Gratitude extended to soldiers opening Truong Son pathway

Update: 31-05-2023 | 14:49:47

64 years have passed, but the feats of those who participated in opening the legendary Truong Son - Ho Chi Minh pathway always engraved in history.

Talking to Vo Thi Cuc of Thu Dau Mot city, we couldn't help but feel resentful. In 1964, at the age of 16, she volunteered to join the youth volunteer force in the 559 Heroic Union. Her task at that time was to pave the way for the trucks to bring goods to the front lines. She said: "Breaking rocks, paving the way, hitting explosives amidst the sound of exploding bombs and bullets was the daily work of road-paving soldiers like us to let the cars pass through."

And in the moments of life and death, those Truong Son soldiers still sang songs like a conviction to win in that arduous, fierce but heroic battles. Cuc still vividly recalls the days when the enemy attacked fiercely on the routes and how many had fallen. There were also times of tears because of those sacrifices, but then with her energy and will, she overcame to get on living and fighting.

But it was also the years on Truong Son pathway that left severe sequelae as she was infected with Agent Orange. Her children were also affected.

Pham Hong Te's case was the same. In May 1971, like many other North Vietnamese students, he volunteered to join the Truong Son army to supplement the 470th Division stationed in all 3 regions to sustain logistics for the forces. For him, the factor that made the Truong Son pathway victorious was the will and energy of all forces.

Truong Son Traditional Association presents gifts to members who are wounded, sick soldiers contaminated with dioxin and members aged 80 and over

16 years of heroic and resilient fighting eyed the living on the bridge, the clinging to the roads, the bravely dying to fight the enemy to pave the way to advance; the engineer divisions, the young volunteers, the civilians on the frontline always stood by the soldiers' side. The automobile division transported millions of tons of weapons, equipment, food, and troops to participate in the campaign. The infantry and anti-aircraft artillery forces heroically destroyed the enemy and shot fighter aircrafts down to expand the land to protect the strategic corridor for the inter-communal forces to pave the way and for millions of people to safely enter the battlefields. The information and petroleum forces ensured a smooth and regular transportation route, successfully completing the assigned tasks.

Colonel Le Van Hoa, Chairman of the Truong Son Tradition Association of Binh Duong province, said with emotion, that after 48 years of national unification, the legendary Truong Son forces have so far been at the lowest age of 70 and the highest is 94 years old. Therefore, timely material and spiritual care for the members has been what the association always focuses on. Recently, on the occasion of the 64th anniversary of the opening of the Ho Chi Minh pathway - the Traditional Day of Truong Son soldiers (May 19, 1959 to May 19, 2023), the 64th anniversary of the establishment of the B90-C.200-C.270 Union (May 25. 1959 to May 25, 2023); The Truong Son Traditional Association - Ho Chi Minh Pathway in Binh Duong province held a meeting and paid tribute to the people who paved the legendary Truong Son - Ho Chi Minh pathway. At the meeting, stories and memories of the opening days kept coming back. Colonel Le Van Hoa said that although the Party and State had many activities to take care of socially privileged families and families with meritorious services to the revolution to partially compensate for the losses in the war. At the same time, it demonstrates the principle of gratitude. However, no matter how great the compensation has been, it is not enough compared to the still persistent losses. How many people had dedicated their best youth in their lives for national independence!

By such recognition, the association has deducted from the Truong Son Gratitude Fund to give gifts to 107 members who are wounded, sick soldiers, poisoned with dioxin and members aged 80 years or older. Each gift is VND 500,000 in cash. Holding the gift in her hand, Vo Thi Cuc said emotionally: "The material value is not worth, but it is a great encouragement for me. It contains all the sharing and encouragement for me to continue to lead a happy and healthy life.”

During the war, Truong Son soldiers fought to make the legendary route and now in peacetime, they continue to share and contribute to building the homeland.

Reported by Thu Thao – Translated by Vi Bao

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Gratitude extended to soldiers opening Truong Son pathway

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