With the historic victory of Dien Bien Phu, we cannot forget the red address Co Noi Junction, which was once a “bomb bag” that suffered fierce attacks by the French colonialists in an attempt to cut off the vital supply route. for the Dien Bien Phu battlefield. In his memoir, General Vo Nguyen Giap wrote: “Co Noi intersection is a gate that all those going to war must pass.” Not giving in to the heavy bombs and bullets, the TNXP force still ensured traffic during the historic Dien Bien Phu campaign, creating a victory “Illustrious in five continents, shaking the earth”.
“Throat” on the fire line
According to historical documents, Son La is located in a geo-military strategic position, playing an extremely important role in the Dien Bien Phu Campaign, being the gateway to the Northwest, where there is a vital road. circuit connecting the Northern Delta, Viet Bac Inter-Region, Inter-Region 3, Inter-Region 4 with the Dien Bien Phu battlefield.
Co Noi intersection, is the intersection of Road 13 from Viet Bac base and Road 41 (now National Highway 6) from the delta provinces, all activities of supporting forces, transporting weapons and food, Food for the Dien Bien Phu Campaign had to come through here. Therefore, the enemy mobilized maximum air force and bombs to cut off the “throat” of the logistics supply line for the Campaign.
During the preparation process until the successful end of the campaign, there was not a day at Co Noi Junction that there was no sound of bombs falling or bullets exploding. At peak times, one day the enemy threw down more than 300 explosive bombs, slow-explosive bombs, and napalm bombs, causing the terrain here to change day by day. In the two months before the Dien Bien Phu Campaign, engineering soldiers had to redraw the map of Co Noi Junction 19 times. Co Noi intersection became the “coordinates of fire”, a place known as the “pan of fire”, “bomb bag”, and “death’s door” raiding by the French colonialists.
All for the front line
During the Dien Bien Phu Campaign, Son La had a particularly important strategic position, with a vital road connecting the Northern Delta, Viet Bac war zone, Zone 3, Zone 4 with the Dien Bien Phu battlefield and the front. Laos is patriotic. Son La is also the large rear of the large front line, closely tied to the Northwest battlefield – Dien Bien Phu, so the transportation and supply of human and material resources to the battlefield must mainly go through Co Noi Junction.
In December 1952, the Party Central Committee and President Ho Chi Minh decided to open the Dien Bien Phu Campaign to expand and consolidate the liberated area. Preparing for the Campaign, the Party’s policy is determined to protect this unique lifeline. Tens of thousands of soldiers, civil servants, and young people from all localities mobilized to the Northwest battlefield, combined with main forces to guard and ensure smooth circulation of the road.
Serving the Dien Bien Phu Campaign, through 5 mobilization rounds, Son La contributed 3,607 tons of rice, 144 tons of meat, 3 tons of fat and nearly 140 tons of vegetables and fruits of all kinds. At the same time, to supplement the fighting force, thousands of young people in the province volunteered to join the regular army and local army units; At the same time, build 2 provincial army battalions to perform mobile combat tasks to protect the rear, coordinating with the main battlefield.
Overcoming enemy bombs and bullets, with the spirit of “All for the front line” “All for victory”, together with the soldiers and youth volunteers, frontline civilians, ethnic people of Son La, especially the Co Noi Junction area and on route 41, regardless of difficulties, hardships, sacrifices or losses, fighting day and night, ensuring traffic circulation for marching soldiers, artillery, vehicles, food, food… to the Dien Bien Phu front.
Someone was right when they compared the young men and women who volunteered at Co Noi Junction as people who “wear stones and roads” and “use sticks to fight against the sky”. Because every time the bombs stop, the brothers and sisters rush out onto the road, still with hoes and shovels in hand, forgetting hunger, thirst, fatigue, filling bomb craters, detonating slow-burning bombs, the request to clear the road becomes an order of the war. living.
Eyewitness memoirs
After successfully ending the long resistance war against the French colonialists, Co Noi Junction became an immortal place, a symbol of revolutionary heroism. More than 100 young volunteer soldiers heroically sacrificed their lives at this key intersection. The country records the victories of our brothers and sisters – brave soldiers, heroic martyrs, wounded warriors, soldiers emulating the youth volunteer force, typical, such as: Nguyen Tien Thu, Cao Xuan Tho, Tran Cam…
During the historic days of May, we came to meet Mr. Thai Huu Hoanh, 87 years old this year, living in Quyet Thang ward, Son La City. Even though he has entered an old and rare age, memories and memories of the heroic days of the brave, brave, courageous and resilient TNXP force, ensuring traffic in the “fire coordinates” are still remembered by him. I remember clearly: The enemy bombed a large area with napalm, then bombed the rocks and trees to collapse into the stream in many layers, causing the bridge to collapse; Then throw slow-explosive bombs and cluster bombs to cause damage to our troops. Every day there are 1-2 groups of bombers destroying the road, but as soon as the bombs stop, the 3 companies of TNXP continue to repair, overcome, and ensure the road is clear.
Mr. Hoanh is proud: Under the rain of bombs, storms of bullets, fatigue and lack of everything, but the young volunteers at Co Noi Junction still maintain their spirit of iron and steel, strong will, courage, intelligence and creativity. create, always hold your head high, be single-minded and loyal to the Party and the people, everything to defeat the invaders, determined to excellently complete all tasks assigned by the Party, Uncle Ho and the people.
As for former militiaman Lo Van Pom, Co Noi village, Co Noi commune, the period 1952-1954 are unforgettable memories. At the age of 93, Mr. Pom’s memory is still quite clear. He clearly talked about the years of fighting: During 1952-1954, Co Noi intersection had not a single day without bombs. Enemy planes spread bombs from 7:00 a.m. to 5-6:00 p.m. To provide support for the front line, at night, the civilians and workers quickly leveled the front line so the trucks could pass. Because I was familiar with the terrain, I was assigned to guide the soldiers up to the Pha Din pass area, then pick up the wounded soldiers. At that time, there were a lot of soldiers, civil servants, and volunteers, marching around all night. Each night, each group can only travel about 20 km because of the crowd, heavy cargo, and steep uphill roads. Going up steep slopes, heavy bicycles must be pushed by 2-3 people. Every day, each person is given 2 rice balls to eat for breakfast and dinner, drinking water is taken from the stream, sleeping is covered with leaves, mosquitoes bite many people with malaria. But everyone only thinks about how to defeat the enemy, not caring about life or death.
Co Noi intersection has witnessed and forever engraved the brave spirit and heroic sacrifice of the Vietnamese youth volunteer force in the resistance war against the French colonialists, day and night sticking to the guaranteed vital road. smooth transportation and supply routes in all aspects of the Northern rear for the Dien Bien Phu battlefield. And Co Noi Junction is also the place where glorious victories are recorded, symbolizing the spirit and courageous will of our army and people in the Dien Bien Phu Campaign.
(there’s more)
Nguyen Yen, Quynh Ngoc
