Cay Truong Armed Force Station Victory - the brilliant example of Tru Van Tho Martyr

Cay Truong Armed Force Station has become one of the two new historical sites approved by the provincial People’s Committee in 2020. The site is not only attached to the old-time Cay Truong Armed Force Station Victory but also a place of determined resistance of revolutionists, one of whom was Tru Van Tho Martyr.

The historical site of Cay Truong Armed Force Station is the example of local history for today and the next generations to learn about
The resonant victory

Le Van Phuoc, Director of Binh Duong provincial Museum, informed that Cay Truong Armed Force Station was constructed in around 1957 as a major military site of Saigon government on the number 13 route north of Ben Cat, Thu Dau Mot province to become a significantly strategic location of the triangle formed from Van Huu-Cam Xe to the jungle and within the liberated areas. The station was tightly protected by a defensive force and a team of public armed militants sponsored by the US Army. The station was considered by Saigon government as a foundation for raiding the D war-base, for preventing revolutionists, for assisting the strategic hamlets, and for coordination with regulated forces in raids. The place was also the military gathering spot to organize offensive fights against Long Nguyen war-base.

As the matter of fact, to ensure safety for the base, revolutionary units located at D war-base had decided to eliminate Cay Truong Armed Force Station of the enemy. Taken order on October 18, 1963, the infantry battalion 5 was reinforced to commando unit of Regiment 2 to attack Cay Truong Armed Force Station so as to eliminate it within Long Nguyen strategic hamlet. Secrecy and sudden attack initiated the victory. Our armed force succeeded in befalling the defensive core of the enemy, opening up clear fire to get down the tower. However, the defensive firing of the enemy turned down various intrusion of our forces. Many had fallen.

On August 25, 2020, Binh Duong provincial People’s Committee issues decision ranking Cay Truong Armed Force Station a historical site

Without hesitation, Tru Van Tho carrying destructive dynamite moved forward. Despite heavy injuries, he succeeded in getting the dynamite bundle to the depot and blowing it up to leave a silent span after the explosion. Shots kept pouring out from the destructed depot; Tru Van Tho kept on throwing dynamite into the holes but shots kept on. The forwarding squad of our force was turned down with many kills. In the deadly situation, Tru Van Tho made another sudden move to rush into the depot and used his body to fill the shooting holes, making it clear for our force to move on and gain the final victory.

On getting to the central depot, the whole forces were in extreme grief to see Tru Van Tho fallen with holes in his body. The battle was victorious with the title of people’s armed force hero to Tru Van Tho.
The battle at Cay Truong Armed Force Station in 1963 was totally successful to destroy the entire stronghold depot fo the enemy. The victory also meant the destruction of Long Nguyen strategic hamlet, liberating the gathered civilians and encouraging the movements of eliminating strategic hamlets being enforced by Saigon government in the battlefield of the South of Vietnam while expanding the strategic corridor of route number 13 connecting North Ben Cat to D war-base and Duong Minh Chau war-base, helping us sustain the war resistance bases.

Tru Van Tho, a hero, a martyr

Tru Van Tho the hero was born in 1938 in Dong Ang hamlet of Thanh Hoa commune in Cai Lay district, My Tho province (now Cai Lay town of Tien Giang province) into a poor family. In October 1961, Tru Van Tho joined revolutionary activities of commando at Cai Lay township. Then, he was assigned to local revolutionary movements. In April 1962, Tru Van Tho was added to Company 2 of Regiment 9 of main armed force of the region. During his revolutionary time, Tru Van Tho showed good competence of a soldier fulfilling his roles by a determined, sustained and pure manner of getting over the most challenging situations.

In 1962, Saigon government intensified the large-scale fights and raids against D war-base. Tru Van Tho was determined to stay and supply accurate intelligence for continual victories and weakening the enemy forces. In April 1963, he was sent to commando training courses and transferred to Q-272 unit - the elite of Company 2, Regiment 9 of the regional armed force. The Cay Truong Armed Force Station Victory on October 18, 1963 was a good example of heroic fallen of Tru Van Tho. He used his body to fill the guns, making it clear for our force to move on and destroy the depot for entire victory.

For the historical and cultural value of the site, on August 25, 2020, Binh Duong provincial People’s Committee decided to rank Cay Truong Armed Force Station a a provincial historical site, which shall be protected with valuable promotion of education of today and the next generation of local history and the pride of their fathers in the cause of resisting the invasion; thereon, they should sustain the pride by getting on with learning for construction and protection of the nation.

Reported by Cam Ly - Translated by Vi Bao