Back to the source - A journey of gratitude and fostering the spirit of service of the Union staff of the University of Social Sciences and Humanities

During the 4-day, 3-night journey of “Returning to the Source”, the field trip, special experiences and training left many echoes and deep impressions on the members of the working group.

At exactly 8:05 p.m. on July 16, 2024, the QB1 train began rolling to Dong Hoi, Quang Binh. This was the first train trip of the group of cadres and union members of the University of Social Sciences and Humanities to return to the revolutionary homeland of the Central region. The experiences of the night train in the camaraderie of colleagues and comrades of the working group brought interesting emotions, optimism and close attachment after months of hard work for the common work.
Quang Tri Citadel - every inch of land soaked in heroes' blood
The train arrived at Dong Hoi station early on July 17. The dawn of the land of fire in the past welcomed us with a cool breeze, not as hot as the summers that were burning with heat. The sacred land soaked in blood 50 years ago is now covered by the gentle green of the earth and sky. We set off for more than 100 km to Quang Tri Citadel - a particularly important national relic. Located on Ly Thai To Street, about 2 km east of Highway 1A, Quang Tri Citadel is a complex built during the reign of King Gia Long with a feat of 28 years, starting in 1809. Experiencing many historical events, Quang Tri Citadel has marked the ups and downs of the times from the Nguyen Dynasty to the French colonial period. Quang Tri Citadel was once a place to detain patriots and loyal revolutionary soldiers in the pre-uprising period. The Geneva Agreement of July 20, 1954 took the 17th parallel as the temporary boundary dividing the country. Quang Tri Citadel was occupied and became the political, military, socio-economic center, a new type of colony of the US empire. And from that historical moment, Quang Tri Citadel became a symbol of revolutionary heroism in the 1972 strategic attack and the historic 81-day and night battle (June 28, 1972 - September 16, 1972). We stand here, moved and deeply admire the land soaked in the blood of thousands of soldiers. They lived and died for the country until their last breath. During the incense offering ceremony for the martyrs of the ancient citadel, we only saw the vast blue sky and an indescribably peaceful city. No one dared to step forward because their blood and bones had soaked into the soil, into the alluvial soil of the banks, bringing eternal peace to the nation. The story of the legendary and tragic 81 days and nights at Quang Tri Citadel touched the hearts of those standing on this land. With an area of ​​over 2 square kilometers, in 81 days and nights, Quang Tri town and Quang Tri Citadel endured 328,000 tons of bombs and bullets, on average each of our soldiers had to endure 100 tons of bombs, 200 artillery shells, equivalent to the destructive power of 7 atomic bombs that the US dropped on Hiroshima, Japan in 1945. Up to 80% of our soldiers died due to the pressure of bombs and bullets. They also fell due to tropical depression, when the Thach Han River rose, the whole town was submerged in water. Many soldiers who had just fought off enemy attacks, soaked in water, ate dry rations, had no strength to hold on, countless casualties, some days up to hundreds of soldiers...
The victory in regaining every inch of land in Quang Tri Citadel during the 81-day and night counterattack campaign had vital significance, contributing decisively to the victory of the diplomatic struggle at the Paris negotiation table, paving the way for the great victory in the Spring of 1975, completely liberating the South, unifying the country, and being a testament to the wholehearted loyalty and filial piety, the noble sacrifice for the cause and independence of the nation.
Thousands of soldiers sacrificed their lives when they were still young with many unfulfilled ambitions. Because it was impossible to find all of their remains, Quang Tri built a memorial in the center of the ancient citadel - a common grave for thousands of beloved sons of the fatherland who would never return. We lined up to offer incense to the martyrs, walked up 81 steps symbolizing 81 days and nights of fighting in the ancient citadel of Quang Tri to relive the glorious, painful and heroic days. We silently admired 81 reliefs which were 81 calendars recording each day of the 81-day and night war in the ancient citadel - special calendars preserving the sacred soul of the country. This place also has the bloody footprints of the excellent former students of Hanoi University and many other universities across the beloved North. They left behind their pens and ink, threw themselves into the fierce battlefield in the fiery summer, sending their blood and bones to the motherland. The group's most profound memory was the moment when he heard the explanation of the sacred letter predicting the passing of martyr Le Van Huynh (Kien Xuong, Thai Binh). Sent to his kind mother in his hometown with the very real feelings of a son far away, he wrote: "Dear mother! When I go, you will stay behind until your hair turns white, consider me always lying next to you, don't be sad so my soul can fly freely... Don't be sad, consider me as having lived my whole life for the Fatherland"; "I sit here writing a few last lines before "going to research the secrets underground" so that the family won't see it as sudden... Dear mother! Growing up in your arms since I was an egg, before I could repay your great kindness, your youngest child had to visit my father. When this letter reaches you, you must be very sad. The heart is heavy with pain, the blood is thicker than water, the yellow leaves are still on the tree, the green leaves fall down..."

Writing to his young newlywed wife, martyr Huynh said: “You will read this letter to everyone in the family at the memorial service for me. Let me send my best wishes to all my relatives and friends in my homeland at this historic memorial service... Don't be sad, when you live in peace, remember me. If you truly love me, when peace comes, you will have the opportunity to go to the South to retrieve my remains. The route is as follows: Take the train to Quang Tri town, cross the Thach Han river, where I sacrificed while delivering goods across the river. From the town, cross the bridge to ask about Nhan Bieu 1, you will see a stele with my name carved on a piece of corrugated iron...”. Mr. Le Van Huynh had a premonition that the day he sacrificed himself was January 2, 1973, which was also the 1 year anniversary of his wedding with his virtuous wife Dang Thi Xo). Thanks to the strange sacred letter, his family found his remains after 30 years of wandering (1972-2002): "When peace comes, there are conditions to go to the South to retrieve his remains. The route is as follows: Take a train to Quang Tri town, cross the Thach Han River, where he sacrificed himself... If you count downstream, his grave is at the end of the village!" Tears fell continuously in peacetime, when the pain of those who stayed behind was also immense. The letter of martyr Le Van Huynh is not only a priceless relic of a soldier left for future generations, but also a blood-based guarantee of the truth of a generation who lived and fought with all their youthful spirit, life and immortal belief in the nation's eternal existence.

Tsacred legend of Truong Son soldiers
On the same day, July 16, our group set out for the Truong Son Martyrs' Cemetery when it was raining non-stop. The Truong Son Martyrs' Cemetery is located on Ben Tat Hill, next to Highway 15 in Gio Linh District, more than 20 km northwest of Highway 1A. This is the eternal resting place of soldiers who sacrificed their blood and bones on the Truong Son routes during the anti-American war to save the country. The cemetery began construction on October 24, 1975 and was completed on April 10, 1977. The construction was led by the 559th Division Command with the participation of more than 40 main force units and local troops. The Truong Son Martyrs' Cemetery is home to 10,333 graves of martyrs; with a total area of ​​140,000m2; In which, the cemetery area is 23,000m2, the monument area is 7,000m2... The cemetery area is divided into 10 main areas.
In the pouring summer rain, our group quietly lined up to offer incense and commemorate the beloved sons of the fatherland who heroically sacrificed for national independence. In the sound of the soul music of the martyrs resounding in the Truong Son mountains and forests, many sobbing cries and tears of remembrance and admiration fell on the faces of many union members. After the moment of silence, we spread out to visit the heroic martyrs resting from all over the country. Tens of thousands of graves were cared for and cherished, with flowers and incense filling the air as far as the eye could see, making us unable to hold back our emotions. The graves of martyrs with names and dates left behind a pain because they were too young. The graves of "martyrs with unknown information" created an infinite sense of pity and respect.
"East Truong Son, sunny, west rainy
"Who has not been there does not know himself"
(To Huu)
Truong Son Martyrs’ Cemetery is a sacred land for martyrs’ families, delegations of the Party and State, local authorities, and military delegations to visit in the spirit of gratitude; a pilgrimage site for people and international friends with the morality of remembering the source of water when drinking. This land has become an eternal symbol of revolutionary heroism, a place to forever honor the legendary soldiers who rest in eternal peace in the bosom of the motherland.
Truong Son Cemetery, the sun has gradually set.
Rain shed tears, some near, some far.
Ten thousand two hundred sixty three.
The graves of thousands of youth remain.
Where time stops, souls remain.
They sacrificed and fought for peace.
They left without a trace.
No photo, no time to say goodbye.
They left without their families knowing.
They left, without a return date…
Their shadows flicker, the soul of stone.
Silently in the rolling flow of time.
Quang Tri land and sky, endless green...
The son fell to the ground at a young age.
(Nguyen Thi Phuong Thuy)
This touching poem has followed us on our journey back to the source with so much meaning.  

2. Gratitude and proud experiences

From early morning, when the sunlight on Cua Tung beach was still faintly visible on the waves, the delegation organized a visit and gave gifts to seriously wounded soldiers over 81% in Dong Hoi city. The delegation directly went to present gifts of gratitude (1 million VND each and a gift bag) to 3 seriously wounded soldiers including: Uncle Ho Van Dung in Tan Phu village, Quang Phu commune. Uncle Dung's wife has no job, the couple lives on preferential allowance. Uncle Nguyen Van Hieu in Nam Phu village, Quang Phu commune. Uncle Hieu's wife has just passed away, he is currently living alone, his family is poor. Uncle Ngo Thanh Huan in Loc Dai village 2, Loc Ninh commune. Uncle Huan's wife and two children have no stable jobs, their family is in difficult circumstances. The delegation also sent to the Labor and Social Affairs Department of Dong Hoi city 7 gifts, each worth 1 million VND to 7 other seriously wounded soldiers in the city.  

3. Visiting Suot's mother and Quang Binh Quan - saying goodbye to beloved Quang Binh