3 titles of 'Brave American Destroyer' - A youth left on the battlefield
Nearly half a century after the day martyr Bui Dinh Anh fell on the fierce battlefield, the relics seem to reconnect a part of the life of the son of Xuan Lam (now Kim Lien commune, Nghe An) - the person who was awarded the title "American Destroyer" three times and posthumously awarded the Third Class Resistance Medal.
The letter instead of the death notice
The house of Mr. Bui Dinh Cuong (born in 1955) - the younger brother of martyr Bui Dinh Anh is located simply in hamlet 1, Kim Lien commune. On the altar, instead of the portrait of martyr Bui Dinh Anh is the Certificate of Merit from the Fatherland.
The war was fierce, the martyr's portrait was no longer there. The Certificate of Merit from the Fatherland contained the family's pride and love for the young man who had remained on the distant battlefield, a testament to a life devoted entirely to the Fatherland.
Cherishing the remaining papers, certificates, and mementos of his brother, Mr. Bui Dinh Cuong still clearly remembers the last days of 1971, when the family received the news of a letter. At that time, everyone was happy, thinking that Mr. Bui Dinh Anh must have sent a letter home like every other time.
Mr. Cuong emotionally recounted: "My brother was in the army but he often wrote letters home telling stories about fighting, marching, and the unit... so that time everyone believed the letter was from him. But when they opened the letter, the whole family fell silent."
The letter was not from young soldier Bui Dinh Anh but from comrade Bui Mong Long - the person who lived, fought and witnessed his last moments on the battlefield of Southern Laos.
The letter reads:"Our dream was to return together one day, to visit the great Uncle Ho's hometown and meet you two and the children. But the dream has been shattered. Now we each go our separate ways. In the recent battle in the Southern Laos campaign, comrade Anh and I fought very steadfastly, wearing down many enemy forces. But an unfortunate event happened - he sacrificed his life heroically south of Route 9... He sacrificed his life on March 13, 1971...".
The writer of the letter - comrade Bui Mong Long - was also seriously injured, permanently losing his right arm after the battle. The lines in the letter were carefully written with his left hand, sent while he was being treated at Hospital 108. Each word was slanted and shaky but still tried to maintain a solemn tone, as if he was sending a final farewell on behalf of a fallen friend.
Mr. Bui Dinh Cuong choked up as he recalled that, reading the letter, his parents collapsed. No one could say anything more… tears just flowed. From that moment, the letter became a testimony, a wordless stele, deeply engraved with the pain, pride and ultimate loss of a family that once placed all their faith in the day of reunion but now no longer exists.
Youth devoted to the Fatherland
After the martyr Bui Dinh Anh died, the family received the martyr's relics from Battalion 3 - Front B5; including 3 certificates of the title "Brave American Destroyer" level 3, 4 certificates of commendation recognizing the martyr's combat achievements in 1969 and 1970.
In addition, in 1987, the family also received the State Council Certificate No. 6677 dated July 22, 1987 posthumously awarding the Third Class Resistance Medal to martyr Bui Dinh Anh.
According to the family's remaining documents and information provided by Battalion 3, the journey of young soldier Bui Dinh Anh began in September 1968 when he enlisted in Company 10, Battalion 3, of Front B5, directly participating in the battle in Quang Tri - one of the fiercest hot spots at that time. From 1968 to 1971, he and his comrades crossed forests, crossed streams, faced fierce bombs and bullets, and participated in many key battles.
During his mission, young soldier Bui Dinh Anh always showed a high sense of responsibility, did not fear hardships, and continuously made outstanding achievements. That is why he was awarded the title of "Brave American Destroyer" level 3 three times.
The title of "Brave American Killer" level 3 requires the soldier to directly kill 3 enemies or injure 5 enemies or destroy 1 important firing point (bunkers, military vehicles, gun positions, aircraft...) of the enemy in a specific battle. In addition, the person being considered for the award must clearly demonstrate the spirit of bravery, intelligence, not afraid of sacrifice, complete the assigned tasks well, be confirmed by the unit, and report to superiors.
During the Route 9 Southern Laos campaign in 1971, soldier Bui Dinh Anh and his teammates bravely charged into the battlefield, destroying many key enemy targets.
On March 13, 1971, he fell in the middle of a fierce battle south of Route 9. His life ended when his youth was just beginning...
With the achievements he has made, the martyr was posthumously awarded the Third Class Resistance Medal by the State, a worthy reward for his wholehearted dedication to the Fatherland.
Early last July, Mr. Bui Dinh Cuong's family decided to donate some important relics of martyr Bui Dinh Anh to the Military Region 4 Museum, with the hope that these sacred memories will continue to be preserved, spread and contribute to reminding today's generation of the silent but great sacrifices of the soldiers who fell for the Fatherland.
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At the reception ceremony, representatives of the Military Region 4 Museum expressed their deep respect for the sacred relics that the family of martyr Bui Dinh Anh has preserved for more than half a century. At the same time, they affirmed that the noble sacrifice of the heroic martyrs is a living testament to the spirit of patriotism, indomitable will and absolute loyalty to the Fatherland. The Military Region 4 Museum will continue to preserve, conserve and promote the value of the artifacts, spreading touching stories about the heroic martyrs to educate today's young generation to appreciate the value of peace and independence.
Although more than half a century has passed, what still worries the family is that the grave of martyr Bui Dinh Anh has not been found. He passed away on a distant battlefield, leaving behind a lingering nostalgia in the hearts of his relatives. The souvenirs, the Certificate of Merit from the Fatherland... became a spiritual support, as a way for the family to keep him in their daily lives...
Mr. Bui Dinh Cuong - Brother of martyr Bui Dinh Anh
