Writing contest on sovereignty: Soaring for the Fatherland

That was former pilot Tran Van On, who chose to side with the revolution and, together with the Quyet Thang squadron, achieved a historic victory.

Early that morning at Noi Bai Airport, we meticulously instructed him on everything: how to present his ticket, how to go through baggage screening, how to find his boarding gate. A former pilot of a jet fighter was now clumsy and awkward returning to the airport, navigating the check-in counter, security, and boarding pass as a passenger. This comical yet awkward situation brought tears to my eyes.

Air Force pilot

That nearly 80-year-old man is Mr. Tran Van On, a former pilot of the Republic of Vietnam Air Force, who chose to side with the revolution. He and the Quyet Thang (Victory) squadron flew A37 aircraft to bomb Tan Son Nhat airport on April 28, 1975, contributing to paving the way for the historic victory on April 30. After the battle, he left the army and quietly returned to his hometown in Tien Giang province to farm, never asking for special treatment or titles, and never once wearing a uniform of the Vietnam People's Air Force.

I had the opportunity to do a television documentary about his extraordinary life. Since then, we've treated each other like family, and I'm allowed to call him Dad - Dad On. Years ago, amidst a historic moment, my father made a decisive choice: to side with the revolution and become a pilot in the Vietnam People's Air Force. It wasn't just about choosing a flight path, but also about choosing a life path for himself.

The history of the Vietnam People's Air Force will forever remember the event of the Quyet Thang squadron "using enemy aircraft to attack the enemy" at 4:30 PM on April 28, 1975. As the Ho Chi Minh Campaign entered its decisive phase, this special squadron took off from Thanh Son airfield (also known as Phan Rang air base), becoming the spearhead of the aerial assault. These aircraft carried the mission of shaking the will of the Saigon puppet regime by bombing the most important military base at the time: Tan Son Nhat airport; contributing to paving the way for the troops to advance and liberate Saigon faster and with less bloodshed.

In that victory, there was the enthusiastic contribution of Mr. On, who helped the North Vietnamese pilots, who were only familiar with flying Soviet Mig aircraft, to quickly switch to the American A37s that the enemy had abandoned during their retreat. He also personally piloted one of the five A37s of the Quyet Thang (Victory) squadron heading towards Saigon to carry out the mission of attacking Tan Son Nhat airport. After that event, Mr. On stayed with the Vietnam People's Air Force for a short time to perform combat duties protecting the southwestern border before requesting to be discharged.

When I learned that my father had been invited to Hanoi to attend the traditional reunion commemorating the 50th anniversary of the Quyet Thang squadron's attack on Tan Son Nhat airport, I requested that the Air Defense - Air Force Command have a uniform made for him. It was the first and only uniform he ever wore in his life. He should have been wearing that uniform 50 years ago.

Former pilot Tran Van On, who flew the A37 aircraft that bombed Tan Son Nhat airport on April 28, 1975.

The journey "home"

On's trip to Hanoi to attend this traditional reunion was not just about attending a ceremony of gratitude. It was a journey of "returning home," not to his achievements, but to the dignity and memories of a soldier who chose to stand with the revolution at a historic moment.

After an emotional reunion with my former comrades from the Quyet Thang (Victory) squadron, I took On's father back to my home in Hanoi to rest. Then my wife and I decided to take On's father to Quang Ninh to visit Ha Long Bay. I wanted him to see what the North is like today. Although I know that 50 years ago, he was on the other side of the battle lines and may have heard distorted stories about the other half of the country.

While packing, I noticed my father only had two old shirts – the same ones I'd seen when I was reporting from his hometown. I quietly took my husband's shirt and gave it to him, whispering, "Dad, wear this, it'll be cooler." He smiled, refused a couple of times, then accepted. The way he accepted it – so casually, yet so touching.

I booked a 5-star hotel. My dad grumbled, "Why did you book such a big place? It's a waste of money." I just smiled. That evening in Quang Ninh, for the first time, my dad ate squid patties and grilled clams… Dishes that a farmer from the Mekong Delta like him had never tasted in his life. He wasn't being polite, he just honestly said, "It was delicious!"

The next morning, we went down to the hotel buffet. I was overconfident, thinking Dad would know how to eat. After walking around for a bit, I came back to find him sitting in a corner, with a large plate in front of him containing only bread and pâté. He looked up, smiling warmly: "This is the first time I've ever eaten like this. That's enough for me." My voice choked. A man who had studied in America and piloted an A37 aircraft was now bewildered by the hotel breakfast buffet. I sat beside him, pointing out each dish – telling him to try a little of everything to experience the different flavors. He smiled: "Let's do it next time, this time I'm happy." I secretly wished: "If only Dad had many more 'next times'."

On our way back to Hanoi that evening, we had dinner with some of my father's former comrades from the Quyet Thang (Victory) squadron. Everyone was very kind and gave my father all sorts of gifts from their hometowns. There were so many gifts that my father didn't know how to fit them all into his bag. My wife and I decided to buy him a rolling suitcase – the first suitcase he had ever owned in his life.

That evening, the whole family helped Dad pack his things: sticky rice cakes, Northern-style sweet soup, sesame candy, a few shirts, tonics, a new military uniform, and even a model of the airplane that the Air Defense and Air Force Command had given him. Everything was packed with the affection of friends, comrades, and my wife and I – young people who had never experienced war, but were deeply grateful to those who built peace.

3/6 pilots of the Quyet Thang squadron. From left to right: Han Van Quang, Nguyen Van Luc, Tran Van On

All we need is simple peace.

The next morning, my wife and I took my father to the airport to return home. In the modern airport, I once again saw him fumbling around. From getting his ticket and weighing his luggage to going through airport security – everything required guidance. I kept looking at him with sympathy and wondered, "So many people are boarding the plane as if it were an everyday occurrence, but how many know that this old man – the one struggling – was once a real pilot, who once flew for the reunification of our country?"

Once my dad was safely on the plane, I frantically called him again and again to remind him how to retrieve his checked baggage upon landing. Oh, I was teaching a pilot how to board a plane!

Half a century has passed since the reunification of the country. Today, Vietnam is a developed, integrated nation reaching out to the world. We can travel freely, enjoy buffet breakfasts, stay in 5-star hotels, check in at Ha Long Bay, and go to the airport as often as we eat... all thanks to people like Mr. On who chose to take flight for the Fatherland and for justice. After that extraordinary moment, they quietly returned to live ordinary lives, without seeking recognition or gratitude. They only needed a simple peace with the scent of ripening rice, a small winding village path lined with betel nut trees and lush green coconut groves, and a vast sky free from the roar of invading aircraft.

Many people ask me: Why is Mr. On so kind? I don't have an answer. I only understand that, for people like him, life doesn't require repayment, only gratitude.

Fifty years of peace were achieved at the cost of the silent sacrifices of people who never deserved to be remembered!

Mr. Tran Van On and his teammates pose for a commemorative photo next to the A37 aircraft.

For the past 50 years, former pilot Tran Van On has struggled with the hardships of life in his impoverished hometown of Tien Giang. Even upon his return, he faced unnecessary misunderstandings that he couldn't explain. It wasn't until 30 years after liberation that his comrades found him and presented him with the First Class Liberation War Merit Medal for his past achievements. Quietly, amidst peacetime, he said, "I was just a pilot who completed my mission."

Source: https://nld.com.vn/cat-canh-vi-to-quoc-196250503204413828.htm