Meeting to celebrate the 60th anniversary of Ham Rong victory

On the morning of March 28, the City Party Committee, People's Council, People's Committee, and Fatherland Front Committee of Thanh Hoa City coordinated with the Provincial Radio and Television Station to organize a live television program to meet and pay tribute to veterans, former militiamen, and forces directly involved in fighting and serving in the fight to protect Ham Rong on the occasion of the 60th anniversary of Ham Rong victory (April 3-4, 1965 - April 3-4, 2025).

Provincial leaders and delegates attended the program to meet and pay tribute to people with revolutionary contributions.

Provincial Party Secretary Nguyen Doan Anh and delegates attended the meeting and gratitude program.

Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee Do Minh Tuan and delegates attended the meeting and gratitude program.

Attending the program were comrades: Nguyen Doan Anh, member of the Party Central Committee, Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee; Do Minh Tuan, Deputy Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee, Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee; comrades leading the Air Defense - Air Force Command; Navy Command; comrades leading, former leaders of the province; leaders of provincial departments, agencies, and branches; leaders, former leaders of Thanh Hoa City; Heroes of the People's Armed Forces, veterans, former militiamen and forces directly participating in combat, serving combat to protect Ham Rong Bridge.

Secretary of the City Party Committee, Chairman of the People's Council of Thanh Hoa City Le Anh Xuan reviewed the historical tradition of 60 years of Ham Rong victory.

Speaking at the program, comrade Le Anh Xuan, member of the Provincial Party Standing Committee, Secretary of the City Party Committee, Chairman of the People's Council of Thanh Hoa City reviewed the 60-year historical tradition of Ham Rong victory.

Accordingly, 60 years ago, during the escalating war of destruction in the North, the US Air Force focused on destroying Ham Rong Bridge to cut off the important traffic artery, preventing support from the large rear base in the North to the battlefield in the South. The US Air Force determined that: From Hanoi to the Ho Chi Minh trail, there were 60 blockage points, of which Ham Rong was considered an "ideal blockage point", the "end of the panhandle area". Therefore, destroying Ham Rong was chosen by the White House and the Pentagon as the most important target in the first destructive war in the North.

On the morning of April 3, 1965, the first 16 American planes bombed and destroyed many important locations in Thanh Hoa province such as Do Len bridge (Ha Trung), Cun bridge (Nong Cong), Van Trai station (Tinh Gia)... In the Ham Rong - Nam Ngan - Yen Vuc area alone, enemy planes dropped bombs 80 times, dropped 350 bombs, and fired 149 rockets. This was the first time since launching the air war of destruction in the North that the US imperialists organized a battle on a large scale and with the most ferocity.

Delegates attending the meeting.

To protect Ham Rong bridge, our army arranged the main air defense force in combination with the low-altitude air defense force of Thanh Hoa armed forces, creating a multi-layered fire net ready to receive enemy aircraft, determined to protect Ham Rong bridge at all costs.

Along with the armed forces fighting to protect Ham Rong, the people of Ham Rong - Yen Vuc - Nam Ngan area contributed an important part to the war. From the rain of bombs and bullets, many examples of brave and resilient fighting emerged, such as: Yen Vuc militia rowed boats across Ma River to transport ammunition for anti-aircraft troops; Hac Oa village laborers, regardless of danger, supplied ammunition and first aid to anti-aircraft positions on Hill 75, C4, Quyet Thang, Khong Ten; mothers and sisters in Dong Son village cooked rice and brought it to the artillery positions for the troops; monk Dam Xuan, abbot of Mat Da pagoda, dismantled his house to make a shelter for the troops, using the pagoda door as a stretcher...

After 2 days of fighting with a spirit of "determination to win", our army and people shot down 47 American planes, captured many pilots, and protected Ham Rong bridge.

Overview of the meeting program.

Continuing the glorious tradition of previous generations, in the process of innovation and national construction, with the spirit of hard work and creativity, the Party Committee, government and people of the city are always united, striving, competing in labor production, promoting industrialization and modernization, making profound and comprehensive changes in the urban landscape. From a land plowed by bombs and bullets, with the hands, minds and creative working spirit of many generations, Ham Rong and Thanh Hoa City today have grown strongly.

Witnesses interacted and shared about the days when they directly fought and served in combat on the Ham Rong battlefield.

Witnesses interacted and shared about the days when they directly fought and served in combat on the Ham Rong battlefield.

At the program, delegates met and interacted with witnesses who directly fought and served in the battle at Ham Rong, including writer Le Xuan Giang, former Political Commissar of Company 4 Ham Rong, former Chairman of Thanh Hoa Literature and Arts Association; teacher Trinh Van Quang, former Vice Principal of Thanh Hoa Medical College; Hero of the People's Armed Forces Ngo Thi Tuyen; Major General Trinh Xuan Thu, former Deputy Director of the General Department of Security, Ministry of Public Security, former Director of Thanh Hoa Provincial Police, who directly participated in protecting Ham Rong bridge 60 years ago; Lieutenant Colonel Ngo Xuan Van, Deputy Division Commander of Division 350, the unit that directly participated in the battle to protect Ham Rong bridge and Mr. Luong Trong Nam, son of martyr Luong Trong Gu, who sacrificed his life at Ham Rong battlefield.

Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee Do Minh Tuan spoke at the meeting program to honor meritorious people.

Speaking at the program, on behalf of the provincial leaders, Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee Do Minh Tuan sent his deepest and most respectful feelings and gratitude to the Heroes of the People's Armed Forces, war invalids, sick soldiers, veterans, former militiamen and forces directly participating in fighting and serving the fight to protect Ham Rong Bridge.

The Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee emphasized: The victory of Ham Rong is not only the pride of the Thanh Hoa people but also the victory of the People's War, of the indomitable will, steadfast character and intelligence of Vietnam. The victory of Ham Rong has become a shining symbol of revolutionary heroism, adding confidence and will for the army and people of the whole country to continue to advance to defeat the US imperialists and their lackeys, regain independence, freedom and unify the country.

Promoting the fine tradition of "remembering the source of water when drinking" of the nation, in recent years, the Party, State, Provincial Party Committee, People's Council, People's Committee, and Provincial Fatherland Front Committee have been doing their best to remember and partially compensate for the sacrifices and losses of heroic martyrs, wounded soldiers, sick soldiers and people with meritorious services to the revolution. In particular, today's meeting program is one of many activities organized by Thanh Hoa province and city to honor the significance, stature and historical value of the Ham Rong victory; is an act to express gratitude, deep gratitude and also the responsibility of today's generation to the heroic martyrs and generations of fathers and brothers who did not spare their blood and bones for the independence and freedom of the Fatherland; at the same time, encourage and motivate the Party Committee, government, people and ethnic groups in the province to strive to overcome difficulties, successfully completing the Resolution of the 19th Provincial Party Congress, term 2020-2025.

Performance at the program.

Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee Do Minh Tuan affirmed: The war has ended, our country has become independent and unified, the Vietnamese people have lived in peace and happiness. However, the glorious history of Ham Rong victory 60 years ago is still being written by today's generations in the process of innovation and socio-economic development.

Our country is entering a new historical period - the era of prosperity and strength of the nation. Promoting the heroic historical tradition of 60 years of Ham Rong victory, continuing the wishes of previous generations in the cause of building and developing the homeland, Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee Do Minh Tuan suggested: The Party Committee, government and people of Thanh Hoa city together with all levels and sectors need to promote the work of educating the young generation of the city about the Ham Rong victory, the heroic tradition and history of their ancestors with creative, methodical, scientific methods, suitable for each age. Strongly arouse the pride and aspiration to rise in each cadre, party member and people of the city to join hands, join hands and unite to build the homeland to be more and more civilized and prosperous.

Delegates attending the program.

Fully and promptly implement policies and regimes for people with revolutionary contributions; maintain and expand annual gratitude activities for people with revolutionary contributions, veterans, former militiamen and forces directly involved in fighting and serving in the fight to protect Ham Rong bridge; increase calling for and attracting investment, making Ham Rong an attractive tourist destination, further changing the appearance of historic Ham Rong.

Along with that, the city needs to seriously and effectively organize and implement the arrangement of the political system's apparatus according to the direction of the Central and Provincial Party Committees; be ready to implement the new organizational model of the political system.

Organize and implement resolutely and effectively, ensuring completion and over-fulfillment of targets and tasks on socio-economic development, ensuring national defense and security, Party building and political system assigned by the Provincial Party Committee, People's Council, People's Committee, and Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee in 2025.

Delegates attending the program.

Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee Do Minh Tuan wishes and respectfully requests that you, with your affection and responsibility, continue to promote the spirit of patriotism and the glorious tradition of the heroic homeland of Thanh Hoa; encourage your children and grandchildren to well implement the Party's guidelines and policies, the State's laws and policies, become good cadres, exemplary citizens, and contribute to the development of your workplace and residence.

The song about Ham Rong today is not only written from the legends in the rain of bombs and bullets. Above all, it is a song about the efforts, struggles, and unity of generations of leaders and people in the process of construction and development. Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee Do Minh Tuan believes that the heroic and glorious history of the Ham Rong victory will be the foundation and great motivation to encourage and motivate the Party Committee, the government and the people of all ethnic groups in the province to unite, stand shoulder to shoulder, overcome difficulties and challenges, and build the homeland of Thanh Hoa to become more and more prosperous, civilized, modern and exemplary.

Provincial Party Secretary Nguyen Doan Anh presented gifts to representatives of military units that directly fought to protect Ham Rong Bridge.

At the meeting, Provincial Party Secretary Nguyen Doan Anh presented meaningful gifts to representatives of military units that directly fought to protect Ham Rong Bridge.

To Phuong - Minh Hieu

Source: https://baothanhhoa.vn/gap-mat-ky-niem-60-nam-ham-rong-chien-thang-243804.htm