(HBO) – In 1965, when its special warfare strategy failed disastrously, the US sent large numbers of troops to the south of Vietnam while extending the war to the north and conducting sabotage. In Hoa Binh, which was viewed as one of the important localities for providing support for the Lao battlefield, during only a short period of time, the US conducted 69 bombings to destroy local residential areas, economic premises and roads.
Bui Van Kenh, a resident in
Tha hamlet of Thu Phong commune, who directly commanded the fight as deputy
head of the commune’s militia force.
In
particular, it launched continual attacks on locations across the province from
early 1966. To cope with new plots and ruses of the US imperialists, the province
ordered its communes to make plans for dealing with the war of sabotage,
instruct locals how to take shelter from air raids, dig tunnels, build lookout
towers, and stay ready to shoot down low-altitude fighters.
One of the most successful battles of the militia
of Thu Phong commune was the downing of an F105 fighter of the US on July 20,
1966.
Recalling the battle, Bui Van Kenh, a resident
in Tha hamlet of Thu Phong commune, who directly commanded the fight as deputy
head of the commune’s militia force, said he was on guard at the commune’s
administrative committee at about 3pm on July 20, 1966 when two F105 fighters
flew in from the northwest. Above Cun Slope on Road 12B, they dived and fired
at an automobile of the Hoa Binh transport company that was parking on the top
of the slope. Kenh immediately called on militias to move to the trench behind
a warehouse of the Nam Son Cooperative to ready the combat formation.
Observing the enemy fighters’ direction, Kenh
ordered the first volley to be fired, but the bullets missed their targets. The
militia team shortly learned from this and waited for the two aircraft to lower
to focus their attack on the front one. Braving a rain of bullets from the
enemy fighters, the militias still calmly waited for the planes to come within
the suitable range.
When the leading fighter just entered the right
range, under Kenh’s command, the team focused firing on it. Being hit by
bullets, the fighter burst into flames and crashed onto Cun Slope, causing a
big explosion that shook the entire mountain and forest, Doan Duc Tinh, a
member of the then Nam Son Cooperative’s militia team, recounted.
Not only being heroes in combat, the populace of
Thu Phong also helped safeguard many central agencies that evacuated to the
commune while actively working to ensure livelihoods and support the "great
front” in the south.
In peacetime, they have worked hard to develop
economy and enrich the homeland. In 2019, the local per capita income
approximated 31 million VND (over 1,300 USD at the current exchange rate), and
the household poverty rate was brought down to 3.9 percent. The commune has met
all criteria for a new-style rural area while people’s cultural and spiritual
life has also been improved continually./.
Luong Son district is leveraging its existing advantages and maximizing resources to improve infrastructure, aiming to achieve town status by 2025.
Hoa Binh province has employed diverse measures to remove temporary and dilapidated houses for low-income families over the past time. The effort has received the support from the State, all-level agencies, as well as individuals in and outside the province, helping poor and disadvantaged households, especially ethnic minority people, repair or build new homes.
Hoa Binh province’s steering board for implementing the plan on preserving and promoting the values of the Muong ethnic culture and the Hoa Binh Civilisation during 2023 - 2030 held a meeting on November 6 to review the plan implementation. The event was chaired by Nguyen Phi Long, alternate member of the Party Central Committee, Secretary of the provincial Party Committee, and head of the steering board.
On November 2nd, the Residential Group No.3, Ky Son Ward (Hoa Binh City) organized the Great National Solidarity and the Culture Festival between the local people and the armed forces in 2024. There was the attendance of Mr. NguyenVan Thang, the Member of the Provincial Party Standing Committee, the Secretary of Hoa Binh City Party Committee and the leaders from several departments and branches.
Dong Tien village, Tan Vinh commune (Luong Son), organised the 2024 Great National Solidarity Day on November 2, with Secretary of the provincial Party Committee Nguyen Phi Long attending.
On November the first, the Provincial People's Committee held a meeting for the reports on the progress of preparations to hold the Ceremony to receive the Certificate of the special national relic ranking for Trai Cave, the Stone Roof of Vanh village (Lac Son district) and the Opening Ceremony of the Culture - Tourism Week of Hoa Binh province in 2024. Mr. Nguyen Van Toan, the Standing Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee, the Head of the Organizing Committee of Culture - Tourism Week chaired the meeting.
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