The hero's peaceful home

(Baonghean.vn) - Having experienced the fierceness of war and the smoke and bombs of battle, Mr. Nguyen Quang Trung concluded that "In life, gains always come with losses, but the goal everyone must strive for is peace under the warmth of their family."

In a small house in Hamlet 11, Thanh Duong Commune (Thanh Chuong), Mr. Nguyen Quang Trung (born in 1951) slowly told about the battles and achievements of his unit - Company 4, Regiment 148 (Division 316). "In 1969, while working as a Youth Union officer, then Cooperative Manager, while the war in the South was extremely fierce, my eldest brother had gone to the battlefield, I could not sit still. So I decided to hand over all the work in the rear to join the army with a seething spirit and strong belief" - he began the story.

Armed Forces Hero Nguyen Quang Trung. Photo provided by the character

Mr. Trung’s story is like a slow-motion film, recording the footsteps and journey of soldiers carrying passionate hearts and a sacred mission to the Fatherland. Entering the army, the young soldier was assigned to Squad 2 – Company 4 – Battalion 148 (Division 316) and marched to fight in Laos. In early 1974, his unit was ordered to return home and transferred to the South to fight.

He and his comrades crossed steep paths, leafless forests, and deep old forests to approach and surround the enemy in the Central Highlands. On March 18, 1975, Company 4 received orders to attack and destroy a puppet army battalion at the gateway to Buon Ma Thuot (Dak Lak). Platoon Leader Nguyen Quang Trung was assigned to command reconnaissance and explosives to the enemy fence, opening the attack.

Being caught by surprise, the enemy panicked and quickly concentrated their firepower to fight back, creating continuous "rains of bullets". Being surrounded, the enemy counterattacked frantically, mobilizing all types of weapons to block our advance, causing our troops to suffer many losses. The battle became more and more fierce, the Company Commander was injured and then sacrificed, in that critical moment, Nguyen Quang Trung was assigned to command the Company to continue fighting.

Armed Forces Hero Nguyen Quang Trung (left) and his comrades review the map of the Ho Chi Minh campaign (1975). Photo provided by the character

Holding the national flag in his hand, amidst the roar of bullets, he shouted loudly: “For the meaning of the Central Highlands campaign, party members, union members and youths advance to destroy the enemy!”. As if empowered, the entire company crossed the fire net, approaching the enemy bunkers. From the bunkers, Mr. Trung ordered the heavy machine gun to fire at the main gate, causing the enemy formation to be in disarray and run out of ammunition. Mr. Trung ordered all weapons to be used to fire concentratedly at the ammunition depot to destroy it and prevent the enemy from resupplying.

Our firepower poured into the ammunition depot, a terrible explosion was heard, fire rose and covered the whole area, smoke covered the ground and emitted a burning smell, causing the enemy to flee in disarray. The opportunity had come, the platoons divided into spearheads, penetrating deep into the enemy formation, sticking close to the enemy's trenches and fortifications to attack. The enemy consolidated their formation, reinforced with tanks, armored vehicles and other types of motor vehicles to block our advance, protecting the gateway to Buon Ma Thuot.

The battle continued to be fierce, Mr. Trung led the company to organize attacks on the enemy battalion command, the enemy threw grenades like rain but could not stop the spirit of the liberation soldiers. Faced with the strength and brave fighting spirit of Battalion 148, the enemy became more and more panicked and retreated, the gateway to Buon Ma Thuot was blown apart.

Mr. Nguyen Quang Trung and his second wife (Mrs. Nguyen Thi Thanh). Photo: Cong Kien

In this battle, Mr. Trung's unit destroyed 7 enemy tanks, 30 motor vehicles and an ammunition depot. The unit continued to attack Buon Ma Thuot. Seeing tanks, motor vehicles and infantry entering, the enemy became more confused and panicked, fleeing towards Saigon, the Tay Nguyen campaign was completely victorious.

From the Central Highlands, Mr. Trung and his unit marched to the Southeast region, stationed in Tay Ninh, awaiting orders to participate in the historic Ho Chi Minh campaign. On April 20, 1975, his company received orders to attack the enemy to open the siege for Battalion 4. Company Commander Nguyen Quang Trung divided the platoons into attack groups.

Approaching the target, after 3 shots from the company commander, the attacking troops rushed in. The enemy frantically used all kinds of firepower to fight back, causing us many casualties but could not stop the will and determination to fight of the communist soldiers.

The company's political commissar fell down, and before he died, he said: "Comrade Company Commander, stay strong, victory is very close!". The will and determination of the entire company repelled the enemy, killing and capturing nearly 200 of them, with Company Commander Nguyen Quang Trung alone killing 11 of them, completing the mission of relieving Battalion 4.

Mr. Nguyen Quang Trung takes care of his chickens. Photo: Cong Kien

Defeating the enemy in Tay Ninh, the unit marched close to Saigon, sharing the fire with the vanguard in the historic Ho Chi Minh campaign. On April 30, 1975, looking at the liberation flag flying on the roof of the Independence Palace, the soldier of Thanh Chuong suddenly felt his heart flutter and excited beyond description. Then the faces of his comrades who had fallen after the battles appeared one after another, making his eyes well up with tears.

In early 1976, Nguyen Quang Trung was awarded the title of Hero of the People's Armed Forces; even more proudly, his units from company, battalion, regiment and division were also awarded this noble title. In 1979, Mr. Trung and his unit continued to march to Sa Pa (Lao Cai) to participate in the Northern border war, contributing to repelling the Chinese invaders. In 1991, he left the army with the rank of Major, 4 Military Exploit Medals (1 First Class and 3 Second Class) and a disability rate of 45%.

While the hero was absorbed in his military career, his wife in the countryside, Mrs. Nguyen Thi Minh (born in 1953), worked hard to raise 4 children. A serious illness took Mrs. Minh's life. Mr. Trung was only familiar with the battlefield and was clumsy in raising children, so he remarried Mrs. Nguyen Thi Thanh (born in 1962) and had 2 more children.

Mrs. Thanh is the wife of a martyr. They had only been married for a week when her husband went to war and died. They did not have children yet. Currently, Mr. Trung's children have grown up and matured. They live a leisurely and somewhat frugal life in the sunny and windy midland countryside. "In life, gains always come with losses, but the goal everyone must strive for is peace under the warm roof of their family," Mr. Trung shared.

Cong Kien