Quang Ngai: Van Tuong historical victory relic degraded

SGGPO June 15, 2023 9:38 PM

The Van Tuong Victory Historical Relic Complex was recognized as a National Monument in 1982 in Binh Hai and Binh Hoa communes, Binh Son district, Quang Ngai province. However, since then, many relic sites in Binh Hoa commune have not been maintained, repaired, or looked after, and have seriously degraded and damaged.

On the concrete road between the rice fields, there is a complex of Van Tuong Victory Historical Site in Binh Hoa Commune, Binh Son District, Quang Ngai Province. This place has many relic sites such as the tank wreck site, Ngoc Huong red soil hill relic site, Loc Tu steel trench...

In Binh Hoa commune, there are the remains of an American amphibious armored vehicle and an M48 tank that were burned by our army with hand grenades at the Loc Tu steel trench on August 18, 1965.

American amphibious armored vehicles were burned by our army with hand grenades. Photo: NGUYEN TRANG

After more than 40 years, the amphibious armored vehicle is just scrap metal due to lack of repair, and the guard house is also degraded and damaged. Photo: NGUYEN TRANG

After being recognized as a National Monument, the two tank wrecks were painted with anti-rust paint and have a protected area. Over the past 40 years, the area where the tank wrecks were located has deteriorated, rusted, and rotted into scrap metal, and has never been repaired.

Mr. Nguyen Thuong, Deputy Head of the Front Committee of Village 3, Binh Hoa Commune, said: "Previously, the tank was intact, but now it has become scrap metal in the middle of the field."

Mr. Thuong said: "It is a national monument but for decades there has been no one to take care of it, many cow herding children and people lacking awareness have drawn graffiti on the tank's body."

The M48 tank was also rusted. Photo: NGUYEN TRANG

Key areas of National Monuments but no one to look after or maintain them. Photo: NGUYEN TRANG

People around expressed regret when the National Monument lay exposed to the sun and rain for decades, with iron from the tank broken and falling down.

Right at the site of the tank wreckage is the Loc Tu steel trench, this is where the decisive battle took place, breaking the US armored vehicle attack and gaining strategic control in the Van Tuong battle. Here, on August 18, 1965, our army brought the cannon barrel up to the enemy tank, hit the cockpit with the cannon, and destroyed many flamethrower vehicles.

After being recognized as a National Monument, the steel trench section was also restored with a length of 25m, width of 1.5m, depth of 1m, but is now damaged, covered with grass and located in people's fields.

Loc Tu steel trench is overgrown with weeds. Photo: NGUYEN TRANG

People really want the relic sites in this national relic complex to be restored to serve tourists. Photo: NGUYEN TRANG

Other relic sites such as Ngoc Huong red soil hill, Ngoc Huong painting hill, flat hill, banana hamlet intersection, Command Headquarters of Regiment 1 of the Liberation Army... are also degraded after a long time without repair or restoration.

Mr. Nguyen Duc Thinh, Vice Chairman of Binh Hoa Commune People's Committee, said: "Since being recognized as a National Monument, the Van Tuong Victory Historical Relic Complex in Binh Hoa Commune has not been restored. The locality has requested all levels to pay attention to repairing and managing the relic because this is a National Monument."

Source: https://www.sggp.org.vn/quang-ngai-di-tich-lich-su-chien-thang-van-tuong-xuong-cap-post693703.html