Crossing the Truong Son Mountains twice!

That is the title of the fourth book on the subject of war by author Kim Toan, a former reporter for the Liberation Newspaper. On July 23, 2023, on the occasion of the 76th anniversary of the War Invalids and Martyrs Day (July 27), in the port city of Hai Phong , more than 100 friends, colleagues, journalists, and writers organized a seminar to launch this valuable book. The hall was filled with fresh flowers, congratulatory smiles, and even tears of emotion for the soldier-war invalid and journalist Kim Toan. A fellow writer asked Kim Toan:

- In the book, he vividly describes the beautiful, pure, and innocent feelings of the young female volunteers for the soldier and journalist Kim Toàn on the march to the battlefield, even though it was only a brief encounter by a bomb crater, next to a bridge abutment that had just been ravaged by American bombs.

Pausing for a moment, the writer repeated what Kim Toàn had revealed:

- The young volunteer girl named Mận hugged Kim Toàn tightly and whispered, "When you return victorious from the battle, remember to visit my hometown by the Ngàn Phố River so we can get married, my dear!"

Author Kim Toan, who in 2023 passed the age of 83, smiled brightly as he stood up to answer the question posed by his fellow writer:

- Set against the backdrop of an extremely fierce war, amidst the intense battles of Truong Bon, Dong Loc Crossroads, and Tam Co Cave on the vital Highway 20, where life and death hung in the balance, the humane and deeply admirable love that these young women, in the prime of their youth, felt for soldiers they had never met, and whose hometowns and family backgrounds were unknown, is truly real.

Recalling the beautiful memories from the Truong Son Road, Kim Toan's heart almost stopped beating, his eyes welled up with tears, and he was deeply moved:

- In that life-or-death situation, not only Mận and Kim Toàn, but thousands of girls and soldiers, all in the prime of their lives, possessed very human, genuine, and humane feelings. Upon reaching the military outpost further inside, our marching group received devastating news: just over three hours after our encounter on that route, American planes dropped bombs on the battlefield – a key strategic area – and Mận and almost the entire youth volunteer company were wiped out.

Kim Toàn recounts in his blood-soaked writings the battle routes in Zone VI, the southernmost part of Central Vietnam, where the enemy rained bombs and bullets relentlessly, relentlessly attacking key points. Snipers, cluster bombs, magnetic bombs, and delayed-action mines were scattered everywhere. Soldiers, volunteer youth, and civilian laborers on the eastern and western flanks stood shoulder to shoulder, protecting the safety and continuity of the Zone V front with the B2 front. As one fell, another took their place, with countless reinforcements pouring into the fronts.

Kim Toan's writings, "Twice Crossing the Truong Son Mountains," as well as Thanh Liem's work, "Clouds Covering the Road," by a former reporter for the Liberation News Agency (later a Vietnam News Agency reporter in Thuan Hai - Binh Thuan and Ninh Thuan), depict a beautiful love story on the Truong Son Road, where enemy bombs and bullets could rain down at any moment, day or night. The love between the soldiers was paramount. And it was precisely because of this that their spiritual strength was multiplied many times over, giving them the courage and unwavering faith to overcome all dangers; no bomb or bullet could subdue them.

On the occasion of War Invalids and Martyrs Day, July 27, 2023, everyone remembers the heartbreaking figures, even though the statistics may not be complete: Approximately 8,000,000 soldiers from various branches of the armed forces set foot on the legendary Truong Son Trail. Journalist and soldier Kim Toan crossed the Truong Son Trail twice – marching on foot from North to South and vice versa. Nationwide, there are 1,146,250 martyrs, over 200,000 remains of martyrs yet to be found, bodies still lying on the Truong Son Trail and other battlefields; over 300,000 martyrs have been collected but their identities, hometowns, and units remain unknown; and over 800,000 war invalids and those entitled to similar benefits… Binh Thuan is among the top provinces with the highest number of war invalids, martyrs, and families receiving benefits; it is one of the leading localities in effectively implementing the policy of showing gratitude and remembering those who sacrificed for the country.

"Crossing the Truong Son Mountains twice" – a microcosm of the "confrontation" between justice and injustice, between those who resisted invasion and the invaders!

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