Fallen, without guns: The border forever shines with heroes

Implementing the National Border Demarcation Treaty between the Socialist Republic of Vietnam and the Lao People's Democratic Republic (signed in July 1977), from the end of May 1978, our delegations and the Lao delegation began to demarcate and plant markers in the field.

In Binh Tri Thien province (now divided into 3 provinces of Quang Binh , Quang Tri, Thua Thien-Hue), the task was deployed in the first section in the field from Xa Ot bridge along Xa Ot stream to Sepon river, opening the way for demarcation and marker planting along the entire Vietnam - Laos border. In preparation, superiors ordered a pre-survey of the area north of Highway 14 (now Huong Hoa, Quang Tri).

Officers and soldiers of Huong Phung Border Guard Station inspect landmark 598 (located at the location where 5 officers and soldiers surveyed and sacrificed on the night of August 12, 1978)

On August 11, 1978, a survey team of 6 people marched on foot from Sen But Armed People's Police Station (now Huong Phung Border Guard Station, stationed in the center of Huong Phung Commune, Huong Hoa District) to the south of Ta Puc Cave (1,020 m altitude) to conduct measurements and surveys the next morning.

Because it was dark, the team had to sleep at the foot of Ta Puc Mountain (the area near the current road to landmark 598). That night, due to the influence of storm No. 4, continuous rain caused the entire mountain to collapse, crashing down on the tent, sweeping away and burying 5 officers and soldiers. They were Captain Vo Can, an officer of the People's Armed Police Command (enlisted in 1953, from Phu Hai Ward, Dong Hoi City, Quang Binh); Captain Nguyen Xuan Tang, Chief of Lao Bao People's Armed Police Station (enlisted in 1953, from Tu Nam Commune, Bo Trach District, Quang Binh); Sergeant Ho Van Truong, a soldier of Sen But People's Armed Police Station (enlisted in 1973, from Vinh O Commune, Vinh Linh, Quang Tri); Sergeant Chau Van Dung, cartographer of the Military Command of Binh Tri Thien province (from Hue city) and Mr. Le Doan Tuong, technical officer of the State Surveying and Mapping Department (from Tho Xuan district, Thanh Hoa).

Captain Nguyen Thanh Hoang (former Sen But Station Chief) recounts the search and rescue process for the 5 martyrs who died on the night of August 12, 1978.

Captain Nguyen Thanh Hoang (former Chief of Sen But Station) recounted clearly: “The team had 6 people, 1 person who survived was Mr. Nguyen Van Quynh, a provincial officer, who was lying at the edge, and when he heard the rumble, he ran out. Mr. Quynh recounted: soldier Ho Van Truong also intended to run after him, but tried to turn back to get his AK gun and was buried. Immediately after receiving the bad news from Mr. Quynh, the Provincial People's Armed Police Command mobilized a company of Battalion 2 stationed at Khe Sanh, along with 20 officers and soldiers of Sen But Station to search and rescue. After more than a week of actively digging through the rocks and soil, the brothers found the bodies of brothers Le Doan Tuong, Ho Van Truong, and Chau Van Dung. The search continued for more than a month later, the search force had dug up about 600 cubic meters of rocks and soil, but still could not find the two captains Vo Can and Nguyen Xuan Tang…

For the cause of building and defending the Fatherland

“At that time, from Khe Sanh town to Huong Phung, there was only a trail. The bodies of the three brothers had to be brought to Sen But Station for 2-3 days, waiting for the rain and flood to stop, then carried on stretchers for another 2 days and nights, and buried on the top of a hill in the Ta Con area,” Mr. Hoang said, adding: “The four comrades in the army were immediately recognized as martyrs. As for Le Doan Tuong, he was a civilian, so his superiors left him for later consideration.” On June 12, 1981, Prime Minister Pham Van Dong signed a Certificate of Merit from the Fatherland for “martyr Le Doan Tuong, a mid-level technical officer, who sacrificed his life for the cause of building and defending the Fatherland.”

Ms. Do Thi Sen (69 years old, currently living in Van Phu Urban Area, Ha Dong District, Hanoi) is the wife of martyr Le Doan Tuong, recounted: Mr. Tuong was born on June 20, 1954 in Xuan Son Commune, Tho Xuan District, Thanh Hoa (now Xuan Sinh Commune, Tho Xuan District). In 1974, he enrolled in the 2nd course of the Intermediate School of Surveying and Mapping, under the State Surveying and Mapping Department (established in 1971, now merged into Hanoi University of Natural Resources and Environment).

Portrait of martyr Le Doan Tuong

Ms. Do Thi Sen lights incense at the memorial stele for the 5 martyrs who died on August 12, 1978.

Khanh Hoa

In mid-1976, Mr. Tuong graduated and worked at the Topographic Group 1, under the State Survey and Mapping Department (now the Department of Survey, Mapping and Geographic Information of Vietnam, under the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment), working all over the Vietnam-China and Vietnam-Laos borders to perform surveying tasks.

In 1977, Mr. Tuong married Ms. Do Thi Sen (both working in the Department of Surveying and Mapping) and in mid-1978 he was assigned to the Border Working Committee (under the Department) to survey the Vietnam - Laos line in the Binh Tri Thien area.

In early July 1978, Mr. Tuong went from Hue City to Hanoi to get documents and took the opportunity to go to Bac Ninh to visit his wife who was working on land planning. After returning to Hue for a few days, he and the working group of the Surveying and Mapping Department went to Quang Tri and Huong Hoa to join the surveying team.

Before saying goodbye to his colleagues, Mr. Tuong also told the team leader Vu Gia Quang (later the head of the border survey team, under the Department): "On the last trip to Bac Ninh, maybe you had a child"...

On August 13, 1978, immediately after receiving the bad news, Mr. Vu Gia Quang (at that time in charge of the Vietnam - Laos survey team) tried every way to get to Huong Phung but could not. Mr. Tuong's body was taken to Khe Sanh, and Mr. Quang was the one in charge of the burial. He also carefully wrote down the necessary information on paper, put it in a beer bottle and buried it with him.

Location of 5 martyrs sacrificed on the night of August 12, 1978

Landmark Q-15 was planted in 1978 near the area where 5 martyrs died. Landmark Q-15 has now been replaced by landmark 598.

Thanh Nien Newspaper reporters visit the grave of martyr Le Doan Tuong at the cemetery of Bot Thuong village, Xuan Sinh commune, Tho Xuan district, Thanh Hoa.

Journey home

At the end of 1978, Ms. Do Thi Sen volunteered to join the delegation of the Department of Surveying and Mapping to work in Huong Hoa District (Quang Tri) and visited the grave of Mr. Le Doan Tuong, located on Ta Con hill (Khe Sanh town).

In April 1979, Ms. Sen gave birth to a son, Le Truong Giang. When her son was 5 years old, in mid-April 1984, Ms. Sen decided to go to Quang Tri to bring the remains of martyrs back to her hometown. At the end of April 1984, the remains of martyr Le Doan Tuong were officially buried at the cemetery of Bot Thuong village, Xuan Son commune (now Xuan Sinh commune, Tho Xuan district, Thanh Hoa). At this time, the mother Ninh Thi Duoi officially believed that her youngest son Le Doan Tuong had passed away and 10 years later, she also passed away with her son.

On March 3, 1994, on the occasion of the 35th anniversary of the tradition, the Quang Tri Provincial Border Guard Command erected a memorial stele for 5 martyrs at the intersection of Road 14 Huong Phung - Cheng. However, the name of martyr Le Doan Tuong was mistakenly written as "Le Doan Truong". After many petitions from the family and especially the perseverance of the son Le Truong Giang and daughter-in-law - journalist Nguyen Thi Khanh Hoa (currently Deputy Secretary General of the Lao Dong Newspaper), the stele was renewed, recording the correct information of the martyrs.

Currently, the memorial stele of 5 martyrs who sacrificed their lives for the task of planting border markers between Vietnam and Laos (located in the center of Huong Phung commune, Huong Hoa district, Quang Tri) is not only a place to honor those who have fallen, but also a historical, cultural, spiritual and traditional educational work for generations.

Thanhnien.vn

Source: https://thanhnien.vn/nga-xuong-khi-khong-mang-sung-bien-gioi-sang-mai-nhung-anh-hung-185240726151042123.htm