Memories of a time of "bomb rain, bullet storm"
In April, when the whole country simultaneously implemented many activities to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the liberation of the South, I went to Dong Loc junction - the sacred land. In the special national historical site, the flow of people constantly flocked incense, commemorating heroic martyrs, especially 10 young women volunteering.
Walking around Dong Loc town, I was surprised by the speed of urbanization: Shops, motels, and coffee shops are springing up densely. Perhaps thanks to the increasing number of visitors coming to offer incense, people have been quick to develop services to serve tourists.
Only 300m from the relic area, Mr. Tran Dinh Ngon (58 years old, residing in Kim Thanh street) recalled: "In 1968, the US bombed violently into Dong Loc to destroy the gland for the South. I was just over 10 years old, and my family had to evacuate into the forest. In 1969, when we returned, we returned, the village had only the pit of the bomb, the garden of my garden was 4."
Mr. Ngon's wife, Mrs. Tran Thi Cong (59 years old), recalled: "My house is in the lower hamlet, less than 1km away. The terrible rain of bombs and bullets forced the whole village to evacuate and dig a tunnel for shelter. Thinking back, I was still scared, surviving until now was a very lucky thing".
According to the Management Board of the National Special Historical Relic Site of Dong Loc Intersection, from 1964 to 1972, this place was continuously destroyed, most severely in 1968 From April to October 1968 alone, Dong Loc suffered nearly 50,000 bombs, each square meter of land carrying more than 3 bombs, turning this place into a "fire zone", with no shade of grass.
At that time, up to 16,000 people including soldiers, youth volunteers, workers, police, militia... were on duty to bomb, level holes, and ensure traffic support for the Southern battlefield.
Thousands of people have fallen, including 10 female youth volunteers from Squadron 4, Company 552, and Company 55. At noon on July 24, 1968, while on duty, at 4:00 p.m., the 15th series of bombs that fell down the day, a bomb exploded near the shelter, killing all 10 women. The youngest was only 17 years old, the three oldest were only 24.
Reviving and developing
"If I hadn't mentioned it, many people probably wouldn't know that this place used to be a bomb hole. Not only my garden, many other houses are also full of bomb holes. Now thinking back, it is unexpected, the land that was once devastated has now become a vibrant town, said Mr. Tran Dinh Ngon (68 years old, Kim Thanh residential group, Dong Loc town).
Mr. Pham Quoc Dat - Chairman of Dong Loc Town People's Committee - shared that in recent years, Dong Loc Town has had rapid development of commercial and service activities to serve the needs of not only local people but also serve the needs of tourists from all over the world when coming to visit and pay a pilgrimage at the Special Historical Site of Dong Loc Intersection.
"Not only trade and services but also the agricultural sector is focused on investing and developing towards improving quality, achieving OCOP products to ensure stable output, high cost, and good income for people", Mr. Dat shared more.
In 2024, in Dong Loc town, the average income per capita will reach 56.17 million VND/person/year, reaching 110% of the plan at the beginning of the year; 9/9 residential groups will continue to be recognized as cultural residential groups, the rate of cultural families will reach 95.28% and 46.25% of sports families.
Implementing the Resolution on the arrangement of district and commune-level administrative units for the period 2021 - 2025 of the National Assembly Standing Committee, from January 1, 2025, Trung Loc commune (Can Loc district) will be merged into Dong Loc town. After the merger, Dong Loc town has a natural area of 24.61 km2 with a population of 12,017 people.
According to the Chairman of Dong Loc Town People's Committee, with the merger of Trung Loc commune into Dong Loc town, this town is currently located on many important traffic routes, including the intersection of the North - South expressway, National Highway 15B, DH Road 37, so it is convenient for trade and travel.
"Currently, the locality has a planned logistics center of dozens of hectares near the highway. Therefore, I believe that in the coming time, together with Dong Loc Intersection Relic Site, Dong Loc town will develop into a vibrant cultural and economic center, Mr. Dat shared.
