Memories of February 1979 of soldiers protecting the Cao Bang border

In February 1979, many areas of Hoa An district such as Nuoc Hai town, Duc Long, Hong Viet, Be Trieu, Hoang Tung communes... up to Cao Bang town became fierce battlefields. Mr. Phung Duc Van, a resident of Na Bua hamlet, now Be Trieu hamlet 8, Nuoc Hai town, recalled that just one day after the war broke out, his Na Bua hamlet had gathered a militia platoon with about 50 gunmen.

Mr. Phung Duc Van, Hamlet 8, Be Trieu, Nuoc Hai Town, Hoa An District, Cao Bang, recalls memories of the Na Bua Militia Platoon, Be Trieu Commune, Hoa An District, Cao Bang.

Among them, he was one of the youngest at 16-17 years old, the oldest were nearly 50. Those who were still healthy joined the platoon to protect the village, protect the people who evacuated to the mountains. During the war, the Na Bua militia platoon had 3 heroic sacrifices.

“The Na Bua hamlet militia was very large at that time, forming a platoon. This platoon was established by the villagers themselves, with demobilized anti-American veterans as the core, serving as squad leaders and platoon leaders. In general, at that time, everyone, young and old, wanted to stand up and take up arms to fight the enemy and protect the village,” Mr. Phung Duc Van shared.

Men and young men who were healthy enough to join the army or the militia or guerrillas. In addition to taking care of their families who had evacuated, women enthusiastically participated in cooking, supplying food, and treating wounded soldiers; many Tay, Mong, Dao girls also directly took up arms to fight the enemy to protect their villages and their own family members.

A fighting group of the militia of Hoa An district, Cao Bang in 1979. (Photo courtesy of Photographer and Journalist Tran Manh Thuong)

Mrs. Dinh Thi Danh, Hong Viet commune, Hoa An district, recalls: “In February 1979, everyone avoided the mountains and forests. The young men, the strong ones, joined the militia and guards; the weak ones, the women cooked rice and vegetables to serve. Following the example of the revolutionary tradition of their homeland, everyone stood up together to protect the village, the elderly and children. All stemmed from the patriotic tradition of their homeland...”.

The people of Na Lung hamlet, Ngoc Khe commune, Trung Khanh district still proudly tell the story of Luc Van Vinh and his six sons, a Tay ethnic group, who fought side by side at the outpost against the enemy. In Danh Sy commune, now Le Loi commune, Thach An district, there are legendary stories about ambushes and the destruction of dozens of foreign invaders... In all the villages on this border, there are stories and proud feats like these passed down to present and future generations.

Mr. Dam Van Po, currently living in Na Giao village, Ngoc Dao commune, Ha Quang district (Cao Bang), was a demobilized soldier during the anti-American war and re-enlisted, participating in the fight at Battalion 106, Ha Quang district military command. In his memory, the war that day not only had battles to defend the Lung Nam area but also had the contributions of people from the hamlets and border communes who fought side by side with the soldiers to protect every inch of their homeland, Ha Quang.

Veteran Dam Van Po, Na Giao hamlet, Ngoc Dao commune, Ha Quang district (Cao Bang) is proud of the contributions of Cao Bang people in the fight to protect the northern border in February 1979.

“At that time, except for people in their 80s and 90s, everyone joined the militia, participated in combat or transported ammunition and food if the army needed it. What impressed me most were the people in the border commune of Lung Nam (Ha Quang) - where I was stationed. From the moment we first arrived, the people took care of us, supported us, and shared every vegetable and every kilo of rice,” Mr. Dam Van Po emotionally recounted.

The ethnic people of Cao Bang border have been and are determined to firmly defend the border land. The people here have promoted the traditions of their revolutionary homeland, building an increasingly prosperous and peaceful life in the villages./.