In May 2026, journalist Phan Thanh Dung, head of the Resistance Tradition Club of Liberation Radio, once again cleaned and respectfully hung up a portrait of President Ho Chi Minh in a prominent position in his house.
He recalled: In 1964, I joined the Central Committee Base of the South (R) to participate in the Liberation Radio, the Voice of the National Liberation Front of South Vietnam, when I was only 17 years old, as a technician.
Recognizing the effectiveness of the Liberation Radio Station, the US-backed regime relentlessly used all modern means to locate the station, employing aircraft, artillery, and even infantry and commandos in an attempt to destroy it. However, the station's staff and personnel overcame difficulties in terms of equipment and technology, fought back, and ensured uninterrupted radio broadcasting.
Recalling the events of exactly 60 years ago, this veteran journalist continued: On New Year's Eve 1966, while drinking tea and eating sweets distributed by our superiors, we listened to President Ho Chi Minh's New Year's greeting on the radio: "Congratulations to the North for its enthusiastic emulation/Congratulations to the South for its heroic defeat of the Americans. Forward! Complete victory will surely be ours!" and we shed tears.
Then, on New Year's Eve 1967, Uncle Ho again extended his New Year's greetings on Liberation Radio, with content that was very relevant to current events: "Happy New Year/To all compatriots nationwide/Competing in production/Fighting the enemy better/Against America, saving the country/Victory is certain!" At that moment, it felt as if Uncle Ho was right beside me, beside the people of the South.
In fact, in the spring of 1967, the US deployed 35,000 infantry troops to tighten the encirclement in northern Tay Ninh , blocking our troops' route through Cambodia, launching the massive Operation Junction City. On that day, Mr. Dung's group of six guerrilla-journalists carried two CKC rifles and four K44 rifles using "blank rounds" to propel anti-tank projectiles (as they lacked specialized B40 rocket launchers).
Dung's group hid by the stream, waiting for the lead tank to finish firing its machine gun to clear the way. When the seventh tank arrived, the group used their two K44 rifles to open fire. Dung recounted: "My comrade alone set fire to and completely destroyed the M113 tank, while my teammates eliminated the soldiers inside. I became a 'Tank Destroyer Hero' at the age of 21, it was as simple as that!"
Once again on New Year's Eve, the journalists in the Tây Ninh forest heard President Ho Chi Minh's New Year's greetings broadcast on their own radio waves. Mr. Dung was deeply moved as he recited the President's words: "This spring is far better than previous springs / The news of victory spreads throughout the country / North and South compete in fighting the American invaders / Forward! Complete victory will surely be ours!"
And he told us about Kha Luong Ngai, the "Aircraft Destroyer Hero," who fought while also working as a radio announcer and editor. At that time, after the bombing raids clearing the way, helicopters began transporting troops for landing. Journalist Kha Luong Ngai, hidden in a trench, fired directly upwards, destroying one helicopter.
And then there's Le Van Dang, the "Aircraft-Slaying Hero," a technician in the Radiation Room, who endured dozens of artillery barrages, waiting for planes to come into his sights before pulling the trigger. He died almost immediately afterward, at such a young age.
Like "Heroic Fighter Against the Americans" Huynh Van Tuc, a soldier defending the radio station, fought hand-to-hand combat, single-handedly eliminating dozens of American soldiers twice his size with his CKC rifle. He died before even experiencing his first kiss!
Mr. Dung recalled President Ho Chi Minh's last New Year's greeting on Liberation Radio: “Last year brought glorious victories/This year the front lines will surely achieve even greater victories/For independence, for freedom/Fight to drive out the Americans, fight to overthrow the puppet regime/Forward! Soldiers and compatriots/North and South reunited, what spring could be more joyful!” and continued: Following Uncle Ho's words, the cadres and soldiers in the South fought better and better, and became more and more skilled in journalism. Our station is always proud of the glorious tradition of our revolutionary newspaper, which from its inception has never rested a moment in fulfilling its mission of informing, propagating, and mobilizing the people to fight and directly participate in combat.
But the station also has 25 martyrs, whose names are immortal and inscribed in R. Every year, we return to Lo Go-Xa Mat National Park (Tan Bien commune, Tay Ninh province) to offer incense at the Memorial Monument of the Liberation Radio Station. We have also connected with the families of 23 out of 25 martyrs, and we still regularly keep in touch to offer incense and prayers for them!
According to Mr. Dung's recollections, although he never received any royalties for his work during those 13 years (1962-1975), not a single broadcast was interrupted, despite the fierce and fragmented nature of the battlefield. The achievements in combat, the wounds and sacrifices, the aspirations for peace of every village and every person in the South during the anti-American war for national liberation were never absent from the airwaves of the Liberation Radio Station.
And then, the forest of Tay Ninh fell silent that day. Not a single bird sang, not even the rustling of leaves or the damp smell of decaying foliage ceased. From the simple, thatched-roof hut of the Central Army, through the radio waves, the choked voice of the announcer from the Liberation Radio Station rang out, announcing the passing of Uncle Ho, the beloved President Ho Chi Minh .
Mr. Dung described: “The entire forest of Tay Ninh was enveloped in a profound sadness. All the radio operators stood silently, without a word, all facing the radio as if wanting to preserve every last word. Some took off their floppy hats, bowed their heads for a long time, then turned away to wipe away tears. Here and there in each camp, simple altars were set up, with a picture of Uncle Ho smiling; some units even picked a few clusters of wildflowers to offer. One by one, people lit incense, watching the thin wisp of smoke rise higher and higher.”
We stepped forward one by one, stood solemnly, and bowed our heads in remembrance. There were no loud cries, only a profound, choked silence. The rustling of the forest wind sounded like a farewell to the father of the nation. The forests of Tay Ninh fell silent; the entire region, the people of the South, and Tay Ninh itself shared the pain of the people of the South, deeply mourning the passing of Him!
Source: https://nhandan.vn/tu-rung-tay-ninh-nghe-bac-ho-chuc-tet-post962961.html
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