Legend of Ho Chi Minh sea rout
Ha Noi, Oct. 22 (VNA) -- Forty years ago on Oct. 23, 1961, the Party and President Ho Chi Minh made a decision on establishing the military sea transportation force which opened a sea route to ferry soldiers and supplies to the southern battle front during the American war.
Since then, Oct. 23 has been observed as the traditional day of the legendary Ho Chi Minh Sea Route.
The victory over the U.S. aggressors, who were considered much stronger than the Viet Nam People's Army (VPA), was greatly attributed to the operation of the Ho Chi Minh Trail in parallel with the Truong Son range and the legendary Ho Chi Minh Sea Route.
From six wooden boats with 38 officers and soldiers, the force grew into the widely known heroic Brigade 125 whose staff overcame numerous dangers and difficulties to provide exemplary services in establishing, maintaining, and operating the route.
Intelligent and courageous soldiers operating on board ships without registration number upheld the spirit of independence, self-determination and unity, and exercised a close coordination with other forces to successfully fulfill all assignments.
Many crewmembers sacrificed their lives rather than having the secrecy of this strategic sea route leaked or consigments of weapon supplies to the southern front falled to the hand of the enemy.
The force transported 152,876 tonnes of supplies, including weapons, medicines, and equipment, and carried more than 80,000 officers and soldiers from the North to the South during the war.
Brigade 125 also recorded remarkable exploits while directly participating in thousands of battles on the sea against the U.S. force.
Today, Viet Nam has two strategic tasks of constructing and safeguarding the socialist nation of Viet Nam and accelerating national industrialisation and modernisation.
The struggle to defend the country's sovereignty over territorial waters and islands still remain complicated. This requires raising the sense of vigilance as well as capacity of the VPA Naval Force in general and of military transporation units in particularly, says the VPA Navy Commander, Rear Admiral Do Xuan Cong, on the 40th anniversary of the Ho Chi Minh Sea Route.--VNA
