81-year-old veteran: On behalf of my fallen comrades, I went to watch the September 2nd parade and admire the beautiful country.

Under the fluttering national flag, Mr. Dai stood to salute the flag, representing his fallen comrades attending the September 2nd ceremony - Photo: MAI THUONG

Happy one but missing fallen comrades 10. In the days when the whole country was in the atmosphere of celebrating the 80th anniversary of the August Revolution and National Day September 2, soldier Nguyen Van Dai was both happy and sad remembering old stories.

Sitting in a corner on Van Cao Street, among the colors of the red flag with yellow star, he told Tuoi Tre Online: "I survived and returned to witness this moment today, actually thanks to stepping over the bodies of my comrades."

Mr. Dai traveled more than 300km from Nghe An to Hanoi to attend the ceremony - Photo: MAI THUONG

"There are two stories that I tell all the time, people think I'm crazy"

Mr. Dai was born in 1946 in Nghi Loc, Nghe An , belonging to unit A9, B3, O9, Company 9, H3, Construction site (regiment) 138. In 1969, his unit was stationed in eastern Quang Tri.

There are two memories the veteran said he will carry with him until he dies.

Mr. Dai and his three grandchildren went to watch the state-level rehearsal of the 80th National Day parade at Ba Dinh - Photo: MAI THUONG

One is the story of October 1968, in a battle in Gio Linh, Quang Tri , his unit was surrounded by enemy tanks, platoon leader Le Van Lau and team leader Nguyen Phi Hung hugged mines and rushed into enemy tanks and sacrificed.

Before leaving, the platoon leader still gave his teammates a dime to pay Party dues.

"My comrades sacrificed themselves so that we could live. That's why I was able to survive by stepping over the dead bodies of my comrades," the former scout recalled.

There is another story that haunts Mr. Dai, related to the last meal.

6 brothers (5 teammates and 1 frontline worker friend from Quynh Luu) were eating when a man named Toan asked Mr. Dai to come in and listen to the radio, reporting that the enemy was sweeping too much.

When he returned, a bomb fell into the middle of the meal, killing all five people. "I was the only survivor. My luck but my teammates' loss, I don't know whether to be happy or cry," he asked himself.

Nearly 60 years have passed, and nothing has been forgotten. He kept telling the above two stories to his children and grandchildren, and to the villagers. He said, "I kept mentioning them so much that some people thought I was crazy."

"Thank you, my country, because at this age I can still go to see the important holidays of the nation, see the rich and beautiful country. As a soldier, this is even more precious to me," Mr. Dai shared.

Mr. Dai's biggest regret was that he left for Hanoi too early, so he forgot to bring his wartime medals with him - Photo: MAI THUONG

Mr. Dai said that living to this age and still witnessing special moments is an honor - Photo: MAI THUONG

"On behalf of my fallen brothers, I went to watch the September 2nd parade and see the beautiful country."

Ms. Nguyen Thi Tam, Mr. Dai's daughter-in-law, said that on the occasion of the April 30th holiday, he also wanted to go to Ho Chi Minh City to watch the parade, but his family did not dare let him go because he was old.

This time he insisted on leaving. On August 21, he was present at the first general training session.

Mr. Dai said that on August 31 or September 1, his son and wife from Ho Chi Minh City will also go to Hanoi to prepare to watch the parade celebrating the 80th anniversary of National Day on September 2, which will officially take place on the morning of September 2.

He said the value of independence is the greatest value, the most honorable and proud of a nation. "I am proud to be a part of the nation, of that heroic country," he said. "Today, I, Nguyen Van Dai, a soldier from Southern Laos, represent my brothers who sacrificed their lives to watch the September 2 parade."

Under the fluttering national flag, in the jubilant atmosphere celebrating the 80th anniversary of the founding of Vietnam, Mr. Dai stood to salute the flag, representing his comrades who sacrificed their lives to attend the September 2nd ceremony.

Source: https://tuoitre.vn/cuu-binh-81-tuoi-thay-mat-dong-doi-da-hy-sinh-toi-di-xem-dieu-binh-2-9-ngam-dat-nuoc-giau-dep-20250827185756639.htm#content-1