During the war, they were the ones who rushed to the battlefield, fought to protect the Fatherland, many were injured, became wounded soldiers, many people, although not injured, had poor health or were infected with toxic chemicals... Returning to peacetime, those people still devoted themselves to the community, joining hands to build and develop the economy . Continuing the tradition of Uncle Ho's soldiers, the veterans always showed their bravery and spirit of "disabled but not useless", being shining examples in everyday life...
Returning home with injuries all over his body, Captain Le Long Trieu (72 years old, in Quang Ninh ) still actively contributes to building his hometown, searching for the remains of his comrades, helping many people in difficult circumstances,...
At the age of 72, Mr. Trieu's eyes are dim, his legs have difficulty walking and his body is always aching from the wounds left by the war. But the old veteran's heart and mind seem tireless, still tirelessly on the path to bring happiness, sow joy, and heal the "wounds" of war for many people.
At the age of 18, young man Le Long Trieu from Binh Duong commune, Dong Trieu district, Quang Ninh followed the sacred call of the Fatherland to join the army. After more than a year of training as a special forces soldier in Hai Duong, in December 1970, he and Battalion 4 (code name T40), Special Forces Group 429 joined the battle in the Southwest battlefield.
As a special forces soldier, the backbone of major battles, Le Long Trieu and his comrades experienced many life-and-death moments. In the veteran's memory, the battle in March 1972 on the Southwestern front was a turning point in the soldier's life.
On the night of March 22 and early morning of March 23, 1972, after two months of deployment ( mobilization to battlefields, but the special forces soldiers had to keep the scene intact, leaving no traces ), his T40 Battalion received orders to attack the enemy stronghold located close to the Vietnam border. This was the main base of the Saigon puppet 9th Special Forces Regiment and 2 armored regiments, 12th and 16th.
Destroying this stronghold would create a key premise for the entire battle situation at the Southwestern front. Mr. Trieu and his comrades were determined to fight the enemy in the special forces' trademark way of "blossoming in the enemy's heart". Even if they had to sacrifice themselves, the special forces had to destroy the headquarters, disrupt the enemy, and create favorable conditions for the infantry to attack and resolve the entire battlefield.
That night, his combat team of 22 elite commandos penetrated deep into the enemy base. The raid took place unexpectedly at night, was extremely fierce, difficult and lasted until near dawn when they ran out of ammunition, the enemy poured out, killing many of our commandos, causing great losses.
In the battle for survival at the key base, Mr. Trieu's spearhead had 19 heroic comrades sacrificed, leaving only him, the Battalion Commander and another comrade alive.
Hiding about 100 meters from the enemy, the young soldier witnessed his comrades die, leaving only him and the Battalion Commander.
"The surviving Battalion Commander and I were surrounded for more than 10 hours under the scorching sun, at times having to drink our own urine to quench our thirst. While being surrounded, the enemy called for our surrender, using all kinds of sweet words to entice and threaten us, putting us under a lot of pressure. At that time, the Battalion Commander held my hand, we both looked at each other and told ourselves that we would rather sacrifice ourselves than be captured," Mr. Trieu recounted.
Referring to the sacrifice of his comrades and the moment of near death, Mr. Trieu was moved, "As a special forces soldier, when going into battle, you are ready to die for the Fatherland." He said, failing to complete the mission is a crime, surrendering to the enemy is a crime, a shame that the conscience and bravery of Uncle Ho's soldiers will never allow.
"Never give up, never retreat, never bow your head and walk away when your comrades have fallen. That is the quality, the command from the heart of a soldier," Mr. Trieu emphasized.
Surrounded from dawn to dusk, standing on the line between life and death for more than ten hours, Mr. Trieu made a brave decision and was willing to sacrifice himself to "open a path of blood" to save the Battalion Commander. It was at this moment that he received a bullet in the head, the bullet is still lodged there to this day.
At the end of 1972, when his old wound had not yet healed, young soldier Le Long Trieu was assigned to the front line at the artillery hill of Ha Tien, Kien Giang. In this battle, both his legs and ribs were bruised, the wound left lifelong sequelae.
During the fierce period of war, in 1972, Mr. Trieu was admitted to the Party.
The war has ended, but the wounds and pain of war have never ended. Many Agent Orange victims have died in pain, many others are struggling with illness every day and every hour. In many localities, there are still many difficult situations, unfortunate lives that need to be protected and sheltered... That is the concern of veteran and war invalid Le Long Trieu. At the moment of life and death, his comrades sacrificed so that he could live, now he vows to always strive to contribute to the lives of those less fortunate.
While still working, he fought and contributed to the following units: Group 159 Quang Ninh, Quang Ninh Provincial Military Command, Hai Phong Nursing Group 590, Hung Yen Province Nursing Center for the Care of Meritorious People... Returning to civilian life, the veteran decided to establish the 18/4 Trieu Long Disabled War Enterprise (Binh Duong Commune, Dong Trieu Town, Quang Ninh).
His company has been operating since 2003, and most of its workers are disabled people, children of veterans, and people in difficult circumstances. He said the company was established to create jobs for the disadvantaged. He works because he wants to have money to do charity work and to find his comrades who are still alive on the old battlefield.
"The disabled war enterprise is like a military unit, a family home. I have lived until today, so I must live in a way that is worthy of my fallen comrades, worthy of Uncle Ho's teaching: "Disabled war veterans are disabled but not useless"," Mr. Trieu concluded.
Mr. Trieu participated in supporting programs to honor fallen soldiers and comrades for the cause of national liberation such as "Dien Bien Phu Legendary Epic", "Sacred Vietnam"; giving savings books to orphans... or simply doing reconciliation work, calling on people to unite, develop a civilized lifestyle... right where he lives.
Having devoted his entire youth to the Fatherland, working tirelessly to contribute to the construction of his homeland, deep down, this loyal veteran still yearned for the image of his comrades lying coldly in the border region. So he rolled up his sleeves, called on his comrades and relatives to establish the T40 Liaison Committee to search for the remains of his fallen comrades.
"Many days while sleeping, my legs ached, when I woke up, I kept thinking that my leg pain was not as bad as my teammates who were still lying alone in cold places. I have a warm family with a wife and children, but my teammates are still alone," Mr. Trieu worried.
Understanding her husband's feelings, Mrs. Tran Thi Kim Dung, a former elementary school teacher, accompanied him on trips along the southwestern border to find his comrades.
For over ten years, veteran Le Long Trieu and his wife and the T40 Liaison Committee have been traveling across old battlefields to search for the remains of martyrs. His liaison committee has collected and brought 9 comrades back to their hometown for burial.
"Every time we find our comrades, we feel very relieved. Even if we only have a handful of soil left, we bring it back to their families with the hope of comforting their relatives. Because that soil has the blood and bones of our comrades mixed in it...", Mr. Trieu confided.
After decades of searching for the remains of his comrades and doing social work with his 1/4 disabled husband, Mrs. Tran Thi Kim Dung was moved: "My husband is lucky to still be alive and return to his homeland thanks to the sacrifices of his comrades. Thinking of my husband in a warm bed, a soft mattress, a happy home with many children and grandchildren, I feel sorry for the young soldiers in their twenties who are lying far away."
Flipping through each photo with her husband searching for martyrs' remains, Mrs. Dung shared that no matter how difficult her husband's work was, she was willing to accompany him.
"This action made him feel better, less tormented over the years when he still thought about his comrades far away who could not return home...", Ms. Dung was moved.
July is coming, when all over the country, people hold ceremonies to pay tribute to heroic martyrs and veterans who sacrificed their lives for the country, Mr. Trieu recalls the time of fighting shoulder to shoulder with his comrades for the great war of national defense. At an old age, despite the deep and painful wounds of war, the veteran still quietly sows the seeds of happiness.
Design: Patrick Nguyen Photo: Doan Tuan
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