Attending the meeting were comrades: Lieutenant General Do Xuan Tung, Deputy Director of the General Department of Politics of the Vietnam People's Army (VPA); Major General Nguyen Ba Luc, Deputy Chief of the General Staff of the Vietnam People's Army; representatives of functional agencies of the Ministry of National Defense ...

General Phan Van Giang chaired the meeting. Photo: VIET TRUNG

On December 18, 1968, when the resistance war against the US entered a fierce phase, the Truong Son Women Drivers Company was established - an unprecedented event in the history of the Vietnam People's Army. Girls in their eighteens and twenties left their hometowns to join the army, drove heavy trucks, overcame bombs and bullets, and promptly provided support to the front lines, contributing to the liberation of the South and the reunification of the country.

Truong Son female drivers at the meaningful meeting. Photo: VIET TRUNG

More than half a century has passed, but the image of the female drivers of Truong Son - carrying guns on their shoulders, steady hands on the steering wheel, faces covered in gasoline fumes, bright eyes in the middle of the night of bombs and bullets - is still imprinted in the memories of generations of Vietnamese people. Many fell at a very young age, leaving their youth in the majestic Truong Son forest, in exchange for peace and unity for the country. The blood, tears and extraordinary determination of the female drivers of Truong Son contributed to creating the legend of the Ho Chi Minh Trail - the road of Vietnamese will.

General Phan Van Giang presents gifts to female drivers of Truong Son. Photo: VIET TRUNG

During the arduous years of fighting, the Truong Son Women Drivers Company achieved many outstanding feats. Thousands of trips crossed key points, tens of thousands of tons of goods, ammunition, and food were transported to the front line; participated in rescuing wounded soldiers and comrades from bombs and bullets; maintained the "traffic arteries" for the major battlefields of Route 9-Southern Laos (1971); the historic Ho Chi Minh Campaign (1975)... These were vivid manifestations of intelligence, bravery, and revolutionary discipline, and were shining examples for the entire army to follow.

On July 23, 2014, the Truong Son Female Drivers Company was honored by the State with the title of Hero of the People's Armed Forces; Comrade Phung Thi Vien, Company Commander, was posthumously awarded the title of Hero of the People's Armed Forces; many individuals were awarded the Medal of Military Exploit, Medal of Resistance... Currently, the Truong Son Female Drivers Association has 40 members; despite their old age and weak health, the spirit of "cutting through Truong Son to save the country" still burns brightly in their hearts. They are shining examples of compassion and loyalty. The image of the Truong Son female drivers continues to be a source of encouragement for officers and soldiers of the entire army, especially the young generation, to follow.

The Minister of National Defense kindly asked about the female drivers of Truong Son. Photo: VIET TRUNG

Speaking at the meeting, on behalf of the Central Military Commission and the leaders of the Ministry of National Defense, General Phan Van Giang sent to the female drivers of Truong Son his warmest greetings, congratulations and deepest gratitude.

The Minister of National Defense hopes that the female drivers of Truong Son, living witnesses of a time of war, will continue to be the torch of tradition, telling the younger generation true and touching stories about the spirit of "the heart can stop beating but the steering wheel does not leave", about patriotism, faith in the Party, in the Army and the victory of the revolution.

General Phan Van Giang and delegates take a photo with female drivers of Truong Son. Photo: VIET TRUNG

The spirit and qualities of the Truong Son female drivers will forever be invaluable spiritual values ​​that foster the will to be self-reliant, self-reliant, and aspire to rise up, urging every officer and soldier today to live, fight, study, and work worthy of the previous generation. Every young soldier today needs to engrave and follow the example of the Truong Son female drivers: Steadfast, brave, absolutely loyal, and devoted to the Fatherland and the people.

The Minister of National Defense wished the female drivers of Truong Son to continue promoting the tradition of "When drinking water, remember its source" and "Comradely affection", contributing to educating the tradition of patriotism, fostering trust and responsibility for the young generation, together with the entire army and people to firmly build and protect the socialist Fatherland of Vietnam.

DUY DONG

    Source: https://www.qdnd.vn/quoc-phong-an-ninh/tin-tuc/dai-tuong-phan-van-giang-chu-tri-gap-mat-ban-lien-liac-dai-doi-nu-lai-xe-truong-son-884541