The hero who defends the borderland.

In the fight to defend the northern border, countless outstanding sons and daughters sacrificed their lives and blood to uphold the sacred sovereignty of the Fatherland. Among those immortal names, the hero of the People's Armed Forces, Loc Vien Tai, Commander of the Lung Lan People's Armed Police Station (now Son Vi Border Guard Station), Tuyen Quang Province Border Guard Command, has created an immortal monument to the heroic sacrifice of border soldiers.

Hero of the People's Armed Forces Loc Vien Tai.

A capable and courageous commander.

First Lieutenant Loc Vien Tai (born in 1940), of the Tay ethnic group, from Tien Yen commune, Tuyen Quang province. He died on March 5, 1979, while serving as the Commander of the Lung Lan People's Armed Police Station. He was posthumously awarded the Third Class Military Merit Order and the title of Hero of the People's Armed Forces by the Party and the State.

His name was given to the road leading to the Provincial Border Guard Command Headquarters as a tribute to his exemplary fighting and sacrifice for the sovereignty of the Fatherland's borders. Joining a delegation of Border Guard veterans returning to visit the old battlefield, we heard about the heroic achievements of hero Loc Vien Tai and his comrades who fired the first shots in the battle to protect the northern border years ago.

Former CCB Hoang Van Tut, former Party Secretary of the Border Guard Command of Ha Tuyen (formerly), who was both a fellow villager and a comrade-in-arms in battle, fondly recalled: “Brother Tai was not only a resourceful and courageous commander but also a source of moral support for his comrades. In every battle, he always led the way, directly observing, commanding, and encouraging the soldiers. There were times when the enemy's firepower overwhelmed us, forcing us into a defensive position, but Brother Tai remained calm and commanded the unit to repel the enemy from the battlefield.”

According to Mr. Tựt's account, the border defense battle on February 17, 1979, was extremely fierce and intense. Along the border of Mèo Vạc district, the enemy mobilized an entire main regiment, launching a massive attack on our military targets in the three communes of Thượng Phùng, Xín Cái, and Sơn Vĩ. Faced with this perilous situation, the commander of the Lộc Viễn Tài outpost calmly commanded his officers, soldiers, and local militia to tenaciously hold their ground, repelling each wave of enemy attacks despite their superior numbers.

In the memories of soldiers, the years spent fighting side-by-side on the border are the most beautiful time of their youth. Veteran Nguyen Vu Duong, former Deputy Commander of the Lung Lan Border Guard Post, said: “Comrade Loc Vien Tai trained at the Border Guard Officer School and spent many years as a training assistant, so he cleverly and bravely commanded the unit to repel three major attacks, eliminating nearly 200 enemy soldiers.”

Veteran Border Guard soldiers revisit their old battlefield at Phin Lo hilltop, Son Vi commune.

Immortal Monument

The relationship between the army and the people is like that between fish and water. The art of warfare for the Border Guard is based on relying on the people and harnessing the strength of the masses. Understanding this, the hero Loc Vien Tai and the officers and soldiers of the Lung Lan outpost always stayed close to the villages and the people, treating the people in the border areas as their own brothers and sisters. Veteran Nguyen Vu Duong said: “During that period, the lives of the soldiers were very difficult. But in hardship, the bond between the army and the people became even stronger. Every time the enemy shelled, the villagers carried sacks of rice and corn through the gunfire to the battlefield to supply the soldiers. Sometimes they only shared a cassava root or a bowl of rice, but it strengthened the bond of brotherhood and comradeship.”

Ms. Hoang Thi Tuong, a member of the Xuong ethnic group and former Party Secretary of Son Vi commune, vividly remembers the arduous days and months of fighting alongside the soldiers. She emotionally recalled: “Commander Loc Vien Tai was a simple and approachable man. When the fighting broke out, he directed the soldiers to help the villagers evacuate promptly to avoid casualties. The Lung Lan outpost was a frontline battleground at that time. When news of Comrade Tai and the other officers and soldiers' sacrifices reached the government and the people, they were deeply saddened because they considered them as members of their own family.”

Phin Lo Hill (1,379 meters above sea level), located near the Vietnam-China border, holds a particularly important strategic position, as it offers a panoramic view of Son Vi commune. After three failed attempts to capture border posts, on March 5, 1979, the enemy launched another attack to seize this hilltop and gain an advantage on the battlefield. In the thick fog, Lieutenant Loc Vien Tai organized an ambush, driving the enemy into pre-planted booby traps and minefields, forcing them to retreat. However, with overwhelming numbers, the enemy launched a new, even larger attack. Faced with this perilous situation, Lieutenant Tai decided to stay behind to cover the retreat of his comrades and bravely sacrificed his life on the front lines of the border.

CCB Nguyen Xuan Hoa, a soldier who returned after that battle, recalled: “From the high ground, we observed the enemy swarming forward in large numbers. The two sides exchanged intense fire from 1 PM to 5 PM until our troops ran out of ammunition. Commander Tai encouraged the men to calmly withdraw to preserve their forces, while he stayed behind to cover the rear. He continued to use grenades to eliminate about 10 enemy soldiers before bravely sacrificing himself at the Chanh Hill stronghold.”

Continuing the legacy of our forefathers.

The border is now silent, but the memories of the years of fighting to defend the Fatherland remain vivid in the hearts of the soldiers and people of Son Vi. A memorial has been erected, commemorating 18 heroic martyrs who sacrificed their lives between 1979 and 1989. On the Phin Lo hilltop, the traces of gunfire from nearly 50 years ago still remain on the crumbling walls and moss-covered rocks. Although every bullet fired represents loss and sacrifice, it is these sacrifices that have forged national pride and etched the courageous spirit of the soldiers who dedicated their youth to the green border.

Lieutenant Colonel Dam Dinh Khang, a lecturer at the Border Guard Academy and a researcher with many years of experience in the history and traditions of the Border Guard, stated: “In the people's war strategy, the officers and soldiers of the Lung Lan Border Guard, especially Lieutenant Loc Vien Tai, always calmly monitored all developments of the enemy. He flexibly commanded the unit, skillfully avoiding enemy fire to minimize casualties, and also motivated and encouraged the officers and soldiers to readily organize counterattacks in small groups, creating a solid position on the battlefield.”

Major Nguyen Cong Son, Commander of Son Vi Border Guard Station, shared: “Border guards always remember and cherish the sacrifices of the previous generations. When the border is peaceful and the people are prosperous, that is also our way of showing gratitude to the generations who dedicated their lives and blood for the Fatherland. We believe that protecting the border is not only a political duty but also a command from the heart.”
History is a continuous flow; the present originates from the past and lays the groundwork for future development. The glorious history of the Tuyen Quang Border Guard today stems from the heroic fighting and sacrifices of heroes like Loc Vien Tai, a Hero of the People's Armed Forces. He and his comrades have etched their names into the glorious history of the nation.

Yellow River

Source: https://baotuyenquang.com.vn/van-hoa/du-lich/202512/nguoi-anh-hung-giu-dat-bien-cuong-95f4fdf/