Tears welled up in my eyes from joy...!

On March 26, 2025, the Party Committee, government, military, and people of Hue City will joyfully celebrate the 50th anniversary of the liberation of their homeland. During these historic last days of March, hundreds of veterans from all over the country have been returning to Hue, the land where they and their comrades shed countless hours of sweat, effort, and blood to create a historic day in the heroic ancient capital.

Among the hundreds of veterans who returned to Hue today, many have graying hair. They sat together, reminiscing about a glorious past, when they took up arms to fight off invaders. They embraced, laughing and talking carefree like in their youth in Truong Son, but tears streamed down their faces...! Here, many of their comrades fell for the Fatherland, both today and in the future...!

On March 22nd, at the Hue City Military Command, over 130 veterans and relatives of Battalion 10 (designated K10) met to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the liberation of Hue City. This battalion, under the Thua Thien Province Military Command, was established at the end of 1964. Battalion 10 operated extensively, engaging the enemy in remote areas and advancing into the plains to hold its ground, counter enemy sweeps, build bases, and coordinate with insurgent 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 Tet Offensive of 1968, Battalion 10, in coordination with Division 324 and other units, launched an offensive to liberate and hold Hue City for 26 days and nights. In the Spring Offensive of 1975, 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 urban commandos to attack the enemy at the Huong Tra District Sub-district and directly into Hue City, liberating Thua Thien Hue province at 6:30 AM on March 26, 1975.

Fifty years after the complete liberation of the country, the young soldiers of the heroic 10th Battalion, Thua Thien Province, reunited, their youthful hair now gray... Memories of years of shared hardship and joy flooded back… They burst into tears! Tears of reunion! Fifty years… the country is now free from enemy forces, and these former soldiers have returned to their homeland. Each has their own circumstances, but deep in their hearts, they always yearn for each other and find ways to meet, to reminisce about the heroic battles on the smoke-filled battlefields of Tri Thien… and to help each other in life, which is still fraught with difficulties.

Veterans of the 10th Battalion revisited their old battlefields and offered incense and flowers to the fallen heroes at Huong Dien Cemetery in Phong Dien town.

Major Nguyen Duc Long, former commander of Battalion 10, shared his thoughts: "Our biggest concern is that even now, on this land, there are still many comrades who have fallen but whose graves have not yet been found so that their remains can be brought back to their families and hometowns to alleviate the pain of their loved ones and fellow soldiers."

Colonel Nguyen Huu Xuan, former Deputy Commander of Battalion 10 and Head of the Battalion 10 Liaison Committee, said emotionally: "Throughout the years of fighting on the Tri Thien battlefield, more than 300 officers and soldiers of Battalion 10 perished on this land at the young age of eighteen or twenty. Today, we return here, and our comrades feel somewhat reassured that the leaders of Phong Dien town have shown concern by building a memorial site to commemorate the heroic martyrs of our unit in Phong Son commune. This is the burning wish of the remaining members of Battalion 10. This will also be a red thread for our surviving comrades, and above all, for our children and grandchildren to know about the heroic history of our forefathers who sacrificed their blood, bones, 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 their old battlefields, going to the places where fierce battles with the enemy took place; offering incense and flowers, visiting the martyrs' cemetery, and visiting and giving gifts to relatives of martyrs, wounded soldiers, and sick soldiers in difficult circumstances.

The veterans of the heroic 10th Battalion have returned to their hometowns and families. They are filled with faith in the current generation of officers and soldiers of the Hue City Armed Forces. They rejoice at the brilliant achievements and changes in Hue City. They parted ways with fond memories, promising to meet again in the coming springs!

Text and photos: TRAN DINH THANG