Heroic memories of the soldier protecting female general Nguyen Thi Dinh

One day in April, the whole country was looking forward to the 48th anniversary of the Liberation of the South and National Reunification Day (April 30, 1975 - April 30, 2023). We were honored to meet the brave soldier who went through two resistance wars against the French colonialists and the invading American imperialists. He is a veteran named Vo Tong Bat (born in 1936) in An Tao village, Cuong Chinh commune (Tien Lu). Flipping through the time-worn memorabilia, the memories of fierce battles with the enemy, of the overwhelming happiness of the day the country was reunited, especially the time when he carried out the mission of protecting comrade Nguyen Thi Dinh, who was then Deputy Commander-in-Chief of the Southern Liberation Army, the first female general of the Vietnam People's Army, are still intact in his memory.

Veteran Vo Tong Bat in An Tao village, Cuong Chinh commune (Tien Lu)

In a simple level 4 house hung many Medals of Military Exploit, Medals of Liberation Soldier..., the veteran, now 87 years old, has white hair like silk, eyes looking far away, recalling the unforgettable days. In 1953, the young man Vo Tong Bat, then only 17 years old, volunteered to join the army, participating in the resistance war against French colonialism, protecting the Fatherland. In April 1965, he was demobilized and returned to his hometown. Reunited with his family for only 4 months, he re-enlisted, and was mobilized by his superiors to supplement the forces for the Southern battlefield to participate in the resistance war against the US, saving the country. When the resistance war against the US, saving the country was in its fierce phase, Mr. Bat was assigned by his superiors to protect the Deputy Commander-in-Chief of the Southern Liberation Army, Nguyen Thi Dinh.

Mr. Bat said that the guard team of the Deputy Commander-in-Chief of the Southern Liberation Army consisted of 12 people, both male and female. The team's mission was to follow and protect the comrade, especially when he went to the battlefield to visit and encourage the liberation army units. The protection work at that time was very difficult, but we were all enthusiastic about the revolution and determined to be loyal, ready to sacrifice our lives for the safety of comrade Nguyen Thi Dinh. During the trips to inspect the battlefield, visit and encourage the combat units, each soldier of the guard team was assigned and given specific tasks. We mostly marched at night, passing through dangerous roads or canals with many enemy posts, outposts, and bases. Although there was often a reconnaissance team leading the way, the guard team always had to take the initiative to fight when unexpected situations occurred...

During the 3 years of protecting comrade Nguyen Thi Dinh, the thing that impressed guard Vo Tong Bat most about her was that she was a brave, talented, kind and simple woman. “Although she was the Deputy Commander-in-Chief of the Southern Liberation Army, which terrified the enemy, to the soldiers, she was a woman full of compassion, generosity, tolerance, living in harmony with everyone, like a sister, a kind mother, devotedly taking care of and encouraging us. She often wore a traditional Vietnamese dress and a scarf around her neck - a characteristic of a Ben Tre girl. There was no distance between her and everyone. Therefore, the soldiers of the guard team often affectionately called her “Sister Hai Dinh”, Mr. Bat shared.

Mr. Bat recalled: In April 1975, the Ho Chi Minh campaign was victorious, completely liberating the South and unifying the country. During a conversation, Ms. Hai Dinh proactively asked me: "Are you staying here or going back?". In response to that friendly question, I expressed my wish to return to the North. In June 1975, I was demobilized and returned to my homeland. On the day my mission ended, I was given a gun by Major General Nguyen Thi Dinh, which has now been handed over to the State.

Returning to his homeland, wounded soldier Vo Tong Bat always followed every news about comrade Nguyen Thi Dinh. On August 26, 1992, when he heard the news that the legendary female general's heart had stopped beating through the radio announcement, Mr. Bat felt lost and disappointed. He repeated: In my military career, serving the Deputy Commander-in-Chief of the Southern Liberation Army was a great and unforgettable honor.

With his achievements in the two resistance wars, veteran Vo Tong Bat was awarded many noble medals such as: Third-class Liberation Feat Medal, First-class Resistance Medal; 12 E-level titles of brave warriors in destroying American - machinery - aircraft; 15 E-level certificates of merit for combat and work...

Nowadays, despite his old age and poor health, the 55-year-old soldier always reminds his children and grandchildren to remember history and be grateful to those who have devoted and sacrificed for the independence and freedom of the nation; strive to study, work and train to promote the revolutionary tradition of his family and homeland.

Duong Mien

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