Road 20 Quyet Thang - Where every kilometer is soaked with blood, sweat and tears

The route contributed greatly to the Great Victory of Spring 1975

To break the monopoly connecting the Eastern Truong Son and Western Truong Son of the Ho Chi Minh trail system on the "fire land" of Quang Binh to support the battlefield in the South, from the end of 1964, Truong Son troops began to switch from carrying packs to mechanical transport. However, the only mechanical crossing route at this time was Highway 12 from Khe Ve, Mu Gia, connecting with Highway 128 on Laotian soil, through Seng Phan, Lum Bum... joining Highway 9 at Na Bo.

Therefore, this route became the "deadly point" of the American invasion, making it impossible to supply weapons and food to the southern battlefield. In that situation, the Command of Group 559 submitted and was approved by the Central Military Commission a plan to open a new cross-road (Route 20) starting from Phong Nha, Bo Trach District, Quang Binh Province today.

From then on, Route 20 became the fire coordinate, the enemy's main target of attack. On this important arterial road, many soldiers, youth volunteers and frontline laborers forever passed away in their youth to create the historical legend of Truong Son.

Phong Nha town, Bo Trach district is the starting point (Km0) of Highway 20, going a little further is Xuan Son ferry. On this route, there are many martyrs' memorial temples, stone steles engraved with the miracles that made the road, creating musical notes that harmonize into the legendary Truong Son epic.

More than 50 years ago, under the enemy's bombs and bullets, Xuan Son ferry still ensured the task of transporting people, goods, weapons, military provisions, and military equipment across the Son River, supporting the battlefields in the South. Each kilogram of rice, each gun that arrived at its destination on time would contribute to deciding the victory of each battle.

“A feat, a miracle, a wonder” of guerrilla warfare

In March 1973, on behalf of the Politburo and the Central Military Commission, General Vo Nguyen Giap visited the cadres and soldiers of Truong Son. Standing on the ATP key point still in the red soil, the General once said: "Route 20 deserves to be "a feat, a miracle, a wonder". Documents of the Vietnam Ho Chi Minh Trail Truong Son Tradition Association stated that Route 20 is the horizontal axis with the highest density of bombs and bullets per 1km of road in Truong Son.

There was a time in November 1969, for 15 days and nights, the enemy used B-52s combined with F-105 and F-4 attack aircraft to continuously attack key points. If the special national relics of Truong Son road and Ho Chi Minh road have 46 relic sites, then Road 20 Quyet Thang alone has 6 relic sites: Xuan Son ferry, Tam Co cave, Ba Thang slope, Ca Roong tunnel, Thong tin cave, NH cave are special national relics; Tra Ang is a national relic. There are nearly 8,000 cadres, soldiers, youth volunteers and frontline workers participating in clearing Road 20.

At the end of the 1967-1968 dry season, Route 20 was honored to be named Route 20 - Quyet Thang. Every kilometer of road and underground meter on Route 20 was soaked with the blood, sweat and tears of those who built, protected and operated the Truong Son army route.

Mr. Vu Trong Kim, Chairman of the Vietnam Veterans Association, said that the war has long since ended, but on the legendary Route 20 Quyet Thang there are many monuments, memorial temples, and stone steles engraved with the heroic feats and sacrifices of heroes and martyrs.

The most memorable thing is the heroic sacrifice of the forces participating on the Ho Chi Minh trail, Truong Son soldiers, frontline workers, youth volunteers... Xuan Son ferry is the starting point of the shipments of support for the southern battlefield. This is the "red address", where we experienced difficulties, hardships and fierceness, reminding everyone to remember the heroic land.

“All of that has demonstrated the bravery, will and spirit of Uncle Ho’s soldiers, which is the “red thread” running through many generations of the army and people of Quang Binh. Only after experiencing the years of war can we see the great significance of the historic victory on April 30, 1975, and fully appreciate the great contributions of the previous generations who sacrificed and left behind a part of their blood and bones to protect the Fatherland for a peaceful and beautiful life today” - Mr. Dinh Tien Kham, Chairman of the Association of War Veterans of Minh Hoa district, recalled the historic days of April that are approaching.

Minh Phuong

Source: https://baophapluat.vn/duong-20-quyet-thang-noi-moi-cay-so-deu-tham-mau-mo-hoi-va-nuoc-mat-post547018.html