Towards the South...!-Part 1: Kien Giang will be remembered forever

(QBĐT) - Located on an area of ​​over ^2,000m2 in Son Khoa land, My Thuy commune (Le Thuy), the 341st Division Relic Site (Lam River Division), Military Region 4 is under construction for the final stages of inauguration, on the occasion of the whole country turning towards the 50th anniversary of the Liberation of the South and National Reunification. At the former headquarters of the 341st Division, we followed the memories of the veterans heading South, in the midst of the great Spring victory.

Colonel Ha Thanh Binh, a veteran of Regiment 273, Division 341, former Deputy Division Commander of Division 968, Military Region 4, lives near the relic site, so he is "honored" to be assigned by the Division 341 Veterans Liaison Committee to be a "community supervisor". Every day, Mr. Binh comes to the relic site very early, first to encourage the workers and teachers, then to welcome old comrades from all over the country to visit their old military bases. He told me: "The land on both banks of Kien Giang, including the communes of My Thuy, Duong Thuy, Lien Thuy, Xuan Thuy, Kim Thuy... has protected and sheltered the soldiers of Division 341 from the early days of its establishment until they went to the South to fight".

Unforgettable years

Chairman of My Thuy Commune People's Committee Nguyen Xuan Tung recalled: "During the 8 years of the US imperialists escalating their attacks on the North, My Thuy, like many other villages, suffered many serious consequences of the war. The people of My Thuy Commune turned their pain into action, becoming a solid rear base supporting human and material resources for the battlefield in the South. The slogan "Going out to keep the oath. "Defeat the American invaders and then return to the homeland" became the motto of the entire people, encouraging their children to join the army. Those who went to the front line, those who stayed behind became the rear guard, protecting the soldiers. From the end of 1972 to February 1975, along with a number of localities along the banks of the Kien Giang River, My Thuy commune was the station of Division 341, Military Region 4. In Son Khoa land now, after 50 years, there are still many vestiges related to Division 341, such as: Command Headquarters; military training ground; logistics area; stadium - where Division 341 held a ceremony to send troops to the South to fight...".

Officers and soldiers of Division 341 together with the people increase production at the military base.

Following the instructions of the Chairman of the People's Committee of My Thuy Commune, we went to Son Khoa area. Right at the location of the Division Headquarters, a complex of relics is being urgently completed. The most profound impression, a fairly complete overview of the history of the 341st Division, is the two lines of inscriptions engraved on two large stone slabs placed on the left and right sides of the stele house. The first stone slab reads: "Kien Giang will forever be remembered". And the second stone slab reads: "Song Lam will be remembered in history books".

Colonel Le The Soai, former Commander of Division 341, said: At the end of 1972, the revolutionary situation in the South had a strong change. To prevent any infiltration and be ready to fight back against the enemy in the area of ​​Military Region 4, and at the same time prepare the strategic reserve force, on September 7, 1972, General Vo Nguyen Giap, on behalf of the Central Military Commission Standing Committee, issued a directive and on November 23, 1972, the Ministry of National Defense decided to establish the 341st Mobile Infantry Division, assigned to Military Region 4 to organize and implement with the task of training, building and developing forces, protecting key targets in the South of Quang Binh and Vinh Linh, ready to perform the strategic task of being the "iron fist" of the Ministry of National Defense to support the Southern battlefield. Division 341 was established in Nam Dan district (Nghe An), so it also had another name, Song Lam Division.

After its establishment, in December 1974, Division 341 marched to Quang Binh and Vinh Linh Special Zone (Quang Tri) to continue training, building and developing forces to carry out assigned tasks. In Quang Binh, Division 341 was supplemented with 2 infantry battalions, 1 artillery battalion with more than 500 soldiers, who were the elite children of Quang Binh.

Military-civilian relationship on both banks of Kien Giang

Stationed in the "fire land" of Quang Binh, Vinh Linh, apart from Regiment 273 moving to Vinh Long commune (Vinh Linh Special Zone); Regiment 270 in Tay Trach commune (Bo Trach), the remaining units of Division 341 are stationed in Le Thuy district, including the communes: My Thuy, Duong Thuy, Truong Thuy, Kim Thuy, Thai Thuy, Lien Thuy, Xuan Thuy...

Recalling those years when "soldiers returned to their villages", Colonel Nguyen Van Linh, Political Commissar of Division 341, shared: Despite many difficulties and shortages, the people of Quang Binh and the people of Le Thuy were willing to give up their houses for the soldiers to live in; mobilized tens of thousands of working days, donated hundreds of thousands of bamboo trees, wood... to help the units build fortifications on the battlefield. The Association of Mothers of Soldiers, the Women's Association, and the Youth Union regularly visited, encouraged, and helped the soldiers feel warm, overcome difficulties and hardships, and complete their tasks. Many localities, agencies, and enterprises organized twinning with the units of the Division, creating models and bright spots in the emulation movement of the Military Region in combat readiness, training, and production.

Relic site of Division 341 in My Thuy commune (Le Thuy).

Major, CCB Hoang Van Xiu, currently living in Bac Nghia Ward (Dong Hoi City), former Political Commissar of Company 2, Battalion 7, Regiment 266, Division 341, recalled: “I and more than 500 comrades from Quang Binh “Hai Gioi” hometown were very honored and proud to live and fight in the formation of Division 341. The time the unit was stationed in Le Thuy left unforgettable memories in each of us soldiers. The love between the army and the people on both banks of Kien Giang was the source and the strength that urged us to march on the battlefields, promptly participating in the historic Ho Chi Minh campaign, completely liberating the South, and reunifying the country”.

On February 3, 1975, Division 341 solemnly held a ceremony to send troops to the South to fight. Colonel Le The Soai, former Division Commander of Division 341, recalled: The ceremony was witnessed by comrade Le Duc Tho, member of the Politburo; leaders of the General Staff, General Department of Politics, Military Region 4 Command and leaders of Quang Binh province and people of Le Thuy district who came to visit and encourage. In the emotional and nostalgic moment of farewell, the soldiers of Division 341 marched straight to the battlefield with the spirit of spring and the belief of certain victory.

50 years later, returning to the military base and the place where the 341st Division went to fight in the South, Colonel Nguyen Van Linh, Political Commissar of the 341st Division, recalled: The affection "The army and the people are like fish and water" that the people of Le Thuy in particular and Quang Binh in general have for the 341st Division is a source of great strength, helping the unit to achieve outstanding feats in combat and growth... Time will pass, but the deep affection and great sacrifice and help will always be forever grateful, cherished and preserved by generations of officers and soldiers of the 341st Division. The loyal affection between Quang Binh and the 341st Division will be as beautiful as the poetic, clear Kien Giang River.

Ngo Thanh Long

>>> Lesson 2: Going in the middle of the great spring victory

Source: https://www.baoquangbinh.vn/phong-su/202504/huong-ve-nam-bai-1-kien-giang-muon-doi-khac-nho-2225470/