A glorious history is a bridge connecting generations.

(PLVN) - In any era, correctly understanding, appreciating, and continuing the historical values ​​of the nation has always been the foundation for each individual's growth, nurturing aspirations for advancement, enhancing political acumen, patriotism, and service to the Fatherland.

This was shared by Associate Professor Dr. Luu Van Quang - Deputy Director of the Academy of Journalism and Communication - during a seminar and exchange on the theme "The Great Victory of Spring 1975 - The Power of Will and Belief in Victory," organized by the National Political Publishing House in collaboration with the Academy of Journalism and Communication.

Mr. Nguyen Thai Binh , Deputy Director of the National Political Publishing House, and Associate Professor, Dr. Luu Van Quang, Deputy Director of the Academy of Journalism and Communication, presented flowers to thank the speakers participating in the seminar.

The precious map

At the seminar, speakers who were generals and soldiers who had faced life and death situations, participated directly on the battlefield, and contributed to the great victory of Spring 1975, exchanged and shared their views on the enduring value of this historic victory.

Witnesses such as Major General, Professor, Doctor Nguyen Van Tai, former Deputy Director of the Political Academy, Ministry of National Defense ; Doctor Dam Duy Thien, former reconnaissance officer of Regiment 266, Division 341 - Song Lam; Major General Nguyen Cong Son, former Deputy Chief of the Office of the Central Military Commission; Colonel Le Hat, former Head of the Local Military Science Department, National Defense Academy; Colonel Nguyen Duc Nghinh, veteran of Division 341, along with delegates and students, recalled the events of the fierce and arduous battles during the Spring 1975 General Offensive and Uprising.

Among the stories, the account of veteran, doctor, and military officer Dam Duy Thien, a scout assigned the crucial task of drawing battle maps for the attack on the "steel gate" of Xuan Loc, paving the way for our troops to advance and liberate Saigon - Gia Dinh in 1975, evoked special emotions and provided fascinating information that captivated the students. Sharing his story at the seminar, Mr. Dam Duy Thien recalled that he was one of the youngest soldiers in his unit. He volunteered to join the army in 1972, when he was less than 16 years old and weighed less than 40kg. However, he had sharp, quick eyesight and a talent for drawing, so his superiors sent him for training, and he dedicated himself to mapmaking.

“Back then, maps were only issued to our troops wherever they advanced. Remembering the terrain and place names was very difficult. Even now, after more than 50 years, I still remember the Xuan Loc area vividly, from the roads, forests, rivers, and troop deployment locations,” Mr. Dam Duy Thien recounted. He added that if a soldier working on mapping was unfortunately captured by the enemy, the entire unit could be wiped out, impacting the campaign.

“In mapmaking, a millimeter error is equivalent to a 12-kilometer error in the field. Artillery soldiers accompanied the mapmakers to gather data, then went up to the observation post to establish coordinates. The mapmaking tools were very rudimentary, relying mainly on reconnaissance and intelligence, and requiring good analytical skills from the mapmaker,” Mr. Thien said. From the map he drew, the Command of Regiment 266 correctly identified the attack direction and targets of the units, enabling timely and accurate decisions for the battle.

Sharing his feelings about the moment he and his troops entered Saigon, Major General Nguyen Van Tai said, "Saigon was liberated at noon on April 30th. That moment was filled with immense joy, excitement, pride, and gratitude. But at that same moment, we remembered our comrades who had fallen on the battlefield. Some sacrificed their lives on the morning of April 30th, never to witness the liberation of Saigon and the reunification of the country."

Instilling enthusiasm and determination in the younger generation.

According to Nguyen Thai Binh, Deputy Director of the National Political Publishing House, the glorious victory of the Spring Offensive and Uprising of 1975 created the Great Spring Victory of 1975, a brilliant and shining milestone in the thousand-year history of nation-building and national defense of the Vietnamese people. This momentous event was not merely an extraordinary military victory, completely liberating the South and unifying the country, but also resonated as an immortal epic, with a powerful ripple effect, shaking international public opinion and contributing to the struggle of people around the world for national independence, peace, democracy, and social progress. This is a powerful testament to the will for independence and self-reliance, to the burning desire for peace, and to the indomitable spirit of the Vietnamese people, refusing to be subdued by any enemy.

It can be said that, through the stories shared at the seminar, history is no longer just dry numbers in textbooks but becomes a vivid, relatable, and deeply inspiring lesson. Students have direct access to historical witnesses and researchers, helping them to visualize more clearly a period of arduous but heroic struggle of the nation. The seminar is a bridge between generations – where soldiers who emerged from the war have the opportunity to reminisce about a time of fire and glory, pass on lessons learned, and inspire enthusiasm and determination in subsequent generations; it is also a place where young people can express their thoughts and listen to and understand the sacrifices and losses of previous generations, so that they may learn, remember, appreciate, and promote patriotism and the value of "peace." This interaction is what makes history different from one-sided learning. Through this process, national pride and love for one's homeland are naturally nurtured, from awareness to action.

Mr. Nguyen Thai Binh emphasized: “We are entering a new era of development – ​​an era of national progress, as General Secretary To Lam stressed. This is the time when we need more than ever to promote the spirit of decisive victory, the will and belief of the historic Spring Victory of 1975, and especially to continue to inspire and spread the spirit of “daring to think, daring to act, daring to take responsibility,” the spirit of dedication, innovation and creativity in every cadre, Party member, and citizen, especially the younger generation, encouraging them to continue striving to train, study, preserve and promote the achievements that our forefathers have painstakingly built, contributing to the country's development and deep, sustainable international integration.”

Thuy Duong

Source: https://baophapluat.vn/lich-su-hao-hung-la-cau-noi-cac-the-he-post546674.html