Hon Gai in the memories of people "past and present"

70 years ago, on April 25, 1955, the people of Hon Gai town joyfully welcomed the liberation army to take over the mine from the French. More than half a lifetime has passed, but for many Hon Gai people who witnessed that historic event, the memory has not faded.

Memories of a Doctor

One of the first people I met was Mr. Ngo Mao, former Deputy Director of the Quang Ninh Department of Health . In the house at No. 28, Lane 3, Hong Hai Ward, Nguyen Van Cu Street (Ha Long City), Mr. Ngo Mao, although 86 years old, still has a full and clear memory, shared with the writer of this article.

…In 1954, my house was on Thu Ky Street, Bach Dang Ward, Ha Long City today. My father was an accountant in the Hon Gai coal industry (also because of my background in the “inspector” group, I encountered many difficulties later). However, my parents were chosen as one of the trusted addresses to nurture secret revolutionary cadres to Hon Gai to prepare for the day of taking over the mine (later my mother was awarded a Certificate of Merit by the Prime Minister for this).

At that time, I was a student at Hung Vuong Private School, Hon Gai, along with my friends Tran Quang Ton, Dong Van Vy, Le Van Thong... who were enlightened, guided, and assigned the "three missions" by Mr. Du Van Tuan and Mr. Tran Van Tru: Mobilizing students to enter the liberated zone in Son Duong commune, Hoanh Bo district, attending rallies to celebrate International Labor Day on May 1 and National Day on September 2, 1954, mobilizing people not to let the enemy lure them to migrate to the South, mobilizing all classes of people to welcome cadres and soldiers to take over the mine area. We carried loudspeakers to the alleys to propagate the revolutionary policies: Tolerance for those who worked for the old regime, sanitation to prevent diseases, gathering young people to sing and dance to celebrate the day of change.

The days when the young people of Hon Gai entered the liberated zone of Hoanh Bo were very hard and arduous. We had to take a ferry with water that was almost human, the young "rich kids" of the city had to eat cassava and sweet potatoes for meals. However, we were very happy and forgot all our fatigue. Being in the enemy-occupied zone felt like being held captive, now it felt like being released from the cage, honored to be citizens of the revolution, there was no greater joy.

After taking over the mine, young Ngo Mao studied at the Dental Training School, Phu Doan Hospital, Hanoi (now Viet Duc Hospital). After graduating, he was assigned to Hai Ninh province. Overcoming the obstacle of "questionable background", he persevered to be admitted to the Communist Party of Vietnam in 1962.

In 1963, after the merger of Hong Quang and Hai Ninh provinces into Quang Ninh province, he returned to the Provincial Medical School, then worked at the Department of Health Care for Cadres of Quang Ninh province. After working in many health care units, there was a period when he was the Principal of Quang Ninh Medical School. In 1989, Mr. Ngo Mao took on the position of Deputy Director of the Department of Health, concurrently Principal of Quang Ninh Medical School. In 1999, Dr. Ngo Mao retired according to the regime.

Regarding his locality, Mr. Ngo Mao was elected twice in a row as an official delegate to the Hong Hai Ward Party Congress. He and his wife have two sons and two daughters-in-law, all four of whom are exemplary party members. A simple but very airy and warm home. The complete happiness of “a good doctor like a mother”.

The waves of Bach Dang ring forever

Towards the 70th anniversary of our taking over the Mining Region (1955-2025), the 50th anniversary of the Liberation of the South and the reunification of the country (1975-2025), the former Bach Dang self-defense soldiers, many of whom are now over 70-80 years old, came to the house of Mr. Nguyen Van Sot, 88 years old - to review together the nearly 20-year heroic journey of the unit.

The Bach Dang Self-Defense Company was established in 1958 and consisted of 3 platoons: Bach Dang, Ha Long, and Lao Dong. The unit consisted of young, healthy men, children of working families, with the will and desire to join the self-defense ranks, approved by the Party Cell, Youth Union, and the Command Board of the Hon Gai Town Team; and received political and military training organized by the Town Team and the Provincial Team.

The Bach Dang Self-Defense Company was initially equipped with rifles, later with submachine guns. During the years 1958-1964, the unit mainly patrolled and ensured social order and security in the area; coordinated with the police and the Hon Gai Mechanical Self-Defense Force, and the Ben Hon Gai Enterprise to complete its tasks.

Mr. Luu Minh Tan recalled: The first Secretary of the Bach Dang Ward Party Cell, teacher Phung Manh Dam, required each party member and self-defense soldier to have a self-improvement book, daily recording useful work, existing shortcomings that needed to be overcome... Through fighting and serving in combat, protecting the people's government, security and order in the area, generations of soldiers have succeeded each other in overcoming countless difficulties, hardships, facing fierce challenges, ready to sacrifice their lives to complete their missions.

Right from the first day of its establishment, the Bach Dang Self-Defense Company achieved great feats when coordinating with the main force to capture commandos who had infiltrated Tuan Chau Island and captured bandits who were plotting to destroy the Cai Da mine warehouse. In 1959, in the emulation movement "Sea Waves, Dai Phong Wind, Ba Nhat Flag", the Bach Dang Self-Defense Platoon was awarded the excellent emulation flag, leading 17 units of the ward and commune block. That title was maintained for 6 consecutive years (1959-1965). From 1965 onwards, the platoon continuously achieved the title "Determined to Win".

On August 5, 1964, at Ba Deo bridge, comrades Luu Minh Tan, Cao Van Lam, and Hoang Thi Cat of the Bach Dang Self-Defense Company directly opened fire to fight back against the bombardment of American aircraft in the sky of Hon Gai town, joining forces with anti-aircraft units to shoot down American aircraft and capture the first American pilot.

Continuously building new battlefields, in 1965, the unit was equipped with 3 heavy machine guns. Company Commander Nguyen Van But directly reported receiving 3 more 12.7mm guns. 1972 was a new step of the unit, a turning point in fighting the US Air Force.

Generations of Bach Dang Self-Defense Company met to reminisce about the past.

Together with the observation team on Bai Tho Mountain, which was honored by the people as “The Eyes of the Mines”, the Bach Dang Self-Defense Company was equipped with K44, 12.7mm guns, taking the altitude of 100m of Bai Tho Mountain, and deployed for combat. Officers and soldiers took turns on duty 24 hours a day. The unit organized its own logistics and medical teams to take care of the lives and health of officers and soldiers.

In addition to the Bai Tho Mountain battlefield, the unit built the Ba Deo battlefield, equipped with 14.5mm guns to deceive the enemy with thousands of workers. On August 1, 1966, American planes bombed a convoy of barges at Hon Gai wharf. After the Bai Tho Mountain battlefield opened fire, the unit urgently rescued the casualties, and together with the City Administration Company, brought the dead to Cao Xanh for burial. During the battle, many soldiers had to drink rice water to quench their thirst. Comrade Phong was bitten on the head by a snake, and his comrades carried him to the hospital for emergency treatment. In addition, the brothers also carried out the mobilization orders of the town's Military Command to move guns, ammunition, weapons, military uniforms, and military equipment to be ready for combat. The officers and soldiers, regardless of the rain or wind at night, participated in evacuating food and goods on Ha Long Bay to safe locations; participated in first aid, digging out collapsed tunnels, and rescue.

One day in mid-August 1966, the family of comrade Sang, a unit member, was killed by an American bomb, his beloved wife was killed, and the unit adopted their only daughter, who was still breastfed. Vowing to protect the Mining Area, hating the American invaders who massacred their compatriots and comrades, there were many 4-5 members of the same family who stood in the Bach Dang Self-Defense Company.

At 2 p.m. on April 16, 1972, American planes bombed Hon Gai, flattening Thu Ky Street, many families lost both their lives and their property. As soon as the bombs stopped, soldiers of the Bach Dang Self-Defense Company rushed out to dig trenches and collapsed houses, bringing the wounded to Cave No. 6 for emergency treatment; and bringing the dead to Ben Tau Private School and Long Tien Pagoda to prepare for burial. All officers and soldiers of the Bach Dang Self-Defense Company stayed up all night that night.

Every year, when performing military service, the Bach Dang Self-Defense Company sent its best comrades to join the army. Many members of the unit went to the South to fight and heroically sacrificed their lives, such as comrades Pham Thien Giang, Nguyen Van Tuan, Bui Van Thai, Hoang Van Chuong, and Luu Van Ba.

In mid-1975, the Bach Dang Self-Defense Company ended its glorious mission after nearly 20 years as a working army, a fighting army with many achievements and glorious feats. In 1973, the Bach Dang Self-Defense Company was awarded the Third Class Military Exploit Medal. On June 24, 2005, the people of Bach Dang ward and the Bach Dang Self-Defense Company were awarded the noble title "Hero of the People's Armed Forces".

Phung Ngoc Dung (Contributor)

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