The emotional continuation of love after the war

Every April, veterans of the 341st Division (Military Region 4) in Ha Tinh province gather to reminisce about the heroic days of fighting. The clasped hands and heartwarming stories of camaraderie serve as a profound reminder of gratitude and the national tradition of "drinking water, remembering the source." The soldiers who perished on the battlefield live on in the hearts of their comrades.

The camaraderie among the veterans of the 341st Division.

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

Since its establishment, the veterans' sense of responsibility and sharing has warmed the hearts of many comrades, inspiring them to overcome challenges in life. Through trips to rural areas, visiting and surveying the circumstances of some former comrades, they initiated a journey to call upon businesses, organizations, individuals, and fellow veterans to mobilize resources for building charitable houses. From small donations, veterans of the 341st Division have together built charitable 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 (in the middle) - Head of the Liaison Committee of the 341st Division in Ha Tinh, along with other veterans, discussed ways to mobilize resources to support comrades in difficult circumstances.

Captain Nguyen Van Cu (born 1950), former Deputy Head of the Communications Department of Regiment 266 – Division 341, said: “Since its establishment, the veterans of Division 341 have successfully raised funds to build 10 houses of gratitude for comrades and their families. In addition, we have also helped many members with difficult circumstances, illnesses, and diseases; and presented gifts to Vietnamese Heroic Mothers and families of policy beneficiaries during holidays… with a total amount of billions of dong.”

The 341st Division (Military Region 4), also known as the Song Lam Regiment, was established on November 23, 1972, in Nam Dan District, Nghe An Province. Stationed in Quang Binh Province and the Vinh Linh Special Zone, the Division's combat mission was to protect the southern part of Military Region 4, serving as a strategic reserve force of the Ministry of National Defense. According to preliminary statistics, the 341st Division has nearly 1,500 personnel from Ha Tinh Province, including over 800 martyrs who died in various battlefields. Accurately identifying the martyrs and providing information to their families and relatives remains a constant concern for the veterans of the 341st Division.

Based on that idea, comrades from the 341st Division in Ha Tinh formed a group to exchange and provide information about fallen soldiers. In particular, veteran Nguyen Van Thang, former Head of the Propaganda Department of the 341st Division, dedicated much time to cross-referencing information about fallen soldiers to ensure reliable figures for their families and relatives.

The joy of reunion for veterans of the 341st Division.

With a backpack and a notebook, veteran Nguyen Van Thang traveled to 13 martyrs' cemeteries in the South to record burial locations, row numbers, and tombstone numbers. Along with gathering information at the cemeteries, he also connected with relevant agencies to cross-reference the lists of martyrs from Ha Tinh province in the southern cemeteries. Through these tireless efforts, the information of hundreds of martyrs has been verified with high accuracy.

Veteran Nguyen Van Thang shared: "The journey of searching for and cross-referencing information about fallen soldiers is a difficult and laborious process, but for me, it is not only a responsibility but also a sacred feeling towards my deceased comrades."

With that same sacred sentiment, amidst the hustle and bustle of everyday life, the veterans of the 341st Division in Ha Tinh province silently and diligently work to restore the honors of their fallen comrades. This involves searching for documents and witnesses to complete the dossiers for the martyrs, because this is not only a source of pain for their families but also an unfulfilled wish of the surviving soldiers who returned home.

Captain Tran Hau Tam, a veteran of the 341st Division, has spent many years searching for witnesses and completing documents to prove that his comrade, martyr Nguyen Van Xin from Duc Long (Duc Tho district), died on December 20, 1977, in Cambodia, but his family received a death certificate stating he was a fallen soldier. “Comrade Xin’s family is in very difficult circumstances; his parents are old and frail and have passed away. However, due to many changes in the procedures for recognizing martyrs, even though all the paperwork and documents have been completed, my wish to restore my comrade’s martyr status remains unfulfilled. This is something I always worry about,” Captain Tran Hau Tam confided.

Thanks to the appeals and connections of veterans from the 341st Division, many comrades facing difficult circumstances have received attention and support.

The war is long over, but some things remain indelible with time. These include the sacred camaraderie and brotherhood, as precious as blood, 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 the benefits they deserve. Therefore, the practical actions of the veterans of the 341st Division today are a continuation of this camaraderie and a profound lesson in compassion and the principle of remembering one's roots for future generations.

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