Nghe An veteran talks about memories in Dien Bien battlefield

The book’s content is quite rich, with sources of information about the Dien Bien Phu Victory in the press; and the affection of later generations for the land of Dien Bien. In particular, I was really impressed with the content of “Dien Bien Memories”, which are notes about unforgettable memories on the march and fighting of those who directly went to the campaign.

If separated, these memories would be “fragments”, but when arranged in a series, they would create a vivid picture of the fight and victory of our army and people on the Dien Bien Phu battlefield. Each story is a stroke in a multi-colored picture, attracting readers to a glorious and heroic time.

In this book, veteran Tran Xuan Chau (Dien Hanh commune) has an article “Long March…”, telling the story of the march from Nghe An to Dien Bien with many hardships, dangers but also full of joy. Our army marched on foot for nearly thousands of kilometers, crossed high passes, deep streams, deep abysses, and cat-ear rocks, the troops still climbed the slopes and rushed forward.

The young soldiers marched, told stories, read poems and sang enthusiastically:The road to the Northwest is far away/Difficulties to overcome and cross dangerous passes/The road to the Northwest is bumpy/White flowers bloom all over the valleys and hills/I love you so much, Noong/Tomorrow victory will come to us”.

Veteran Le Viet Hai (Dien Lam commune) still remembers the night he crossed Au Lau wharf (Yen Bai), when the villagers brought hot fresh tea and steaming boiled cassava to invite the troops to stop. Then the bamboo boats crossed the river, and when they said goodbye, the boatwoman softly said: "Have a safe trip, when you come back, come find me for the boat!"

Continuing the march, in the dark night, hundreds of soldiers tried their best to pull the heavy cannons, step by step, over the high mountains. The cannons were camouflaged with leaves, the artillerymen, engineers, and infantrymen tried their best to follow the shouts, pulling the cannons in step by step. Thinking about the time to open fire on the central area of ​​the general attack, they worried and wished they would always be healthy to witness the important historical moment.

In the article “Don’t let them escape”, veteran Quang Phiet (Dien Hoa commune) recounts the moment our army launched a general attack on the enemy command center in Muong Thanh on the afternoon of May 7, 1954.

Our army was as strong as a broken dam, wherever we attacked, the enemy raised the white flag of surrender. In the entire Muong Thanh field, the enemy's white flags, which had been prepared in advance, rose from the ground one after another like white mourning scarves under their downcast, sad faces...

At Hong Cum, after the enemy's return fire, our army's 105mm artillery fire from various positions immediately focused on this stronghold. Their bunkers were blown apart, smoke and fire filled the air, the enemy screamed in panic and called for each other to run away. The memory of the last battle on the old battlefield is forever engraved in the soldiers' memories - memories of a time of youth fighting.

The Dien Bien Phu battlefield was extremely fierce, the war was always in a situation of losing or winning. But through the song “A Gracious Rice Ball” by veteran Nguyen Hung Tan (Dien Hanh commune), we will see the beauty of the humanity of Vietnamese soldiers.

After a battle, Mr. Tan's unit rested, cleaned their guns and ammunition, and prepared for the next battle. That afternoon, after he had finished loading the barrel into the gun holster, Mr. Tan was aiming at the medium-caliber rifle in his hand when suddenly an enemy soldier appeared outside the bunker door.

The enemy's head and face were wrapped in bandages, he leaned over and crawled on his hands and knees in the flooded trench. A soldier named Quac came out from the side of the tunnel, squinted at him, then raised his chin and asked loudly in English. The enemy replied that he was an Algerian, who was in Korea but was forced to fight here.

Some soldiers glared and wanted to hit him with their rifle butts, but Quac stopped them, saying that he was a poor man who had been forced to become a mercenary. Most people thought he was more pitiful than hateful.

Knowing that it was very hungry, our soldiers gave it a handful of rice. Its eyes were wet with tears, it bent down to chew the rice deliciously. After eating, it looked at everyone as if to say thank you for the friendly and kind rice.

The book “Dien Bien Phu Soldiers of Dien Chau” contains the pride of more than 600 cadres, soldiers, and youth volunteers of this rural area who directly participated in the Dien Bien Phu Campaign. Through the book, they recorded what they did, contributed their efforts, and shed their blood to make the victory to educate future generations./.