During the war years, due to defeat in the South, the US used the air force and navy to crazily attack the North, in an attempt to prevent reinforcements from the rear to the battlefield in the South. The whole country marched to the front, Hanoi had sleepless nights. People evacuated. Military vehicles carried weapons, equipment, trucks carried food and necessities. Trains hurriedly left the station carrying troops to support the battlefield. Throughout Hanoi, the anti-aircraft artillery of the army, the militia and self-defense forces joined forces with the liberation army and the people of the South to fight the enemy.

Leaders of the Vietnam Youth Volunteer Association and the Hanoi Youth Volunteer Association offer incense before the memorial stele at the ferry terminal and Khuyen Luong pontoon bridge. Photo: NGUYEN KHON

The feats of arms of the Hanoi army and people are still imprinted on the Red River and the Duong River. The ferry terminals and pontoon bridges are all important traffic arteries serving the transportation of troops, food, and equipment to the South. In particular, the Capital's youth volunteer force was assigned to protect and serve in combat at important ferry terminals and pontoon bridges such as: Chem - Dai Do ferry terminal, Long Bien bridge, Chuong Duong - Den Ghenh pontoon terminal, Bac Co - Phu Vien pontoon terminal, Van Don - Thach Cau pontoon terminal, Hanoi port, Khuyen Luong - Van Duc ferry terminal and pontoon bridge, Duc Giang - Dong Hoi ferry terminal and pontoon bridge, A3 Nguyen Van Be cable car bridge, Duong bridge, Loi - Phu Dong pontoon terminal and pontoon bridge... These locations were likened to fire coordinates when the US air force continuously bombarded them day and night.

I will always remember my comrades in the N49 Youth Volunteer Team and the N51 Youth Volunteer Team who fought together to protect the Capital during the years of fighting the Americans. The N49 Youth Volunteer Team was responsible for crossing rivers to clear routes, and was in charge of four pontoon bridges across the Red River and the Duong River. The N51 Youth Volunteer Team was responsible for ensuring road traffic, repairing pontoon bridge piers and piers, laying woven panels to make roads from pontoon bridges to dikes to serve the means of transport and traffic of the people, and responding to and filling bomb craters when targets were attacked.

Former Youth Volunteers at the memorial plaque of the heroic deeds of the Capital Youth Volunteers at Khuyen Luong ferry. Photo: NGUYET ANH

In October 1967, Hanoi was bombed continuously by the US Air Force, with one group of planes after another, swooping down from all directions to attack targets. The entire pontoon bridge and ferry terminal on the Red River were also bombing coordinates. On October 27, 1967, at the Khuyen Luong pontoon bridge, the youth volunteers were on duty directing vehicles up and down the pontoon bridge across the river. At that time, many military convoys from Hai Phong gathered at the Van Duc bridge pier, lining up to wait to cross the river. At 3:00 p.m., the US planes dropped bombs on the pontoon bridge, causing a 50m long section of the pontoon and a 180 horsepower canoe to sink on the spot. 6 comrades were injured, 5 comrades were sacrificed, 4 comrades were rescued by the people of Tran Phu commune, Thanh Tri district, and 1 youth volunteer Ta Van Minh is still lying in the river to this day. Turning pain and hatred into strength and will to act, we, the youth volunteers, were undaunted and steadfastly continued to enter the new battle.

Inscribing the heroic tradition of the Capital in the cause of fighting to protect the Fatherland, the Hanoi Youth Volunteers were respectfully honored by the Party Committee and the Hanoi City Government with a plaque of merit at the ferry terminal and Khuyen Luong pontoon bridge in the past, preserving the historical image of the heroic fighting and sacrifice of the Capital's Youth Volunteers.

The capital's youth offer incense before the memorial stele at the ferry terminal and Khuyen Luong pontoon bridge. Photo: NGUYEN KHON

Many bridges, river wharves, and landmarks bear the image of Hanoi's youth volunteers. Years and months will pass, but the heroic memories of a time of war and war will never fade in the minds of our former youth volunteers. The ferry terminal and Khuyen Luong pontoon bridge are now red addresses where comrades come every year to offer incense and pay respect to the martyrs of the youth volunteers who died for the nation's survival. On the 50th anniversary of the liberation of the South and the reunification of the country, we recall the past to be more proud of the heroic history of the nation, never forgetting the previous generation who fought and contributed so that the country "bloomed with independence and bore the fruit of freedom". The former youth volunteers are proud of the generation of fathers and brothers who did not spare their blood and bones for the Fatherland. On this happy day, we and the younger generation will together preserve the history of the nation, joining hands to build a strong and prosperous capital Hanoi.

Former youth volunteer TRAN VAN TRE