Towards the 60th Anniversary of Ham Rong Victory: Heroic Nam Ngan

In 1965, when deciding to launch a destructive war by air and naval forces against the North, the US imperialists frantically attacked Ham Rong bridge with a brutal plan to cut off the vital traffic route supplying supplies from the North to the battlefield in the South.

Next to the southern bank of the Ma River, there is the small but resilient Nam Ngan village in the battle to protect Ham Rong Bridge 60 years ago.

In just two days, April 3 and 4, 1965, the US mobilized 454 aircraft, dropping thousands of tons of bombs on this land of less than 1 square kilometer. And, in those two historic days of bombing and fire, together with the main force, the army and people of Nam Ngan - Ham Rong coordinated in combat, shooting down 47 US aircraft, protecting the safety of Ham Rong bridge. In the decisive battle to protect Ham Rong bridge, Nam Ngan sub-region (now Nam Ngan ward) contributed a significant part to that resounding victory.

Mr. Hoang Xuan Canh, who directly trained the soldiers in how to shoot down low-flying aircraft, recalled: At that time, Nam Ngan sub-region had 2 platoons, 1 male platoon and 1 female platoon, aged from 18 to 35. The tasks of the 2 platoons were to participate in production, practice shooting and directly fight low-flying enemy aircraft. On the afternoon of April 2, 1965, the youth force of Nam Ngan sub-region was working in the fields when they saw 2 American reconnaissance aircraft flying very low over the Ham Rong bridge area. Immediately, the 2 platoons were called back by the Nam Ngan sub-region Party cell to implement the resolution from peacetime to wartime. On the night of April 2, the Thanh Hoa town air defense command ordered all militia and self-defense units to deploy their positions and be ready for combat. The Nam Ngan sub-region Party cell led the people and mobilized thousands of young men and women, militia and self-defense forces to coordinate with the army to dig and build fortifications, leveling soil and rocks to make roads.

During this war with the Americans, Nam Ngan was a tightly organized locality, from the combat duty company, to the supply, ammunition loading, production... ready to confront the enemy, even though it was only equipped with rudimentary weapons. The Nam Ngan militia combat position was arranged on the dike at the village entrance to promptly capture targets from the anti-aircraft positions of the Pig Farm, Duck Hut, and Dragon Mountain. Platoon Leader Nguyen Thi Hang was very brave, intelligent, and decisive, commanding the militia to both fight back against enemy aircraft and mobilize forces to board naval ships to replace gunners and treat wounded soldiers. While on duty, Platoon Leader Nguyen Thi Hang let the enemy aircraft swoop down very low before shouting "Fire". When each and every enemy aircraft swooped down to drop bombs on Ham Rong Bridge, our troops fired back fiercely, forcing them to swoop up before they could drop bombs and indiscriminately bomb all over the river.

Monument "South Bank Victory".

The naval ship appeared from the Hoang Quang coconut grove and aimed at the planes to open fire. From the command position, Platoon Leader Nguyen Thi Hang discovered the signal flag of the naval ship that had just approached the shore. She ordered the liaison to run out to receive the news. Deputy Captain of Squad 7 Tran Dinh Hoi requested ammunition. Unable to let the gunners leave their combat positions to resupply ammunition, Platoon Leader Nguyen Thi Hang reported to Khai, the Party Cell Secretary and Political Commissar, asking for more people. While comrade Khai was confused because he did not know where to get people to support the naval troops and the anti-aircraft position at this time, he met female militia Ngo Thi Tuyen. Mr. Khai said: "Comrade Tuyen and comrades Dung and Sau go carry ammunition to supply the naval ship". Understood! - female militia Ngo Thi Tuyen responded to the order like a soldier. No one could imagine that a small girl weighing only 42kg was carrying two boxes of ammunition weighing up to 98kg at once. Female militia Ngo Thi Tuyen did not consider it important, the soldiers needed ammunition but she lingered, sometimes sacrificing herself for lack of ammunition. That extraordinary action became a symbol of the strength of the People's War in Vietnam.

Having suffered a miserable defeat in the first battle against our army and people, on April 3, 1965, the American imperialists became even more frantic, continuing to attack and expanding their targets. Determined to defeat the American invaders, the entire Nam Ngan village went to war. Mr. Ngo Tho Lan, along with his children Ngo Tho Sap, Ngo Tho Xep, Ngo Tho Dat, and Ngo Tho Sau, each did a job. The old father Ngo Tho Lan boiled water, cut vegetables, and chopped duckweed for the Pig Farm; the two brothers Ngo Tho Dat and Ngo Tho Sau worked as gunners for the navy ships. Monk Dam Thi Xuan participated in boiling water, bandaging wounded soldiers, and reserving the main hall as a first aid room for the soldiers. On the top of Ngoc mountain, the brave soldiers also fought extremely bravely. Their guns were red-bore, and they stopped drinking water to cool the barrels. Not only did they carry bullets and carry boats to supply our ships to fight the enemy, the Nam Ngan army and people also had the task of supplying food and provisions to the ships to serve the navy soldiers. Those who did not directly shoot down the planes were on duty as medics, ambulances, and food providers. Everyone sacrificed themselves to serve the battle. The fighting spirit and heroic sacrifice of Ngo Tho Sau (militia soldier), Le Thi Dung (militia squad leader), Hoang Thi Nham, as well as other children of Nam Ngan homeland, became shining symbols of sacrifice for the revolutionary ideal.

After the resounding victory on April 3 and 4, 1965, especially the joint heroic battle against American aircraft by the army, people of Nam Ngan and the navy on May 26, 1965, the American imperialists' ambitions were crushed. With the resounding victory, Nam Ngan village was awarded the title "The whole village fights the enemy" by the President; the family of Mr. Ngo Tho Lan, whose 4 children directly went down to the warship, received a letter of praise from the President and the title "The whole family fights the enemy". In 1966, the Nam Ngan militia company was awarded the title "Hero of the People's Armed Forces" by the President.

Those born and raised in the homeland of Nam Ngan are forever proud of the land and people here. From the elderly who witnessed the years of bombs and bullets to the young generation, everyone can feel the resilience and patriotism in each person and manifest in every historical mark. And, the monument “Nam Ngan Victory” was built, marking a historical milestone, highlighting the glorious tradition of the heroic people of Nam Ngan.

Article and photos: To Phuong

(The article uses some materials in the book "Ham Rong - symbol of Thanh Hoa people", Tu Nguyen Tinh, Thanh Hoa Publishing House, 2021).

Source: https://baothanhhoa.vn/huong-toi-ky-niem-60-nam-ham-rong-chien-thang-nam-ngan-anh-hung-243499.htm