Coordinating survey to support construction of the memorial stele of Division 7

On the morning of October 1, Le Truong Son, Member of the Standing Committee of the Provincial Party Committee, Vice Chairman of Dong Nai Provincial People’s Committee, chaired a meeting together with leaders of the Department of Home Affairs, commanders of Division 7, Military Region 7, and related agencies to discuss Division 7’s proposal for support in constructing a memorial house for war martyrs and locating and repatriating their remains.

Le Truong Son, Member of the Standing Committee of the Provincial Party Committee, Vice Chairman of Dong Nai Provincial People’s Committee, speaks at the working session. Photo: Nguyet Ha

In the official letter sent by Division 7 to Dong Nai province requesting support for the construction of the memorial house and the search for and repatriation of soldiers’ remains, it was stated: Division 7 (Construction Site 7) was established on June 13, 1966, in Dak O commune, Bu Gia Map district, former Binh Phuoc province (now Dak O commune, Dong Nai province).

Representatives of the Department of Home Affairs, Division 7, and delegates attend the meeting. Photo: Nguyet Ha

During the years of resistance against American imperialists and in fulfilling international duties, Division 7 consistently stood shoulder to shoulder with the armed forces and people of the Southeast provinces, participating in thousands of battles and securing resounding victories that are etched into the nation's heroic history. Among the most notable was the 150 days and nights of fierce combat at Tau O – Xom Ruong during the Nguyen Hue Campaign in 1972. The Route 14 – Phuoc Long Campaign was considered a “strategic reconnaissance operation,” serving as the foundation for the Politburo to strengthen its resolve to completely liberate the South and reunify the country on April 30, 1975.

During the Spring 1975 General Offensive and Uprising, Division 7, operating within Corps 4 and alongside local armed forces, shattered the enemy's “steel gate” at Xuan Loc, paving the way for our troops to advance and liberate Saigon. This milestone marked a decisive contribution to the historic victory of the Ho Chi Minh Campaign, culminating in the liberation of the South and the reunification of the nation.

Over nearly 60 years of construction, combat, and development, Division 7 has achieved numerous remarkable feats. It has twice been awarded the title Hero of the People's Armed Forces by the Party and the State, along with many other prestigious honors, and was also conferred the Angkor Order by the Kingdom of Cambodia.

These glorious achievements came at a great cost: more than 17,000 heroic martyrs laid down their lives, and over 24,000 wounded and sick soldiers left part of themselves on the battlefield. Among them, 1,063 martyrs fell in Dak O Commune, Dong Nai Province, whose remains have yet to be recovered.

In line with the wishes of Division 7’s officers, soldiers, veterans, and the families of the fallen, there is a heartfelt desire to establish a memorial space to honor, remember, and express gratitude to the martyrs, an embodiment of the Vietnamese moral tradition: “When drinking water, remember its source.”

Therefore, Division 7 respectfully requests the Standing Committee of the Provincial Party Committee, the Permanent Committee of the Provincial Party Committee, the Provincial People’s Committee, and relevant agencies to support the following: allocating land, completing legal procedures, and partially funding the construction of the memorial house honoring 1,063 war martyrs, marking the location of the division’s founding at the proposed Dak Lim hamlet, Dak O commune (specifically upgrading the memorial stele for war martyrs in Dak O commune) with a planned area of approximately 900 square kilometres. At the same time, provincial authorities are requested to coordinate with Division 7 and the Division’s Veterans’ Association to continue searching for and repatriating soldiers’ remains who fell in Dak O commune between 1966 and 1969.

After hearing opinions and information on regulations, Vice Chairman of the Provincial People’s Committee Le Truong Son requested Division 7 to continue coordinating with the Department of Home Affairs and Dak O commune to conduct a detailed review, ensuring compliance with legal regulations before implementation. From the provincial perspective, once Division 7 completes the process of seeking opinions from units of the Ministry of National Defense and relevant agencies as required, the province will support within its authority to implement the project in time for the 60th anniversary of the division’s founding on June 13, 2026, with suitable renovation and design plans so that the memorial house serves both as a recognition of the founding site, continues the commune’s history, and educates the current generation about revolutionary traditions.

By Nguyet Ha – Translated by Minh Hanh, Minho