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| Colonel Nguyen Binh Nguyen and his war diary. |
At his house in Quang Trung Ward (Thai Nguyen City), Colonel Nguyen Binh Nguyen welcomed me in his neat military uniform. Although he is over 80 years old, his eyes still shine brightly whenever he talks about his years of fighting in the Central Highlands.
"50 years have passed, but for me, the memories of the Central Highlands battlefield are still as vivid as if it were yesterday" - Colonel Nguyen began his story, his voice warm and full of emotion.
In 1965, Nguyen Binh Nguyen, like many other young men, followed the call of the Fatherland and joined the 95th Regiment. His unit was mobilized to the Central Highlands battlefield with a special mission: penetrating deep into enemy territory, cutting off traffic on the main roads of National Highways 19 and 14 in Gia Lai and the areas bordering Phu Yen, Binh Dinh, and Dak Lak.
"The Central Highlands is a harsh land, with rugged jungles and rolling hills. We had to face not only the enemy but also nature, harsh weather and diseases," Colonel Nguyen said. "But it was these challenges that forged the indomitable will of revolutionary soldiers."
Colonel Nguyen recalls the historic days of the Central Highlands Campaign in 1975 - opening the way for the historic Ho Chi Minh Campaign later on.
"When we received the order to participate in the Central Highlands Campaign, we all understood that this was the decisive moment. The fighting spirit of our comrades was very high. Everyone was determined to complete the mission excellently, contributing to the overall victory of the nation."
He recounted with vivid details: "I remember clearly the night of March 3, early morning of March 4, 1975, according to the plan, the Regiment was ordered to open fire to attack and capture the Azun base, Plei Bong, Mang Yang pass on Highway 19. Our mission was to cut this road at all costs, especially the Mang Yang section to block the enemy's retreat."
He recalled: "At that time, I commanded a company to block the enemy convoy. They counterattacked extremely fiercely. Many of our comrades were wounded and sacrificed, but the spirit of all soldiers was determined, at all costs not to let a single enemy vehicle pass through Mang Yang. After about 3 hours of fighting, the company repelled the enemy's counterattack, shooting down a total of 9 vehicles, including 2 tanks and 7 M113 armored vehicles."
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| Each page of the diary is an unforgettable memory of a heroic time of the nation. |
Colonel Nguyen has many profound memories associated with the Central Highlands battlefield, but perhaps the most impressive is the affection between the army and the people here.
"The ethnic minorities in the Central Highlands have protected, sheltered, and helped us a lot. I remember one time when my unit was on a march, a soldier got severe malaria. A Ba Na village elder used wild medicinal leaves to save him. Without the help of our fellow ethnic minorities, we could not have overcome the hardships."
He also mentioned his fallen comrades with a choked voice: "They passed away at a very young age, but lived a full life with noble ideals. Every time I remember them, I tell myself to live a life worthy of their sacrifice."
When asked about the message he wanted to send to the younger generation on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of liberation, Colonel Nguyen pondered and then said: Peace, independence, and unification are the results of countless blood and sacrifices of many generations of Vietnamese people. I hope that today's young people understand the value of peace, cherish what they have, and strive to study and work to build an increasingly prosperous country.
"The Central Highlands has changed a lot now. But for me, the memories of this land and its people are still an indispensable part of a soldier's life" - Colonel Nguyen confided at the end of the conversation.
50 years have passed since the country was reunified, but the memories of the Central Highlands in soldiers like Colonel Nguyen Binh Nguyen are still vivid, as a testament to the indomitable spirit of the Vietnamese people. Their stories - memories of the Central Highlands - will forever be a source of inspiration for future generations to continue building and defending the Fatherland.
Source: https://baothainguyen.vn/xa-hoi/202504/ky-uc-tay-nguyen-ce13d84/
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