 People come to offer incense and flowers to pay gratitude to Vietnam’s heroes and martyrs at the National Historical Relic Site of Truong Bon. (photo: VOV) |
Located in a particularly important position on arterial road 15A, in Nghe An province, which were used to transport supplies to the southern battlefield during the American war, Truong Bon saw fierce fighting between brave people with iron wills and the destructive bombs of the enemy.
From 1964 to 1968, the US air force dropped 19,000 bombs of all types and fired thousands of rockets to cut this primary transportation route. Through the carpet bombing and rocket barrage, thousands of young volunteer soldiers stood side by side with the regular armed forces to write the Truong Bon epic. At that time, in addition to the elite Vietnamese Voluntary Soldiers helping the Lao revolution, the young volunteers formed a force to transport food, weapons, and medicines and clear new paths to the south. 1,240 cadres, soldiers, and young volunteers bravely fought and died at Truong Bon.
On October 31, 1968, 13 of 14 young volunteers of the "Steel Battalion" were killed in a coordinated bombing targeting the Truong Bon road. On September 23, 2008, the President conferred the title Hero of the People's Armed Forces on the 14 volunteers of the “Steel Battalion”.
 The overview of Truong Bon National Historical Relic Site (photo: VOV) |
Truong Bon National Historical Relic Site, which covers 22 hectares in My Son commune, Do Luong district, is the resting place of the 13 young volunteer martyrs. It includes a memorial house, an exhibition house, a bell tower, and an electronic diorama of Truong Bon.
In late 2014, the Truong Bon relic site opened for visitors, particularly adolescents and students, to pay tribute to heroes and martyrs.
Pham Thuong Huyen from Hanoi said: “My father was a young volunteer soldier. Since I was little, I’ve listened to stories about him and his comrades-in-arms fighting to defend the nation. I cannot fully image the hardship that they went through. Visiting Truong Bon to see with my own eyes the memorabilia and listen to historical accounts, I learn more about our ancestors’ sacrifice for independence and freedom.”
Since 2015 the Nghe An provincial Youth Union has launched several campaigns for young people and students to engage in practical activities such as a contest on Truong Bon, visiting families of heroes and martyrs, and planting trees at the relic site. The Department of Tourism has created a tourism route connecting the Truong Bon relic site with Cửa Lò beach, President Hồ Chí Minh’s home town, and eco-tourism sites in the province.
On the 50th anniversary of the Truong Bon Victory, October 31, 2018, Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc (now Presdent Nguyen Xuan Phuc) highlighted the contributions made by the young voluntary force to the great national struggle for independence, freedom, and reunification.
“Together with the Dong Loc T-junction, the Cave of the 8 Ladies, Quang Tri ancient citadel, and other historical sites, Truong Bon lives in history as a sacred site watered with the blood of heroes and martyrs, a symbol of revolutionary heroism, and a source of national pride. Truong Bon will forever be a ‘red address' to educate the descendants about Vietnam’s heroic tradition, patriotism, and resilient and indomitable revolutionary will.”