Memories of the days of bringing the "iron elephants" to Dien Bien Phu.

"When you fire, you must hit the target accurately, so that the French enemy will truly be terrified of our artillery!" General Vo Nguyen Giap's words still echo in the ears of Colonel Do Sam, an artillery soldier in the Dien Bien Phu campaign of yesteryear.

The old veteran's memories of those "fiery" times are not only of days and nights of "digging tunnels in the mountains, sleeping in bunkers, enduring torrential rain, and eating dried rice rations," but also of the stories of soldiers who braved rapids and treacherous terrain to bring weapons from across the border back to the country, serving in the Dien Bien Phu campaign.

Artillery ready to fire and destroy the enemy during the Dien Bien Phu campaign. (Photo: VNA)

The little soldier and his "iron elephant"

Conversing with the young guest in a calm, refined, yet witty manner, Colonel Do Sam said: "Back then, I was just as small in stature; but I was directly involved in bringing the 'iron elephants' to the Dien Bien Phu battlefield!"

Going back in time, young soldier Do Sam was an artillery scout in the Tat Thang Mechanized Heavy Artillery Regiment (351st Division) during the historic Dien Bien Phu campaign. The Colonel recalled that from August 1951 to December 1952, his unit was sent to Yunnan (China) for military training.

“At the end of 1952, before heading back home, the Tat Thang Artillery Regiment received 20 105mm heavy artillery pieces, more than 30 GMC trucks, and other combat equipment from the People's Liberation Army of China. These were all weapons captured from Chiang Kai-shek's army, which were later used by our army in the Dien Bien Phu campaign,” Colonel Do Sam recalled.

According to his account, each heavy artillery piece and each vehicle had a very specific "history" (which battle it was captured from Chiang Kai-shek's army, at which location...). "These 'history' records served as a reminder to each soldier to cherish their weapons. So much blood and sacrifice went into obtaining them," his voice choked, his gaze fixed on the distance.

A difficult and dangerous mission awaited young soldier Do Sam and his comrades: to safely transport the weapons back to the country. Accordingly, a mechanized operation was launched.

In the memory of the old veteran, this was a miraculous operation, praised by Chief of General Staff Hoang Van Thai (when inspecting the regiment's operation results on May 19, 1953) who said: "It was an unprecedentedly creative and daring operation in history."

In early 1953, the Tat Thang Artillery Regiment arrived in Bao Ha (Lao Cai). At that time, the entire national highway from Lao Cai to Yen Bai had been destroyed by French bombing. Unable to continue the march by land, the Command decided to continue transporting weapons by water.

Each "iron elephant" - a 105 mm heavy artillery piece (weighing over two tons), and each automobile (weighing over five tons) - was disassembled by the soldiers. From the Bao Ha-Thip wharf area (Lao Cai), these weapons were loaded onto boats and rafts, and transported down the Red River to our army's base in Au Lau (Yen Bai).

“The march along the Red River was about 100 km long, with many treacherous waterfalls and rapids, just like its name suggests: Tiger's Mouth, Millstone… The difficulties were multiplied many times over because all the operations had to take place at night to ensure secrecy,” Colonel Do Sam recalled with emotion.

He recounted that each trip could only transport two to three cannons or cars. After nearly three months (until the end of April 1953), the journey on the river finally ended. "Just a few days later, all those people and the weapons and combat equipment set off again, heading towards Dien Bien Phu, contributing to the resounding victory of the nation," the old soldier said with a gentle smile.

Colonel Do Sam stands beside books about the Dien Bien Phu campaign. Photo: Vietnam+

"If you're going to shoot, shoot accurately!"

Memories flooded back as the former artillery scout recounted that the Tat Thang Mechanized Heavy Artillery Regiment (351st Division) participated in the Dien Bien Phu campaign from its early days.

“I vividly remember General Vo Nguyen Giap’s instructions to the soldiers in my unit on the third day of the Lunar New Year of the Year of the Horse (1954): ‘In this campaign, the enemy will be very surprised because this is the first time our heavy artillery (105 mm heavy artillery and 37 mm anti-aircraft guns) has appeared on the battlefield. When you fire, you must hit the target accurately, so that the French enemy will truly be terrified of our artillery!’” Colonel Do Sam recounted proudly.

The start time for the operation was set for 5 PM on March 13, 1954.

“Upon receiving President Ho Chi Minh’s encouraging letter, ‘Your mission this time is immense, difficult, but also very glorious…’ the soldiers were given renewed strength before ‘D-Day.’ I will never forget the fervent atmosphere of that day; everyone went into battle with a belief in decisive victory.” Raising his clenched fist forward, his voice clear and articulate, the veteran of Dien Bien Phu seemed to be “passing on the torch” to the person opposite him.

Colonel Do Sam recounted that each artillery unit was allowed to fire two test shots at the first target. On the very first day of the campaign, many enemy aircraft and tanks were set ablaze.

The Tat Thang Mechanized Heavy Artillery Regiment received orders to suppress enemy artillery as they were providing support to infantry in combat. The first shots from the unit's 105 mm heavy artillery hit Him Lam, forcing two enemy tanks and infantry on their way to provide reinforcements to retreat back to the center of Muong Thanh.

"For days on end, hundreds of bullets were fired directly into the enemy's positions, creating deafening explosions," the glorious past unfolded before the veteran like a slow-motion film.

Although Colonel Do Sam is now over eighty years old, his memories of the historic Dien Bien Phu campaign remain vivid. "I have written, am writing, and will continue to write about the people and stories of that glorious era," he shared.

Colonel Do Sam is the author of many books on military history and heroic figures in combat, such as: "That Soldier," "Letters from Wartime," "Outstanding Figures of the Ho Chi Minh Era," etc.

According to Vietnam+