This is one of many stories that recall the war against the American imperialists, when each officer of Bank for Construction - Quang Binh Branch was not only banker but also a soldier.

After the Gulf of Tonkin incident (5 August 1964), the US air force and warships bombarded around the clock in Quang Binh province, blocking many roads and hindering human and material supply from Northern backyard. Food and other necessities became extremely scarce. In this situation, the Central Government and the province urgently decided to establish the Western Industrial Park - Bo Trach. In short-term. 4 factories for manufacturing soap, alcohol and tools would be built (in Bong Lai, Trooc).

Establishment of a sub-branch to serve in wartime

In order to manage and allocate capital for civil construction to meet the demand of Quang Binh province and the Central Government during the wartime, Quang Binh Bank for Construction (hereinafter referred to as Quang Binh Branch) established sub-branch Bo Trach 2, led by Comrade Vo Khac Sang. At that time, I was working at the provincial branch. Mr. Pham Quang Toan - Branch manager called me to explain that I would be transferred to Bo Trach sub-branch to manage and allocate capital for a new industrial park in Western of Bo Trach.

My main task would be closely work with the Management Board and construction unit to ensure construction progress and timely allocation of capital. Total duration from construction commencement to completion of the project was 4 months. The distance between Van Trach, where the sub-branch located, to those factories was nearly 40 km, passing through many dangerous roads and ferries, which were regular targets of the enemy. As a staff of the Bank for Construction, I determined to closely work and live with the factories, then return to the office to ask for management’s directions, back and forth until the project was completed. Just like that, back and forth between sub-branch and factories.

Unforgettable memories through the rain of bombs and bullets

On one occasion from the factory to the office, when passing through Phong Nha cave, down the Son river to Xuan Son ferry, we met a group of American aircrafts rushing to drop bombs. All of us just jumped into the river. The whole area became blurred in bombs and water… It wasn’t until one F4H4 was hit by the air defenses’ bullets that it caught fire, then the rest of them rushed to the sea. Surviving, I discovered an injured young female volunteer lying on the river’s bank. I brought her ashore for bandage and then the other young volunteers took her to a field clinic which was nearly one kilometer away.

Around 9 pm, a young female volunteer and I drove to Tho Loc, but we stuck at Khuong Ha due to road blockage because of bombs, so I decided to walk so that I could attend the meeting at office tomorrow afternoon. Late at night, we stopped at a house in Khuong Ha village to ask for a stay overnight. The house owner, an old man, showed us the tunnel. After a moment of hesitation, the two of us sat together in front of the tunnel and talked about the war, about our homeland Ha Tinh, Quang Binh, about Son and La rivers... then leaned against the wall and fell asleep. In the early morning, the howl of aircrafts and the sound of explosions awoke us. We said goodbye to the old man before continuing our journey.

That afternoon, I arrived at the sub-branch in Van Trach and said farewell to the young female volunteer in a strange feeling... We have not met again since then, due to the war.

Mission completed

Four months later, the above factories were completed, 10 days ahead of schedule. The leaders of the province and factories all praised the active contributions and determination to overcome hardships during the wartime of all sectors, officers and volunteers. In which, the Bank for Construction had facilitated capital allocation for the West Industrial Park project. The following year, in a ceremony to remark 5 years of good manufacturing and fighting for Quang Binh held at Phong Nha - Ke Bang cave, many units were awarded the title of “Good manufacturing, good fighting”, including Bank for Construction - Quang Binh Branch.

During 4 months of managing and allocating the West Bo Trach key project, I went back and forth 4 times a month, 1 week at construction site, then 1 week at the office. I may have walked approximately 1,000 kilometers through many streams and dense forests, on dangerous roads which were the regular bombing targets of enemy aircrafts such as Tho Loc junction, Cu Nam hill, Khuong Ha tunnel, Xuan Son ferry... There were 6 times I faced directly bombs but still survived.