The young men and women from Hai Duong who contributed to the Dien Bien Phu Victory that “resounded throughout the five continents and shook the world” are now elderly people with slow feet and dim eyes. They have lived for nearly a century, but their memories of a glorious time remain intact.
This year, 94 years old, Mrs. Ho Thi Thao, 94 years old in Vinh Lai village, Vinh Tuy commune (Binh Giang) still remembers the days of carrying ammunition, carrying rice... serving the Dien Bien Phu Campaign intact. That day, when she was just 16 years old, Mrs. Thao volunteered to join the Central Youth Volunteers and was assigned to Team 40, Mai Son district ( Son La ). Mrs. Thao's mission with the Youth Volunteers Team 40 was to transport food, provisions, and weapons to the Dien Bien Phu battlefield; clear the road, and fill bomb craters when the enemy dropped bombs.
In March 1954, when our army attacked hard, the enemy also focused on bombing fiercely on the routes where vehicles, artillery, soldiers, and frontline laborers often passed. Mai Son district was one of the areas most fiercely attacked by the enemy, but with a courageous spirit, Ms. Thao and the youth volunteers and army units held out steadfastly, bringing weapons and food deep into the battlefield; determined to protect Route 13 (now National Highway 37) to be open. “At that time, we youth volunteers did whatever the Party assigned us, from transporting to transporting food, ensuring traffic. There were days when it was foggy, the roads were slippery, steep, the enemy dropped bombs above, below we still carried food and weapons along the forest paths to go deep inside. Although it was hard and difficult, everyone was enthusiastic with the spirit of “all for the frontline”, Ms. Thao recalled.
On February 22, 1954, when he was just 21 years old, young man Cao Xuan Don (now Mr. Don is 91 years old, living in Pham Su Menh street, Hai Duong city) said goodbye to his hometown to join the youth volunteer team. He was assigned to unit C295, Youth Volunteer Team 34 with the task of clearing bombs and mines, ensuring smooth traffic in the Ta Vai bridge area, Chieng Hac commune (Son La) - a vital traffic point to the Dien Bien battlefield. Under the rain of bombs and bullets, Mr. Don and his teammates still bravely and courageously carried out their duties, ensuring the traffic flow to the front line.
During the Dien Bien Phu Campaign, Mr. Don most remembered the time he was on duty at the end of March 1954, when he and 5 teammates were assigned to defuse bombs on National Highway 41 (now National Highway 6) in Chieng Hac commune. His team was given a party by the unit, followed by a live memorial service. Under the red flag with a yellow star, he and his teammates recited the sacred oath of loyalty to the Fatherland. When the group had been on duty for about 15 minutes, the enemy dropped bombs heavily. That day, 2 teammates heroically sacrificed themselves and Mr. Don was wounded in the head.
In early May 1954, after being treated for his wounds, Mr. Don returned to his unit to continue his mission of clearing mines and opening roads. A few days later, the Dien Bien Phu Campaign was victorious, and Mr. Don was later assigned to work in the transportation and construction sector. Mr. Don emotionally recalled: “Every day, the enemy attacked in many waves. Before the previous bombs were cleared, the next bombs were dropped. Bombs were stacked on top of bombs, exploding one after another, smoke and fire filled the sky, rocks and soil scattered, and the mountains and forests shook. In just a short time, the Ta Vai bridge area was covered with rocks and soil, and traffic was blocked. They dropped many different types of bombs, of which butterfly bombs were very dangerous due to their chemical properties and activity, while our troops' clearing tools were very rudimentary, mainly hoes, shovels, and pliers.”
This year, 92 years old, wounded soldier Nguyen Van Menh in My Hao village, Ngoc Lien commune (Cam Giang) is still full of heroic spirit in his voice and demeanor when telling stories about the Dien Bien Phu Campaign. "Back then, I was in the Dien Bien Phu battlefield digging trenches, tunnels, and building bases, so I often stayed in the tunnel from 5am to 7pm before coming out. There were always 2 soldiers holding guns ready to point at the bunker for defense, when the enemy appeared, we would shoot immediately. If I missed a shot, it would fire who knows how many bullets," Mr. Menh recalled.
According to Mr. Menh, from the time he directly fought in the Dien Bien Phu Campaign, for two whole months he and his comrades did not have any hot rice to eat, only eating rice balls with sesame salt and drinking water to survive. In such difficult and dangerous circumstances, soldiers always thought about being ready to sacrifice at any time and that became normal on the battlefield. "The soldiers on the Dien Bien Phu battlefield did not talk about life and death. Sacrificing on the Dien Bien Phu front was also unpredictable. The soldiers could be sitting and talking to each other like this but in a moment they would sacrifice. On the battlefield, no one was afraid of death, only wanted to live", Mr. Menh said with pride and the spirit of the soldiers of the past.
"I remember most the days of fighting the enemy on A1 hill." That was the story of veteran Nguyen Trong Khiem, born in 1931, in Hai Tan ward (Hai Duong city) when talking to us. In the living room, a photo of him and his comrades with General Vo Nguyen Giap is hung in a prominent position. His comrades who had "gone through life and death" with him are now some still alive, some have passed away. The precious photo reminds us of a time of heroic sacrifice and hardship. From a young volunteer who opened the way to serve the campaign, Mr. Khiem voluntarily wrote an application to become a Dien Bien soldier of the Vietnam People's Army. He was assigned to Company 317, Battalion 249, Regiment 174, Division 316 (then called the Cao-Bac-Lang Division).
Directly fighting with his comrades to liberate many important areas in Lai Chau province, Mr. Khiem said he will always remember the fierce battles on Hill A1 on March 30, 1954. At that time, his unit, Squad 2, was ordered to advance, replacing comrades who were wounded or had fallen in the trenches. He and his comrades fought hand-to-hand with the enemy on the hill, fighting for every inch of land and meter of trench. “In that battle, 5 people from the same hometown, joined the army together, but only I survived. I watched my comrades die and cried. But that pain gave me and my soldiers the strength to overcome the line between life and death, to fight and win, to make the enemy bow before their fallen comrades,” Mr. Khiem recounted, choking with poverty.
These days, Hai Duong people and the whole country are living in an atmosphere filled with pride about one of the brilliant peaks, glorious miracles and golden milestones in the history of our nation's struggle against foreign invaders.
On the occasion of the 70th anniversary of Dien Bien Phu Victory (May 7, 1954 - May 7, 2024), Hai Duong has been organizing many meaningful, practical, and grateful activities, expressing deep gratitude to the generations of ancestors who heroically sacrificed for the independence and freedom of the country. On April 21-22, the delegation of Hai Duong province led by Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee Tran Duc Thang organized many meaningful activities to pay tribute to those who contributed to Dien Bien province. At the Martyrs' Temple on the Dien Bien Phu battlefield, the delegation respectfully offered incense and flowers to commemorate President Ho Chi Minh, General Vo Nguyen Giap and the souls of the heroic martyrs - the country's outstanding sons who devoted their strength and flesh to the Dien Bien Phu Victory. The delegation visited and presented gifts to the Tay Trang International Border Gate Border Guard Station and visited the A1, Him Lam, Doc Lap, and Tong Khao martyrs' cemeteries. The delegation also visited and presented gifts to families of Hai Duong soldiers who directly participated in the Dien Bien Phu Campaign and are living in Dien Bien province...
In the province, Party committees, authorities, and socio-political organizations have organized many activities related to the 70th anniversary of the Dien Bien Phu victory. Banners, slogans, and billboards about the Dien Bien Phu victory have been hung all over the roads and streets to promote the significance and historical value of the Dien Bien Phu victory. Schools have organized many extracurricular and experiential activities, inviting veterans who fought in Dien Bien to give talks. Localities have organized visits, presented gifts, and provided medical examinations to war invalids and families with relatives who were Dien Bien soldiers.
Millions of hearts of generations of Vietnamese people are turning towards the heroic land of Dien Bien. 70 years have passed, the Dien Bien Phu Victory in 1954 will forever be the pride of the nation. The great historical significance and heroic echoes of the war will last forever, always a brilliant mark in the struggle to protect the independence of the Vietnamese people.
Content: PV
Graphics, presentation: PHUNG BAN
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