After graduating from university, I enlisted in the army on the last day of the last month of 1969. In the early days of my enlistment in the 3rd Battalion, 42nd Regiment, Left Bank Military Region, we received thorough training in many areas, especially physical training to prepare for marching across the Truong Son Mountains to fight in the South.

Each time we marched, each person had to carry weapons, equipment, food, etc., weighing approximately 20-25kg; on the way back, we carried an additional bundle of bamboo to make up the total weight of 35-40kg. We trained for marches continuously like this for a month, to the point where our feet started bleeding and our shoulders swelled, but everyone was excited because we were about to go on the march to liberate the South and unify the country.

After more than three months of training, we marched to the Phu Thai train station area (Hai Duong). The train traveled all night, arriving in Dien Chau ( Nghe An ) at dawn. From there, we walked into the forest in Do Luong district (Nghe An) to take shelter. A day later, we received orders to march westward, onto Highway 15 (now the Truong Son Road), then cross the Truong Son Mountains to the Plain of Jars-Xieng Khouang in Laos. Initially, we were assigned to Battalion 7, Regiment 866, Vietnamese Volunteer Army in Laos. Later, we marched to the encampment of Regiment 148, Division 316, and were then assigned to various subordinate units. I was assigned to Squad 10, Platoon 3, Company 9, Battalion 6, Regiment 148.

It was my first time going into battle with the soldiers, and I was both happy and nervous. I still remember the squad leader saying, "You are under my command, so you must follow my every move," and adding that this time we were attacking fortified positions, so we had to be brave and resolute in our charge. After the squad meeting, I was assigned the task of leading the first assault team of the Company and Battalion, attacking the main direction of the Regiment, targeting Hill 1900A, which was occupied by an enemy battalion south of the Plain of Jars-Xieng Khouang. The attack was scheduled to begin at 3:00 AM on March 13, 1971.

The enemy had set up dense barricades, making it very difficult to breach the defenses, so we had to use mines to clear the way. Fortunately, the mines exploded effectively, clearing away five rows of barricades—both low and high. After the explosions, the enemy unleashed a barrage of fire. I quickly grabbed a B40 from a comrade and aimed at the machine gun nest, firing directly at it. The machine gun nest fell silent, but the M79 grenade launchers and grenades rained down, wounding me in the right eye. With my comrades bandaging my wound, I continued to lead the assault, charging directly into the enemy battalion's command post.

Illustrative image.

After two hours of fierce fighting, we captured all three peaks of Hill 1900A; however, our unit suffered some casualties.

The battle had just ended at 7 a.m. when Company Political Commissar Do Dinh Luu arrived on the hilltop and shouted: "Lan, speak to Battalion Political Commissar Trinh Ngoc Nhu on the phone!" On the other end of the line, the Battalion Political Commissar's voice rang out: "Congratulations to the unit on the victory. The Battalion Party Committee has decided that from this moment on, Comrade Lan is a member of the Communist Party of Vietnam and is appointed as Platoon Leader of Platoon 3, Company 9, Battalion 6, Regiment 148."

I was deeply moved and promised the Political Commissar and the Battalion Party Committee that I would continue to strive and be ready to sacrifice for the cause of the Party.

After having my injured eye bandaged, I continued to command the platoon, working with the higher command to hunt down the enemy and repel their counterattack to retake Hill 1900A until we completely secured it and handed it over to the 5th Battalion, 148th Regiment, to hold. At that time, I had to leave the battlefield due to blood loss from my wound, and my comrades had to help me back to base.

For my exceptionally outstanding achievements, I was awarded the Second Class Order of Military Merit by the Party and the State. During the days I was recovering from my wounds, the unit received reinforcements, as after the battle, only a few dozen men remained. We quickly regrouped, received political training, and improved our technical and tactical skills to prepare for the next battle. This time, the unit was ordered to march and attack the enemy at the Muong Sui base on the Xieng Khouang-Vientiane road.

In April 1971, our unit, along with other units and with the support of front-line and divisional firepower, completely annihilated the enemy forces at the Muong Sui base, expanding our liberated zone to connect Xieng Khouang and Vientiane. After the battle, I was appointed Company Commander of Company 9, Battalion 6, Regiment 148 (the Battalion Commander was Dao Trong Lich, later a Lieutenant General, former Central Committee member of the Communist Party, former Chief of the General Staff of the Vietnam People's Army, and former Deputy Minister of National Defense). We marched to Phu Theng Leng to prepare for the next campaign.

Time flies, and more than 50 years have passed!

On the day I joined the Party, I wasn't allowed to make a vow before the Party flag, but with absolute faith in the Party's leadership, I have followed the Party throughout my life. Later, whenever I attended a ceremony for new Party members, in my capacity, I often reminded the new members that taking the oath under the Party flag was truly a great honor!

Lieutenant General PHAM THANH LAN, former Director of the Foreign Affairs Department, Ministry of National Defence