The flame of the Youth Volunteer Force will shine brightly forever.

On April 27, 1976, nearly 2,000 Youth Volunteers from various localities in the province held a departure ceremony to build new economic zones. For the past 49 years, generations of Youth Volunteers have continued to uphold the glorious tradition of contributing to the development of their homeland.

Young people are building new economic zones.

On April 27, 1976, nearly 2,000 Youth Volunteer Team members mobilized from Nha Trang, Cam Ranh, Ninh Hoa, Van Ninh, Dien Khanh, etc., gathered in front of the Information House (No. 5, 2nd April Street, Nha Trang City) for a departure ceremony to build new economic zones in Dat Set, Dong Trang (now part of Xuan Dong commune, Dien Khanh district), Ben Khe (Khanh Binh commune, Khanh Vinh district), and Ninh Thuong (Ninh Hoa town).

The send-off ceremony for the volunteer youth corps embarking on the journey to build a new economy took place on April 27, 1976.

The Clay Land area was then desolate and deserted. In Clay Land, there were 5 Youth Volunteer Brigades with 582 officers and members mobilized from Nha Trang and Cam Ranh. The Youth Volunteer Brigades cut down trees, felled bamboo, and cut thatch to build shelters. At each new economic development site, a medical station and a commercial area selling some supplies for daily life and work were established. The Youth Volunteer units built football and volleyball courts for members to practice and play friendly matches. The atmosphere of competition among the companies was very lively. At 7 PM every day, the Clay Land Youth Volunteer Battalion's radio station broadcast news about the production achievements of the units and commended outstanding units. In the evenings, the units organized political and cultural activities according to weekly and monthly schedules.

At Ben Khe, the Youth Volunteer Force came from Van Ninh, Ninh Hoa, and Nha Trang. The units set up camps, marked boundaries, and cleared forests to expand agricultural land. Living far from home, lacking many necessities, and suffering from malaria... but the Youth Volunteer Force remained optimistic, enthusiastic, and dedicated to working hard, contributing their youthful energy to enriching and beautifying their homeland with the dream and ideal of contributing a small part to rebuilding the country after the war; ready to sacrifice and work tirelessly on construction sites and in the fields... Many who matured in the Youth Volunteer Force environment were honored to be admitted to the Youth Union right at the construction sites and farms.

Back then, the young volunteers built their camps with thatched roofs.

At the end of the first phase, the Youth Volunteer Force, along with mechanized forces, had reclaimed nearly 2,000 hectares of land, creating opportunities for 20,000 people to settle and work in the new economic zones. Most of the Youth Volunteers continued on to new lands; some also stayed, started families, and lived on the newly reclaimed land.

Having completed their Youth Volunteer Corps (TNXP) missions in the new economic zones of Dat Set, Ben Khe, Suoi Thom, and Soi Mit, in early 1978, the Phu Khanh Provincial Youth Union continued to call on Youth Volunteer Corps members to go to Phu Yen . On March 21, 1978, more than 1,000 Youth Volunteer Corps members departed from Nha Trang and marched into the eastern Song Hinh area (Phu Yen), establishing the Youth 26-3 land reclamation site. Covering an area of ​​up to 5,100 hectares, the Youth 26-3 site became a major Youth Volunteer Corps construction site at that time. The workforce mobilized for the site sometimes reached 2,000 Youth Volunteer Corps members. In addition to land reclamation and food production, the site also raised 500 cows. With the strength of youth, and despite working with only rudimentary tools, the Youth Volunteer Force of Phu Khanh province has reclaimed thousands of hectares of hills and mountains, improving the land to plant short-term industrial crops and rice...

Fulfilling international obligations to assist our neighbor Cambodia.

When the Southwest border war broke out, the Party and State called on the Youth Volunteer Force to go and fulfill their international duty. The Phu Khanh Provincial Military Command then established the Le Dinh Chinh Youth Volunteer Battalion to serve in combat on the Cambodian border with a force of about 410 people recruited from the Youth 26-3 construction site and the Vuon Xoai - Son Thanh construction site (Tay Hoa, Phu Yen).

Go to the construction site to reclaim land and expand the production area.

In December 1978, the Le Dinh Chinh Battalion held a departure ceremony at the 19-8 Stadium (Nha Trang) to serve in combat. Comrade Nguyen Phung Minh, Deputy Secretary of the Phu Khanh Provincial Party Committee, personally instructed and assigned tasks to the Le Dinh Chinh Youth Volunteer Battalion. The battalion was stationed in Ratanakiri Province (Cambodia) and tasked with building a logistics depot for Military Region V; coordinating with the 270th Engineering Regiment to build roads, communication lines, transport ammunition and dried food to the front lines, and transport wounded soldiers and martyrs to the rear. The days of volunteering in Cambodia were much more difficult and arduous than at the 26-3 Youth Construction Site, but the Youth Volunteers of that time successfully completed their mission. In March 1979, after completing their noble international duty, the Le Dinh Chinh Battalion returned to Vietnam.

Upholding the traditions of the Youth Volunteer Force

Returning to their hometowns, the Youth Volunteer Force members were assigned to work in state agencies, companies, factories, and as freelance laborers. Each comrade has their own life, but when we meet again, we always encourage each other to preserve the glorious traditions and qualities of the Youth Volunteer Force. Currently, the Provincial Association of Former Youth Volunteers has nearly 3,500 members, the majority of whom are from the generation of Youth Volunteers after 1975. Six districts, towns, and cities in the province have established district-level associations of former Youth Volunteers: Nha Trang, Cam Ranh, Dien Khanh, Ninh Hoa, Khanh Vinh, and Cam Lam. The Provincial Association of Former Youth Volunteers has unanimously chosen April 27, 1976, as the Traditional Day of the Youth Volunteer Force of Khanh Hoa Province and the Day when Youth Volunteers from Nha Trang City set out to build new economic zones.

Former Youth Volunteers receive commemorative medals from the Vietnam Association of Former Youth Volunteers.

Forty-nine years have passed, and each reunion is an opportunity for us to reminisce about the vibrant days of the Youth Volunteer Force, remembering the swift footsteps and strong shoulders that conquered the peak of Hon Du to collect cassava cuttings, cut reeds, dig wells, and build irrigation systems. We also remember the peak periods of the harvest season, the land preparation and planting, when we would all rush to the construction site at 2 or 3 in the morning without waiting for the alarm bell. In our memories of those 49 years, there are no shortage of joyful days filled with sports and physical activities echoing through the mountains and forests; we still remember the malaria that left us bedridden, leaving us pale and sickly; and we remember the couples and innocent love stories of the Youth Volunteers who chose this new land to build their homes and prosper. Hardship forged the young people of that era, who are now mature in life and career. If anyone asks us which period is the most memorable in our lives, we would not hesitate to answer: the Youth Volunteer Force.

NGOC VAN

Source: https://baokhanhhoa.vn/tin-top/202504/sang-mai-ngon-luathanh-nien-xung-phong-b5863c0/