The emotional continuation of love after the war

Every April, veterans of Division 341 (Military Region 4) in Ha Tinh gather together to recall the heroic memories of the days of fighting with guns. The tight-knit hands and warm stories of comradeship are profound reminders of the nation’s gratitude and the “remember the source of the water you drink”. The soldiers who remain on the battlefield still live forever in the hearts of their comrades.

Comradeship among veterans of Division 341.

Lieutenant Colonel Nguyen Van Thang (born in 1947), former Head of Propaganda Department of Division 341, Head of Liaison Department of Division 341 in Ha Tinh shared: “With the desire to connect old comrades in the division, in 2005 we contacted and established the Liaison Department of Division 341 in Ha Tinh. After the connection process, with the sponsorship of a number of individuals, we organized annual meetings. Since then, the Soldiers' Association of Division 341 has not only been a place to recall heroic memories but also a place where acts of kindness are sown and spread.”

Since its establishment, with the sense of responsibility and sharing of veterans, it has warmed and motivated many comrades to rise up in life. Through trips to the countryside, visiting and surveying the circumstances of some former comrades... it has begun the journey of calling on businesses, organizations, individuals and brothers and comrades to mobilize resources to build gratitude houses. From small donations, veterans of Division 341 have together built gratitude houses for comrades in difficult circumstances, a manifestation of the deep affection between those who once called each other comrades.

Lieutenant Colonel Nguyen Van Thang (middle) - Head of the liaison committee of Division 341 in Ha Tinh, and veterans discussed and sought ways to mobilize resources to support comrades in difficult circumstances.

Captain Nguyen Van Cu (born in 1950), former Deputy Head of the Communications Department of Regiment 266 - Division 341, said: “Since its establishment, veterans of Division 341 have called for the construction of 10 gratitude houses for comrades and their relatives. In addition, we have also helped many members in difficult circumstances, those who are sick; given gifts to Vietnamese Heroic Mothers, families with meritorious services during holidays... with a total amount of billions of VND”.

Division 341 (Military Region 4), also known as Song Lam Group, was established on November 23, 1972 in Nam Dan district, Nghe An province. Stationed in Quang Binh province and Vinh Linh special zone, the Division's mission is to protect the southern area of ​​the Military Region and is the strategic reserve force of the Ministry of National Defense. According to preliminary statistics, Division 341 has nearly 1,500 people in Ha Tinh, including more than 800 martyrs who died on the battlefields. Confirming the exact identities of the martyrs and providing information to their families and relatives is always a concern for veterans of Division 341.

With that in mind, the comrades of Division 341 in Ha Tinh established a group to exchange and provide information about martyrs. In particular, veteran Nguyen Van Thang, former Head of Propaganda Department of Division 341, spent a lot of time comparing information about martyrs to get reliable numbers for families and relatives.

The joy of the reunion day of the veterans of Division 341.

With a backpack and a notebook, veteran Nguyen Van Thang traveled to 13 martyr cemeteries in the South to record burial locations, row numbers, tombstone numbers, etc. Along with finding information in the martyr cemeteries, he also connected information and coordinated with relevant departments to compare the list of Ha Tinh martyrs in the southern cemeteries. From those tireless steps, hundreds of martyrs have had their information compared to ensure high accuracy.

Veteran Nguyen Van Thang shared: “The journey of searching for and comparing information about martyrs is a difficult and elaborate process, but for me, this is not only a responsibility but also a sacred sentiment for my deceased comrades.”

With that same sacred sentiment, amidst the hustle and bustle of everyday life, the veterans of Division 341 in Ha Tinh are still silently and tirelessly working on the journey to reclaim the titles of their fallen comrades. That is the search for documents and witnesses to complete the martyrs' files, because this is not only the pain of the family but also the unfulfilled wish of the soldiers who are still alive and returning.

Captain Tran Hau Tam - a veteran of Division 341 spent many years searching for witnesses and completing documents to prove that his comrade - martyr Nguyen Van Xin in Duc Long (Duc Tho) sacrificed on December 20, 1977 in Cambodia, but his family received a death certificate as a martyr. "Comrade Xin's family situation is very difficult, his parents are old and weak and have now passed away. However, due to many changes in the procedures for recognizing martyrs, although the documents and records have been completed, my wish to return the title of martyr to my comrade has not yet been fulfilled. This is still something I always worry about," Captain Tran Hau Tam confided.

From the appeal and connection of the veterans of Division 341, many difficult circumstances of comrades were cared for and shared.

The war has long gone, but there are things that cannot fade over time. That is the sacred comradeship and comradeship between soldiers who fought together on the front lines. And in everyday life today, there are still many difficult circumstances, many comrades whose graves have not been found, and who have not received proper benefits. Therefore, the practical actions of the veterans of Division 341 today are a continuation of comradeship and a profound lesson of humanity and the morality of remembering the source of water for future generations.

Source: https://baohatinh.vn/su-tiep-noi-nghia-tinh-day-xuc-dong-sau-chien-tranh-post286308.html