Heroine in a heroic land

 Bui Ngoc Thu has become an impressive name of a heroine who sacrificed for the nation in the resistance war against the U.S force. Born in 1950 in Tuong Binh Hiep, she became a liaison at her 12 after attending a training class for spies. She worked effectively in collecting information of the enemy.

 

Local officer (L) is on his quest for documents proving title of Bui Ngoc Thu – a heroine who sacrificed herself for the nation at her 16.

 

 After completing grade 6 of An My school, she continued to work as a communicator in Saigon following her father’s side. Then, she returned to Tuong Binh Hiep to participate into secret zone of Ho Trau. In 1963-1966 period, Tuong Binh Hiep zone was out of order and the then Party Secretary of Tuong Binh Hiep commune Huynh Van Tan was demanded by Chau Thanh Party Committee to organize secret operations. 6 excellent members and Bui Ngoc Thu were demanded to build their own bases after attending a short-term training course. As a result the spying operations were extended from Vinh Hoa, Vinh Loi, Phu Chanh, Phu My, Dinh Hoa, and Tuong Binh Hiep to Trung An base of Cu Chi.

 “Thu is the most little but brave girl in the team. She came through many enemy’s stations and was cunning in cheating them. She can distinguished herself as a male or as a child not to be discovered by the enemy,” said Ms. Le Thi Hoai Giup who was a team mate of Bui Ngoc Thu. Her characteristics have defined her best operation and made her the most wanted target of the enemy.

 By October 26, 1966, under cover as a street vendor, Bui Ngoc Thu was ambushed on her way to deliver confidential documents; however, she swallowed the documents before throwing 3 grenades into the enemy’s squad and killed herself.

The story about Bui Ngoc Thu – a heroine in Tuong Binh Hiep is well-known to every local people who even name a street after her. However, efforts of Mr. Le Van Kiem to revisualize a heroine through documents have failed to convince the authority to title Bui Ngoc Thu as a heroine of people’s armed force.

 Meantime, local leaders of Tuong Binh Hiep have also joined in request for a title to martyr Bui Ngoc Thu but all higher authority levels denied the proposal due to expiration. Only Tuong Binh Hiep authority was titled a heroic locality in 2000.

 Reported by Ly Khanh Vinh – Translated by Vi Bao