The spirit of wartime journalists

BDK - Journalist Huynh Nam Thong - former Editor-in-Chief of Chien Thang Newspaper and Dong Khoi Newspaper, wrote in his article "Things We Cannot Forget": "Chien Thang Newspaper was born - it came into existence to fight the Americans. Or, more accurately, to defeat the Americans, as the name of the newspaper suggests. Those who wrote for Chien Thang Newspaper all knew that writing was to rally people to defeat the Americans. The lifeblood of the articles and the writers was the victory over the Americans - the more intense the victories, the more abundant the vitality."

The Victory Newspaper, Spring of the Year of the Tiger 1974. Archival photo.

I was tempered in the resistance war.

During the years of the resistance war against the US, journalistic activities in the province were vibrant and intense. The newspaper Chien Thang (Victory) during the war also served as a breeding ground for a generation of revolutionary journalists with great courage in the province. As journalist Huynh Nam Thong – former Editor-in-Chief of Chien Thang (formerly Dong Khoi Newspaper from 1976) – recorded: “The people working in journalism all shared a common denominator: fervent patriotism, voluntarily dedicating themselves to the front lines against the US until final victory. Therefore, they deeply supported, shared, and loved each other. No one seemed to haggle over their responsibilities or specific assigned tasks. Going to the battlefield, going to the front lines, and staying close to the troops was very normal; conversely, going to battle without being assigned was unusual.”

Veteran journalist Tien Phong newspaper recounts in his article "I was at Chien Thang Newspaper" when he was transferred to Chien Thang Newspaper in 1964: "One of the many beautiful and unforgettable memories, both shared and personal, that could be written into a story or a topic, is the loyal and simple yet profoundly humane way of life of the Ben Tre press and information agency during the war. 'Whether we live or die, we must publish the newspaper!', 'As long as we live, we will write for the newspaper.' That was considered a self-imposed command in each person. Perhaps it was this command that led the older generation to create the history of Ben Tre journalism from the time the Party was founded until now, a history that has never faded."

During those years, the Press and Information Subcommittee was based in people's homes and frequently moved. Their longest-term base was in Giồng Trôm and Mỏ Cày, specifically in communes such as Tân Hào, Hiệp Hưng, Phước Long (Giồng Trôm), Bình Khánh, An Định, and Thành Thới (Mỏ Cày). Particularly, from the end of 1970 to the end of the first quarter of 1971, due to the enemy occupying and establishing numerous military outposts in the upper reaches of the province, the newspaper's office had to relocate to Thạnh Phú (Bãi Đầm, An Qui commune). Veteran journalist Lê Chí Nhân still remembers: “At that time, the propaganda cadres lived in the love and support of the people. Journalists fought the enemy while actively gathering news to produce compelling articles that thrilled the rear and front lines, and struck at the enemy's nerve center.”

The team of reporters and editors of the Press and Information Subcommittee possessed firm political ideology, overcoming the fierce difficulties of war, demonstrating organizational spirit, discipline, and internal unity, and strictly implementing directives from above. Many reporters went to the front lines with the troops, participating in combat to protect the area. They accepted hardships to go into the burning reality of the fighting, into remote areas and enemy-occupied territories to gather news and articles. In particular, the editorial staff and reporters enthusiastically studied professional skills through central newspapers and radio stations, from colleagues, and drew their own conclusions and experiences, resulting in many works that resonated with the people.

Ready to sacrifice

The glorious history of revolutionary journalism in the province has been written by generations of resilient journalists. In the harsh circumstances of war, those wielding the pen remained steadfast to the command from their hearts: "Life or death, we must publish the newspaper!"

Many journalists and reporters from Ben Tre's press bravely fell while on duty. Along with journalist Thanh Giang, the first martyred journalist from Ben Tre (who died in 1947), Ben Tre's press also records the stories of the sacrifices of other Ben Tre journalists.

According to author Ly Cuong's account in "History of Revolutionary Journalism in Ben Tre (1930-2010)," journalist and martyr Bay Dong, from Ngai Dang commune, Mo Cay (now Mo Cay Nam), was the first photojournalist of the newspaper Chien Thang (Victory), joining in 1962. Bay Dong was described as quick-witted and approachable. He often wore a black traditional Vietnamese outfit, a checkered scarf, and carried a bag of film and documents, along with an old camera and flash. In particular, journalist Bay Dong was very proactive whenever assigned to accompany military units into battle to directly capture valuable documentary photos of the victorious moments of our forces. He died while assaulting the Cau Sap outpost with the troops in early 1963. In that battle, he took several photos of the troops charging and the enemy surrendering. At that moment, an enemy soldier hiding in a hole fired as he was taking pictures. After the battle, all that was sent back to the editorial office was the camera and a broken flash unit, stained with the blood of a soldier.

Or consider the story of the female journalist and martyr Thu Tam, who was determined to follow the path of revolutionary journalism at the young age of 19. Though young, her ambition was great. She joined the Chiến Thắng (Victory) Newspaper in 1963 and was always energetic, learning journalism while doing all the tasks assigned to her, from typing and cooking to catching shrimp and fish to working in the sugarcane fields. Whenever there was a battle or an event requiring news coverage, and she was assigned to write about it, no matter how far away, difficult, or dangerous, she bravely accepted the assignment. Many of her news articles were published in the Ben Tre Information Newspaper and in the Chiến Thắng Newspaper at that time. Notably, her reportage "New Year After the Enemy's Sweep," published in the Chiến Thắng Newspaper in Spring 1965, was a heartfelt work, created when she and other reporters were assigned to areas ravaged by enemy attacks. Journalist Thu Tâm, a martyr, sacrificed her life at the young age of 21 in the Cu Chi Tunnels (Saigon) while participating in journalistic work in the Saigon-Chợ Lớn area with journalist Vũ Tùng (Chairman of the Association of Democratic and Patriotic Journalists of South Vietnam) in 1965. Her message, which her comrades still remember, was: "This heart has been dedicated to the revolution; wherever I am, I will fight; wherever I am, I will make revolution."

Through the practical experience of revolutionary struggle, the staff of the Victory Newspaper during those years grew increasingly mature and steadfast in politics, expertise, and professional skills. Many comrades were appointed to leadership positions in the province, and were transferred to the Press and Information Subcommittee of T2 (Zone 8). The revolutionary press of the province during this period produced many valuable articles in terms of ideology, politics, and journalistic and literary skills, providing valuable historical documents.

  Thanh Dong (compiled)

Source: https://baodongkhoi.vn/khi-phach-nguoi-lam-bao-thoi-chien-09042025-a144882.html