The story of a soldier returning from Vi Xuyen.

QTO - Bearing the scars of war, with one leg left behind on the Vi Xuyen battlefield and the other severely injured, war invalid Ho Van Dung (Tan Phu village, Dong Thuan ward), classified as a 1/4 disability, has always upheld the spirit of exemplary conduct, striving to overcome difficulties in life, rising above poverty, and proving himself worthy of being a soldier of Uncle Ho.

Mr. Ho Van Dung exemplifies the spirit of participating in the election of deputies to the 16th National Assembly and deputies to People's Councils at all levels for the 2026-2031 term. - Photo: NM

Born in 1964 in Phong Hoa commune, formerly Tuyen Hoa district, in April 1984, while the fighting to defend the northern border was raging, young Ho Van Dung and his peers enlisted in the army. Serving in the 314th Division, Military Region 2, after 3 months of basic training and 3 months of combat training, he marched to the border and directly participated in combat on the Vi Xuyen front (formerly Ha Giang province).

“From the time we arrived at the border until the day we were seriously wounded and returned to the rear for treatment, the sound of gunfire never ceased in Vi Xuyen. Both sides mobilized large numbers of troops and firepower, engaging in fierce battles to seize every inch of land, every hilltop and plateau. At the hilltops where my comrades and I fought, such as 1509, 1250, 1030…, there were days when artillery shells rained down continuously and intensely. We took shelter in caves, waiting for the shelling to stop. When we emerged from the caves, we were shocked to see that the entire forest had disappeared, leaving only barren hills with devastated, churned-up earth and rocks. Many of my comrades sacrificed their lives!” Mr. Dung recalled.

In their twenties, having only recently left their rural hometowns, they entered a fierce and arduous war, filled with sacrifice. Living in underground shelters, they faced death day after day, yet no one retreated. Night after night, the unit divided into groups, taking turns guarding. Fighting for every section of fortification, trench, and jagged rock formation amidst ever-present danger, these soldiers never left their positions.

It is impossible to fully describe the hardships, sacrifices, and especially the daily face of death endured by soldiers on the fierce battlefield. But revolutionary ideals and love for the country gave them strength and courage, helping these young soldiers to fight tenaciously under the rain of bombs and bullets, ready to plunge into hand-to-hand combat to defend every inch of the nation's border.

After two years serving on the Vi Xuyen battlefield, participating in fierce battles, in late 1986, during a border patrol, he was ambushed by the enemy and hit by a K58 mine. He was severely wounded, losing one leg completely and suffering extensive muscle damage in the other. When his comrades brought him to the forward surgical station, he was initially presumed dead. Fortunately, a doctor discovered his body was still warm and provided timely emergency care, saving his life.

The commemorative medal marking a time of war is always cherished by wounded veteran Ho Van Dung - Photo: NM

From there, he spent 14 months receiving treatment at various hospitals in the northern provinces, including 6 months lying immobile and undergoing complex surgeries in an effort to preserve his left leg, which had suffered severe muscle damage. While recuperating at his former unit in the Quang Binh Provincial Military Command, he met and befriended Quang Phu. Admiring the brave soldier, and knowing that the future would be full of difficulties, they married.

Having decided to stay in his wife's hometown, they together reclaimed the sandy land at the end of the village in the former Quang Phu commune. This was a very difficult time as four children were born one after another. Even with a disability pension (category 1/4) and a caregiver's allowance, they had to be very frugal just to make ends meet for the whole family. To help his wife and children, using only his wooden crutches and his left leg no longer fully functional, he dug a fish pond and grew vegetables and raised chickens in his nearly ^1,000m² garden. Besides using the produce for his family, he also sold some to support his children's education. Not daring to dream of getting rich, with the determination of a soldier, war invalid Ho Van Dung always strived to develop his family's economy so that he and his wife could care for and raise their children, minimizing reliance on relatives and neighbors.

His health is declining, especially since his serious wounds keep recurring whenever the weather changes, but the longing for his comrades and the old battlefield still smolders in Mr. Dung's heart. Every year, he and his former comrades who fought in Vi Xuyen organize a reunion to reminisce about their youthful years and the heroic war, to share stories about their lives, or simply to see each other. They also revisit the old battlefield, where the high points that once marked the sacrifices of their comrades have now been revived, and peaceful life with green trees has returned.

“Comrade Ho Van Dung is a severely wounded veteran with poor health, and at times his family faced great difficulties. However, he always strived to improve his family's economic situation, strictly adhered to the Party's guidelines and policies, the State's laws and regulations, and actively participated in the activities of the local Veterans Association. He is one of the exemplary veterans who overcame hardship,” shared Mr. Tran Tien Hung, former Chairman of the Veterans Association of the former Quang Phu commune.

The war is long over, the wounds remain, but within him, the soldier returning from the fierce battlefield of Vi Xuyen, his will and faith remain intact. Amidst the many difficulties of everyday life, he quietly lives, persevering and striving, continuing to affirm the qualities and character of a soldier of Uncle Ho in today's life.

Ngoc Mai

Source: https://baoquangtri.vn/phong-su-ky-su/202604/chuyen-nguoi-linh-tro-ve-tu-vi-xuyen-95c7c83/