Relics of the Fire Age

(Baonghean) - More than 40 years have passed since the country was reunified, but for those who experienced the battle, it seems like just yesterday. The fierceness of the war, the fragile boundary between life and death and comradeship make soldiers always cherish and treasure memories, especially battlefield souvenirs.

My father was a demobilized soldier, returning from the battlefields of the South and Cambodia, his military legacy of more than 10 years was packed in a faded backpack. A blanket, a blue mosquito net and an old canteen, all discolored by time. At that time, I was too young to understand why he cherished such seemingly ordinary things. When I grew up, I gradually understood his words: “This blanket and mosquito net warmed my father on the marches, on the nights in the cold and rainy jungle. The canteen helped quench his thirst, especially after each fierce battle...”. Then, having the opportunity to meet more people returning from the war, I truly felt the value of the soldier’s souvenirs.

Colonel Ho Huu Lan with a precious collection of photos brought back from the battlefield. Photo: Cong Kien

Fate brought me to meet Mr. Phung Ba Dien, residing in Block 11, Cua Nam Ward (Vinh City), a former Sac Forest commando who had been through life and death in the Southeast battlefield. In 1970, when he was just 19 years old, the young man from the coastal village (he was born and raised in the Cua Lo coastal area) joined the army and was assigned to Brigade 126 - Naval Special Forces. During his training days in Hai Phong, he was given a plastic snorkel, used for underwater activities, especially diving. In combat, snorkels are used in cases of infiltration, placing explosives on targets such as ships, boats anchored at seaports or any objects floating on the water surface. Or when marching, when being pursued by the enemy, one can jump into rivers, seas, ponds, lakes and then dive under the water surface... Mr. Dien's snorkel became a companion, helping its owner overcome many difficulties and dangers and share the joy of victory. A typical example is the battle in which he and two teammates sank a 13,000-ton enemy ship, 150m long and 25m wide, anchored at Rach Dua port (Vung Tau). Later, also at Rach Dua port, he participated in sinking a transport ship carrying 10,000 tons of weapons and military goods. Due to some problems, the retreat did not go as planned. When leaving the target, the tide was also receding and it was dawn. Mr. Dien and his teammates were swept out to sea, with a high risk of being discovered by enemy patrol ships. Struggling with the waves until they were almost exhausted, the breathing tube hanging around his neck helped him avoid drowning first, and then he was rescued by a fishing boat.

Returning from Sac forest, in addition to his military uniform, special forces soldier Phung Ba Dien also brought with him a breathing tube. He cherished this souvenir and kept it as a treasure. Whenever he encountered troubles in life, he opened the cabinet and looked at the battlefield souvenirs, and felt like he was given more energy. A few years ago, he was diagnosed with stomach cancer. At times, he could not help but feel depressed, but remembering his youth in Sac forest, remembering his "companion of many years", Mr. Dien got up and continued to fight the disease.

The photo captures the moment when the people of Hue city welcomed the liberation army (day)25/3/1975) is being kept by Colonel Ho Huu Lan. Photo: Cong Kien

Battlefield photos are carefully preserved by Colonel Ho Huu Lan. Photo: Cong Kien

Mr. Nguyen Huu Thuong with household items made from enemy weapons. Photo: Cong Kien

The snorkel equipped for naval commandos is kept intact by Mr. Phung Ba Dien. Photo: Cong Kien

For Colonel Ho Huu Lan (born in 1940) - former Commander of Regiment 3 (Division 324), former Deputy Chief of Staff of Military Region 4, after nearly 50 years in the military, the most valuable asset is nearly 300 battlefield photos. This man born in the coastal village of Quynh Luong was originally an engineer soldier, and during the fighting process, he became the commander of an infantry regiment. His main area of ​​operation was in the mountainous areas of the West of Thua Thien - Hue and Quang Tri, participating in fierce campaigns and battles that marked the turning point of the war. During the 1975 Spring General Offensive, Regiment 3, which he commanded, entered to liberate Hue and Da Nang cities. At those meaningful moments, the regimental propaganda officer was always present at the right time and promptly pressed the shutter to record historical moments. The tiny black and white photos, as small as a finger, were carefully kept by Colonel Ho Huu Lan. He pasted them into a notebook and clearly noted the time, the events, and each character. Up to now, nearly 50 years have passed, the photos have faded with time but are still quite clear, the owner enlarged them and collected them into an album, keeping them for future generations to better understand a time of turmoil.

Colonel Ho Huu Lan's precious photo collection has nearly 20 photos capturing the moments when Regiment 3 attacked and liberated Hue city during the 1975 Spring campaign. It was a scene of troops marching from the mountains and forests down to the city, setting up positions to attack the outskirts, causing the enemy to fall, leaving behind tanks and fleeing. The troops marched into the city center, people went out into the streets to wave and witness the scene of the liberation flag flying on the top of Phu Van Lau. The puppet army fled to Thuan An estuary to board ships, leaving behind weapons and military equipment scattered on the shore... This can be considered an invaluable source of information, both vivid and of historical value.

Mr. Lan confided: “This photo collection is not only meaningful to me personally, but also represents the journey of a heroic regiment in the long march to drive out the Americans and puppets. It is also an image that represents the spirit and will of our army and our people, so I have the duty to preserve it, almost becoming the flesh and blood of a soldier's life.”

Many soldiers are preserving and cherishing battlefield relics, things that seem very simple but are associated with a part of the lives of those who followed the war. These are items made from American weapons and vehicles (pots, thermoses, tables, chairs, vases...) of Mr. Nguyen Huu Thuong, Hung Thong commune (Hung Nguyen); diaries of Mr. Dang Duy Huynh, Phuc Son commune (Anh Son); small papers recording medicinal recipes and treatments brought back from Phu Quoc prison by Mr. Nguyen Truong To, Doi Cung ward (Vinh city)...

Then, the relics will be passed down to future generations, helping them understand more about the resistance war against America to save the country, about a heroic time of war.

Cong Kien