My heartfelt regards to Ms. Phuong!

Every time she went up to Co Phuong cave, Mrs. Ngoat would call out their names, those young people who had perished in the majestic, towering mountains, so that independence and freedom could flourish and bear fruit.

Ms. Nguyen Thi Ngoat revisits Co Phuong Cave.

With graying hair and a hunched back, Mrs. Nguyen Thi Ngoat (born in 1932), from Thieu Nguyen commune (Thieu Hoa district), the sole survivor of a squad of 13 civilian laborers who died in the brutal bombing raid by the French on Co Phuong cave in 1953, still vividly remembers the tragic yet heroic events of that fiery era. Trembling, she ascends the stone steps, her wrinkled hands touching the memorial plaque, calling out each name, and tears well up in her eyes.

On the morning of April 2nd, Quan Hoa district solemnly held a ceremony commemorating the 71st anniversary of the martyrs' sacrifice at Co Phuong cave. At the ceremony, delegates and the people offered flowers and incense to commemorate the martyrs. Prior to that, on the afternoon of April 1st, the district held a memorial service and released floating lanterns on the Ma River to commemorate the martyrs who died in the Sai village area, Phu Le commune.

Ms. Ngoạt recounted that, in the year of the Water Snake (1953), just before the Lunar New Year, she and more than 130 people from Thiệu Hóa eagerly registered to join the civilian labor force serving in the Upper Laos Campaign. Everyone was excitedly waiting for the New Year to pass so they could set off, with a steadfast vow: "To die for the Fatherland, to live for the Fatherland."

Co Phuong Cave is a National-level historical revolutionary site.

And the day of departure arrived, January 21st (May 6th, 1953). She, along with over 130 young people organized into three platoots, left their hometown of Thieu Hoa for Quan Hoa and Van Mai to serve in the campaign. Everyone in the group was eager and full of enthusiasm, with the spirit of "All for the front lines, all for victory."

In those days, transportation was difficult. More than 10 days later, those young men were present at the Van Mai bridge and road construction site (Hoa Binh province), beginning to organize the weaving of baskets and carrying of stones to build the bridge and road, serving transportation connecting the Thanh Hoa rear area to the Upper Laos region to support the army in defeating the French.

At that time, the construction site was filled with the bustling, urgent atmosphere of our soldiers heading to the battlefield, of the youth volunteers transporting supplies and ammunition, and of the civilian laborers working tirelessly day and night, rain or shine, to break rocks, build roads, and level bomb craters.

Ms. Ngoạt offered incense to commemorate her comrades who forever rest in Co Phương cave.

On March 31, 1953, Ms. Ngoat and a group of civilian workers from Thieu Hoa district were transferred to build the Phu Le bridge (Quan Hoa), about 10km from the old construction site. Whether in Van Mai or Phu Le, Ms. Ngoat, being younger and more diligent, was assigned by the squad leader to cook and wash clothes for the squad. Every day, in addition to the food rations, she would go into the forest and wade through streams to gather vegetables and catch fish to improve the squad's meals. She would still go to the construction site to work in the evenings.

During the Upper Laos Campaign, Thanh Hoa province became a crucial and direct rear base, ensuring over 70% of the province's food needs. In this campaign, the province mobilized 113,973 long-term and 148,499 short-term laborers, 2,000 bicycles, 180 horses, 8 automobiles, 1,300 boats, and other resources.

Located next to this road, Co Phuong Cave (also known as Co Phuong Cave), which in Thai means "starfruit tree cave," lies within Po Ha Mountain in Sai village, Phu Le commune. It served as a military supply depot and station, as well as a shelter for soldiers, youth volunteers, and civilian laborers on the front lines. Due to its strategic location, this area was frequently patrolled and bombed by French colonial aircraft. Therefore, the construction of roads and bridges, and the transport of supplies and ammunition, often took place at night to maintain secrecy.

Every time she visits, Mrs. Ngoạt cries, mourning her fallen comrades.

“Our entire squad took shelter in Co Phuong cave during the day. At night, we went to the construction site to work. We had only been there for one day. The next day (April 2nd), that tragic massacre occurred,” Mrs. Ngoat recounted.

According to Mrs. Ngoạt, at around 12 noon on April 2nd, the French sent helicopters flying low over the treetops in the Bản Sại area. Around 3 pm, they brought in six more planes to bomb and shell the area.

“At that time, I was still washing clothes for my comrades by the stream, not far from Co Phuong cave. When the bombing stopped, I ran back to the cave, unable to believe the scene before my eyes. Right at the cave entrance was a person injured by falling rocks (who died on the way to the hospital for treatment - PV). The cave entrance was blocked, and 11 members of the squad were trapped inside. I cried out for my comrades, then fainted,” she paused, wiping away her tears.

The memorial plaque lists the names of the civilian workers who served on the front lines and whose remains are still found in Co Phuong cave.

After that massacre, the engineering troops and other forces discussed plans to break open the cave entrance. But no machinery could pull out those massive slabs of stone weighing tens of tons. And if they used explosives, there was no guarantee they could save the people inside due to the immense pressure of the explosion. Moreover, according to Mrs. Ngoạt, the Co Phương cave was very narrow, with the vault opening to the sky. The French dropped two bombs on either side of the cave, causing it to collapse completely... Therefore, 11 civilian workers on the front lines were left behind. They were all from Thiệu Nguyên commune.

Ms. Ngoạt participated in the memorial service for the martyrs who died in Phu Le commune.

Peace , this is the fifth time Mrs. Ngoạt has visited Co Phương Cave, lighting candles and incense to remember her comrades who fell in that bombing raid. Each time, she calls out their names, those who sacrificed their youth in the majestic, towering mountains so that independence and freedom could flourish.

This time, too, she called out each person's name, just as she had called them home for meals in the old days: "My three brothers and eight sisters! Brother Hoang, Brother Phuoc, Brother Toan! Sister Dieu, Sister Hoi, Sister Mut, Sister Thiem, Sister Toan, Sister To, Sister Van, Sister Vien! Little Ngoat is here to join you all!" Then she collapsed, sobbing, her hands resting on the rough rock.

Floating lanterns on the Ma River commemorate the martyrs who sacrificed their lives in the Sai village area, Phu Le commune.

Ms. Ngoạt said that among the 11 fallen soldiers, three men were married and had young children back home. Two women, Ms. Toản and Ms. Hội, had recently gotten married and were pregnant.

Later, several conferences were held with the participation of the martyrs' relatives to discuss plans for exhuming their remains and bringing them back to their hometown of Thieu Nguyen for burial. The consensus was to maintain the status quo, so that the 11 martyrs could rest in peace in the lush, majestic mountains.

And, Po Ha mountain, where Co Phuong cave is located, has become a common grave for 11 brave young people who died in the prime of their lives.

Ms. Nguyen Thi Ngoat and other delegates attended the ceremony commemorating the 71st anniversary of the martyrs' sacrifice at Co Phuong Cave.

In 2019, Co Phuong Cave was classified by the State as a National Revolutionary Historical Relic Site. It is a symbol and a traditional site, recording the courageous fighting spirit and willingness to sacrifice blood and lives for the independence and freedom of the Fatherland and the happiness of the people of previous generations.

It is also a shining symbol of patriotism, the spirit of "Fighting to the death for the Fatherland," and the spirit of "All for the front lines, all for victory" of the volunteer youth and civilian workers on the front lines of Thanh Hoa province.

The Lao-Vietnamese joint forces' Upper Laos Campaign, which ended in complete victory on May 3, 1953, opened a new phase for the Lao revolution and created strategic advantages for us to advance and achieve victory in the 1953-1954 Winter-Spring Campaign and the Dien Bien Phu Campaign. At the conclusion of the campaign, Thanh Hoa was awarded the "Best Service to the Front Line" flag by President Ho Chi Minh...

The day after that bombing, Mrs. Ngoat and other civilian workers on the front lines in Thieu Hoa were allowed to return home. After about half a month at home, she enthusiastically volunteered to join the youth volunteer force, transporting supplies and ammunition from Nho Quan (Ninh Binh) to Hoa Binh, and then participated in carrying rice to serve our troops in the victory against the French at Dien Bien Phu. It wasn't until 1957 that she returned home to get married.

For her, as long as she had the youth and the country needed her, she was ready to go. Women and girls, though physically weaker, could not carry guns to fight the enemy, but building roads, transporting supplies, and carrying ammunition—all of these were important contributions to victory.

And along those paths, Co Phuong etched into the hearts and minds a story that, though tragic, was profoundly heroic. It is an immortal epic, where she poured her soul, ideals, and cherished memories of her youth...

Do Duc

Source: https://baothanhhoa.vn/doi-song-xa-hoi/long-nay-xin-gui-co-phuong/210633.htm