PANO – “Women’s Ngu Thuy Artillery Company” will be remembered forever by those taking part in the war against American invaders to defend the country.
“Women’s Ngu Thuy Artillery Company”, led by Ngo Thi The, was officially established on November 20th 1967, with 37 girls, aged from 16 to 22. Among them, Ngo Thi That was the only one under 16. At that time, Company was in charge of uniting forces to fire at American warships and the Army of South Vietnam (ARVN), to defend the country’s coast.
On February 7th, 1968, they won a great victory in their first battle. Tran Thi Hoanh, a member of Company, said that, “That day, American helicopters and gunboats fired at many places at the same time. Despite the fierceness of the barrages, we encouraged each other to do our utmost to gain achievement, even sacrifice our lives. Although many of us were wounded, we tried our best to hold on. When the target was set up, all gun batteries started shooting. After 7 minutes, the USS 013 warship was on fire at sea, hit by 48 shells”.
In addition to that victory, the Company also shelled three other American gunboats. Their victory came as a surprise to people nationwide, who learned about girls in “Women’s Ngu Thuy Artillery Company”.
At present, Ngu Thuy is divided into three communes, namely Ngu Thuy Bac, Ngu Thuy Trung and Ngu Thuy Nam. After the war, the members’ lives returned to normal. They devoted their youth for national salvation. Some of them now have not gotten married and some others have to work hard to bring up their children. Ngo Thi Thuy Phuong, a member of the old Company and the chairwoman of Women’s Union of Ngu Thuy Nam Commune, said that “whenever I think of my comrades, who are now living alone, I burst into tears. As Chairwoman of the Women’s Union, I am sad if I cannot help other women”. Since 2007, Phuong set up a fish-sauce producing factory and a aquatic processing factory. For years, her factory has provided job opportunities for women in locality to help them have a constant income.
In special events, women in the Company hold a get-together to recall the past and give words of encouragement to help them develop their family finances and bring up their children.
Translated by Tran Hoai