Northern youth in the resistance war against America to save the country

On the occasion of the publication of the book "Northern Youth in the Resistance War Against America, Saving the Country (1965-1975)", USSH respectfully re-introduces the Foreword of this book. Youth in all ages has always been the backbone and pioneering force in the work of building and defending the country. In the Ho Chi Minh era, especially in the resistance war against the US, saving the country and unifying the Fatherland, the young generation of Vietnam, including the youth of the North, led, organized, educated and trained by the Party and beloved Uncle Ho, has excellently fulfilled its historical role, contributing greatly to the great victory of the nation. In the great long march, with the brilliant achievements of the country in the years of fighting against the US, the period of 1965 - 1975 was a decade of the Vietnamese nation, the Vietnamese youth faced the most arduous and fierce war and also won extremely glorious achievements. Researching the history of youth in general, the history of the Party's youth movement in particular in the period of 1965 - 1975, both in the North and the South, is a meaningful scientific topic. Through research, the book contributes to clarifying the role, characteristics, and dedication of youth, the force representing the will for independence and the desire for freedom of the Vietnamese people - a nation with a long history and patriotic tradition. The victory of the resistance war against the US to save the country is the victory of the entire Vietnamese nation, the merit, dedication, and sacrifice of many generations of Vietnamese people, in which we must mention the great, regular, and most decisive contribution of the socialist North. "The North devoted itself to the war to save and defend the country with the full strength of the socialist regime and excellently fulfilled the revolutionary base of the whole country, worthy of being the invincible fortress of socialism." Our Party and President Ho Chi Minh linked the fate of youth with the fate of the nation in the fiercely challenging conditions of the resistance war against the US to save the country. With the spirit of “Three ready”, “Three brave”, “Aim straight at the enemy and shoot”, with the movements of “Hammer in one hand – Gun in the other”, “Plow in one hand – Gun in the other”, “Pen in one hand – Gun in the other”… millions of girls and boys aged eighteen and twenty have followed one another, enthusiastically taking the lead during the last 10 years full of hardship and sacrifice of the resistance war to protect the Fatherland and the rear. They “Cut through Truong Son to save the country”, were present in all battlefields fighting the Americans in the South and in the friendly countries of Laos and Cambodia, with courage, the spirit of being ready to sacrifice for the Fatherland and also established glorious feats. The resistance war against the Americans, to save the country has trained a generation of young people full of bravery and courage, not sparing their lives to contribute and sacrifice for the independence and freedom of the nation. That is both a proud achievement and a vivid lesson on the work of mobilizing and gathering youth, and also a historical basis, a source of authentic and vivid documents to educate traditions, train revolutionary qualities, and arouse the great potentials and ideals of millions of young men and women today who are ready to contribute their efforts and intelligence for the goal of a rich people, a strong country and the cause of industrialization, modernization and international integration of our country. The book "Northern Youth in the Resistance War Against the US, Saving the Country (1965 - 1975)" with a multifaceted, interdisciplinary research approach between historical science, political science and sociological investigation... has tried to exploit many sources of documents, statistics, historical witnesses... to clarify the basic content of Ho Chi Minh's thought; Viewpoints and policies of the Vietnam Workers' Party on the role and position of youth, youth mobilization work in the revolutionary process in general and the cause of fighting against the US and saving the country in particular; reconstructing a realistic and comprehensive picture of the creative labor process, enthusiastic study, steadfastness and bravery in fighting of Northern youth in the years 1965 - 1975. On that basis, the author initially gives general assessments and comments on the characteristics, achievements and limitations of the Party's Northern youth movement, summarizes some experiences on the Party's leadership of youth work, thereby drawing necessary conclusions of practical significance for youth mobilization work in the current period.