Nghe An Newspaper during the years of bombs and bullets

During the war years, the cadres, reporters and staff of Nghe An Newspaper bravely took the lead on the battlefields, closely attached to the localities and left good impressions, receiving the trust and respect of the people.

Contribute to the day of victory

Entering the fierce stage of the resistance war against the US, clearly recognizing the important role, nature and position of the press in the ideological front work, on November 10, 1961, the Provincial Party Executive Committee issued Resolution No. 175 to establish the editorial office of Nhan Dan Nghe An Newspaper.

The editorial office of Nhan Dan Nghe An Newspaper was established to take on the task of informing, propagating, and disseminating the Party and State's policies and guidelines to all classes of people. The first issue of Nhan Dan Nghe An Newspaper was published on September 12, 1961 and is regularly published every Wednesday and Saturday.

Nghe An Newspaper publications during the years of fighting against the US to save the country. Photo archive

On August 5, 1964, by fabricating the "Gulf of Tonkin incident", the US imperialists launched a war to attack the North with air force and navy. In order to ensure the information lifeline, under the direction of the Standing Committee of Nghe An Provincial Party Committee, in May 1965, Nghe An Newspaper quickly changed its status and organized its publishing apparatus in the context of the country at war. The Newspaper's office was successively moved from Vinh to Hung Thai commune (Hung Nguyen district), then Nam Tien commune (Nam Dan district). In 1968, Nghe An Newspaper was located in Quang Son commune, then Tan Son commune, Do Luong district.

Staff and reporters of Nghe An Newspaper during the war years. Photo archive

During the years when the US imperialists escalated bombing in the North of our country, Nghe An became one of the main targets of the imperialist air force. Overcoming bombs and bullets and difficulties in life, working facilities, and wide and dangerous areas of operation, the reporters of Nghe An Newspaper were enthusiastic and eager to go to the base, stick to the base, and be present in all the battlefields.

From Vinh town to places like Hoang Mai Station, Cam Bridge, Truong Bon, Truong Dong; the fire coordinates on National Highway 7, National Highway 15, National Highway 48..., the team of reporters promptly reported on the examples of selfless labor, fighting, serving in combat and the resounding victories of our army and people, inspiring the hearts of the people across the country.

General Secretary Le Duan took a photo with officials of Nghe An province in 1968. Photo: Thanh Hao

Vinh city militia and people transport ammunition to anti-aircraft artillery positions. Photo taken by Nghe An Newspaper reporter. Documentary photo

Although all the conditions of wartime operations were extremely difficult, thanks to the care and support of the Party Committee, the Government at all levels and the care and sharing of food and accommodation of the people of the province, Nghe An Newspaper always completed its tasks well. Each week the newspaper published 2 issues of 39x54cm size. Notably, with only 8 staff, reporters and editors, it still fully informed about the socio -economic, defense and security situation in the province, the country and the world.

Some belongings of Nghe An Newspaper reporters during the years of fighting against America. Photo archive

It can be said: On the pages of the Nghe An Newspaper staff, there are sweat, blood and selfless sacrifices to keep the news flowing without stopping. The information and propaganda activities of Nghe An Newspaper have closely followed the political and ideological tasks of the Party Committee; carried out propaganda with a focus on typical movements, organizations and individuals on the production and combat fronts... contributing to motivating and encouraging our army and people to fight and win, moving towards the day of national reunification in 1975; leaving indelible marks in the historical process.

Good impression in people's hearts

Toan Thang Village, Quang Son Commune - where Nghe An Newspaper evacuated in 1968. Photo: Thanh Chung

Peace has been restored, the war has gone far away. However, the impression of the cadres and reporters of Nghe An Newspaper cannot fade in the minds of the people in the area where the Nghe An People Newspaper office was evacuated.

Mr. Tran Van Sam (79 years old, in Toan Thang hamlet, Quang Son commune, Do Luong district) said: In 1968, many provincial agencies evacuated to Quang Son commune, Do Luong district, including the Nghe An People's Newspaper.

Mr. Tran Van Sam's house, which Nghe An Newspaper once borrowed as its editorial office in 1968. Photo: Thanh Chung

In Toan Thang village, besides my family, there is also the family of Mrs. Vo Thi Tuyet whose location was borrowed by the newspaper to be the editorial office. Among them, Mr. Pham Dinh Co - Deputy Editor-in-Chief of Nghe An Newspaper is the one who lives directly in my house. Editor-in-Chief Nguyen Huong lives in the Nguyen Ha family's ancestral house. Reporters Duy Lieu, Thanh Phong, Thanh Hao, Duong Huy, Dinh Sung, Huy Chuyen also live nearby. However, they are rarely in the evacuation area but travel back and forth across the province to write news and articles.

Mr. Tran Van Sam tells the story of Nghe An Newspaper borrowing his family's house as its editorial office. Photo: Thanh Chung

Living with his family, Deputy Editor-in-Chief Pham Dinh Co gets along well with everyone, without any distance. Although he is very busy going to the base; staying up all night to edit and write news articles, he tries not to affect his family.

Despite the lack of food and clothing, the newspaper staff and reporters were still very diligent and worked hard. Every night, the Editorial Board of the Newspaper still gathered at my house to work with oil lamps. Many times when there were not enough articles (because the reporters could not bring the newspaper back in time), Mr. Nguyen Huong and Pham Dinh Co searched for useful information on Nhan Dan Newspaper and Voice of Vietnam Radio to supplement the content of their newspaper.

A delegation of cultural and press officials from the German Democratic Republic visited Nghe An Newspaper, which was evacuated to Do Luong district. Photo courtesy: Duong Huy

After collecting enough news articles, according to the newspaper printing schedule, Mr. Nguyen Tuong - administrative and political officer of Nghe An Newspaper - rode a motorbike - an old motorbike made in Poland - to deliver news and articles to print in Tan Ky district. According to Mr. Tran Van Sam, it was a "special" motorbike. In order for the motorbike to run, the entire editorial board and reporters had to push it a long way before it would start. By the time the motorbike started, the person pushing it was covered with sweat and dust.

Two of the zinc plates used to print Nghe An newspaper in 1968 - 1969 kept by Mr. Tran Van Sam. Photo: Duc Anh

In his small house, Mr. Tran Van Sam still keeps rare souvenirs related to the printing and publishing activities of Nghe An Newspaper nearly 60 years ago. Those are zinc plates for printing Nghe An Newspaper in the years 1968 - 1969. Among them is a zinc plate of Uncle Ho's will; a photo of comrade Le Duan speaking at the memorial service for President Ho Chi Minh when he passed away in 1969. (These two special zinc plates were donated by Mr. Sam to Nghe An Newspaper in 2016, now kept and displayed in the Traditional Room of Nghe An Newspaper).

Officials and reporters of Nghe An Newspaper helped people with irrigation in 1964. Photo: Thanh Hao

In the localities where Nghe An Newspaper was evacuated, its officers, reporters and staff left good impressions and received the trust and respect of the people.

Although now she sometimes remembers, sometimes forgets, Mrs. Nguyen Thi Khoi, 91 years old, in Hamlet 8, Tan Son Commune, Do Luong District, can still tell in detail about Editor-in-Chief Nguyen Huong - who was sheltered and helped by Mrs. Khoi's family when the newspaper evacuated here during the war years.

Comrade Nguyen Huong - First Editor-in-Chief of Nghe An Newspaper. Photo: Archive

Mrs. Khoi said: Mr. Huong has a short and stocky figure, so people still affectionately call him "Mr. Huong with a big belly". He is very sharp, but his style is simple, sociable, and his speech is very attractive to listeners. As a leader, Mr. Huong also eats a frugal diet of instant noodles, dried fish, and spinach soup like everyone else. He still rides his bike to the battlefields to get news and write articles. Mr. Huong and the newspaper's staff and reporters often help people with irrigation, harvest rice, build tunnels, dig trenches to avoid bombs and bullets, disseminate the Party and State's policies and guidelines on wartime economy, on spying, security, military service, handing over food, cultural and artistic activities...

Ms. Nguyen Thi Khoi recounted stories about officials and reporters of Nghe An Newspaper who helped people during the evacuation to Tan Son commune. Photo: Thanh Chung

During those difficult war years, Nghe An Newspaper gradually matured. The cadres and reporters of Nghe An Newspaper were truly revolutionary soldiers; present wherever the people and the public needed; never letting the news flow be interrupted; worthy of the trust of the people of the province. It was these years that were the source for Nghe An Party Newspaper to fly far./.

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Source: https://baonghean.vn/bao-nghe-an-trong-nhung-thang-nam-bom-roi-dan-lua-10299761.html