45 years ago, on July 28, 1978, at Coi market, Hung Loc commune, Vinh city, Nghe An province, the 337th Infantry Division (the predecessor of the 337th Economic-Defense Group) was established under Decision No. 252 of the Ministry of National Defense on the basis of merging units: Group 337 under the General Department of Economics - Ministry of National Defense; Infantry Regiment 92; Infantry Regiment 4; Infantry Regiment 52 and Artillery Regiment 222.

Colonel Nguyen Duc Thao, Political Commissar of Economic-Defense Group 337, delivered a welcoming speech.

On February 19, 1979, the General Staff issued an order to "Mobilize Division 337 of Military Region 4 to reinforce Military Region 1 to carry out combat missions to protect the northern border". During the implementation of the mission, officers and soldiers of Division 337 were always united, fought bravely and achieved many outstanding feats. A typical example was the battle to stop the enemy in the Khanh Khe bridge area across the Ky Cung river, which was recognized by the Party Committee, government and people of Lang Son province and the Command of Military Region 1. Since then, Division 337 has been named Khanh Khe Division with 10 traditional golden words: "Urgent, serious, united, resilient, determined to win".

Delegates attending the meeting.

In 1995, the Ministry of National Defense decided to transfer Division 337 from Military Region 1 to Military Region 4; stationed in Cam Xuyen district, Ha Tinh province, to carry out combat readiness tasks, manage and train reserve forces.

Leaders of Economic-Defense Group 337 awarded prizes to individuals who won prizes in the contest to learn about the 45th anniversary of the tradition of the 337th Economic-Defense Group Division.

In 1999, Division 337 was assigned by its superiors to change its mission and change its name to Economic-Defense Group 337, carrying out the task of building the Khe Sanh Economic-Defense Zone in strategic areas of remote, isolated, and especially difficult areas in 5 northern communes of Huong Hoa district, Quang Tri province. At the same time, it was tasked with managing and training reserve forces in the two provinces of Quang Binh and Ha Tinh. By 2020, the unit expanded its mission area to 13 communes in the two districts of Huong Hoa and Dakrong.

Up to now, the unit has handed over to the locality for effective use 3 clusters with 681 households and 9 residential areas with 10 to 34 households; 45 works serving the people's lives and activities with a total investment of hundreds of billions of VND; opened 12 training courses to transfer production techniques to more than 500 participants with a total cost of over 12.6 billion VND... contributing together with local Party committees, authorities, departments, branches and unions to reduce the poverty rate to 58.35%.

Meeting scene.

With its achievements, Economic-Defense Group 337 was honored to be awarded by the Party and State with the 3rd class Military Exploit Order, 3rd class Feat of Arms Order, 3rd class Fatherland Protection Order and many other noble awards.

Delegates visit the book exhibition booth.

At the meeting, the leaders of the 337th Military Economic Group awarded prizes to individuals with high achievements in participating in the Contest to learn about the 45-year tradition of the 337th Military Economic Group.

News and photos: VO DONG

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