THE HO CHI MINH BADGE  

Presented by President Ho Chi Minh to Mr. Ho Sanh in 1965  

Mr. Ho Sanh was born in Phu Le village, Quang Phu commune, Quang Dien district. He joined the revolution in 1954 and worked for many years in the postal service.  

On March 2, 1965, while pulling cables across a river with his comrades, U.S. aircraft bombarded Dong Hoi town. As enemy planes flew overhead, Mr. Sanh urged his comrades to place the machine gun on his shoulder, gritting his teeth to endure the recoil and scorching heat as the gun fired at the enemy. When his comrades fell in battle, Mr. Sanh continued to fight alone, making significant contributions to the victory.  

His heroic actions were documented in the "History of the Vietnam Postal Service" (Volume II, 1954-1976). Author Do Dinh Giap later adapted the story into the script "Wires in the Line of Fire", with the main character bearing the name Ho Sanh. The play was performed multiple times during the war, starting in 1967.  

Mr. Ho Sanh became the first person in the postal service to be awarded the 3rd Class Military Exploit Order during the anti-American resistance in the North. He was also honored with the Nguyen Van Troi Badge by the Central Youth Union and participated in the "Ready for Three Tasks" Congress of the Youth Union of Labor in Central Agencies in Hanoi in November 1965.  

During the congress, President Ho Chi Minh and Prime Minister Pham Van Dong visited the delegates. Mr. Sanh had the great honor of meeting President Ho Chi Minh and hearing his warm, encouraging words. The President personally awarded Mr. Sanh the Ho Chi Minh Badge with praise: "This is a special reward from me. I brought it today to give to comrade Sanh. Comrade Sanh is one of the ten youth representatives I will personally present this badge to at the congress."  

On July 8, 1999, Mr. Ho Sanh donated this Ho Chi Minh Badge to the Ho Chi Minh Museum in Thua Thien Hue.