The hero Gac Ma in the city named after Uncle Ho

(QBĐT) - On a March morning, at a meeting of the Quang Ninh District Association in Ho Chi Minh City, I recognized him in a white uniform with the rank of lieutenant colonel. Hero of the People's Armed Forces Nguyen Van Lanh arrived, in time to receive the love sent from his hometown. "There are only a few days left until the whole country remembers the Gac Ma incident, Truong Sa archipelago, March 14, 1988. This year, due to poor health, he could not return to join his Quang Binh comrades who once fought to the death to defend Gac Ma island," Nguyen Van Lanh recalled.

National flag determined to keep

In the story of protecting Gac Ma island, People's Armed Forces Hero Nguyen Van Lanh still remembers every name of his comrades and teammates who once protected Truong Sa sea and island; among them are many martyrs from Quang Binh: Deputy Commander of Gac Ma island, People's Armed Forces Hero Tran Van Phuong (Quang Phuc ward, Ba Don town), Nguyen Van Luc (Quang Thuy commune, Ba Don town), Nguyen Xuan Thong (Nhan Trach commune, Bo Trach), Mai Xuan Hai (Lien Trach commune, Bo Trach), Vo Van Tu (Truong Son commune, Quang Ninh) and Le Huu Thao ( Ha Tinh )...

People's Armed Forces Hero Nguyen Van Lanh (right cover).

People's Armed Forces Hero Nguyen Van Lanh recalled the words of encouragement from Deputy Commander of Gac Ma Island Tran Van Phuong before the moment of life and death with the enemy: "We are all determined to keep the island. We are determined to die for the Fatherland, we are determined to live. Our blood will forever be stained with Truong Sa, forever stained on the flag of the Fatherland of Vietnam."

People's Armed Forces Hero Nguyen Van Lanh was born in Van Ninh commune ( Quang Ninh ). In August 1985, Nguyen Van Lanh joined the army. In March 1988, he received orders to go to Truong Sa archipelago to build Gac Ma island.

The morning of March 14, 1988 is still fresh in Lanh's memory, he said: "Only when we close our eyes and die will we forget. That morning, before the soldiers had time to eat, Tran Van Phuong, Le Huu Thao and about 20 others left ship HQ-604 and got into a boat to Gac Ma island. When Phuong planted the national flag on the island, the enemy landed. The two sides fought hand-to-hand, fighting fiercely. The soldiers on Gac Ma island only had crowbars, hoes, and shovels, while the Chinese side was armed to the teeth. From ship HQ-604, seeing the tense situation on Gac Ma island, the soldiers were ordered to swim to support the island. Then the gunfire... Tran Van Phuong was hit by a bullet and fell down. I quickly rushed forward, grabbed the flagpole from Phuong's bloody hand, and kept that indomitable flag intact."

Representatives of Quang Ninh district leaders and representatives of Quang Ninh district's Association in Ho Chi Minh City presented flowers to People's Armed Forces Hero Nguyen Van Lanh.

At the time of the life-and-death struggle to defend Gac Ma Island, Nguyen Van Lanh was a sergeant in the 83rd Naval Engineering Regiment. In 1989, the President awarded Nguyen Van Lanh the title of Hero of the People's Armed Forces when he was 23 years old.

Remembering teammates

During the naval battle to defend Gac Ma Island, Nguyen Van Lanh was stabbed in the back with a bayonet by the Chinese army and then received a series of bullets that pierced his shoulder and down his back, after which he fainted. When he woke up, he found himself on Sinh Ton Island. “Nguyen Van Luc from Quang Thuy commune carried me back on a plank riddled with bullet holes with Vo Van Tu, a native of Truong Son commune (Quang Ninh). Tu had lost a leg and bled profusely, so when he reached Sinh Ton Island, Tu sacrificed himself” - Hero of the People's Armed Forces Nguyen Van Lanh recalled.

Nguyen Van Lanh said: “In the Gac Ma naval battle on March 14, 1988, 64 comrades were killed. Many were captured by the Chinese side. Quang Binh province has 13 martyrs who will forever remain in the middle of Gac Ma, in the middle of the Truong Sa waves.”

In the story of affection in the city named after Uncle Ho, I informed Hero of the People's Armed Forces Nguyen Van Lanh: The 36th anniversary of the Gac Ma incident, Truong Sa archipelago (March 14, 1988 - March 14, 2024) this year took place at the Martyrs' Cemetery of Quang Phuc Ward (Ba Don Town) where the grave of Hero of the People's Armed Forces, Martyr Tran Van Phuong is located. The People's Committee of Ba Don Town and the People's Committee of Quang Phuc Ward decided to put a street nameplate named after Hero of the People's Armed Forces, Martyr Tran Van Phuong for a central street in Quang Phuc Ward. The special thing... is that the street named after Hero of the Gac Ma always faces straight to the ocean.

Mrs. Nguyen Thi Ky is over 90 years old this year, mother of People's Armed Forces Hero Nguyen Van Lanh, currently living in Van Ninh commune. Every day, she still waits for her son to return from the South, just like in the past, she waited for news of her son on the vast waters of Truong Sa.

In Ho Chi Minh City, People's Armed Forces Hero Nguyen Van Lanh promised Ky's mother that he would return: "I will visit my mother and my comrades. I will light incense for the 13 martyrs of Gac Ma, my hometown in Quang Binh. But my health is not good, the road is far and difficult. My health is too weak. I will see my mother and comrades later."

When asked, People's Armed Forces Hero Nguyen Van Lanh said: "After his comrades brought him to Sinh Ton Island, the Navy took him to Military Hospital 175 (Ho Chi Minh City) for treatment. Due to the severe wound, the bayonet severed the tendon, so his right arm was almost paralyzed. In 1989, doctors at Hospital 103 (Hanoi) successfully reattached the severed tendon and it was not until 4 years later that his arm gradually recovered."

Dragon Fruit

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