One promise, a lifetime together.

During those historic April days, we visited Tan Thuan Binh commune to meet Mr. Do Manh Hong and Mrs. Nguyen Thi Bich Suong, residents of Dang Hung Phuoc commune, Cho Gao district, Tien Giang province (now Tan Thuan Binh commune, Dong Thap province). In their warm and loving home, the Liberation Fighter Medals and Resistance Medals were proudly displayed on the walls, serving as silent witnesses to a time of war and sacrifice.

Mr. Hong and Mrs. Suong sat side by side, slowly recounting their life story. It wasn't a love that began with flowers or sweet declarations of love, but one nurtured amidst bombs and hardships, from fleeting encounters in the smoke and fire of war, and enduring through the years.

"ALL FOR OUR BELOVED SOUTH"

Mr. Do Manh Hong was born in 1951 in Bac Giang province (now Bac Ninh province). Recalling his youth, his eyes still light up with an indescribable emotion about a time of war and sacrifice.

Mr. Hong and Mrs. Suong chatted with us, veterans of the commune, in a warm atmosphere, reminiscing about the war years and their love story amidst the smoke and fire.

In 1970, at the age of 19, Mr. Hong put everything aside to enlist in the army, carrying within him the enthusiasm of youth and the ideal of "All for our beloved South Vietnam."

Mr. Hong slowly recounted, "At that time, I only had one direction - to fight in the South," beginning a journey of dedicating my entire youth to the Fatherland.

The journey to the South was not easy. For more than five months, he and his comrades trekked through forests, crossed streams, and faced bombs and bullets.

Amidst the flames of war, every step of the march was supported by an unwavering belief: belief in victory, belief in the day of national reunification, and belief in the path chosen by the Party.

It was that belief that helped him and his comrades move forward steadily. "There were days when we walked day and night, our feet covered in blisters, but no one dared to rest for long. Resting meant falling behind, and falling behind was dangerous," Mr. Hong recalled.

Upon arriving in My Tho province (now Dong Thap province), Mr. Hong was assigned to Battalion 514C, directly fighting in many key areas such as Cai Lay, Cai Be, and Chau Thanh - places considered "hot spots" of the My Tho battlefield at that time.

Here, the enemy frequently raided and shelled the area, with battles lasting from dawn until noon, the sound of gunfire incessant, and thick smoke enveloping the entire rice field. Our soldiers had to stay close to the people, defend the land, and maneuver to retaliate under conditions of extreme scarcity.

Deputy Chairman of the Vietnam Fatherland Front Committee of Tan Thuan Binh commune, Chairman of the Veterans Association of Tan Thuan Binh commune, Dinh Quoc Khanh shared: “Mr. Hong and Mrs. Suong have always been exemplary and actively participated in local movements and activities.”

Despite his advanced age, Mr. Hong still maintains the spirit of a soldier of Uncle Ho, regularly participating in activities with members of the Veterans Association branch in Dang Nam hamlet, Tan Thuan Binh commune, sharing experiences and encouraging the younger generation.

In the village, the couple were well-liked by the locals for their simple lifestyle, friendly demeanor, and sense of responsibility towards the community.

From 1972 to 1975, Mr. Hong was transferred to Cho Gao and participated in many battles there. These were intense battles against the American-backed South Vietnamese security forces, direct confrontations on the brink of life and death.

During a battle in rugged terrain, Mr. Hong was wounded in the leg, a wound he still bears today as a lasting mark of that wartime experience.

Mr. Hong recalled: "There were times when we were very close to the enemy, only a few dozen meters apart. In those conditions of scarcity, we had to stay close to the terrain, observing and reacting in an instant."

"In the treacherous terrain, while maneuvering and fighting simultaneously, I was shot in the leg. At that time, the gunfire was still intense, and my comrades provided cover while helping me retreat from the combat zone; no one abandoned anyone."

To this day, the wounds remain, not only on his body but also deeply etched in his memory. Every time the weather changes, Mr. Hong feels pain. Yet, amidst that pain is a sense of pride, for having lived, fought, and contributed his youth to the day the country achieved peace.

Amidst the smoke and flames of war, where death was always imminent, what kept soldiers grounded was not only their combat duty, but also the warm human connection from the rear, even deep within enemy territory.

Mr. Hong recalled his days of staying in the area: "The people loved the soldiers very much. They sheltered, hid, gave us rice, medicine... Thanks to them, we were able to survive and fight the enemy."

In times of hardship, every handful of rice, every bowl of medicine, every safe shelter became a precious source of support. The bond between the soldiers and the people was not boisterous or ostentatious, but it was strong and profound, giving the soldiers the strength to overcome bombs and bullets, hold their ground, and fight until victory.

"FALLING IN LOVE" AMIDST THE FLAMES OF WAR

It was thanks to the protection and support of the local people, during his stays and while receiving supplies, that Mr. Hong met Ms. Suong. At that time, Ms. Nguyen Thi Bich Suong was born in 1951 and was from Dang Hung Phuoc commune (now Tan Thuan Binh district, Dong Thap province).

Mr. Hong and Mrs. Suong reminisced about their arduous yet proud wartime experiences.

Back then, Ms. Suong was a brave young volunteer whose duties included leveling roads, transporting the wounded, and carrying weapons. When not performing these tasks, Ms. Suong quietly worked in the rear, sewing clothes and preparing packages of essential supplies to send to the soldiers on the front lines.

Mr. Hong, a soldier who held his ground deep within enemy territory, frequently received supplies from those very hands. These encounters were fleeting, lasting only minutes or seconds. He recounted: “Back then, on the fragile line between life and death, we would meet, only managing a quick glance into each other's eyes, exchanging a few hurried words, and then I would leave again.”

"But it was the protection and care of the people, and the small, meticulous figure of the woman sewing clothes, that made the heart of a soldier like me flutter." It was from these seemingly small things that a quiet romance began to blossom.

Mr. Hong and Mrs. Suong didn't have time for flowery declarations of love. Love during wartime came very gently, very genuinely, growing from sharing and the close bond between soldiers and civilians.

Ms. Suong recounted: "When I wasn't carrying ammunition, I stayed home sewing clothes, and I met him when he came to my house to pick up clothes and necessities... and that's how we fell in love. Back then, it was wartime, and we didn't know what tomorrow would bring. But we just loved each other."

Amidst the flames of war, that love was nurtured by revolutionary faith, by the fact that life and death were separated by only a hair's breadth. There were promises so simple yet heartbreaking. Mr. Hong once said: "Whoever sacrifices themselves first should not wait."

A seemingly cold statement, yet it encapsulates the harsh reality of wartime, where people could only grasp the present, leaving their future entirely to the hope that their country would one day be at peace.

With peace restored after 1975, their promise from years ago became a reality with a family home. They married and together raised five children (three sons and two daughters) amidst the changes in their homeland.

In our conversation, Mr. Hong kept repeating the phrase "falling in love amidst the flames of war." For him, that "love" wasn't just romantic, but also comradeship, the bond between soldiers and civilians. Even now, with their hair turning white, they still hold unwavering faith in the Party and the path chosen by President Ho Chi Minh.

After saying goodbye to the elderly couple, I kept remembering the image of them sitting together, recounting their hardships with an unusually calm demeanor. Perhaps, having faced death together, one learns to appreciate every moment of life more.

A single encounter amidst the flames of war, leading to a lifetime of hand-in-hand companionship. That is the most beautiful love song, written with the blood and flowers of a generation of heroes.

LE NGUYEN

Source: https://baodongthap.vn/mot-lan-uoc-hen-tron-doi-ben-nhau-a239516.html