Heroic memories of "unforgettable days"

Youth volunteers and frontline laborers were an important force contributing to the Dien Bien Phu Victory in 1954.

Overcoming difficulties, firmly believing in victory

Born and raised in the Mining Region, Mr. Vu Cong Hong (born in 1936, now residing in Ha Long City, Quang Ninh Province), followed his parents to Thanh Hoa to evacuate, from which he had the opportunity to join the bicycle packers serving the Dien Bien Phu campaign. In February 1954, the 17-year-old young man - the youngest in the bicycle packers of Thanh Hoa town at that time - excitedly crossed hundreds of kilometers of forests and mountains through Hoa Binh - Son La, crossed Pha Din Pass to Tuan Giao intersection, and entered Dien Bien Phu.

Recalling those heroic days, Mr. Hong said that every day he and his teammates crossed three 35km long passes to bring 150kg of goods to the battlefield. Not thinking about bombs and bullets, not minding the hardship, eating in the middle of the forest, sleeping on plastic sheets spread on the ground, he and his teammates competed every hour to ensure supplies for the troops. Although they did not directly fight, every time they heard news from the front, he and his teammates always looked forward to the day of victory and "firmly believed that we would win".

Mr. Vu Cong Hong recalls the heroic days participating in the Dien Bien Phu campaign.

“On the afternoon of May 7, 1954, a young man on horseback, holding a small flag, walked from Dien Bien along the road to Lai Chau . He talked so much that his voice was hoarse, but we still clearly heard the words “Victory, victory”. The workers understood when they heard that, and the group of people just kept shouting together,” Mr. Hong said.

After more than 3 months of serving on the front line, young men working as transporters like Mr. Hong officially entered the “basin” of Dien Bien – where the battlefield was still in chaos. He said that if the emotion when hearing the news of victory was bursting with joy, the following moments made him excited and thrilled.

70 years after the Dien Bien Phu Victory, although the traces of time have been imprinted on the skin and hair, although everyone is at the age of remembering and forgetting, the memories of the Dien Bien Phu campaign in 1954 will always be beautiful memories in the lives of the former frontline workers. Those memories are evidence of a heroic time, to remind the younger generation of gratitude and revolutionary lessons.

Mr. Hong remembers very well the first night of liberation, "there was a screening of the film of the 3rd Youth and Student Festival in Budapest (Hungary). Weapons were confiscated, but enemy soldiers remained, that night we watched the film together. Watching such a special film together made us very happy, very excited".

After the victory, Mr. Vu Cong Hong stayed in Dien Bien Phu to serve the activities of our army until May 29, 1954, then returned to the Mining region to work through a number of agencies of the coal and statistics industry.

Over the past 70 years, the souvenir he has kept most carefully is the certificate “Glorious Civilian Soldier of Dien Bien Phu Front” awarded by the General Command of the Vietnam People’s Army. This is a certificate for his unforgettable days.

Always remember Uncle Ho's teachings

“I remember that I was only 15 years old at that time, and I heard Uncle Ho teach that young people should do small jobs according to their strength, so I joined the resistance war. The time I was able to contribute my strength with the people of the whole country to gain independence and freedom is the most memorable memory of my life.” Those words of pride were shared by Mr. Luong Van Sinh, residing in Co village, Tong Co commune, Thuan Chau district (Son La province).

Mr. Sinh confided that at that time he was the youngest of 24 young people from Tong Co commune participating in transporting food to the army. The spirit of young people like him that year was immeasurable.

Mr. Luong Van Sinh in Co village is the youngest of 24 young men from Tong Co commune who participated in transporting food during the Dien Bien Phu campaign.

For Mr. Sinh, all difficulties turned into determination and strength to reach the highest goal of national independence. “I am the youngest, but I am determined to go and do, just like many other Vietnamese people who rushed forward to liberate the country,” Mr. Sinh said.

To achieve the earth-shaking victory on May 7, 1954, Thuan Chau district (Son La) alone had thousands of youth volunteers and frontline laborers; almost every village and commune had people participating. They participated with the enthusiasm of youth and responsibility to the Fatherland.

Mr. Luong Van Huong, residing in Lanh village, Tong Lanh commune, Thuan Chau district, is now at a rare age, but he still tells stories about his time as a frontline laborer for the arduous Dien Bien Phu campaign 70 years ago, clearly.

That year, Mr. Huong was only 20 years old, the most energetic age of youth. He and more than 20 young men in the commune volunteered to go on the road, participating in the task of repairing the road for the army at Pha Din Pass and carrying rice to transport food to Muong Ang.

Mr. Luong Van Huong can never forget the memories of participating in the task of repairing the road for soldiers at Pha Din Pass.

“When the Dien Bien Phu campaign was about to begin, the district and commune called up laborers to work on the front lines. At that time, sometimes we went at night, sometimes during the day. Wherever the planes bombed, we went to fill in bomb craters, take trees, mortars, stakes, and level the ground. But the more the planes bombed, the more we had to go,” Mr. Huong said.

The most difficult thing for Mr. Huong and his teammates at that time was the roads that were bombed, and had to be repaired with primitive tools, which was extremely difficult. Moreover, the tasks had to be carried out at night to avoid being detected by the enemy, but Mr. Huong and his teammates were always determined to overcome all difficulties to complete all assigned tasks well.

70 years after the Dien Bien Phu Victory, although the traces of time have been imprinted on the skin and hair, although we are all at the age of remembering and forgetting..., the memories of the Dien Bien Phu campaign in 1954 will always be beautiful memories in the lives of the former frontline workers.

Those memories are evidence of a heroic time, to remind the gratitude and revolutionary lessons for generations of young people today.

Dien Bien soldiers return to visit their comrades

Source: https://baodantoc.vn/ky-uc-hao-hung-ve-nhung-ngay-khong-quen-1714970337216.htm