'I hope to see Nam Huong again to recall memories of the Dark Leaves'

(Baonghean.vn) - "I visited the old battlefield several times and asked about Nam Huong, but there was still no news of her... I really hope to meet her again to reminisce about old memories" - veteran Tang Dinh Thich shared.

During the years of fighting the Americans, I was a special forces soldier of Unit 25R operating in the Southwestern region. After a fierce battle, on May 6, 1969, I was unfortunately wounded and transferred to the Dam La Toi Troi Station for treatment, in Nhut Tan Commune, Tan Tru District, Long An Province. When my wound was stable, the station's officers asked the unit commander to let me stay to protect the station located in this river area.

Not only did I perform the task of protecting, I also learned how to bandage wounds and give first aid to wounded soldiers. After each fierce battle, many soldiers were often seriously injured, and were given first aid by the medical team, doctors and staff of Dam La Station in the dark, then transferred to the rear. Here, I have many memories, but I will certainly never forget the time I bandaged and stitched the wound of Ms. Nam Huong - a soldier of the Liberation Art Troupe.

Veteran Tang Dinh Thich (right) and his comrades recall memories of the battlefield. Photo: Cong Kien

When she was transferred to the station, her right arm was broken by a shell and her right breast had a deep wound. As assigned by the station commander, I was tasked with bandaging Nam Huong’s wound. First, I took a coconut leaf and split it into 3 small pieces to wrap her right arm to limit movement and prevent the wound from getting worse.

Sac Forest Special Forces. Photo courtesy

At the breast, the wound was deep, blood flowed profusely, soaking Nam Huong's chest. At that time, I was still a young soldier, spending all year with guns and battles, never encountered this situation so I was really afraid. But when I saw Nam Huong showing pain, she gritted her teeth and said: "Just stitch it up for me, we are soldiers...". Those words gave me determination to carry out my mission.

After cleaning the wound, I used 9 stitches and called the nurse to inject antibiotics to prevent infection and 15 days later, Nam Huong was discharged from the hospital. During this time, work was too busy, we did not have the opportunity to talk to each other to know more about each other, only knowing that year she was 20 years old, from Can Giuoc district, Long An province.

Returning to normal life, veteran Tang Dinh Thich hopes to meet Nam Huong and the medical staff of Dam La Toi Troi Station again to reminisce about old memories... Photo: Cong Kien

After that, I was ordered to move the wounded to the rear base, along the way I was ambushed by the enemy, seriously injured, captured, imprisoned and exiled to Phu Quoc Island. Nearly 50 years have passed since that day, I really want to know if the female soldier of the Liberation Art Troupe Nam Huong is still alive or dead, and if so, where is she living.

I have visited the old battlefield several times and asked about Nam Huong, but there is still no news of that girl. I still remember that at Tram Dam La that dark sky, there were doctors Hoai Hai and The Hoa; a doctor named Duc from Tan Tru - Long An, a doctor named Hoa from Hai Phong and nurse Tu Thanh who used to be a special force in Saigon. I really hope to meet again to reminisce about the past...

Cong Kien

(Recorded according to the story of veteran Tang Dinh Thich -

The Chairman of the Association of Revolutionary Fighters was arrested and imprisoned in Dien Chau district, Nghe An province.