Among the hundreds of veterans returning to Hue today, many have gray hair. They sit together, recalling the memories of a heroic time when they held guns to fight off the invaders. They hug each other, laughing and talking carefreely like the days of youth in Truong Son, but their tears flow...! Here, many of their comrades have fallen for the Fatherland today and tomorrow...!
On March 22, at the Hue City Military Command, more than 130 veterans and relatives of Battalion 10 (code name K10) met to celebrate the 50th anniversary of Hue City Liberation Day. This is a Battalion under the Thua Thien Provincial Military Command, established in late 1964. Battalion 10 operates widely, from fighting the enemy in remote areas to advancing to the plains to stay in the area to fight the enemy against sweeps, build bases and coordinate with rebel forces to attack the enemy.
Offering incense and flowers to commemorate the martyrs of Battalion 10 at the Martyrs' Memorial in Phong Son Commune, Phong Dien Town. |
During the 1968 Tet Offensive, Battalion 10 coordinated with Division 324 and other units to attack and liberate and firmly hold out in Hue City for 26 days and nights. During the 1975 Spring General Offensive and Uprising, Battalion 10 was divided into two wings. The first wing coordinated with Group 4 (Phong Quang Group) to attack the enemy in Phong Dien and Quang Dien districts. The second wing coordinated with special forces to attack the enemy in Huong Tra District Sub-region and directly attacked Hue City, liberating the homeland of Thua Thien Hue at 6:30 a.m. on March 26, 1975.
50 years after the country was completely liberated, the young soldiers of the 10th Battalion, the heroic Thua Thien Provincial Military Command, now meet again when their green hair has turned white... Memories of the years of sharing hardships and joys suddenly come flooding back... They burst into tears! Tears of the day they met! 50 years... the country has been cleared of enemies, the soldiers of the past have now returned to their homeland, each with their own circumstances, but deep in their hearts, they always turn to each other and find ways to meet, to recall the heroic battles on the fiery Tri Thien battlefield... and to help each other in life, which is still full of difficulties and hardships.
Veterans of Battalion 10 returned to visit the old battlefield and offered incense and flowers to the heroic martyrs at Huong Dien Cemetery, Phong Dien town. |
Major Nguyen Duc Long, former Battalion Commander of Battalion 10, confided: The most worrying thing for us is that now, on this land, there are still many comrades who have fallen but their graves have not been found to bring them back to their families and homeland to ease the pain of their relatives and comrades.
Colonel Nguyen Huu Xuan, former Deputy Commander of Battalion 10, Head of Battalion 10 Liaison Committee, was moved: During the years of fighting on the Tri Thien battlefield, more than 300 officers and soldiers of Battalion 10 have passed away forever on this land when they were only eighteen or twenty years old. Today, we are here, our comrades feel somewhat reassured when the leaders of Phong Dien town pay attention to building a memorial site to honor the heroic martyrs of the unit in Phong Son commune. This is the burning wish of the remaining comrades of K10. This will also be the red thread for the surviving comrades, and above all, for our descendants to know about the heroic history of the generations of fathers and brothers who sacrificed their blood and youth for the independence and freedom of the Fatherland.
Returning to Hue this time, the veterans of Battalion 10 spent a lot of time revisiting the old battlefield, going to the places where fierce battles with the enemy took place; offering incense, flowers, visiting the martyrs' cemetery and visiting and giving gifts to the families of martyrs, wounded and sick soldiers in difficult circumstances.
The veterans of the heroic Battalion 10 returned to their homeland and families. They were full of faith in the cadres and soldiers of the Hue City Armed Forces today. They were happy with the brilliant achievements and changes of Hue City. They said goodbye to each other with regret and promised to meet again in the coming springs!
Article and photos: TRAN DINH THANG
Comment (0)