Con Dao death row inmate tells story of photo "Reunion Day"

The story of an intelligence officer sentenced to death

In the last days of historic April, we visited the family of Mr. Le Van Thuc (residing in Tan Thach commune, Chau Thanh district, Ben Tre province), the character in the famous photo "Reunion Day" taken 50 years ago.

Now 84 years old, he is still lucid when telling stories about his revolutionary days, being exiled to Con Dao by the enemy, and the historical photo "Reunion Day".

Born and raised in the heroic land of Dong Khoi, after taking the baccalaureate exam, Mr. Thuc was soon enlightened about the revolution and then went to the base to operate. In 1966, he was admitted to the Party and trained to be an intelligence agent. After that, the organization mobilized him to join the army to infiltrate the enemy's ranks.

Mr. Thuc said: “Because of my education, I was selected to study at the Thu Duc Infantry Officer School and then became the commander of a platoon (belonging to Battalion 3, Regiment 11, Division 7). After that, I continued to be assigned to attend the "Intelligence training against guerrilla warfare" course in Malaysia for 3 consecutive months. When I returned to the country, I held the rank of Second Lieutenant of the Republic of Vietnam and was assigned to work as a tactical training officer at the Binh Duc military base cluster (in My Tho, the headquarters of Division 7). Here, I trained new recruits every day, so I redrawn the map of the Binh Duc military base with a plan for our forces to infiltrate with the new recruits to capture this important military base.”

It was because of this secret map that Mr. Thuc was exposed and sentenced to death in 1968. Only later did Mr. Thuc know that this secret map was delivered by Mr. Tu Nang (former Deputy Head of Military Operations Department, Zone 8) to the Liberation Army Command when it was swept by enemy helicopters, killing Mr. Tu Nang and a bodyguard. At that time, the enemy searched Mr. Tu Nang and discovered the secret map and Mr. Thuc was immediately arrested with the evidence being the secret map with his handwriting.

The famous photo "Reunion Day" by photographer Lam Hong Long.

When arrested, he refused to confess despite being brutally tortured. The enemy could not find the intelligence network so he was brought to trial and sentenced to death.

Mr. Thuc recounted: “At that time, they intended to take me to be shot at My Tho football field, but the Liberation Radio announced that if the Republic of Vietnam government executed a political prisoner, the Liberation Army would execute a prisoner of war who was an American officer and military advisor being held by our army. Therefore, I was not taken to be shot, but they took me to Con Dao and imprisoned me in the death row area.”

Here, he continued to be brutally tortured and abused, but thanks to his strong will, he overcame hardships and remained steadfast, uniting with other political prisoners to continue the fight.

After the Liberation Day of the South, the Navy ship carrying Liberation troops liberated Con Dao and brought the revolutionary soldiers back to the mainland. On the first trip, Mr. Le Van Thuc and many death row inmates, women, the elderly, the sick... were brought back to Vung Tau by ship on May 5, 1975.

The famous photo "Reunion Day"

When she heard that a ship was carrying revolutionary soldiers from Con Dao to Vung Tau, Mrs. Tran Thi Binh (1908-1999), Mr. Thuc's mother, traveled from Ben Tre to look for her son. When they met again, mother and son hugged each other and could only cry in joy at the reunion.

Mr. Thuc recalled: “At noon on May 5, 1975, while waiting to do the procedures, I heard the staff here say that a relative was coming to see me. When I walked out, I saw my mother and hugged her and cried because she thought I was dead. Mother and son hugged each other and cried, not expecting to be seen and photographed by a war correspondent.”

Mr. Thuc (left) and veteran revolutionary cadres look at historical images of the day of southern liberation and national reunification. (Photo: HOANG TRUNG)

After the liberation day, Mr. Thuc returned to his hometown to continue working and contributing to the revolutionary cause. He worked at the Department of Industry and Commerce of Chau Thanh district (Ben Tre province), then became a member of the District Party Committee, Secretary of the Party Committee of Tam Phuoc commune, and Secretary of the Party Committee of Huu Dinh commune (Chau Thanh district).

In 1991, he retired due to poor health caused by the consequences of torture by the enemy. After retiring, 2/4 disabled veteran Le Van Thuc still participated in movements, Veterans Association, and local Retirement Club.

The photo “Reunion Day” by photographer Lam Hong Long was later published in Nhan Dan Newspaper and many other newspapers in and outside the country. In 1991, at the International Photography Congress in Spain, this work of art was awarded a Certificate of Honor. Since then, this photo has become famous, many people have learned about the characters in the photo. Mr. Thuc just found out that the mother and daughter hugging and crying on the day of reunion are the characters in the famous photo.

Mr. Thuc said: “Later, war reporter Lam Hong Long came to his house after the photo won the award. When Mr. Long was in bed, I visited him and he still hung the photo above his head, which moved me deeply. This photo is an unforgettable memory in my life.”

Mr. Le Van Thuc tells the story of being detained in Con Dao prison and the photo "Reunion Day". (Photo: HOANG TRUNG)

Living happily with his children and grandchildren and participating in the activities of the local Retirement Club, he boasted that he was about to receive the 60-year Party membership badge with almost his entire life dedicated to the revolution. During the historic April days, many memories came flooding back to him with pride because he had contributed a part to his homeland and country.

War correspondent Lam Hong Long (1925-1997, worked at Vietnam News Agency). He was famous for many photos such as: "Uncle Ho with the brave soldiers of the South", "Uncle Ho giving flowers to Suot's mother", "Uncle Ho planting trees in Vat Lai commune, Ba Vi district on the morning of the second day of Tet Ky Dau 1969", "B52 burning in the sky of Hanoi in 1972", "Uncle Ho leading the song of Solidarity", "Reunion Day"... He was awarded the Ho Chi Minh Prize for literature and art in 1996.

Topic: 50 years of National Reunification

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Source: https://nhandan.vn/nguoi-tu-tu-con-dao-ke-chuyen-buc-anh-ngay-hoi-ngo-post874335.html