The tragedy of a soldier returning from the Quang Tri battlefield.

That was Mr. Hoang Van Kham (Hoang Kham), born in 1950 - a direct participant in the battle of Quang Tri Citadel. After that battle, Hoang Van Kham was awarded the Medal of Military Merit, but he carried within him dangerous wounds - wounds on his skin, in his blood, and even mental wounds, which still ache decades later.

In 1971,Americacontinue the bombing, destructionroutesroads, warehouses, camps, etc., in the North, aimed at cutting off access.suppliesFrom the rear to the front lines. In the South.,The US and the South Vietnamese government conducted military operations.large scale in strategic regions of3Indochina, in which the marchLam Son 719 from Tri But Heaven,attack the area around Route 9.ButSouthern Laos.

Answering the sacred call of the Fatherland,August 1971, the 21-year-old manHoang Van KhamI have written a volunteer application.to enlist in the army.After 3monthtraining new recruitsat Unit 22A (Military Region 4), Older brother Together with teammates, we went south, directly...fightaboveQuang Tri battlefield, in the formationThe 48th Regiment - also known as the "Thach Han Regiment", belonged to320th DivisionB.

During the Quang Tri campaign, the 48th Regiment was codenamed "Quang Son"., doThe mission is to defend the Quang Tri Citadel.Together with their comrades, they fought bravely and tenaciously, contributing to bringing the victory in Quang Tri to the negotiating table.Paris,forcing the US to withdrawiSouth VietnamNam, end the war, restore peace in Vietnam.

It was an extremely fierce battle. The balance of power was heavily tilted in favor of the enemy. Continuous rain caused the Thach Han River to rise, making it very difficult to resupply weapons, food, medicine, and transport the wounded and dead to the rear. The enemy mobilized all available modern equipment, such as artillery batteries and naval guns from the sea, used B52 carpet bombing, tanks, and marine forces, paratrooper brigades, and the 1st Special Forces Regiment, to launch continuous attacks against us, aiming to capture the Citadel. The Regiment's Party Committee issued a resolution, emphasizing the unwavering determination: "As long as Quang Son remains, Quang Tri remains," as a command to motivate the officers and soldiers.

Mr. Hoang Van Kham recounted: In September 1972, we and the enemy fought for every meter of trench and every gun emplacement. The enemy used C.130 transport planes to drop a special 7-ton "Daisy Cutter" bomb with devastating destructive power. The bomb had a white parachute that deployed and exploded at an altitude of about 30 meters above the ground. An entire southeastern corner of the ancient citadel was leveled. From there, the enemy intensified their attack, encroaching on the center, using flamethrowers to fire at our positions. The unit's resistance was measured in hours. Tens of thousands of artillery shells and numerous aircraft continuously bombed the Quang Son Regiment…

The earth shook violently, the world seemed to be ending. Even in broad daylight, the enemy marines launched a series of attacks. Each time our troops repelled them, they retaliated with artillery fire, pushing forward. Our firing positions were exposed, and the enemy bombarded them with tank artillery. Many comrades fought valiantly and heroically sacrificed their lives. An enemy shell exploded in a trench, severely wounding him and causing him to faint. Unable to fight any longer, his comrades used a rubber boat to take him across the Thach Han River to the rear.

After that fierce battle, Hoang Van Kham was awarded the Medal of Military Merit, but he carried within him dangerous wounds – wounds on his skin, in his blood, and even psychological wounds that continued to ache for decades afterward. He received treatment and was sent to the 405th Convalescent Unit (Military Region 4). When his health recovered, he continued to serve in the army. In July 1977, he was discharged and returned to his hometown.

Like many soldiers of that era, Mr. Kham returned to the rear when the country and his homeland were facing numerous difficulties in the post-war period. During the historic flood of 1978, his house was severely flooded, and all his documents, such as his military record, injury certificate, demobilization decision, commendations, and medals, were swept away by the flood.

Due to the loss of all his documents, he was unable to claim benefits for war invalids or victims of Agent Orange. Most of his comrades who enlisted or fought alongside him had perished; his former unit had been disbanded… He approached many relevant authorities, but because he lacked the necessary documentation, he could not receive the benefits and policies stipulated by the State.

He quietly toiled in the fields, spending his twilight years in his hometown, battling daily the wounds and illnesses resulting from the war. But the greatest pain in his life was not his physical injuries, nor his poverty, but the fact that his grandson, his only son, suffered from the effects of Agent Orange, inherited from him. The boy's body was deformed, his mind impaired, his limbs contracted, and he was unable to walk. He was completely unaware of the brutal consequences of the war waged by the US and its allies... it was truly heartbreaking and agonizing.

For Mr. Kham, there was only a glimmer of hope – the only remaining evidence he possessed was a photograph of him taken by war correspondent Doan Cong Tinh of the People's Army Newspaper at the Quang Tri Citadel battlefield after a fierce battle. This famous photograph, which has been published in numerous newspapers and films, is now proudly displayed at the Quang Tri Citadel Museum.

At 76, former Quang Tri Citadel veteran Hoang Van Kham lives a frail, sickly life, struggling with poverty in his hometown. The war took away his health, his youth, and many other things. But the memories of those days of bombs and bullets at the Citadel remain vivid in his mind.

He was a soldier of the 48th Regiment, 320B Division, and directly participated in 81 days and nights of fighting (June 28, 1972 - September 16, 1972) to defend the Quang Tri Citadel. This was a fierce battle where the main divisions, local troops, and Quang Tri militia and guerrillas bravely held every inch of land.; the affected area328,000 tons of bombs and ammunition, equivalent to 7 atomic bombs.which the US once dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki (Japan).

Twar liceThisis likened to a"an immortal epic”, affirming the spirit"We would rather sacrifice everything than lose our country.”and"Nothing is more precious than independence and freedom."of our army and people.

The war is long over, but the responsibility to those who sacrificed cannot end. The image of him and his grandson is a poignant reminder: The silent sacrifices and losses of the soldiers of yesteryear must not be forgotten. And gratitude should not stop at memories and nostalgia, but must be expressed through concrete and practical care and sharing in life today.