K53 Youth Volunteer Team met on Traditional Day

On August 15, in Hanoi , the K53 Youth Volunteer Team held a meeting to celebrate the 60th anniversary of its traditional day (August 16, 1965 - August 16, 2025); 15 years of receiving the title of Hero of the People's Armed Forces.

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh sent a congratulatory flower basket.

Alternate member of the Party Central Committee, Vice Chairman of the Central Committee of the Vietnam Fatherland Front , First Secretary of the Central Youth Union Bui Quang Huy presented flowers to congratulate Liaison Committee K53. Photo: Mai Tung

Chairman of the Hanoi City Association of Former Youth Volunteers Nguyen Van Dinh presented flowers to congratulate the Liaison Committee K53. Photo: Mai Tung

Reviewing the journey of fighting and dedication, Head of the Liaison Committee of the K53 Youth Volunteer Team Do Quoc Phong shared that 60 years ago, the Central Committee of the Vietnam Labor Youth Union decided to establish a special youth volunteer team named the K53 Youth Volunteer Team (Team K53) with 347 soldiers aged "eighteen and twenty" from the provinces and cities of Hanoi, Ninh Binh, Quang Tri and Hue city.

After a month of intensive training in Hanoi, on August 16, 1965, the K53 Youth Volunteer Team set off for the South with the initial mission of carrying out youth mobilization work in the liberated area of Tri Thien. At the end of 1965, the unit returned to Vinh Linh, headed south, and opened a new road called the unified line parallel to line 559.

Team K53 coordinated with Bac Son Transport Group, most of the team members were Ta Oi - Van Kieu people, and Transport Battalion 8 - Military Region 4, forming a line to transport weapons and food to bring cadres and soldiers to the South, and carry wounded soldiers to the North for treatment with an area of operation from the south of Ben Hai River to the north of Hai Van Pass.

The new route was opened, K53 established a reconnaissance team to protect the transport corridor called "Road". The result of the coordination between Team K53 and local cadres and guerrillas was a large ferry that could carry an entire platoon across the river (this ferry existed until the signing of the Paris Agreement in 1973).

Head of the Liaison Committee of the Youth Volunteer Team K53 Do Quoc Phong spoke to review the tradition. Photo: Mai Tung

At the end of 1967, with its outstanding achievements, Team K53 was sent 2 delegates to attend the Congress of Heroes and Emulation Fighters at the military region level, and was honored as the Flag of the Military Region's Transport Industry; and was awarded the First Class Military Exploit Medal for the team and C3 Ha Tay. Company Commander Nguyen Nam Hai and boatman Do Quoc Phong both received Certificates of Merit and the title "Brave Soldiers Determined to Win".

K53 is a special Youth Volunteer Team and its achievements are also very special: 111 members of Team K53 were sacrificed, 167 other members were injured, the rest were affected by bombs and bullets, and were infected with Agent Orange. With its achievements, Team K53 was awarded the Excellent Emulation Flag 1967-1972; and was awarded thousands of medals of military merit and medals of various types, 4 times more than the number of soldiers.

The footsteps of the K53 Youth Volunteers went all over the battlefield, not only transporting and delivering messages but also directly fighting to protect the lines, achieving many feats against the Americans and puppets.

Awarding the Vietnam Veterans' Youth Volunteers Commemorative Medal to the former youth volunteers. Photo: Mai Tung

Attending the program, Chairman of the Central Committee of the Vietnam Veterans Association Vu Trong Kim sent his best wishes to the former volunteers; expressed his deep gratitude to the comrades who sacrificed their lives and the wounded soldiers who still carry the wounds of war and Agent Orange.

Comrade Vu Trong Kim emotionally shared that the journey of the K53 youth volunteer force was an arduous one, full of sacrifice and courage, overcoming bombs, bullets, and fire day and night. They were the “heroes among heroes”. The motivation for the youth generation of the past to persevere in the fight was the ideal of the working youth, the leading flag of the Youth Union, the spirit of dedication and readiness to sacrifice for the cause of liberating the South...

In February 2010, President Nguyen Minh Triet signed a decision to award Team K53 the title of Hero of the People's Armed Forces.

Source: https://hanoimoi.vn/doi-thanh-nien-xung-phong-k53-gap-mat-nhan-ngay-truyen-thong-712741.html