Truong Sa naval commandos reunite with old comrades.

(Baonghean) - Last weekend, the naval commandos who participated in the liberation of Truong Sa (Spratly Islands)The 126th Naval Special Forces Brigade in the Nghe An - Ha Tinh region had a heartwarming reunion whenVisiting my old unit.

From Vinh City, a convoy carrying Lieutenant Colonel Nguyen Huu Dong - Head of the Liaison Committee and his comrades from the Veterans' Association of the 126th Naval Special Forces Brigade in the Nghe An - Ha Tinh region - traveled north to Hai Phong port city to visit their old unit.

Lieutenant Colonel Dong shared: “As soldiers, no matter how many years have passed, no matter how different our generations are, we still carry a deep sense of gratitude. For us soldiers, the unit is like our home. These past few days, I haven't been able to sleep; old memories keep flooding back, each one causing me to toss and turn. I remember the ambushes against the enemy in the Southeast battlefield, where life and death were separated by only a hair's breadth. I remember the days of burying ourselves in mud to deceive the enemy, the times we swam more than 15 kilometers across the river to infiltrate targets and attack enemy ships…”

Major General Mai Năng (on the right), former commander of Brigade 126, reunites with a delegation of veterans from Nghe An and Ha Tinh provinces.

Veteran Vo Trung Tao shared: "Back then, after training in the North, we were reinforced to the South for duty. Each of us was assigned to different units, participating in battles across various battlefields. I was deployed to fight at Cua Viet (Quang Tri), my main task being to attack enemy ships carrying weapons and goods at this seaport. In the Spring of 1975, I was in Da Nang and participated in the liberation of the city. The fighting was extremely arduous and fierce; we special forces soldiers were always ready to sacrifice our lives for our comrades, accepting the ultimate sacrifice..."

Lieutenant Colonel Hoang Van Sung is the oldest member of the 126th Veterans Association. Nearly 80 years old this year, his memories from the unit's early days remain vivid. He recalled: "Before, we didn't have a specialized force to attack enemy ships on rivers and seas, so the enemy took advantage of waterways to transport weapons and military equipment."

There were ships carrying over 10,000 tons of weapons; if this quantity had been successfully supplied to the enemy fighting in battle, our army would have suffered immeasurable losses. On April 13th, President Ho Chi Minh and the Politburo decided to establish the 126th Naval Special Forces Brigade. This was a highly elite naval special forces unit, selected through a very rigorous process. In addition to physical fitness and excellent swimming skills, special forces soldiers had to be proficient in the use of naval combat equipment.

Veterans delegation visits naval museum.

Over a period of 7 years (from 1966 to 1973), the officers and soldiers of the Brigade bravely and intelligently organized more than 300 battles, causing damage to 400 enemy ships.

In the spring of 1975, 107 officers and soldiers of the Brigade, commanded by Major General Mai Năng, successfully liberated many islands and island clusters in the Truong Sa archipelago. For these exceptionally outstanding achievements, the unit was twice awarded the title of Hero of the People's Armed Forces by the Party and the State.

These stories dispelled the weariness of the long journey that had brought the veterans to the headquarters of the 126th Naval Special Forces Brigade, which lay ahead.

The veterans were visibly excited. Welcoming the veterans was Colonel Doan Van Manh, Secretary of the Party Committee and Political Commissar of Brigade 126.

In the distance, a man in general's rank, with white hair and a sturdy build, stood waiting for the delegation, a very gentle smile on his face. "Major General Mai Nang! General Mai Nang has come too, brothers!" – the veterans from Nghe An and Ha Tinh provinces rushed towards the general. They embraced him, like long-lost siblings returning to their elder brother.

After a moment of astonishment, the veterans surrounding their former commander kept asking, "Commander! Do you still remember us?" The old general glanced around, then spoke in a warm, gentle voice, "Viet! Dinh! Sung! And Hieu too... How are you all? How many of you from Nghe An and Ha Tinh came today?"

The group of veterans visited the brigade's equipment and weapons.

“Do you all remember Mai Soa?” – Major General Mai Nang suddenly asked as everyone gathered in the Brigade's assembly hall. Everyone fell silent, their faces suddenly pensive and emotional. The old general continued, breaking the silence: “Back then, I was Mai Soa’s deputy. In the brigade at that time, Mai Soa was known as a talented and resourceful man who commanded our men in attacking many enemy ships. Sometimes, the ship would just dock, before it even had time to tie anchor, and he would already be attaching mines to its hull. Within a few dozen minutes, the enemy ship would explode, causing them heavy losses. At the peak of his life, one early morning, his comrades discovered he had died in the hut in the mangrove forest – the place where he had stayed day and night to observe enemy ships. It’s been decades since then…”

After a touching reunion and conversation, the delegation of veterans from Nghe An and Ha Tinh provinces were invited to tour the unit's training ground. There, young soldiers were enthusiastically practicing. Colonel Doan Van Manh stated that the young soldiers could complete the swim from Cat Ba to Do Son and could swim against the waves with excellent skill. Not only had their swimming skills improved, but their surfing abilities had also been significantly enhanced. Witnessing the training session, the former soldiers were all deeply moved and proud.

Brigade 126 conducts anti-raid drills at sea.

Veteran Vo Trung Tao (Nghi Loc, Nghe An) has two nephews who are training at Team 3 of the Brigade. The reunion of the three of them at the Brigade's training ground was touching, a testament to the continuity of will and tradition between generations. Mr. Tao shared: “History has given the younger generation peace and happiness, so we must continue the tradition, never forgetting our duty to build the country. I always remind my children and grandchildren of that.” With enthusiasm, Lieutenant Colonel Nguyen Huu Dong said: “Compared to us in the past, the young men and women now have surpassed us, especially in combat techniques. Returning to visit the unit, we are extremely proud and confident that the next generation will follow in the footsteps of those who came before, preserving and developing the tradition of a unit that has been twice awarded the Heroic Unit title.”

Captain Ha Van Man, from Quynh Luu, Nghe An province, shared: “This is a reunion filled with emotion. Through arduous training, we have come to admire and appreciate even more the willpower and intelligence of our forefathers in overcoming countless difficulties, dangers, and fierce battles to defeat the enemy. As a son of Nghe An, meeting the veterans from my hometown is a great honor for me, a joy that is difficult to express in words. It will be a foundation for me to continue on my life's path and my military career.”

Perhaps Captain Ha Van Man's sentiments also reflect the thoughts of many young officers and soldiers of Brigade 126.

Thanh Quynh - Cong Kien