In early 1978, Pol Pot soldiers recklessly invaded deep into the Vietnamese border, committing brutal crimes against our people, including Bay Nui district in An Giang province - where the 4th Division was stationed. The officers and soldiers of the Division fought steadfastly to repel their attacks. Many groups and individuals who fought bravely were widely publicized in the unit. During a session organized by the Division to listen to soldiers with outstanding combat achievements in the unit recount their battles with Pol Pot's troops, I recorded a number of typical examples. Encouraged by the officers in the Propaganda Department, every day, after spending nights with my political colleagues on duty to fight to protect the Division's headquarters at the checkpoints, I took the time to write a few examples of fighting and boldly sent them to the People's Army Newspaper.

Illustration photo: qdnd.vn

One afternoon, I was planting vegetables with my brothers when the Head of Propaganda Department happily announced: "Today, I saw that the People's Army Newspaper published your article!". Hearing that, I quickly walked back to the office and looked for the People's Army Newspaper. I saw on the front page, in the "Fighting to protect the border" section, my article "The last hours of the battle" about Team Leader Le Xuan Nam (Regiment 20) who commanded a brave battle with Pol Pot's army. I was so happy that I read it over and over again, and the article was almost published verbatim. I was so happy that I bragged about it to everyone I met. Then half a month later, in the same section, on the front page of the People's Army Newspaper, there was my article "The gunman and the medicine bag" about the soldier and nurse Nguyen Van Hung who bravely treated wounded soldiers under enemy fire and fought with his comrades to repel many enemy counterattacks at the Kien Giang border. From then on, I was assigned by the Head of Propaganda Department to work as a writer for the Division's Victory Newsletter.

Receiving a new assignment, although it was hard but full of passion. Every time I went down to the unit to write news, my luggage was a backpack, an AK gun and two grenades. I went from one unit to another by many means, from buses, boats to walking... Going and writing according to the instructions of the comrade in charge of the news. During the days in the unit, I saw with my own eyes the examples and the difficulties, hardships and sacrifices of my comrades in combat, which further urged my responsibility...

At the end of August 1978, I was sent to the North to study. Throughout my military career in the North, then returning to civilian life, the days of taking the first steps as a journalist, then working as a soldier writing news in Division 4 - the Southwest border still remain in me. From the bottom of my heart, I am always grateful to the Military Zone 9 Newspaper, the head of the Propaganda Department of Division 4 and the People's Army Newspaper for guiding and supporting me on the path of journalism. With the duty of a journalist, especially the years I worked as a reporter for the Northwest Soldier Newspaper (Military Zone 2) as well as a reporter at the Ha Tuyen Front, later as Editor-in-Chief of Military Zone 2 Newspaper, although it was difficult, arduous, and sometimes dangerous, I gained more determination and learned a lot from my comrades, from the style of leaders and commanders at all levels to the beloved soldiers in the trenches...

    Source: https://www.qdnd.vn/van-hoa/doi-song/noi-diu-dat-den-con-duong-lam-bao-882645