Back to the place where there was once "bomb crater upon bomb crater"

(Dan Tri) - 55 years ago, the ground at Dong Loc T-junction was deformed, soil and rocks were plowed over and over again, bomb craters were piled on top of bomb craters. To maintain the traffic flow, hundreds, thousands of soldiers and people fell.

In late July, thousands of tourists, veterans, and former youth volunteers from provinces and cities across the country came to burn incense in memory of the martyrs who sacrificed their lives at Dong Loc T-junction (Can Loc district, Ha Tinh ).

From 1964 to 1972, National Highway 1A passing through Ha Tinh was completely destroyed and cut off. At that time, all traffic from the North to the South had to go through Highway 15A.

Among them, Dong Loc intersection is a dangerous location on this road. This place is considered as the throat, the traffic artery connecting the great rear of the North with the great front line of the South.

From 1964 to 1972, the US identified the strategic location of Dong Loc intersection so it focused on continuous air strikes, of which 1968 was the most fierce.

From April to October 1968, Dong Loc crossroads had to endure nearly 50,000 bombs of all kinds. On average, one square meter of land here had to endure more than 3 bombs. The ground was deformed, rocks and soil were plowed over and over again, bomb craters piled on bomb craters.

Dong Loc T-junction seemed to have exploded, not a single tree or blade of grass could grow. In the photo, the scene of the "dead coordinates" of Dong Loc T-junction in 1968 (Photo: Dong Loc T-junction Relic Site Management Board).

At the Dong Loc T-junction battlefield at that time, there were many forces such as soldiers, youth volunteers, traffic workers, police, militia and guerrillas... The number of people fighting and serving in combat at the peak time was up to 16,000 people.

Their duties included fighting back enemy aircraft, providing security, clearing traffic, filling bomb craters, disarming unexploded bombs, setting up markers to guide the way, and ensuring the safety of people and goods sent to the southern battlefield.

To keep the traffic flow smooth, hundreds, thousands of soldiers and people have fallen. Among them, we must mention the heroic sacrifice of the 10-girl youth volunteer squad.

At noon on July 24, 1968, a day like any other, 10 female youth volunteers from Company 2, Group 55, went out to fill bomb craters and repair the road to clear the way for traffic. At 4:00 p.m., the 15th bombing of the day fell on Dong Loc. A bomb exploded near the A-shaped bunker where the 10 women were taking shelter from the bomb.

The tunnel collapsed, all 10 women died at a very young age. The youngest was only 17, the three oldest were all 24. In the photo is the bomb crater where the 10 female youth volunteers died.

The grave of 10 female youth volunteers is located at the foot of Tro Voi mountain, next to a bomb crater (red circled area) - where the female youth volunteers sacrificed their lives.

On the occasion of the 76th anniversary of War Invalids and Martyrs Day (July 27, 1947 - July 27, 2023) and the 55th anniversary of the death of 10 female youth volunteers, thousands of young people, children, agencies and organizations gathered at the cemetery to burn incense in memory.

Phan Thi Viet Ngoc (21 years old, from Loc Ha district, Ha Tinh) is living and working in Hanoi . During her time visiting her family, Ngoc went to the Dong Loc T-junction relic site to burn incense.

"I also bought white chrysanthemums to offer to the graves with gratitude to the martyrs who sacrificed so that the country could have the independence and peace it has today," Ngoc said.

At the relic site, there is also a Memorial Stele House built in 1998 and restored in 2007. This place engraves the names of nearly 4,000 heroes, martyrs, and youth volunteers nationwide and martyrs who heroically sacrificed at Dong Loc intersection.

Mr. Vu Trong Kim, Chairman of the Vietnam Association of Former Youth Volunteers, met with former youth volunteers from Ha Tinh.

"We returned to Dong Loc to remember those who fell. They exchanged their blood and bones for today's peace. Dong Loc today has changed so much, the resting place and place of worship for heroic martyrs always receives attention from everyone. We are very touched and feel warm because of that," Mr. Kim shared.

dantri.com.vn