People's Armed Forces Hero Vo Dai Hue: Protecting the border with an iron oath

Vo Dai Hue, born in 1952 in Nghi Xa commune, Nghi Loc district, his father was Vo Van Du and his mother was Vo Thi Buong, a farmer. On August 5, 1964, the US imperialists escalated their attacks on the North, dropping bombs on the Vinh city fuel depot. In 1968, following the call of the Party and Uncle Ho, tens of thousands of young people from schools put down their pens and eagerly went to war.

Vo Dai Hue joined the army at the age of 16. After several months of studying and training in the North, he was assigned to the infantry. From 1969 to 1972, Vo Dai Hue participated in the fight against the US in the battlefields of Quang Tri province, Route 9, Khe Sanh and the Central Highlands. Carrying the youthful blood of the heroic Soviet homeland, fighting on many fronts, Vo Dai Hue made many achievements in combat and was awarded 2 Military Exploit Medals.

In 1973, Vo Dai Hue was sent to the North to study at the Army Officer School I. In 1975, after the complete liberation of the South, Vo Dai Hue was transferred by his superiors to the People's Armed Police Force, working as a teacher in the tactics department of the Border Officer School.

On June 10, 1975 (lunar calendar), Vo Dai Hue married a village girl, Hoang Thi Bich Nhat, born in 1953, an accountant at a commercial company in Nghi Loc district. After the wedding, Vo Dai Hue and his wife, like thousands of young couples who had just gotten married after the liberation of the South, were at war again at both ends of the country. In August 1978, Vo Dai Hue received orders to go to the border to set up a post in Muong Khuong district, Lao Cai province. Before leaving for the war, he was given a few days off to visit his family. At that time, Vo Dai Hue was only 27 years old, his young wife was 26, his first son, Vo Trong Hung, was only three years old, and his wife was pregnant with their second child. The father and son had not yet met each other, nor did they know if the child was a boy or a girl.

Because of his wartime duties, before saying goodbye, Vo Dai Hue held his wife and children's hands tightly and told his wife:“The war situation is very tense. If anything happens to you, I will stay and raise the two children and take care of your elderly parents for you…”Later, when telling us her husband's instructions, Mrs. Nhat choked with sobs: "...Who would have thought that was a farewell message before Hue left for war… Father and son had never met each other before.

In the face of the arrogant threats and challenges of the Northern invaders, we carry out the sacred call of the Fatherland:“Nothing is more precious than independence and freedom.", millions of generals in the army and people of Vietnam were enthusiastically ready to fight back the enemy from the moment they set foot on Vietnamese territory. Lieutenant Vo Dai Hue was the captain commanding Company 11, Battalion 3, Border Guard with soldiers of Regiment 16, marching to the border to guard the Muong Khuong district, Lao Cai province with a solemn oath:“Determined to die for the Fatherland, determined to live”…

On February 17, 1979, the enemy, supported by armored tanks, launched a massive attack, controlling all the northern border provinces of our country. Lieutenant Vo Dai Hue, the company commander, bravely and steadfastly commanded Company 11, Battalion 3, Regiment 16, Border Guards to fiercely fight back against the enemy infantry. Under the barrage of artillery and tanks, right from the first battle, Vo Dai Hue commanded Team B 40 to burn 2 tanks of the expansionists at the Man Tuyen intersection. In the face of the counterattack of the Vietnamese troops commanded by Captain Vo Dai Hue, the enemy's tanks were forced to retreat.

Taking advantage of the large number of soldiers, the enemy immediately ordered their tanks to turn in another direction to avoid the blocking fire of the company commanded by Vo Dai Hue. They stubbornly charged straight into the center of Muong Khuong district. Learning from the shining example of hero Cu Chinh Lan fighting tanks on National Highway 6 years ago, Vo Dai Hue was determined not to let them escape. As quick as lightning, he led the B40 team, took a shortcut, fired bullets to intercept, and 4 more tanks were hit and burst into flames.

On the morning of February 18, 1979, the invaders concentrated their firepower, all three prongs fired artillery at Na Khuy mountain. Although he had just been wounded by bullets, Captain Vo Dai Hue was still brave, resilient, resourceful, and calmly commanded the unit to fight to hold the position, repelling 11 enemy attacks. The unit destroyed 300 enemies (Captain Vo Dai Hue alone destroyed 48, including the commander of the leading tank).

On the afternoon of February 18, 1979, the enemy received reinforcements and surrounded the battlefield, in an attempt to destroy the forces of Vo Dai Hue's company. Because of the unequal strength, to avoid losses and protect the forces, the Front Commander ordered Vo Dai Hue's company to retreat from the siege to continue fighting. Upon receiving orders from his superiors, Vo Dai Hue quickly commanded the company to open a path, break the siege, and move the formation out. To block our army's retreat, the enemy concentrated on firing at the commander, Vo Dai Hue was injured and then hit again. Comrade Vo Dai Hue heroically sacrificed himself while serving as the Company Commander, commanding Company 11, Battalion 3, Regiment 16, at the front line of Muong Khuong district, Lao Cai province, when he was only 27 years old...

Martyr Vo Dai Hue was posthumously promoted from Second Lieutenant to Lieutenant and posthumously awarded the First Class Military Exploit Medal. On December 19, 1979, Martyr Vo Dai Hue was posthumously awarded the title of Hero of the Armed Forces by the President of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam. To commemorate the contributions of Hero - Martyr Vo Dai Hue, in December 2013, the People's Council of Lao Cai province issued a Resolution naming a street after Vo Dai Hue located in Bac Cuong ward, in the new urban area of ​​Lao Cai city, Lao Cai province. The grave of Hero - Martyr Vo Dai Hue is currently resting at the Martyrs Cemetery of Muong Khuong district, Lao Cai province.

Comrade Vo Dai Hue sacrificed himself at the age of 27, his wife was only 26, their eldest son Vo Trong Hung was only 3 years old at that time, their daughter was born in 1979, named Vo Thi Hong Thanh. When comrade Vo Dai Hue sacrificed herself, Mrs. Nhat was pregnant, father and daughter had not yet met each other. After comrade Vo Dai Hue sacrificed himself, Mrs. Nhat and her three children lived as widows and orphans, during the difficult economic subsidy period. Despite hardship and poverty, remembering her husband's words, Mrs. Hoang Thi Bich Nhat was always loyal and responsible, raising her two children to adulthood, determined to follow in the footsteps of her father who sacrificed for the people and the country.

Proud, following the example and learning from their heroic father, both children of martyr Vo Dai Hue: his son Vo Trong Hung born in 1977 and daughter Vo Thi Hong Thanh (born in 1979) both trained and strived to become two border guards like their beloved father. Vo Trong Hung's older brother, currently holds the rank of Lieutenant Colonel, Deputy Chief of Tam Quang Border Guard Station, Tuong Duong District. During his time as Chief of Thong Thu Border Gate Station, comrade Vo Trong Hung made many achievements in the fight against subjects transporting counterfeit money and drugs into the country, crossing the border into Vietnam.

Following his father's example, Vo Trong Hung often encouraged his fellow border guards: they must constantly raise their vigilance, pay attention when patrolling, regardless of terrain, circumstances, and weather. As a commander, Vo Trong Hung always upheld the spirit of revolutionary vigilance, he always told his fellow border guards: "The border gate must become a sharp eye to detect the behavior of bad guys.”. From the age of 24, having received formal training at schools and becoming a comrade of his father, Vo Trong Hung always overcame difficulties and hardships to complete the tasks assigned by the Party and the people. Lieutenant Colonel Vo Trong Hung was awarded the title of Emulation Fighter three times and received many certificates of merit at all levels. When asking about his beloved father whose face Vo Trong Hung could no longer remember, he confided:“In life and on the journey of work, every time I encounter difficulties and hardships, I think it is nothing compared to my father's brave sacrifice, so I try to overcome it…”

December, the 80th anniversary of the founding of the People's Armed Forces, remembering the heroic martyrs who fought and sacrificed for the country, for the people, giving us a peaceful and happy life today. The article is like a fragrant incense stick from posterity, respectfully offering to heroic martyrs like Vo Dai Hue. They fought and sacrificed so that our people today can enjoy a peaceful, prosperous and happy life.