The fiery era in the memories of those who remained.

BHG - Amidst the jubilant atmosphere of the grand celebration of the 50th anniversary of the Liberation of Southern Vietnam and the reunification of the country (April 30, 1975 - April 30, 2025), I was fortunate to meet veterans from Tan Trinh commune (Quang Binh district) who had participated in the resistance war against the US in the Southern battlefield. Each story brought to life a time of fiery passion, a fervent spirit, and the unwavering determination of those soldiers to fight to the death for their country.

BHG - Amidst the jubilant atmosphere of the grand celebration of the 50th anniversary of the Liberation of Southern Vietnam and the reunification of the country (April 30, 1975 - April 30, 2025), I was fortunate to meet veterans from Tan Trinh commune (Quang Binh district) who had participated in the resistance war against the US in the Southern battlefield. Each story brought to life a time of fiery passion, a fervent spirit, and the unwavering determination of those soldiers to fight to the death for their country.

Half a century has passed, but in the mind of veteran Dinh The Khoa (born 1941), from Tan Tien village, Tan Trinh commune, a living witness of history, a soldier who once crossed the line between life and death, he will never forget the years he spent fighting on the Southern battlefield. He emotionally recounted: “Like many outstanding young people from Ha Giang province, back then, we carried with us our unwavering oath and unwavering belief in victory as we volunteered to go to the front lines. I joined the army from 1961 to 1970 and served as an artillery soldier. My main area of ​​operation was in the provinces of Quang Nam, Quang Tri, and Thua Thien Hue.”

Veterans in Tan Trinh commune (Quang Binh district) actively participate in building a prosperous, beautiful, and civilized homeland.

To this day, Mr. Khoa can't remember all the battles he participated in, but he vividly remembers the Tet Offensive and Uprising of 1968. After reinforcing the infantry in capturing and holding bases in Hue city, his unit turned to fight the battles of Cua Viet and Dong Ha (Quang Tri) to prevent American supplies from reaching the area by river. That year was extremely fierce, striking fear into the enemy. The use of ground firepower, along with independent and combined arms operations, artillery forces, and various attack fronts destroyed many enemy vehicles, heavy artillery, supply depots, and large transport ships.

After the battles, Mr. Khoa's unit continued to hold out deep in the jungle. Once, heavy rain poured down, flooding the streams and blocking all access to food supplies, forcing the soldiers to go hungry for days, to the point where many were exhausted. In that situation, he and his comrades struggled to crawl as far as they could to a field hospital near the Laotian border to receive care and resuscitation from the doctors. At this point, the old soldier's heart ached as he spoke of his comrades who had perished on the battlefield: "Despite the hardships and difficulties, we were fortunate to survive, but none of us will ever forget the immense sacrifice and loss. The blood and bones of our comrades were shed so that our country could be peaceful , unified, and beautiful as it is today."

Veteran Dinh The Khoa, from Tan Tien village, Tan Trinh commune (Quang Binh district), emotionally recounted his memories of the resistance war against the US in the Southern battlefield.

Contributing to the resistance war against the US to save the country, Mrs. Nguyen Thi Xuan, from Ven village, Tan Trinh commune, heeded the sacred call of the Fatherland and enlisted in the army at the age of 19. She served as a military medic from Thanh Hoa province to Hien Luong bridge (Quang Tri province), receiving and providing initial first aid to wounded soldiers before transferring them to the North for treatment. The task of treating and caring for the wounded right in the trenches, under the rain of bombs and artillery shells, demanded courage and perseverance; therefore, she always told herself never to falter.

During a mission to transport wounded soldiers, Mrs. Nguyen Thi Xuan met Mr. Nguyen Van Mu, who was also a wounded soldier at the time. They found each other in empathy, shared experiences, and noble ideals, and eventually married. Later, they returned to their hometown to build a life together. Despite bearing the scars of war, their love, forged in the fires of conflict, allowed them to overcome all difficulties, raise their children and grandchildren, and continue the glorious tradition of their revolutionary family.

Fifty years after the reunification of the country, the memories of those wartime days remain vivid in the hearts of the soldiers who experienced it. Veterans like Mr. Khoa and Mrs. Xuan will forever be living witnesses, role models of resilience, dedication, and patriotism, helping each of us to deeply appreciate the value of peace, freedom, and independence, and to strive to excel in learning, working, and contributing to the development of our homeland.

Text and photos: MOC LAN

Source: https://baohagiang.vn/50-nam-giai-phong-mien-nam-thong-nhat-dat-nuoc/202505/thoi-hoa-lua-trong-ky-uc-nguoi-o-lai-5db1a79/