In the homeland of hero Nguyen Ba Ngoc

Quang Trung Commune (Quang Xuong) is the birthplace and place where the young hero Nguyen Ba Ngoc was born and raised, and is also the place that marked the heroic battle of nearly 3,000 days and nights to maintain the Ghep ferry - the lifeline on the North - South axis during the resistance war against America.

In the homeland of hero Nguyen Ba Ngoc Monument to People's Armed Forces Hero Nguyen Ba Ngoc in the campus of Nguyen Ba Ngoc Primary School, Quang Trung Commune. Photo: Van Anh

We returned to Quang Trung on a late spring morning. Wherever we went, the name Nguyen Ba Ngoc was mentioned, and everyone told his brave story as if it were just yesterday. That is because the image of Nguyen Ba Ngoc is always in the hearts of every person here.

Ms. Le Thi Khoat, the head of the Quang Trung Commune Health Station at that time, who directly bandaged Nguyen Ba Ngoc's wound, recounted the story in tears and emotion: At exactly 8:00 a.m. on April 4, 1965, dozens of American planes bombed the area of Ghep ferry. Ghep ferry - Yen river instantly became a battlefield filled with smoke and fire from bombs and bullets. As noon approached, the fighting became more intense, with the sound of planes roaring and bombs exploding constantly. The fight against the American planes took place in the sky above Ghep ferry and Yen river very fiercely... At that time, Nguyen Ba Ngoc's family had gone down to the shelter, but the children of the neighbors had not yet gone down to the shelter. The sound of bombs and bullets scared the children, making them cry out in despair. Hearing that, Nguyen Ba Ngoc left the shelter, used his body to shield and protect the children to enter the shelter. Thanks to that, Oong and Do safely entered the shelter... When the sound of the plane faded away, Nguyen Ba Ngoc was seriously injured. After the wound was bandaged, she was taken to Chuoi Hospital (Nong Cong) but did not survive. At that time, Ngoc was only 13 years old, in 4th grade.

The story of the bravery and noble sacrifice of the young martyr Nguyen Ba Ngoc not only moved the people of Quang Trung at that time, but that brave act spread and became an inspiration to many generations of Vietnamese youth to dedicate themselves to the Fatherland. The name Nguyen Ba Ngoc was given to roads and schools not only in his hometown Quang Trung but also throughout the country. It was even more proud when the martyr Nguyen Ba Ngoc was posthumously awarded the title of Hero of the People's Armed Forces by the State.

Nguyen Ba Ngoc is one of the heroic sons of his hometown Quang Trung in the nearly 3,000-day and night war against the escalating war in the North by the American empire. According to the book History of Quang Trung Commune Party Committee: “Comrade Nguyen Ba Boi, Deputy Head of Nhan Nghia Cooperative, upon hearing that his son Nguyen Ba Ngoc had saved the injured children in the neighboring house, still suppressed his grief and directly commanded the battle; comrade Bui Van Tinh, whose son was killed by American bombs, still commanded the shooting down of American planes; Nguyen Van Thinh tore his shirt to bandage the wounds of the anti-aircraft artillery soldiers; Ca bravely supplied ammunition to the fighting soldiers, and was later awarded the Uncle Ho Badge. Villages in Quang Trung were devastated by American bombs, many people were injured or killed... Ngoc Tra village did not have many intact houses. Many people in Quang Trung were killed by American bombs, there were families of 4 people who were all killed by American bombs, such as Mr. Hong's family (My Thach), Mr. Chau's family (Dai Loc) had 8 people, only 1 survived; Mr. Thoi's family (Ngoc Tra) had 6 people, of which 5 died".

Those children of Quang Trung, despite the pain and loss, still persevered to protect Ghep ferry to the end, to protect the important position, so that the traffic artery from the North to the South would never be cut off. During the two years 1966-1967, the US imperialists used planes and warships to continuously bomb and drop bombs on Ghep ferry. The level of bombing became increasingly fierce, with 18-20 battles a day. There were peak months such as August 1965, June 1967, March 1968, when US planes bombed continuously day and night. From April 4, 1965 to November 3, 1968, US planes bombed 867 times (including 391 at night), of which 321 were direct attacks on Quang Trung, dropping 3,296 bombs of various types, 265 mines, and 383 missiles. In addition, long-range enemy artillery from the 7th Fleet at sea fired 770 times into Quang Trung land.

Recalling the years of fighting at Ghep ferry, Mr. Hoang Quy Trang, who was the Secretary of the Youth Union of Quang Trung commune and acting commune team leader, said: “People said that Ghep ferry at that time was a “fire coordinate” and a “bomb bag” and it was not wrong. The enemy mobilized the largest naval and air force ever with the most modern aircraft at that time to attack, there were times when they attacked day and night”. At the age of 95, Mr. Trang has forgotten many things in life, but the years of fighting at Ghep ferry are still clearly remembered by him. Every time someone asks him, he can still recount each milestone in time and remember the names of his comrades who fought with him. Remembering the glorious years of fighting to protect the Fatherland in the past, not only Mr. Khoat, Mr. Trang and those who directly fought in the past, but also the generations of descendants today always remind, preserve and cherish the memories and heroic stories of their ancestors - those who did not hesitate to sacrifice their blood and bones for national independence. Especially in revolutionary lands like Quang Trung.

Therefore, after peace was restored, the government and people of Quang Trung commune promoted the heroic spirit of the Ghep ferry in the past, developed the local socio-economy, built the commune to meet the new rural standards in 2016, meet the advanced new rural standards in 2021 and achieve the model new rural standards by the end of 2023. In the new rural construction process, the commune mobilized over 1,200 billion VND to invest in infrastructure works, cultural and social institutions, renovate residential houses, develop production models, and build household gardens. Of which, the people contributed over 840 billion VND, donated nearly 19,000 square meters of land, and thousands of working days.

Chairman of the People's Committee of Quang Trung Commune Mai Ngoc Tu affirmed: Promoting the tradition of the heroic homeland of Quang Trung, in the coming time the commune will continue to develop the local socio -economy, improve quality, and increase income for the people. In addition, the locality will carry out crop restructuring, replicate effective economic models, and at the same time improve the quality of education at all levels as well as local cultural activities to become better and better.

Van Anh

(The article uses materials from the book History of the Quang Trung Commune Party Committee).

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