Whether in peacetime or wartime, a soldier's spirit must be kept intact.

PV: Before getting into the war stories, can you share a little about your childhood and family? And what shaped your will and spirit as a soldier?

Mr. Nguyen Van Dong:I was born and raised in Kim Lien commune, Nam Dan district (old), now Kim Lien commune, Nghe An province - the hometown of President Ho Chi Minh. My family has 6 brothers and sisters, I am the third child and the first son in the family.

My father, Mr. Nguyen Van Quang (born in 1924), participated in the resistance war against the French, fought and was injured in the North. During the anti-American period, he continued to work as a military officer in the locality. In 1965, when I was only 9 years old, my father died in an American bombing raid on the Nuong Gai area north of Kim Lien commune.

My father's passing was a huge shock to the whole family, especially my mother - a country woman who had to raise 6 children alone during the war, lacking everything.

Since childhood, I witnessed my mother's hard work and hardship, and grew up in the memory of my father who died for the Fatherland. That planted in me from an early age the will that I must live up to the sacrifice of my father, the tradition of my family and my homeland rich in patriotism.

PV: As someone who fought directly in the Southwestern border battlefield, you must still clearly remember the memories of those fierce war years. Can you share a profound memory or a battle that still haunts or makes you most proud?

Mr. Nguyen Van Dong: After April 30, 1975, the country was unified, everyone thought the war had ended. But then the situation at the southwestern border heated up day by day due to the Khmer Rouge's raids. At that time, I was only 20 years old. In early 1976, I volunteered to join the army. My mother objected a lot, because she had lost her husband in the resistance war against the US, and now she did not want to lose her eldest son. I loved my mother very much, but I knew I could not stay out of the fight for the Fatherland. I quietly packed my things, ran away from home to join the army.

At first, I was assigned to Regiment 812, doing business in Phan Ri - Binh Thuan. But then the war situation became tense, my unit gradually moved to the Central Highlands. By the end of 1978, I officially joined the southwestern border battlefield, stationed in the Dak Min - Dak Lak area, bordering Cambodia. I was assigned to be a scout, had to go first, go deep into the enemy's heartland, grasp the situation, draw a firepower layout map, then quietly withdraw.

There were times when we went on reconnaissance trips for three days straight with nothing but dry food and spring water. One time, in the middle of the deep forest, the night was cold and dark, and our stomachs were aching with hunger because the group had not eaten for nearly two days. Another time, our reconnaissance group was discovered by the enemy and was fired upon. The whole group had to split up and disperse into the forest.

I got lost in a wild mountainous area, no water, no trace of people. I lived on leaves and water from the leaves. On the fourth day, I found the army trail and returned to my unit in a state of severe exhaustion. I met two comrades, hugged each other and tears kept flowing. But the most painful thing was that one comrade in the group was still missing and there was no news until now.

The battle that haunted me the most was when the unit was ordered to attack the 920 stronghold – one of the important links of the Khmer Rouge near the border. The scouts went first, and my squad and I approached the target at night. But the enemy had already arranged artillery to wait. Before the formation could spread out, artillery shells rained down like rain. A series of artillery shells exploded right in the middle of the formation. Eight or nine of us, many of us were no longer intact... I was thrown off by the pressure, losing part of my left leg, and my right ankle was broken. Blood gushed out, the sky and earth spun, and then it went dark.

When I woke up, I found myself lying in a field ambulance, my back covered in blood. A young nurse bent down, looked at me in amazement, then choked: "You're alive... it's a miracle!". Later I learned that when I was brought back to the rear, my comrades in the unit all thought I would not survive. The wound was too severe, the bleeding continued, and I lay unconscious for many hours in the deep forest.

I had to stay in the hospital for nearly a year. When I was discharged, my left leg was in an iron brace, my right leg was covered with scars, and there were more than 30 pieces of shrapnel scattered throughout my body that could not be removed. Until now, every time the weather changes, my whole body aches and aches. But I always tell myself: It is a miracle that I am alive. Because there are comrades - the ones who crossed the forest, clung to the mountains, shared each piece of dry food with me, who are still lying somewhere in the middle of the jungle, nameless, without a tombstone.

PV: As a war invalid, sick soldier, and the son of a martyr, he carried with him both great mental losses and lingering physical wounds. So what was the driving force that helped him overcome the difficult years after the war?

Mr. Nguyen Van Dong:When I was seriously injured on the battlefield, there were times when I thought I would not survive. I lay unconscious for many days, then spent more than a year in the military hospital, then was transferred to Da Nang to get a prosthetic leg. Those were very difficult times. Every time I tried to walk on my new leg, the pain brought tears to my eyes.

Later, I was sent to recuperate at Group 200 - Military Region 4. In 1990, the State had a policy to encourage war invalids and sick soldiers to stabilize their lives in their hometowns. I immediately volunteered to return to my hometown, with a certificate of 3/4 war invalid (disability rate 51%) and 1/3 sick soldier (disability rate 81%).

Returning to Kim Lien commune, the government granted me a small piece of land. On that land, my wife and I built a simple house, but it was where we started everything again. Before that, in 1989, on a trip back to my hometown from a convalescent group, I met Mrs. Nguyen Thi Thang - the woman who would later become my wife. She was a doctor, working at the Nam Dan District Medical Center. We came together with no property, nothing in hand, except a promise to overcome all hardships together.

My husband and I started from zero: no capital, plus my illness, but I always believed: "As long as we live, we can do it. We may be poor, but our children must be educated to become good people." Thinking so, I went to repair and sell bicycle parts. In addition to being a doctor, my wife also worked in the fields. We both stayed up late and woke up early, saving every penny. There were times when we didn't have enough money to pay our children's tuition, so I had to borrow from neighbors.

But God did not disappoint. All three of my children passed the university entrance exam: the eldest daughter studied Economics in Ho Chi Minh City, the second daughter studied Aquaculture at Vinh University, the youngest son studied Construction, also at Vinh University. Now, they all have stable jobs, the two eldest children have happy families. I have three grandchildren, all of whom are obedient and filial.

Many times, looking back, I thought to myself: “So I have succeeded.” I am not rich, but I have a home, have grown children, and am respected by my neighbors. That was the biggest motivation for me to overcome all difficulties throughout the long journey after the war.

PV: After leaving the army and returning to his hometown, he has always maintained a sense of responsibility and actively contributed to the community. What has helped him maintain the spirit of “Uncle Ho’s soldier” until today?

Mr. Nguyen Van Dong:When I first returned from the army, I thought: “I am a soldier, I have survived the fierce battlefield, I cannot come back here and live indifferently and irresponsibly”. Therefore, I applied to join the veterans association of the commune. There, I was able to relive the atmosphere of comradeship - people with the same aspirations, the same ideals, together continuing to contribute to building the homeland.

Due to a severe leg injury, my mobility is quite limited. I cannot directly participate in mass mobilization activities or patrols like other veterans. But I still try to contribute in other ways - maintaining a healthy lifestyle, encouraging my children and grandchildren to obey the law, and participating in local movements to the best of my ability.

My wife is a party member and served as the head of the Women's Association of Mau 4 hamlet for many years. She is very active and exemplary, enthusiastically participating in all the work of the hamlet and commune. I stay at home, take care of the housework and the children so that she can go to meetings and work with peace of mind. My wife and I always remind each other: Whether in peacetime or wartime, the spirit of a soldier must be kept intact. It is not always true that going to battle is fighting, but living a decent and useful life in everyday life is also a way of contributing.

PV: During your time working in the locality, you must have witnessed many changes in your hometown. In your opinion, what is the role of soldiers returning from the war in preserving and promoting revolutionary traditions at the grassroots level?

Mr. Nguyen Van Dong:I think, as long as we soldiers survive after the war, we must live with the spirit and character of a soldier. Having experienced bombs and losses, I understand even more how precious peace is. Now that I no longer hold a gun, I will try to contribute whatever I can to the village and to the next generation within my ability.

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Having experienced bombs and losses, I understand even more how precious peace is. Now that I no longer hold a gun, I will try to contribute whatever I can to the village and the next generation within my ability.

War invalid Nguyen Van Dong (Kim Lien commune)

I often tell my children stories about the war, about my comrades, about the times when life and death were at a premium. Sometimes I take them to the martyrs' cemetery to burn incense, so that they understand that life now does not come naturally. And in daily life, I live a little as an example, doing everything with kindness and propriety, that is also preserving tradition.

My hometown has changed a lot: the houses are spacious, the village roads are clean, the lights are bright. But if people live carelessly, no longer remembering their roots, then no matter how beautiful it is, it will still feel empty. Old people like us, even though our health is not so good, our limbs are weak, we can still remind our children and grandchildren to live with a past and a future, to live gratefully and to know how to preserve the tradition of love and affection.

PVOn the occasion of the 78th anniversary of War Invalids and Martyrs Day, do you have any wishes or messages for the Party, the State and future generations so that the work of "Repaying gratitude" can continue to be promoted in the right way, worthy of the sacrifices that your generation has gone through?

Mr. Nguyen Van Dong:I am very grateful to the Party and State for their attention to meritorious people. I am one of five typical delegates from Nghe An invited to Hanoi to attend.meeting of people with merit, typical historical witnesses nationwideThis year - it's an honor, it's very touching. I just hope the government continues to maintain and expand policies to care for wounded and sick soldiers, not only materially but also spiritually. Many of our brothers are old, have no relatives, live alone, and really need a word of concern.

I hope that today’s young generation will not forget the past. Every time I see young people go to the cemetery and burn incense for martyrs, I am very moved. I hope that behind the candlelight is a heart of true gratitude and a better life.

PV:Thank you for the conversation!