The love story of a young volunteer from Nhan village on the Truong Son fire line

Since their hearts began to vibrate with love, their love has lasted more than 50 years and they have lived together for half a century. Blossoming in the midst of bombs and bullets, overcoming difficulties in life, until now the love of two youth volunteers Ha Thanh Do and Ta Thi Trinh (both born in 1956) in Cu Phu village, Tam Da commune (Phu Cu) in the past has not faded.

16 year old boy and girl volunteered to open Truong Son road

The simple house of Mr. Do and Mrs. Trinh is located deep in a small alley, surrounded by a fish pond, a lush fruit garden and the sound of birds singing. Over a cup of hot tea, the couple reminisced about their memories on the historic Truong Son fire line.

Former youth volunteer couple Ha Thanh Do and Ta Thi Trinh, Tam Da commune (Phu Cu) with wartime memorabilia

In 1972, when the resistance war against the US was entering a fierce phase, young people Ha Thanh Do and Ta Thi Trinh, who were just 16 years old at the time, volunteered to join the youth volunteer force. They joined unit C2, D171, Regiment 29, Division 473, Group 559, the force responsible for opening the Truong Son road for our army to transport food, weapons, and ammunition to the large front line.

In the unit, each person has a task. Mr. Do was assigned to be the "cook", in charge of the kitchen for more than 150 soldiers. In conditions of shortage on all sides, without enough food, he had to go into the forest to find vegetables, pick cassava leaves, wild bamboo shoots, banana flowers, sweet potato shoots... to improve each meal for the soldiers...

As for Ms. Trinh, she had a clear voice, so she took on the role of an artist serving the soldiers. She performed at checkpoints, parking lots, and liaison stations, where soldiers were on duty day and night. Amidst the rumbling of bombs and exploding bullets, her singing and that of the art troupe were like spiritual medicine that gave strength to her comrades. Songs about Truong Son, about Uncle Ho, about comradeship, comradeship... resounded from the field stage, from the deep jungle, mixed with the sound of the great wind, and became unforgettable memories.

Although they had two different missions, they shared the same ideal: to contribute their youth to pave the way for national independence. Life on the battlefield with its deprivation, danger, illness and bombs did not make them falter, but rather tempered their will, courage and patriotism.

Love story in the jungle – good fate after peace

War is a place of life and death, but it is also a place where beautiful love stories bloom and last longer than any oath. Mr. Do and Mrs. Trinh are living proof of that. Although they were in the same unit, living and fighting in the Truong Son mountains, because of the nature of their missions, one was in charge of the kitchen, the other was busy performing, so the two hardly had many opportunities to meet. The rare encounters were only when the unit organized cultural performances or during short breaks in the jungle.

It was in that special situation, amidst the roar of bombs, amidst hasty meals by the light of oil lamps, or amidst the red dust-covered field stage… feelings quietly blossomed. Not noisy, not hasty, but like a small stream flowing through the heart of the mountain, persistent and sincere…

In October 1975, when the country had triumphed, Mr. Do and Mrs. Trinh were discharged from the army and returned home. Memories of Truong Son, of comrades, of accidental eye contact at life and death moments... suddenly became more passionate and vivid than ever. Not long after that, at the end of 1975, the two decided to become husband and wife. Their wedding, though simple, was filled with laughter and emotional tears from their families, neighbors and comrades.

Life in the post-war period was still difficult, but together they worked hard, shared every meal and sleep, and raised their children to be good people. Mrs. Trinh continued to be involved ineducation , working as a teacher at Tam Da Kindergarten and then transferred to work at the Tam Da Commune Women's Union. Mr. Do remained as careful and responsible as when he was a "foster brother", quietly standing behind to support his wife and children.

War relics such as the pot and the aluminum plate with two compartments used to divide rice and distribute food to the comrades in the unit have been kept by Mr. Do for 50 years as treasures. Recently, he and his wife decided to donate the pot to the Hung Yen Provincial Museum, as a way to send the heroic memories of their generation to today's youth.

In recognition of the contributions of former youth volunteers in the resistance war against the US to save the country, Mr. Ha Thanh Do and Ms. Ta Thi Trinh were both awarded the Second Class Resistance Medal by the State.

Now, at the age of 73, looking back on the journey they have traveled, the couple can smile with satisfaction. The love that blossomed in the middle of the battlefield is still intact, as rustic as the beginning, simple but meaningful, like their own lives.