During the fierce days of the resistance war against the US, the people of Ha Tinh, with the iron determination of "no mercy for blood or bones until the road is cleared" and the spirit of "if the enemy destroys one, we will do ten", endured all hardships and sacrifices day and night to preserve the roads.

At the Dong Loc battlefield, in May 1968, our forces shot down 14 American planes; in July 1968, we destroyed 1,780 bombs, contributing 974,240 working days to clear the route and build new roads from Khiem Ich, Truong Ken, Bai Dia. The army and people of the communes in Can Loc district contributed 185,400 working days with 42,620 people serving in combat, digging and filling 95,209 ^m3 of earth and rock, transporting 45 ^m3 of wood, providing 22,448 bamboo stakes, and 24,000 loads of mud to prevent mud. During the 300 fiercest days and nights of the war, more than 16,000 people from all forces faced, held on, and fought steadfastly to connect and clear the route to the front line.

Convoys of vehicles passing through Dong Loc T-junction. (Photo courtesy)

The battle on the transport front became increasingly fierce. The US used all measures and tricks, focusing on attacks in an attempt to cut off our supply routes from the rear to the front. But all of the enemy's plots and tricks failed. The people of Ha Tinh, with the iron determination of "no mercy for blood and bones until the road is cleared" and the spirit of "if the enemy destroys one, we will do ten", endured all hardships and sacrifices day and night to preserve the routes. To open new roads and bypasses, the people of many localities such as Thien Loc, Tien Loc (now Nghen town, Can Loc), Cam Quan (Cam Xuyen)... temporarily moved their villages and houses to other places to get land for road construction. To avoid the section of Road No. 1 that was destroyed by enemy bombs, the people of Ha Loi village (Tien Loc commune - Can Loc) voluntarily demolished 130 houses to pave the road for vehicles to the front. The people of Ky Anh district, with their determination not to let a single vehicle get stuck in their locality, have built dozens of new roads and bypasses...

In this fierce, difficult and extremely brave battle, all forces fought steadfastly, intelligently and creatively in fighting the enemy, clearing mines and bombs, repairing roads, and promptly supporting the southern battlefield. Dong Loc became the pinnacle of the People's War, the combined strength of many forces directly participating in the battle and serving the battle.

Clearing the road for vehicles to the front line at Dong Loc Intersection. (Photo: document)

There were 465 officers and soldiers from the Youth Volunteer Force, the Transport Force, the Militia and Self-Defense Force, the Dong Loc People and the 210 Anti-Aircraft Artillery Unit who heroically sacrificed themselves to keep the traffic flow open, contributing to the decisive victory on the Southern battlefield, breaking the enemy's will to invade. In particular, the Youth Volunteer Force was the main force, the shock troops, undertaking difficult, arduous and dangerous tasks with the main task of filling bomb craters, building bridges, tunnels, making roundabouts and bypasses through Dong Loc T-junction to ensure that Dong Loc was never congested. Typical examples include: The female Youth Volunteer Squad of Company 552, Team 55 "living on the bridge and road, dying bravely and steadfastly" who sacrificed their entire youth for the life of the nation... The place name Dong Loc T-junction is also associated with the names of People's Armed Forces Heroes, typical examples include: La Thi Tam, Nguyen Tri An, Nguyen Tien Tuan, Vuong Dinh Nho, Uong Xuan Ly; martyrs Vo Trieu Chung, Nguyen Xuan Lu...

During the first destructive war of 1965-1968, with the enormous contribution of human and material resources of the People, in which, at Dong Loc T-junction (from 1964-1972), there were 1,226 people from neighboring communes of Can Loc district and 8 students who were killed by enemy bombs. Their heroic sacrifice contributed to the glorious victory of our army and people at Dong Loc battlefield. Ha Tinh was recognized as the leading flag in the North in ensuring traffic safety and was honored to receive the noble Second Class Independence Medal.

The Dong Loc T-junction valley area, less than 50 hectares wide, was devastated and turned upside down by enemy bombs. Here, thousands of soldiers, Youth Volunteers, traffic workers, drivers, police officers, laborers, militiamen, guerrillas... devoted their youth to clearing roads and vehicles to the front line, contributing to defeating the American invaders and creating the legend of Dong Loc T-junction.

At 4:00 p.m. on July 24, 1968, Squad 4 was ordered to go to the key area where the enemy had just dropped bombs to fill bomb craters, repair roads, reinforce shelters, and deepen drainage ditches on the only road about 300 meters south of Dong Loc T-junction. 10 girls arrived at the scene and quickly started working. They worked tirelessly. Suddenly, a group of jet planes from the North to the South passed over the key area. When the planes passed, the girls continued working. Suddenly, the jet planes turned around and dropped a series of bombs on the formation of 10 girls. After the enemy's devastating bombs, all 10 young girls sacrificed their lives steadfastly and bravely at a very young age: Vo Thi Tan (24 years old), Ho Thi Cuc (24 years old), Nguyen Thi Nho (24 years old), Duong Thi Xuan (21 years old), Vo Thi Hoi (20 years old), Nguyen Thi Xuan (20 years old), Ha Thi Xanh (20 years old), Tran Thi Huong (19 years old), Tran Thi Rang (18 years old), Vo Thi Ha (17 years old).

To commemorate that glorious victory, on June 7, 1972, the National Assembly and the Government posthumously awarded the title "Labor Hero" to 10 Youth Volunteers who died at the Dong Loc T-junction battlefield.

Portrait of 10 female Youth Volunteers in Dong Loc. (Photo: Dinh Nhat)

55 years have passed, but the significance of the Dong Loc Victory remains intact. It is a shining symbol of the indomitable will and strength of our army and people, demonstrating the spirit of independence, self-reliance, creativity, and resourcefulness in our Party's art of war command: the art of organizing, arranging, and using forces to "use the small to fight the big", "use the few to fight the many"... using the will and intelligence of the Vietnamese people to defeat the sophisticated weapons and intelligence of the American war command apparatus.

The victory of Dong Loc affirmed the indomitable will, with the combined strength of people's war, brave and strategic fighting, firmly maintained the traffic artery to support the great front line, contributing with the whole country to defeat the American invaders.

The victory of Dong Loc will forever be the pride of our people and peace-loving people in the world. The brave soldiers who sacrificed at Dong Loc T-junction are sacred and noble symbols of revolutionary heroism. Those heroic examples are not only in the patriotic war but also shine forever for our people, especially the young generation, to follow.

The Dong Loc victory continued the patriotic and revolutionary tradition of the Party Committee and the People of Ha Tinh; affirmed the truth that "Nothing is more precious than independence and freedom", "Splitting Truong Son to save the country with a heart full of hope for the future" of the Vietnamese people in the Ho Chi Minh era.

(To be continued)

PV

(Compiled from documents of the Provincial Party Committee's Propaganda Department)