On the occasion of the 46th anniversary of the April 30th victory for the complete liberation of the South and national reunification, we would like to introduce a part of the article ‘An experienced trip’ by colleague Ly Van Tich, former reporter. battlefield GP 10 VNA, former Director of the VNA representative agency in Ho Chi Minh City, titled ‘Overcoming floods in the night, full of human love’ published in the photo book ‘Hero Liberation News’ published by the Press published in 2020.
This photo was taken by reporter Tran Quang Minh in early 1974 at the war zone D (the Southeast). Rightmost are Ly Van Tich, followed by Nguyen Sy Thuy, Pham Cao Phong (passed away in August 2020), Vu Xuan Ban, Kim Son. In the last month of the year 1974, three reporters believed: Vu Xuan Ban was at the same class GP.10 (later Head of the editorial board in the country), Nguyen Minh Nhut (post-liberation was Editor-in-Chief of Dong Nai Newspaper) and I left based on the Propaganda Committee of the Party Committee of Ba Ria-Long Khanh province, they returned to the Propaganda Board of the Southeastern Party Committee located at the Ma Da base in Bien Hoa (Dong Nai now). Two photojournalists Vu Kim Son and Tran Quang Minh continue to stay locally to work. The road we will have to pass outside through the old forests of the East must also pass two roads: Highway 1, the section near the town of Long Khanh, Highway 20 to Da Lat, the section passing Dinh Quan district. Bien Hoa province and Dong Nai river, in the rainy season, often red water overflows the two banks, flowing quickly to the sea. This is the road where we went from the base of the “General Commune” to the TTXGP, but when it was in the dry season, the streams in the dry forest were bare and the small rivers with clear water could walk through. easy and gentle Dong Nai river, drifting quietly. The three reporters we joined with the delegation consisted of cadres from “R” back to the locality to work again, some of the provincial officials went to “R” for training. Communication led the delegation to follow the predetermined route suitable for both operation time and convenient living (safe, close to water sources …). On preparing to cross National Highway 1, the team will take the group to stop at the intersection station in the forest of Bao Binh commune (Long Khanh town), which is about 2 hours’ walk from National Highway 1. The weather was cloudy, indicating a possible end of season rain. The whole group stretching, hanging hammocks under the trees waiting for darkness will pass the highway as planned. Near the end of the afternoon, the rain began to grow heavy and gradually grew bigger and longer. In the south, the rains are usually short, but sometimes there are also prolonged rains. And this is the case. Heavy and prolonged rain, water from the high mounds flowed into a stream around the intersection station, forming a pool of muddy water. From many layers of trees, rain water poured onto the roof rose, wobbling and splashing the roof. The traffic company announced that it might pass the highway sooner, so it is suggested that everyone prepare dinner early to be ready for operation. Although the rain had not stopped yet, we quickly finished the cooking and finished our dinner, prepared everything so that we could march as soon as the communication orders were ordered. Darkness gradually covered the wet forest, the whole group set out to wade through the muddy gutter, to the edge of the forest, across the fields to plant crops and fruit trees of the people on the outskirts of Long Khanh town. It would be better to march in the rain, especially passing places like national highways, near the post, because the rain water will erase all the marks of passers-by. The whole group quietly followed the intersection to cross the fields to the highway. No one is allowed to use a flashlight because it is not far from Long Khanh town, on the top of Chua chan mountain (Ray river?) There are enemy posts. If detecting a suspicion of “Viet Cong”, they will shelling violently. However, sometimes from the top of the mountain, the enemy fired flares to help the whole crew operate more easily (with the contact they traveled many times, so they belonged to the pathway). Then the whole group also came to the side of the road. After observing and clearing landmines, the traffic force signaled to the crew to cross the highway while the rain had not stopped enough to erase all of our footprints from the field into muddy fields. The group quickly slipped into the dark in the fields north of the highway. It seemed that everything was safe and smooth, but in front of us, the stretch of Ray River passed through the field in the blinding light of flares kept by the enemy, the water overflowed on the fields. The day when the leader of the TTXPP disseminated the plan for GP.10 to the provinces, I would like to go to the Southeastern provinces because I could not swim (swim), so if I went to the Mekong Delta, the canals were crowded. will not be convenient for travel. Leaders agree. However, it is not foreseen: floods, people who can swim, can cope, and floods, sometimes even people who can swim are difficult to overcome. We were wondering, worrying about the situation due to heavy rain, extending this stretch of Ray River, when we went from “R” to the province, the water is just above knee high, now not only rising, but also fast flowing and breaking the tops of trees on both sides of the bank. Mr. Thang told the team to wait for him to find out which part of the river is convenient to hug (a compact, lightweight, waterproof backpack) and swim along the water to the other bank. Moments later, he turned and led everyone back up a bit, in the dim light of the flares, the stretch of river that the party would cross was quite empty on both sides, sparse trees. All were prepared to put their clothes (including underwear because there were no women in the group) to hold, tie and prepare to cross the river. The rain has stopped, the river is still rushing. I honestly told my associates and members of the crew that I could not swim. One opinion raised was that I took the umbrella rope (using a hammock) of many people to stretch it across the river so that I could follow it to the other bank. That’s an initiative, but it takes a lot of parachute ropes to get across the river. Mr. Bang, Mr. Nhut, many brothers in the group and I had to open the rope to reconnect the hammock. Mr. Ban looked for a tree stump on the south bank, tied the rope around his umbrella and swam diagonally down the river with his team members to the other side, looking for a firm stump that was tied tightly. I carried the cuff on my back as a float, and at the same time followed the parachute rope stretched across the fast flowing water and safely crossed the shore. Mr. Xuan Lan had to swim back to the other side to remove the parachute rope (the hammock rope of many people) and then swim again to quickly join the union. Mr. Bang had to swim back and forth three times in this river to help me. The enemy’s artillery from the top of the mountain was still firing and guarding, helping the party to quickly cross the fields to plant fruit trees soaked in rainwater to the old forest. Entering the depths of the forest when the enemy flares no longer light our way, people used flashlights to shine. The light of the light, the sound of footsteps rustling the nocturnal animals, the sound of deer and deer (mink) echoes in the distance. Late at night, we arrived at the intersection of the small stream, and everyone took advantage of the stretch, hammock and slept to regain their health for the next march the next day despite being able to walk during the day in the forest.
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