An epic of resistance against America

(Baothanhhoa.vn) - During the resistance war against the US for national liberation, the Party Committee, government, people, and armed forces of Thanh Hoa province united in their will and strived to build a strong rear base in all aspects. Many patriotic emulation movements took place vigorously to firmly protect the great rear base and maximize the provision of human and material resources to the Southern battlefield, making a great contribution to the liberation of the South and the reunification of the country.

The 1st Anti-Aircraft Artillery Company fought to defend Ham Rong Bridge. (Archival photo)

Following the victory at Dien Bien Phu, along with the rest of the country, the Thanh Hoa Provincial Party Committee continued to lead the people in the resistance war against the US to save the nation. To heal the wounds of war, restore and develop the economy and culture, and build a strong rear base, the Thanh Hoa Provincial Party Committee launched a series of emulation movements in all sectors, all localities, and all units with the goal of becoming leading examples nationwide. Through these movements, many advanced models were replicated throughout the North, notably the activities of cooperatives such as Dong Phuong Hong, Xuan Thanh, Yen Truong, Dinh Cong, and Thanh Cong Mechanical Cooperative.

To prevent the North's supply lines from reaching the Southern battlefield, the US imperialists expanded their war of destruction to the North, with Thanh Hoa being a prime target of fierce attacks. During this period, responding to President Ho Chi Minh's sacred call, "Nothing is more precious than independence and freedom," and "We are determined to completely defeat the invading American enemy," the Party Committee, government, people, and armed forces of Thanh Hoa overcame countless hardships, bravely and resolutely fighting, contributing to crushing the two wars of destruction waged by the US imperialists against the North. Places like Do Len, Ham Rong, Pha Ghep... became the most fierce "fire zones," but also marked the most glorious victories of the people and army of Thanh Hoa. Through two wars against the US enemy, the people and army of the province shot down 376 aircraft, including 3 B52s, captured 36 enemy pilots, and destroyed or sank 57 warships. Ham Rong alone shot down 116 enemy aircraft, including 2 B52 strategic bombers, captured 12 enemy pilots, and killed over 100 others. Ham Rong has become a sacred symbol of revolutionary heroism, brilliant military art, and the strength of unity in the Vietnamese People's War.

Throughout the years of the war against the US, the Party Committee and people of Thanh Hoa both directly fought against the attacks of the US imperialists and actively served as a major rear base supporting the front lines. Responding to the slogan "each person works twice as hard for our beloved South," Thanh Hoa launched dozens of patriotic emulation movements in all sectors and at all levels. Notable examples include: the "three ready" movement for youth, the "three capable" movement for women, contributing "stones to fight the US" to fill bomb craters, the "skillful plowman, skilled gunner" emulation movement, the "5 tons to defeat the US" movement in rural areas, the "two-pronged attack against the US" movement in factories, farms, and forestry enterprises; and the "clinging to the sea, defending villages, shooting down enemy planes, sinking enemy warships" movement in coastal areas... These patriotic emulation movements spread strongly throughout the region, creating a heroic atmosphere in factories, construction sites, fields, and schools.

Even though he is now nearly 100 years old, Mr. Thieu Quang Moc - former Chairman of the Thanh Hoa Town Administrative Committee from 1972-1984 - still vividly remembers the determined and enthusiastic spirit of the movements that combined bravely fighting to protect the rear while also engaging in productive labor to create abundant material resources to support the front lines in the South: "During the years when the US imperialists escalated the war in the North, the spirit of protecting roads and bridges among the people of Thanh Hoa town was very enthusiastic. Many people and families did not hesitate to dismantle their houses to build bridges and use stones to pave roads to keep the transportation routes of weapons and military supplies to the Southern battlefield open."

During nearly 10 years of resistance against the destructive war waged by the American imperialists, Thanh Hoa mobilized its military and civilians to directly fight and support the war effort, actively engaging in production to supply and transport 15 million tons of goods to support the Southern battlefield and fulfill its international obligations. Mr. Do Huu Thich, former Head of the Propaganda Department of the Thanh Hoa Provincial Party Committee, still vividly remembers the enthusiasm and spirit of young people from all over Thanh Hoa at that time, who volunteered to join the army and go to the South to fight: “In the localities where young people volunteered to join the army, some wrote their enlistment applications in blood to register for military service. Women promoted rural production to reassure young people before they went to join the army. The Dong Phuong Hong movement was intensified to achieve a yield of 5 tons/hectare. The movement to build roads and open routes for vehicles was also very active.”

Mr. Thieu Quang Moc (in white shirt) - former Chairman of the Thanh Hoa Town Administrative Committee from 1972-1984 - reviews images commemorating Thanh Hoa's victories in the anti-American war. Photo: Mai Ngoc

To strengthen the military forces directly fighting on the Southern front, with the motto "not a single grain of rice will be lacking, not a single soldier will be lacking," a vibrant volunteer movement to enlist and fight in the South took place throughout the province. In just 10 years, from 1965 to 1975, Thanh Hoa recruited 195,853 young people into the army, equivalent to 10.15% of the population (including 7,039 women). For 11 consecutive years, the recruitment targets were met and exceeded. In addition to exceeding recruitment targets, from April 1970 to 1975, Regiment 14 trained and supported 78 battalions (including 4 women's battalions) in the battlefield, contributing alongside the army and people of the whole country to the great victory of Spring 1975, culminating in the historic Ho Chi Minh Campaign, completely liberating the South and unifying the country. When recalling the fighting spirit and heroic sacrifice of the Thanh Hoa armed forces in the Bình Trị Thiên battlefield, veteran Phạm Ngọc Tuấn – former Company Commander of Company 3, Battalion 6, Regiment 6, Thừa Thiên Huế Provincial Military Command – clearly remembers: “Most of our regiment members were from Thanh Hoa. They fought very tenaciously and bravely. Among those who sacrificed their lives in the unit, a large number were from Thanh Hoa.”

The immense contributions in terms of manpower and resources, the glorious and illustrious victories of the army and people of our province, as well as the losses and sacrifices during the 21 years of resistance against the US and for national salvation, have been recognized by the Party, State, and Government. Many individuals and collectives with outstanding achievements have been awarded numerous prestigious honors. The province has 25 units awarded the title of Hero of the People's Armed Forces, 16 units and individuals awarded the title of Hero of Labor, 71 individuals awarded the title of Hero of the People's Armed Forces, thousands of Vietnamese Heroic Mothers, 56,559 martyrs, and 32,146 wounded soldiers...

The Thanh Hoa Provincial Party Committee, with its wise and skillful leadership and flexible, creative decisions, together with the entire army and people, achieved many great victories, firmly protecting the great rear area and excellently fulfilling the task of providing manpower and resources to the front lines. The immense contributions of manpower and resources, and the glorious and illustrious victories of the army and people of Thanh Hoa in the resistance war against the US, continue to affirm the important role and position of Thanh Hoa in the cause of national defense and construction. This tradition will be an important source of strength helping Thanh Hoa to continue to rise and achieve many glorious victories in the current revolutionary period, and together with the whole country, steadily advance into a new era - the era of the Vietnamese nation's resurgence.

Mai Ngoc

Source: https://baothanhhoa.vn/ban-hung-ca-chong-my-255362.htm