Memories never to be forgotten

Mr. Nguyen Viet Dua, Hoang Anh commune (now Tao Xuyen ward, Thanh Hoa city) still maintains his health and optimism in old age.

Mr. Le Van Dan (Phu Son Ward, Thanh Hoa City) emotionally recounted: “After graduating from high school, I joined the anti-aircraft artillery unit, Battalion 14, Division 304 - the unit directly fighting to protect Ham Rong Bridge. My task was to aim the rangefinder (measure the distance of the aircraft adjacent to the battlefield). The job required great precision, so I had to always be calm and quick-eyed to capture the target as soon as possible, and inform the commander to issue the battle order”. Recalling the moment of fighting with his teammates next to the artillery plate, Mr. Dan was moved to tears: “My squad had about 150 people, of which about 20 comrades sacrificed, many comrades were injured. I witnessed the heroic sacrifice of many comrades, that is, the deputy squad leader was seriously injured, almost had his arm severed, his body was covered in blood but still called on the soldiers to fight. He lay there, his eyes still watching the enemy aircraft to inform his teammates of the flight direction to destroy it”.

The Ham Rong - Thanh Hoa battlefield was once known as the "fire pit" of the whole country during the years when the US army bombed the North. This was a vital traffic junction on Highway 1A, with all three elements of water, road and rail transport to support human and material resources for the Southern battlefield, so both our army and the US determined that this was a very important position. The US army tried its best to bombard, while our army and people "would rather sacrifice themselves on the artillery plate than let the bridge collapse".

The image of the commune militia leader of Hoang Anh commune (now Tao Xuyen ward) Nguyen Viet Dua, always moving quickly to the battlefield and villages to command and mobilize the fighting force to protect the bridge, support the wounded... is still deeply imprinted in the minds of many former female militiamen of that time. Mr. Dua had worked for more than 4 years at Company 5, Battalion 4, Regiment 57 (Sam Son). Returning to his hometown in May 1964, he became the commune militia leader at the right time when the US expanded the war to the North with the air force and navy. He immediately rushed into the battle with all his enthusiasm and sense of responsibility to the Fatherland and the People. He commanded the entire commune militia during the days of fighting against the destructive war of the US invaders very steadfastly and decisively. He was wounded but the wound did not affect him and he still steadfastly stuck to the battlefield, protecting Ham Rong bridge at all costs. With his contributions during the years of fighting against the US to protect Ham Rong Bridge, Mr. Dua was recognized as a determined soldier at the military region level; was awarded the Second Class Military Exploit Medal and had the honor of representing the militia force to go to Hanoi to meet Uncle Ho and attend the ceremony to celebrate the decisive victory of the entire army in 1967.

During the days when the American invaders crazily attacked Ham Rong bridge, Dong Son village, Nam Ngan, Hac Oa, Phuong Dinh... from old to young, without anyone telling them, many people went to battle, the women took care of the food, the children carried the wounded, and supplied ammunition. The militia of the villages were organized and trained to fight the enemy as skillfully as plowing. Ms. Le Thi Thoa, a female soldier of Truong Son (Truong Son - Ho Chi Minh Trail Tradition Association of the province) told us: "In 1965, I was only 13 years old and joined the soldiers of Regiment 228 to rescue the people and soldiers protecting Ham Rong bridge that was bombed by American planes. Seeing the devastation and the dead, I felt pity and indignation. I decided that I would join the army and contribute my strength to the fight for national independence. Although I was not allowed to participate in the battle to protect Ham Rong bridge in the battle in 1972, I always thought that fighting anywhere in Vietnam was protecting the Fatherland".

In 1972-1973, the American invaders continued to destroy the North. Ham Rong Bridge once again suffered extremely fierce bombardments from the American invaders. Mr. Le Huu Be, Tan Long 1 Street, Ham Rong Ward, still “burned with passion” as he told us about the years of risking his life as a traffic police officer to protect the bridge. “At that time, I was a student at the People's Police Academy assigned by the Ministry of Public Security to protect some traffic routes from Do Len ferry, Ha Trung district to Long Dai ferry, Quang Binh province. The point where I was assigned to direct traffic was the south of Ham Rong bridge. The station had 4 people, I was assigned as the station chief with the task of directing traffic, ensuring that vehicles carrying weapons and food to support the southern battlefield and vehicles carrying wounded soldiers from the South to the North for treatment and recuperation were not blocked. Because this was a vital traffic route, every day there were 500 to 600 vehicles passing through, but there were only 5 points passing through: pontoon bridge 1, pontoon bridge 2, ferry 1, ferry 2 and 1 iron bridge (Ham Rong bridge). The control and direction of traffic had to be calculated, careful and quick. What I remember most was that on June 14, 1972, I met Mr. Le Ta Phan, the project commander, former district chairman Dong Son (old) and Vu Danh Lan, Principal of Dong Son High School, deputy commander of the project, told me: "Tomorrow is the Doan Ngo Festival, the sisters (militia, students, youth volunteers...) want to work overtime to complete the Ma River dike construction project, tomorrow we will celebrate Tet a little bit and then come to work". Thinking that the sisters in the rear would have a warm Tet with their families, even if it was only for a short time, but unexpectedly, only about 15 minutes later, 4 or 5 American planes flew around, roaring and dropping bombs from the beginning of Nam Ngan village to about 300m from Ham Rong iron bridge, they dropped many bombs, plowing and burying many strongholds, many constructions, they even hit the village. My teammates and I witnessed the casualties and rushed to the rescue. Without hesitation, although the American planes were still hovering in the sky, we still worked to separate the traffic, transport people and stretchers, help our teammates and people go to the emergency room...".

In the battle that Mr. Be recounted, his wife, Mrs. Duong Thi Hoa, who was participating in the construction of the Ma River dike, was also injured. After 1 year of completing the task of protecting Ham Rong Bridge, Mr. Be continued to return to school and work away from home. Later, he transferred to Thanh Hoa Police and retired in 1993.

Mr. Le Huu Be excitedly hung the flag to celebrate the 60th anniversary of Ham Rong victory.

In the afternoons, cycling across Ham Rong Bridge, walking around the Ma River dike, watching the Ma River, sometimes fierce, sometimes gentle, Mr. Be felt relieved. Then, when returning home in peace, Mr. Be and the men and women who participated in and witnessed the battle to protect Ham Rong Bridge would gather with family members to chat, telling each other memories of comradeship, comradeship, Ham Rong and the love between the army and the people. Although the battle has been over for decades, the memories of the difficult days of "overcoming the rain of bombs and bullets" with his comrades to protect Ham Rong Bridge still cannot be forgotten in the memories of Mr. Dan, Mr. Dua, Mr. Be, Ms. Thoa... That joy and pride are even more evident on the faces of everyone when mentioning Ham Rong - the 60-year victory that still echoes forever.

Article and photos: Le Ha

Source: https://baothanhhoa.vn/nhung-ky-uc-khong-bao-gio-quen-244351.htm