Memories of a time of fire and flowers

Leaving their families in their twenties, they followed the call of the country, devoting their youth to the independence and freedom of the Fatherland. And when the war was over, the memories of the soldiers of the past about a time of war and war were still hard to fade.

Veteran Huynh Thanh Sang (residing in Ben Luc commune) was moved when looking back at old photos.

From hatred to determination to fight

One peaceful morning, in a small, simple house, veteran Huynh Thanh Sang (born in 1954, residing in Ben Luc commune, Tay Ninh province), with white hair, slowly poured tea. When talking about the years of war, his eyes looked far away, remembering his comrades who fought in the same trenches. "Returning alive after the war was something I did not dare to think about during the years of resistance, because at that time, life and death were like fragile threads" - Mr. Sang said.

Born into a family with a revolutionary tradition, Mr. Sang had a patriotic spirit early on. In 1968, when his three older brothers died one after another, the pain and grief turned into a fighting spirit. "With hatred surging, I decided to take up arms to fight to protect my homeland, and with my comrades to regain independence and freedom," Mr. Sang shared.

On June 27, 1972, he enlisted in the army, joining the armed security forces at School C51 of the Southern Ministry of Public Security, located in Cambodia. After 6 months of arduous training, he returned and was assigned to the position of Armed Security Squad Leader of Ben Luc district, Long An province.

In 1973, while moving to the base in Long Trach commune, Can Duoc district, he and his teammates were suddenly attacked by the enemy. Although he was slightly injured, he still cannot forget that life-and-death moment. “The feeling of helplessness when I could not save my teammates haunts me to this day. The more I witness the sacrifices, the more I do not allow myself to fall. I am determined to fight until my last breath, not only for myself but also for those who have fallen behind,” Mr. Sang said in a low voice.

During a subsequent raid, when he had just returned to the base in An Thanh commune, Ben Luc district, he was discovered by the enemy. Bullets suddenly rained down on his shelter. “The explosion was deafening, and smoke and dust flew everywhere. I only had time to feel a sharp pain spreading throughout my body and then fainted. Seriously injured, I had to stay in hospital for a whole month,” said Mr. Sang.

After the country's reunification, returning to normal life, veteran Huynh Thanh Sang continued to contribute to his homeland as an officer of the Ben Luc District Security Department. For him, peacetime does not mean the end of his mission but rather the continuation of a journey to protect and preserve the achievements of the revolution. In 2013, he officially retired. Now in his twilight years, veteran Huynh Thanh Sang still maintains the qualities of a soldier from the past. He often reminds his children and grandchildren to live uprightly, work honestly, reflect on themselves to improve themselves and absolutely not to do anything that harms the honor and tradition of the family.

The heroic memories of veterans are not only a golden page of the nation's history but also a reminder for today's generation to cherish peace , live with ideals and contribute to the Fatherland with all their enthusiasm and responsibility.

The loyal female liaison

Former female liaison Nguyen Thi Ben (residing in My Thanh commune) visits the field - the place that was associated with the years of resistance war.

Ms. Nguyen Thi Ben (born in 1950, residing in My Thanh commune) joined the revolution when she was only 12 years old. She took on the role of a liaison in Nhi Binh commune, Thu Thua district, Long An province. Her main job was to deliver letters, reports, and instructions from higher levels to the grassroots and vice versa.

Mrs. Ben said: “Every other day, I set out on a mission regardless of rain or shine. To avoid being detected by the enemy, I often chose more remote and difficult trails. Sometimes I also had the task of buying and transporting furniture, guns and ammunition for local troops. Those years were extremely difficult, but the desire for peace and independence was the strength for me to overcome everything.”

In 1972, while on a mission, she was discovered by the enemy, arrested and brutally tortured for more than 8 months. Despite being beaten and electrocuted, she remained steadfast, determined not to reveal anything, to keep secrets, and to protect her comrades and the organization.

In 1973, she fell into enemy hands again. “At that time, I was seriously injured and arrested. They took me from Thu Duc, Tam Hiep, Chi Hoa prisons and then exiled me to Con Dao for interrogation. During the 3 years I lived behind bars, I still tried to listen and grasp the war situation, keeping my faith in the day of total victory,” Mrs. Ben recalled.

“And then, that sacred moment came - April 30, 1975, the day the South was liberated and the country was reunified. When I heard that President Duong Van Minh had announced his surrender, I was overwhelmed, unable to express all the emotions in my heart. At that time, I cried, but they were tears of joy and victory, of overflowing happiness,” Mrs. Ben emotionally recounted. On the day she returned, the body of that small liaison was covered with scars of war. After her silent contributions and sacrifices for the revolution, Mrs. Ben became a 4/4 disabled veteran.

Through years of dangerous and fierce fighting, the soldiers devoted and sacrificed their youth for the country's independence and peace. The heroic memories of the war veterans are not only a golden page in the nation's history but also a reminder for today's generation to cherish peace, live with ideals and devote themselves to the Fatherland with all their enthusiasm and responsibility./.

Nhu Quynh

Source: https://baolongan.vn/hoi-uc-mot-thoi-hoa-lua-a199728.html