Meet the soldiers of Dien Bien in the rice fields

(Baonghean.vn) - Over the past 63 years, the Dien Bien soldiers from the rice fields of Yen Thanh (Nghe An) who created the victory that "resounded throughout the five continents and shook the world" that day still retain intact memories of a time of war and fire.

Memories of a war correspondent

Although he is 87 years old, veteran and journalist Nguyen The Vien (Ngoc Thanh hamlet, Hung Thanh commune) is still very sharp, agile, actively participating in local movement activities, encouraging his children and grandchildren to compete in labor, production, and building their homeland. Diligently writing and composing poems every day, the old soldier collects stories from his life to compile and print into books to preserve memories for future generations.

For more than 5 years, he has been an active member of the Veterans Association, the Elderly Association of the commune, the Chairman of the poetry clubs "Hoa dat Hau", "Huong dat Hung", competing with his children and grandchildren in labor, developing economic models, becoming a typical example of good production and business in the locality.

The memories of his and his comrades' heroic past are always treasured, depicted, and compiled into books by veteran journalist Nguyen The Vien so that today's young generation can learn about the heroic past of their ancestors. Photo: Anh Tuan

These days, in the house of gratitude filled with comradeship and Dien Bien Phu comradeship that he was given, the emotions of a Vietnam News Agency reporter who stayed on the Dien Bien Phu battlefield, together with the soldiers and people of the whole country, experiencing "56 days and nights of digging mountains, sleeping in tunnels, eating rice balls in the pouring rain..." came flooding back.

CCB Nguyen The Vien shared: "As a war correspondent, I got to go to many places, to fierce hot spots, but what I remember most is going with the unit to dispose of time-explosive bombs at Co Noi intersection. This is an important intersection. If this intersection is cut, we will not be able to supply the Dien Bien Phu campaign. Therefore, every day, the enemy dropped thousands of tons of bombs, units 295 and 297, mostly from Yen Thanh, had to come into contact with bombs every day to cut the time-explosive fuses and destroy the bombs.

One day, Nguyen Van Bo from Unit 297, a son of Lien Thanh commune, went out with his unit to defuse 4 bombs. While cutting the fuse, unfortunately one of them exploded, burying the entire squad and killing two people. But the next day, the French dropped bombs and they still went out to do their duty without being discouraged. Those images remain in me forever and are also the motivation for me to complete my mission as a war correspondent and now returning to normal life is the same."

Pride of Dien Bien soldiers

The people who made the glorious history of the nation are now entering their twilight years, but when mentioning the memories of the Dien Bien Phu battles, they still cannot forget. For veteran Dao Dinh Giap in Vinh Thanh commune, a former Dien Bien soldier of unit E 57, F304, he is even more proud, because 63 years ago he participated in the campaign to contribute to the victory that "resounded throughout the five continents, shook the earth".

War relics and spoils of war from the Dien Bien Phu Campaign are always cherished and preserved by veteran Dao Dinh Giap (left) as a reminder for future generations to appreciate and value today's peace. Photo: Phan Hien

Veteran Dao Dinh Giap recalled: "On February 1, 1954, we left and on March 3, 1954, Dien Bien Phu opened fire. As soon as we joined the unit, we marched immediately, without having time to practice shooting, but had to practice shooting as we went. I was assigned to the 304th Division, directly to the 57th Regiment, a local army unit of Nghe An, tasked with surrounding Muong Cung airport and cutting off air supplies.

At night, our troops dug tunnels to encroach on the airport, cutting off the airport in pieces, but during the day the enemy sent tanks to fill it up, and at night we dug again, and the struggle continued like that. Digging tunnels was very hard, in the tunnel there was only an umbrella to lie on, and to wipe our feet and faces. We had to endure the hardships of mud, constant rain, and rice balls, but we were not discouraged and were determined to fight the campaign.

Always promote the qualities of Uncle Ho's soldiers

Hardships and difficulties piled up but did not discourage the soldiers of Dien Bien that year..Among the more than 4,000 laborers and young people of Nghe An and Military Region 4 who participated in the Dien Bien Phu campaign, there were more than 200 people in Yen Thanh district, of which more than 100 are currently living and working in their hometown, the youngest of whom is 83 years old and 11 are over 90 years old.

Returning to normal life, despite his old age and weak health, veteran Nguyen Van Dong in Kim Thanh hamlet, Hung Thanh commune still strives to compete in labor and production to set an example for his children and grandchildren. Photo: Anh Tuan

Despite their old age, war veterans always set a good example, are trusted by the Party, respected by the people, and set an example for their children and grandchildren to follow.

Veteran Nguyen Van Dong (Kim Thanh hamlet, Hung Thanh commune, Yen Thanh) said: "We are veterans, now we are old but still uphold the spirit of Dien Bien soldiers. I myself always try to strive to produce crops, grow souvenir trees, such as peach trees, focusing on technical care. Each year, more than 40 peach trees bring in tens of millions of dong, enough for my grandparents to cover their living expenses and also set an example for their grandchildren to learn from."

During the war, the soldiers fought steadfastly, returning to normal life, they always promoted the nature of Uncle Ho's soldiers, upholding the spirit of "determination to fight, determination to win", bringing enthusiasm, strength and intelligence, leading exemplary activities in all movements; actively participating in building and protecting the Party and government, promoting economic development, and instructing their children and grandchildren to compete to build their homeland.

Despite his old age, veteran Vu Trong Tai has always set a shining example, is trusted by the Party, respected by the people, and is an example for his descendants to follow. Photo: Phan Hien

Mr. Vu Trong Tai - Head of the Dien Bien Phu soldiers' liaison committee in Yen Thanh district, said: "Dien Bien Phu veterans like us often visit and encourage each other, participate in local activities, some grow ornamental plants, raise fish, do gardening, and are worthy of being role models for the next generation, exemplary in educating our children and grandchildren.

All of them are active in the activities of the Veterans Association and the Elderly Association. The Dien Bien Soldiers Liaison Committee has also mobilized and printed two books on Dien Bien soldiers to preserve for their descendants. In particular, in the exhibition celebrating the 60th anniversary of the Dien Bien Phu victory organized by the Military Zone 4 Museum, Yen Thanh contributed over 50 relics of Dien Bien soldiers that were still preserved to the museum, contributing to preserving the tradition, being the unit with the largest number in the province."

During wartime as well as in daily life, the Dien Bien Phu soldiers 63 years ago, although each person has their own circumstances, no matter what position they hold or how old they are, they always promise their comrades and teammates to always maintain and promote the good qualities of Uncle Ho's soldiers that they have experienced through bullets and fire, to be active and exemplary in all local activities, to contribute ideas to build new rural areas, and to make their heroic homeland more and more prosperous./.

Anh Tuan - Phan Hien