Mach Mang Spring at Tan Binh ward of Di An city is mentioned as the pride and gratitude of local people. At the place on May 4, 1968 was the fierce raid of US Army and the puppet government infantry. In the raid, 165 soldiers of our army and local guerrillas were killed. Their names had been kept at the historical site of Mach Mang Spring.
The resonant merits
From the venue of Tan Binh ward People’s Committee to Tan Phuoc quarter is a short driving distance at the entrance of Nguyen Thi Tuoi Road. The road name attaches to local history as Nguyen Thi Tuoi was a heroine martyr living and attending local revolutionary movements in the land of Tan Binh, Di An before being killed by the enemy. The road was previously named Ma 35 (a tomb of 35 souls) to mark the event that the French colony had buried 35 in March 1947. Getting along the Nguyen Thi Tuoi Road, by the lead of local officer of Tan Binh ward, we got to the historical site of Ma 35. Keeping on the road, we got to Mach Mang Spring (aka Suoi So).
The name monument of Mach Mang Spring was constructed in 2018
The history of Mach Mang Spring is attached to the anti-raid on May 4, 1968 when being reinforced by aircrafts, cannons, tanks and over 4,000 destructive mortars, the infantry force of the US Army and the then puppet government fiercely raided the place. The raid, then, was retold by witnesses as the most horrible battle in Tan Binh throughout the 2 resistance wars. As recorded by Tan Binh ward Party Committee’s history, the armed force, locals, and guerrillas of Tan Hiep and Binh Tri (now Tan Binh ward) had joined the anti-raid.
After over a day-night of bloody resistance, various enemies had been eliminated along with 4 tanks. The enormous raid was completely turned down. However, to gain such merits, hundreds of officers, soldiers and local people had fallen. After the raid, the little spring of Ba Cat was renamed to Mach Mang. For many days and months afterward, skulls were still found at the spring. That was why locals used to call Mach Mang Suoi So (which is the spring of skulls). The name was established to remember the crimes of invasion and tributes to the fallen heroes and martyrs for the people’s liberation.
Everlasting gratitude
Throughout 2 resistance wars, Tan Binh was the locality for armed forces and political establishment to set in for force development. By the protection of local people, many officers and revolutionists of the then Eastern Committee, Thu Dau Mot province, and Bien Hoa were at the locality to direct the revolutionary movements. Despite enemy’s sabotage and siege, Tan Binh was always a firm backup for revolutionary forces to operate. On the heroic land, blood was shed for glorious history of Tan Binh in Di An, contributing significantly to the cause of revolution and liberation.
To express gratitude to the great contribution and sacrifices of the martyrs at the battle at Mach Mang Spring in 1968,on marking 40th year of the battle, Di An city authority in 2018 constructed a monument to name the martyrs fallen at Mach Mang Spring. Ever since 2018, the monument has been maintained as the everlasting gratitude towards the fallen souls for the independence, freedom and unification. On April 24, 2013, Provincial People’s Committee issued a decision approving Mach Mang Spring as the provincial and municipal historic site.
The historic site of Mach Mang Spring is not only the memory of historic revolutionary movements but also the educational resources of heroic tradition to the next generations.
Reported by Hong Thuan – Translated by Vi Bao
