Things that last

During our writing career at Hanoi Moi Newspaper, we were honored to participate in many large propaganda campaigns, writing series of articles across the country.

Each trip is unique, full of emotions, full of gratitude, and for the officers and reporters who participated in that long journey of searching for information, after months of hard work and hardship, there is joy and pride with meaningful memories that remain forever in everyone's mind.

A group of reporters from Hanoi Moi Newspaper and Colonel Khuu Ngoc Bay at the " Ho Chi Minh Trail at Sea" monument in Ca Mau.

Plan the "battle"

In early July 2011, a group of reporters were assigned by the Editorial Board of Hanoi Moi Newspaper to find witnesses of the “unnumbered” ship to produce a series of propaganda articles commemorating the 50th anniversary of the Ho Chi Minh Trail at sea. The propaganda plan was sent to members, asking for collective opinions on the “planning” of the news articles. In general, it was necessary to cover two main issues: The Ho Chi Minh Trail at sea, the path of the soldiers of Group 125 who left with the belief of certain victory, regardless of sacrifice; The port of the people along the South Central Coast, the South, where nearly half a century ago there were countless examples of selfless people for the task of receiving ships carrying weapons to support the battlefield in the South. Ships and ports are like lips and teeth, only when the port is safe can ships have a safe place to dock, no task is insignificant.

A few days later, the first two groups set off, 3-4 days later. One group, including Tran Chien and Xuan Truong, headed straight to the South Central Coast, "sweeping" from Quang Nam to Tuy Hoa with the highlight being the Vung Ro incident, Duc Pho infirmary, along with the task of initially researching the marine economy , forming ideas for a new topic. The land from Thanh Hoa to Da Nang was handed over to the second group to research, including Ngoc Thanh, Duong Hiep, Huy Anh, focusing on finding what was left of the Gianh River Fishing Group, the first group of Northern soldiers recruited to board the "no-number" ship, finding a place where they could make a good living thanks to the sea, then collecting materials for the topic later. The main means of transport for the whole group was a car, Tran Chien and Xuan Truong chose to fly to Nha Trang, then take a motorbike taxi, hop on a bus, leaving the car for the second group to travel, acting like "old soldiers" with a lot of experience, able to take care of themselves.

Around the end of July, the group of Ngoc Tien and Nguyen An took over, the assigned area was the Southeast, Ho Chi Minh City, continuing to deploy related matters in Can Tho City, where there were names associated with the history of Group 962 in charge of the port such as Colonel Khuu Ngoc Bay, the dreamlike love story of the couple Mr. Thang - Ms. Thuy, one on the port, one on the "numberless" ship for many years.

The last trip was from the beginning of August. Ngoc Thanh and Huy Anh went first, taking a bus all the way to Ba Ria and Vung Tau with the author of the book “Memories of ships without numbers” - female writer Ma Thien Dong to find witnesses who participated in the sea voyage to the North to ask for weapons of the Ba Ria soldiers. Then Nguyen Trieu, Le Hoang Anh, and Doan Anh Tuan took over the work in the Southwest, with nothing more than to learn about the 962nd Regiment, which deserved to be called heroes for its silent feats of protecting the docks for the “ships without numbers”.

In a few words, it actually took us more than a month to be satisfied with what we had received.

Go a day's journey...

Most of the participants in this trip had been present in two long propaganda campaigns in 2009 and 2010, so they had more or less experience.

The first two groups had only been in Thanh Hoa, Nghe An, and Nha Trang for three days when they had some unplanned things to pay attention to. From the interior, Tran Chien called: “I heard here about many unlucky ship brothers, some of them had quite a hard time. Remember to find out how it is out there. When you go to Da Nang, find Mr. Vu Tan Ich and ask him how it is.” The next evening, Xuan Truong “burned up” his phone: “I have been to a few places here, and I see that the marine economy is not just about fishing, how fishermen cling to the sea. It is also about policies to support them. How is the oil and grease, and guidance on information about new fishing grounds. The main thing is the marine cultural mindset, not just the concept of symbiosis, helping each other in times of trouble is enough. Then there is also coastal urban planning. When you go to Hue and Da Nang, remember to see how it is out there.”

Passing through Nghe An and Quang Binh, the group of two called Nguyen Trieu and Doan Anh Tuan for advice. After arriving in Dong Hoi, they suggested that they return to the south of Ngang Pass one day, go to Canh Duong commune to find new witnesses, and conveniently find ideas that could help build up a report on the fishing village. When meeting the "owner" of Canh Duong fishing port, they also heard the story of two captains who were planning to pursue new fishing grounds near Truong Sa, and they understood more clearly what Xuan Truong had discussed the night before, that the marine economy or sticking to the sea is not just about helping fishing boats float on the ocean, helping fishermen ensure regular trips back and forth. Big policies need long-term plans, creating basic conditions for sustainable development of coastal areas... Late that night, Duong Hiep drove to continue looking for witnesses of the "unnumbered" boat, Huy Anh went to the dock to see the fishing village to welcome her husband and children back after a trip far from shore. Tong Ngoc Thanh was able to rest and regain her strength after a long journey through Hong Linh, Can Loc, and Cam Xuyen outside Ha Tinh.

The group went to the Southeast, Ho Chi Minh City, Can Tho, which was successful but hard. Malaria forced Ngoc Tien to go to Cho Ray Hospital, probably only a day or two after finding "genuine" witnesses in Ho Chi Minh City, leaving Nguyen An alone in a car to Can Tho to meet the veteran couple Thang and Thuy.

The last group that went to the Southwest was probably the luckiest, although Nguyen Trieu was not well, he mainly instructed his younger colleagues on what issues to focus on, even though they were on the road for many consecutive days, eating and resting too much, after finishing the work, they set off again. Because no matter what, they got to go to Ca Mau to visit the hero of the "no-number" ship Bong Van Dia, hear about the story of welcoming the ship in Thanh Phu - Ben Tre... Le Hoang Anh and Doan Anh Tuan participated in the work, going down to the commune and then going out to sea to find the old dock, sometimes passing through four or five provinces in one day.

Later, when returning to the capital, many people realized that the trip brought more benefits than they thought. The Ho Chi Minh Trail at sea not only had captains and political commissars, but also other unknown heroes, mechanics, train drivers, reporters... who have not been mentioned until now. The fierce war not only had ships that reached safe shores, but also those who sacrificed themselves, those who were brave but unlucky, who are still alive but may have lost a lot.

Thinking about them, I feel like I have to live better.

On the day returning to Hanoi, when passing the A Roang peak on the majestic Truong Son range, when waiting for the ferry to cross the big river near Ham Luong wharf, or simply stopping in the middle of the road, the story of finding witnesses of the "no-number" ship often comes back to the group of Hanoi Moi reporters.

I still remember the moments when I faced the "unnumbered" ship veteran Nguyen Van Vinh in My Thuy, Vinh Linh, Quang Tri. A small house in the middle of white sand, three people relied on each other to overcome the debt burden from a small loan to repair the house. I wanted to help them a little bit, but it was not enough, but I did not dare to say anything in front of the pride of the veteran's family.

I still remember the image of Captain Pham Quoc Hong's wife in Canh Duong - Quang Binh, her back bent, her hair white after years of carrying her child to beg for food while her husband was away on the "unlucky" ship. I still remember the image of Mrs. Muoi Riu, the person who gave birth to CCB Le Ha, who was on the boat from Ba Ria to the North to ask for weapons years ago, and who also thoughtlessly spent tens of taels of gold to buy a boat for her children to cross the sea to find the North. I remember the small CCB in Cam Xuyen, who went through life and death but now cannot escape the situation of having to depend on others. I remember the words of CCB Nguyen Dinh Sin in Nghe An, that we do not want anything grand, we just want a priority medical examination paper when the weather changes, I hope that those who are still suffering will be remembered by society...

In the midst of everyday life, memories resurface as if it were yesterday, with heroes who once sacrificed themselves for the Fatherland, now less fortunate, not as good as others. Suddenly I feel I have a duty to live a better life.

Source: https://hanoimoi.vn/nhung-dieu-con-mai-706284.html