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 a will that I must live up to my father's sacrifice, to the family tradition and to my patriotic homeland.

PV: As someone who fought directly on 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 the 812th Regiment, 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 pitch-black and cold, 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 they were fired upon. The group had to split up and disperse into the forest.

I got lost in a wild mountainous area, with no water or trace of people. I lived on forest leaves and water from tree leaves. It was not until the fourth day that I found the military 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 to this day.

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 took the lead, and my squad and I approached the target at night. But the enemy had arranged artillery waiting. Before the formation could spread out, artillery shells rained down. A series of 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 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 middle of the forest.

I had to stay in 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 wounded and sick soldier, and the son of a martyr, you carry with you both great mental losses and lingering physical wounds. So what was the motivation that helped you 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. It was very difficult back then. Every time I tried to walk on my new leg, the pain was so intense that I cried.

Later, I was sent to recuperate at Group 200 - Military Region 4. In 1990, the State had a policy of encouraging 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 Ms. 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 stayed up late, woke up early, and saved 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: My eldest daughter studied Economics in Ho Chi Minh City, my second daughter studied Aquaculture at Vinh University, and my youngest son studied Construction, also at Vinh University. Now, they all have stable jobs, and my 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 is 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 makes him still 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 village veterans association. There, I was able to live again in the atmosphere of comrades - 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 in whatever way I can.

My wife is a party member and has held the position of Head of the Women's Association of Mau 4 Hamlet for many years. She is very active and exemplary, enthusiastically participating in all hamlet and commune affairs. 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 maintained. 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 locally, you must have witnessed many changes in your hometown. In your opinion, what is the role of soldiers returning from war in preserving and promoting revolutionary traditions at the grassroots level?

Mr. Nguyen Van Dong:I think that 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 do whatever I can to contribute 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 do whatever I can to contribute to the village and to 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 close call. Sometimes I take them to the martyrs' cemetery to burn incense, so that they understand that life today 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 matter how beautiful it is, it will still feel empty. Old people like us, even though our health is not good, our limbs are weak, we can still remind our children and grandchildren to live with a past and future, to live gratefully and to preserve the tradition of love and affection.

PV: On the occasion of the 78th anniversary of War Invalids and Martyrs Day, do you have any wishes or messages for the Party, the State as well as future generations so that the work of "Repaying gratitude" continues to be promoted in the right sense, 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 people with meritorious services. 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, 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 going to the cemetery and burning 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!