The 'long-haired warriors' Hoang Ngan fight against America

Ms. Nguyen Thi Hong Thuy always keeps an old notebook recording information of her comrades in the Hoang Ngan II Female Soldier Battalion.

Unforgettable days

Flipping through an old notebook recording each name, each phone number, and contact address, Ms. Nguyen Thi Hong Thuy (born in 1952) on Hoang Quoc Viet Street ( Hai Duong City) excitedly boasted: "Inside this is all the information about my comrades in the Hoang Ngan II Battalion that I always keep and am proud of. Over 50 years, everything has changed a lot, but only the comradeship and patriotism are still as passionate and full as ever."

Every time she recalls, the memories of the arduous but heroic years of fighting the Americans are like a slow-motion film in Mrs. Thuy's mind. Despite her old age, Mrs. Thuy remembers in detail the passionate days of her youth, dedicating herself to the country. Mrs. Thuy enlisted in the army in April 1972 when she was just 20 years old, full of honor and pride. Her battalion was named after the heroine Hoang Ngan, to distinguish it from the Hoang Ngan guerrilla team in the resistance war against the French, so it was called the Hoang Ngan II Female Soldier Battalion.

After being selected, Ms. Thuy and more than 500 other women participated in training in Thanh Mien district. On September 17, 1972, Hoang Ngan II Battalion received the mission to go to B (belonging to line 559), supplementing the battlefields from Military Region 4 to the fronts in the Central Highlands and Tay Ninh .

Ms. Thuy was a female soldier who was sent to the farthest battlefield, Tay Ninh. She recalled: “The Tay Ninh front was fierce at that time. I was assigned the task of taking care of wounded soldiers. After each battle, I went to the battlefield with everyone else to look for my comrades. Witnessing my comrades dying and being seriously injured, I was shocked, but the fear was only fleeting, I calmed myself down to calmly carry out my mission.”

To be able to join the Hoang Ngan II Battalion, Ms. Nguyen Thi Duyen (born in 1955) in Chi Minh Ward (Chi Linh) had to hide her family's request to volunteer for military service twice. Ms. Duyen said that at that time she was only 17 years old, and her brother had already gone to war, so she was not eligible for selection. However, the enthusiasm and passion of youth and the will and determination to defeat the enemy made Ms. Duyen not hesitate or waver in her decision. "The night before my enlistment, I informed my family. My parents were very surprised, but because it was too late, they only encouraged me to take care of my health and do well the work assigned by the unit," Ms. Duyen recalled.

Assigned to Military Region 4 to perform medical duties, Ms. Duyen is always enthusiastic and responsible for the assigned work. Not only does she take care of, she also kindly encourages wounded soldiers, helping them feel secure during treatment.

Always cheerful and optimistic to encourage her teammates, Ms. Duyen herself sometimes pondered about the brutality of war. She shared: “Bombs fell, bullets strayed, and there were many shortages. For female soldiers, there were even more limitations. However, we still tried to overcome them with the belief that the South would be liberated and the country would be unified.”

Silently contributing in peacetime

The Hoang Ngan II Female Soldier Battalion holds an annual meeting to review the glorious revolutionary tradition (documentary photo)

The female soldiers of Hoang Ngan II, carrying their youth and the aspiration to contribute to the country, went to many fronts to support the fight. They took on many tasks, from medical care , military support to public service, communications... However, no matter what position or job they were in, female soldiers Hoang Ngan were not afraid of difficulties or hardships. When the South was liberated, the country was unified, and they returned to their daily lives, they still promoted the qualities of Uncle Ho's soldiers, being exemplary and responsible.

Ms. Tang Thi Hoa (born in 1955) in Ngoc Chau ward (Hai Duong city) joined the Hoang Ngan II Battalion when she was only 17 years old. The years of service in the army helped her to train her will and spirit. When the country was liberated and she returned to her homeland, she was assigned to work at the Hai Duong Porcelain Factory. In combat or in production, she was always enthusiastic and passionate. Now, after retirement, Ms. Hoa is an active member of local organizations. "No matter where I am or what role I play, I will still wholeheartedly contribute to the common development. During the war, I did not regret my youth. Now, after 50 years of peace, I still vow to serve my homeland and country," Ms. Hoa confided.

As for Ms. Thuy, although she takes on many roles in the residential area, Ms. Thuy still volunteers and is trusted as the Head of the Liaison Committee of the Hoang Ngan II Female Soldier Battalion. Every year, the battalion organizes meetings to review the heroic years of fighting against the US. At the same time, it carries out social activities and solidarity with comrades. Ms. Thuy is always worried that the war has ended but still leaves emotional wounds. Many of Ms. Thuy's comrades devoted their youth to the country, but when peace came, they were interrupted and lived alone. Some suffered from serious illnesses and had difficult lives. That is why timely encouragement, care, and attention are needed.

As the years passed, each year the Hoang Ngan II Female Soldier Battalion met, its members decreased. Currently, the battalion has only about 200 members, but the activities of the liaison committee are very active and effective because everyone always remembers the vibrant and heroic revolutionary period.

HOANG LINH

Source: https://baohaiduong.vn/nhung-chien-si-toc-dai-hoang-ngan-chong-my-409470.html