

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    Source: https://www.qdnd.vn/nuoi-duong-van-hoa-bo-doi-cu-ho/gan-500-dai-bieu-du-gap-mat-truyen-thong-su-doan-571-truong-son-824800