Stories of heroines

President Ho Chi Minh once affirmed: "The beautiful land of Vietnam is made even more beautiful and radiant by the efforts of our women, young and old, who have woven and embroidered it." On the land of Ca Mau, that pride shone even brighter through the long years of resistance. They were not only a strong rear base but also fiery blossoms, heroic women who wrote a legendary story that will shine brightly for generations to come.

• Female soldiers on the front lines of eliminating temporary and dilapidated housing.
• Newspapers and Radio & Television of Ca Mau visit heroine Pham Thi Bay
• Beneath the wrinkles of the brow lies a time of fire and glory.

The flower became immortal.

Ca Mau is a land rich in revolutionary traditions, the birthplace and nurturing ground of 117 steadfast and indomitable heroes of the People's Armed Forces, with their glorious and extraordinary achievements. A prime example of this spirit is the female hero and martyr Ho Thi Ky (1949-1970).

Heroine and martyr Ho Thi Ky. (Photo: Archival material)

Joining the revolution and being admitted to the Party early on, she became famous in the Ca Mau town commando unit with a series of achievements: from attacking enemy supply depots and burning 82,000 liters of gasoline, to commanding an attack on the police station.

Speaking of this courageous heroine, one must mention her role in building a female commando unit operating deep within enemy territory. The pinnacle of her bravery was the battle on the morning of April 3, 1970. With extraordinary ingenuity, she personally detonated mines, killing 18 enemy soldiers, destroying numerous military vehicles, and completely disrupting their operational plans. By turning herself into explosives to kill the enemy, this young woman from Cay Kho hamlet (Ho Thi Ky commune) rests forever in the embrace of her motherland at the young age of 21, remaining a shining symbol of patriotism for future generations to emulate.

In 1945, fueled by a burning desire to drive out the invaders, Le Thi Rieng (alias Hai Lien), a daughter of Vinh My commune, joined the August Revolution. She was admitted to the Communist Party of Vietnam and held various leadership positions for women in Gia Rai, Rach Gia, and the southeastern region. During the resistance war, suppressing her grief over her husband's sacrifice, she sent her two children to study in the North so they could return to fight in the South later, while she wholeheartedly remained on the battlefield, directly commanding the women's movement in Saigon-Chợ Lớn.

Statue of Heroine Le Thi Rieng at the park named after the heroine in Bac Lieu ward. (Photo: Nguyen Quoc)

On May 9, 1967, she was captured by the enemy due to an informant's betrayal. Despite intense interrogation by the US CIA and the Saigon Police Headquarters, as well as beatings, electric shocks, waterboarding, attempts at persuasion, and bribery, she remained steadfast and unyielding. Meanwhile, the Tet Offensive of 1968 was raging throughout the cities of South Vietnam, inflicting heavy losses on the enemy.

On the night of the second day of the Lunar New Year in 1968, the cowardly enemy assassinated her. This sacrifice caused a shock, sparking outrage among international organizations and leading to strong condemnation of the US imperialists and their lackeys.

Having dedicated her entire life to the cause of national liberation and women's liberation, Le Thi Rieng's heroic sacrifice exemplifies revolutionary heroism. In 2001, she was posthumously awarded the title of Hero of the People's Armed Forces. Currently, in Ho Chi Minh City and Ca Mau province, many monuments, historical plaques, parks, schools, and roads bearing her name have been built so that the people may forever remember her.

A lifetime of unwavering loyalty.

Currently, Ca Mau has 12 living female heroes, including Hero of the People's Armed Forces Pham Thi Bay (Mrs. Ba Bay, Rau Dua B hamlet, Hung My commune).

During the war, she was a female cadre who struck fear into the enemy with her ingenious riverine guerrilla tactics. She launched the "entire village resistance" movement, directing the digging of tunnels, planting of spikes, and ambush and sniping. In particular, she skillfully carried out enemy propaganda work to exchange necessities for weapons for the guerrilla unit. With her brilliant tactics, in just two years, she led the elimination of 9 out of 11 enemy outposts in Hung My.

Comrade Bui Hung Liet, Chairman of the People's Committee of Hung My commune (far right), visits and inquires about the health of Hero of the People's Armed Forces Pham Thi Bay (seated in the middle) on the occasion of the 51st anniversary of the Liberation of the South and the reunification of the country.

“Ms. Ba Bay is the pride of the Party Committee, the government, and the people. Mentioning her brings to mind the symbol of courage, unwavering will, and the indomitable fighting spirit of Southern Vietnamese women. Throughout the fierce years of the resistance war, with her strategic guerrilla tactics on the riverine terrain, her victories, such as repelling the ambush at Vinh Goc hamlet in 1970 or the battle to annihilate an enemy reinforcement battalion in 1974, contributed to the reputation of this female hero. Especially her oath, ‘The Congress will not be adjourned’ until the liberation of the Cai Nuoc Sub-district, not only demonstrates her iron will but also symbolizes her unwavering faith in the Party and the revolution,” said Comrade Bui Hung Liet, Chairman of the People's Committee of Hung My commune, proudly.

Joining the revolution at the young age of 16, Mrs. Ba Bay's life was not only heroic in battle but also intertwined with touching stories about President Ho Chi Minh, leaving a profound mark on the people in the campaign to build a temple dedicated to President Ho Chi Minh in the southernmost region of the country - a historical project demonstrating unwavering devotion to the father of the nation.

Ms. Huynh Hong Tuoi (78 years old, Rau Dua B hamlet) - who participated in the revolution and worked alongside Ms. Ba Bay, said: "Ms. Ba was very active and proactive, especially in mobilizing the people; she had a very strong voice. Without Ms. Ba's efforts, we probably wouldn't have been able to build the temple dedicated to President Ho Chi Minh."

Having dedicated her entire life to the revolution, Mrs. Ba Bay never married. Now 88 years old, she lives with the family of her youngest sister, Mrs. Pham Thi Be (70 years old).

"The family is very proud of my sister Ba and always encourages our children and grandchildren to strive to follow the example of this revolutionary hero," shared Mrs. Pham Thi Be.

Hung My commune, a place closely associated with the revolutionary life of the female Hero of the People's Armed Forces Pham Thi Bay, is now a well-developed and modern area.

Today, Ca Mau, our homeland, is developing vibrantly. The rivers and leafy fields of yesteryear, where heroes once marched into battle, have been transformed into modern structures and wide, open roads. But what will always endure and shine brightly is the example of those who lived, fought, and sacrificed for the country, guiding the younger generation to continue the revolutionary cause and lead the homeland and nation to even greater heights.

Thanh Hai

Source: https://baocamau.vn/chuyen-ve-nhung-nu-anh-hung-a128302.html