During the days when the US Air Force concentrated its bombing of the Ham Rong Bridge to prevent the supply lines from the North to the Southern battlefield, Le Duc Phan, just 18 years old, enlisted in the army. During the arduous and fierce months of marching across the Truong Son Mountains on the Route 20 Quyet Thang liaison line, he worked at Supply Depots 34 and 41 of Group 559.

In late 1971, he transferred to the 472nd Division headquarters to provide support to the Southern Laos Military Region on Route 9 to the Bac River. After the country's reunification, in October 1977, he worked at the 12th Army Corps (Truong Son Construction Corporation). In 1998, he retired with the rank of Lieutenant Colonel, Deputy Chairman of the Army Corps' Inspection Committee.

The consequences of the war were extremely severe. Many of his comrades perished in the Truong Son mountain range, while those who returned suffered from chronic injuries and illnesses. A large number of female soldiers lived alone; some became mothers but their children were affected by Agent Orange/dioxin, while others sought refuge in Buddhism... These images haunted Mr. Phan's mind for a long time.

He retired but didn't stop working. For 14 years, he served as Party Branch Secretary, participated in the Veterans Association, and later as Deputy Head of the Party Committee's Inspection Board of the ward. In every position, he was always dedicated, responsible, and committed to the collective good. The people of Truong Thi ward, Thanh Hoa province, often saw the image of a gray-haired official going to every alley and street every day, with a gentle smile, kind and open when interacting with the people.

Lieutenant Colonel, veteran Le Duc Phan.

Listening to him recount his journeys, I was truly impressed and reflected on the deep-seated camaraderie he possessed. Each time he went searching for his comrades, he carried a list, meticulously checking each name and inquiring about each address. Some people required repeated inquiries because they had moved; others had been out of contact for years, their whereabouts unknown. On one trip, upon arrival, he discovered the person he was looking for had passed away not long before. He would record their details, inquire about their family, and then continue his search. He had to return two or three times before finally finding them. In some cases, by the time he found them, they had no remaining relatives; many comrades had moved south to work and make a living. The names on the list weren't always complete, but he persevered until he knew the details of each individual case.

But Mr. Le Duc Phan's most profound mark came from another "return," that of the Truong Son Mountains. On May 13, 2011, the Vietnam Truong Son - Ho Chi Minh Trail Tradition Association was established. At its first General Assembly, he was a member of the Central Executive Committee. In early 2012, the Thanh Hoa Provincial Truong Son - Ho Chi Minh Trail Tradition Association (Truong Son Association) was founded, and he has been elected Chairman of the Association for three consecutive terms since then.

As a voluntary social organization without a budget, he met and worked with leaders to build the organization at the grassroots level. With over 35,000 members, including former Trường Sơn soldiers, youth volunteers, and civilian workers on the front lines, the Trường Sơn Association of Thanh Hóa province is not only a place for traditional activities but also a home of camaraderie for former comrades. He always believed: "Preserving tradition is not just about telling stories of the past, but about caring for people today," and he has transformed that belief into concrete actions, persistently and diligently, throughout the years.

"How to care for people today," and where the money would come from, were questions that troubled him, causing him many sleepless nights. Once, I attended with him a conference in May 2014 at the Central Association to commend Trường Sơn veterans for their economic achievements and to present awards for a literary writing competition. Afterwards, I saw him proactively discuss with his colleagues and establish the "Club of Trường Sơn Veteran Entrepreneurs" in Thanh Hóa. The club has brought together a team of entrepreneurs who are Trường Sơn veterans in the province.

With the help of philanthropists, the coordinated efforts of social organizations, and support from the Central Association, he has contributed to building nearly 300 charitable houses for members in extremely difficult circumstances, with a total value of approximately 13 billion VND (of which the Truong Son Association of the province mobilized resources to build 30 houses, worth about 3.5 billion VND, and thousands of man-days of labor were contributed by members). Each time a charitable house is handed over to a member, he also mobilizes philanthropists to donate televisions, warm blankets, etc., to the members.

Veteran Le Duc Phan (standing furthest left) at the ceremony where Truong Son veteran Nguyen Duy No presented the "Comradeship Fund" to the Truong Son - Ho Chi Minh Trail Traditional Association of Thanh Hoa province.

For nearly 15 years, associations at all levels in the province have mobilized donations of gifts for policy beneficiaries such as war invalids, sick soldiers, victims of Agent Orange, and poor households; awarded scholarships to students; and supported flood-affected areas with a total amount of billions of VND. Thousands of members have received free medical examinations and medicine.

Every year, during the Lunar New Year, Mr. Le Duc Phan would mobilize organizations such as Thien Tam Company, the Red Cross, and other individuals and groups to donate gifts and cash to needy members. Many members who returned from Truong Son had not yet received preferential policies, so he directed local branches to coordinate with the Veterans Association, the Youth Volunteer Association, and the Association of Victims of Agent Orange to prepare dossiers requesting fair and reasonable policy solutions. A typical example is the women of the "Steel Female Engineering Platoon" from the former Tinh Gia district who fought at the strategic ATP Route 20 Quyet Thang... He directed the establishment of the "Comradeship Fund" in commune, ward, and town branches, using it to provide loans to members for production and business at low interest rates, with the principal remaining to be repaid upon the member's death.

"The camaraderie" in him also manifests in his heartfelt concern for those who sacrificed their lives on the Truong Son battlefield. The Truong Son National Martyrs' Cemetery, the National Martyrs' Cemetery on Highway 9 (Quang Tri), Thu Loc, Van Ninh, Quang Binh province (now Quang Tri), Tan Ap (Ha Tinh), Tam Co Cave, and the Road 20 Quyet Thang... are visited annually by delegations from the Truong Son Association. In 2012, the Truong Son Association of Quang Tri province, in coordination with provincial departments and agencies, organized the construction of a memorial monument for 78 young volunteer soldiers from N-237, originally from Thanh Hoa, who died in the resistance war against the US at Dan Chu Crossroads (Huong Lap commune, Huong Hoa district, now Huong Hoa commune, Quang Tri province).

According to him, the "comradeship and solidarity" activities should not only focus on material things but also on the spiritual aspect. With this in mind, he emphasized cultural, artistic, and sports activities at the grassroots level. The "Sing for My Comrades" movement spread to almost all commune, ward, and town associations. To promote the legendary Truong Son Mountains, he directly interacted with many schools and directed local branches to organize talks with students and teachers about the heroic traditions of the Truong Son Mountains.

Veteran Le Duc Phan speaks at the Congress of the Truong Son - Ho Chi Minh Trail Tradition Association in Thach Lap commune, Thanh Hoa province, April 2026.

From July 1st, 2025, the Truong Son Veterans Associations at the district, town, and city levels will be dissolved; communes, wards, and townships will be merged. He traveled even more to quickly reorganize the grassroots associations. Some days he left in the morning, other days he returned late. He continued this work without fanfare or allowances, solely through dedication, enthusiasm, and responsibility to keep the flame of the Truong Son tradition alive. During its three terms of operation, the Truong Son - Ho Chi Minh Trail Veterans Association of Thanh Hoa province received the "Three Best" award from the Central Association: the largest number of members (reaching 31,000 by early 2026), the best work in comradeship and mutual support, and the best work in building the homeland and families. In 2019, the Association was honored to receive the Third Class Labor Medal from the President of Vietnam.

Years have passed, and now at the age of 80, the spirit of Truong Son remains present in the simple yet noble deeds of Chairman Le Duc Phan of the Truong Son Association – a pioneer who helped rekindle the flame of Truong Son tradition in his homeland.

    Source: https://www.qdnd.vn/phong-su-dieu-tra/cuoc-thi-nhung-tam-guong-binh-di-ma-cao-quy-lan-thu-17/nguoi-thap-sang-ngon-lua-truyen-thong-truong-truong-son-1040125