Towards the 60th Anniversary of Ham Rong Victory: Thanh Hoa Provincial Museum - a place to preserve the feats of arms

Gallery staff introduce the 100mm anti-aircraft gun, KS-19M2 on display at the Provincial Museum to visitors.

Hanging neatly on the wall at the Provincial Museum's exhibition room, the photo has become a legend of a time of war - the small militiawoman Ngo Thi Tuyen of Nam Ngan village carrying two boxes of ammunition weighing 98kg at the same time has become famous. Next to it is a very familiar item - the oar that Ms. Tuyen and her teammates used to row a boat to supply ammunition to the navy in the battle with American planes on April 3, 1965 at Ham Rong. The book "History of the resistance war against America to save the country 1954-1975" has a passage: "Female militiawoman Ngo Thi Tuyen was not afraid of sacrifice, bringing food and water to the battlefield and she and the militiamen Ha and Vien swam out to the middle of the river to transport food that was swaying and shaking after each wave of enemy bombs to the shore". This is a vivid proof of the spirit and unshakable determination of our nation on the path to regaining independence and freedom. With her achievements in fighting and serving in combat at the Nam Ngan - Ham Rong fire coordinates, female militia Ngo Thi Tuyen met Uncle Ho three times, was awarded his badge and was conferred the title of Hero of the People's Armed Forces by the State.

Le Hoai Linh, a student of class 11A5, Dao Duy Tu High School (Thanh Hoa City), shared: “Through books, newspapers and television, I have heard and seen the example of the female hero Ngo Thi Tuyen with her feat of carrying two boxes of ammunition twice her body weight, causing a stir in American public opinion and admiration from people all over the world. Now, coming to the Provincial Museum, I can see with my own eyes the oars she used to row the boat to supply ammunition to the ship and transport shell casings ashore under the rain of bombs and bullets. I really admire the brave and resilient fighting spirit of Ms. Ngo Thi Tuyen in particular, and our ancestors in general, and I promise myself to study hard and practice to be worthy of that tradition.”

Many other artifacts about the Ham Rong victory were also explored by visitors, such as: 100mm anti-aircraft gun, KS-19M2; trident - homemade weapon of the 19/5 Auto Repair Enterprise; machine gun of the Ngoc Mountain machine gun team used to shoot down American aircraft, ammunition box and 57mm shell casing in the battle against American aircraft on April 3-4, 1965 of the Ham Rong anti-aircraft artillery unit; 37mm artillery fuse box; rifle of the Ham Rong self-defense force, the unit participating in the battle to protect Ham Rong bridge; K54 submachine gun of the self-defense force protecting Ham Rong bridge; steel helmets of fire prevention and fighting officers and employees of the Thanh Hoa Provincial Police used when participating in fire fighting during the period when aircraft bombed the Ham Rong area; The telephone was operated by Ms. Nguyen Thi Lanh, a telephone operator at the Thanh Hoa Provincial Post Office, who always ensured smooth communication during the battle on April 3 and 4, 1965... In particular, the Ho Chi Minh Medal presented by the President to the people and cadres of Thanh Hoa province who had made great contributions and had many outstanding achievements contributing to the revolutionary cause of the Party and the nation is also displayed here.

Tourists visit the exhibition room of Thanh Hoa Provincial Museum.

It is known that the Provincial Museum currently preserves more than 30 thousand artifacts and documents, including hundreds of typical images and artifacts directly related to the battle to protect Ham Rong Bridge such as: the head of an unmanned aircraft (reconnaissance aircraft) of the US, shot down by the army and people of Ham Rong - Do Len; the seat of the A6A aircraft - part of the 157th US aircraft shot down by the army and people of the North in the sky of Thanh Hoa and Ham Rong; the costumes, items and documents of the pilots who were captured when the plane was shot down at Ham Rong... These artifacts were painstakingly searched for and collected by the officers and staff of the Provincial Museum. Through mobilization, historical witnesses and revolutionary families inside and outside the province donated many war relics.

Director of the Provincial Museum Trinh Dinh Duong said: "These are historical evidences of a fierce and arduous battle, affirming the bravery, intelligence and creativity in fighting of the army and people of Ham Rong - Nam Ngan in the fight to protect Ham Rong bridge against the US air force, creating an epic along the Ma River. The Provincial Museum has a suitable preservation plan for artifacts and documents to maintain their originality for research and display. In order for people and tourists to have the opportunity to learn about the heroic victory of the army and people of Ham Rong - Nam Ngan in particular, and historical periods in general, in addition to opening regularly and organizing thematic exhibitions to welcome visitors, the museum also organizes the exhibition of artifacts on a mobile basis in all regions, especially in mountainous districts to serve the majority of people".

Many veterans who came here were deeply moved when they saw the artifacts that were associated with the soldiers during the fierce, arduous but heroic years of resistance at “Ham Rong Fire Coordinates”. These are the relics that remind us of a glorious period in the history of the whole nation, a bridge between the present and the past, helping the younger generation to understand, appreciate and be proud of the struggle to protect the Fatherland of our ancestors.

Article and photos: Phan Nga

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Source: https://baothanhhoa.vn/huong-toi-ky-niem-60-nam-ham-rong-chien-thang-nbsp-bao-tang-tinh-thanh-hoa-noi-luu-giu-nhung-chien-cong-244205.htm