A touching story
My unit carried out international missions to help Cambodia from 1979 to 1986. We witnessed many examples of noble sacrifices and humanity of Vietnamese volunteer soldiers, including comrade Dang Van Toi - Platoon Leader of Engineering Corps 2 (Division 8, Military Region 9).
(Baonghean) -My unit carried out international missions to help Cambodia from 1979 to 1986. We witnessed many examples of noble sacrifices and humanity of Vietnamese volunteer soldiers, including comrade Dang Van Toi - Platoon Leader of Engineering Corps 2 (Division 8, Military Region 9).
Dang Van Toi was born in Nghi Lien (Vinh City), and joined the army on August 15, 1978. After finishing 10th grade, Toi joined the army. At the end of 1981, the situation in Cambodia was still very complicated. The remnants of Pol Pot's army intensified their attacks against the revolutionary achievements of their friend. The harvests failed, the people lacked food, and famine was rampant. Toi's platoon had to reduce their food rations to help the hungry people, bring rice to each house, take care of the elderly and children, and provide medicine to the sick; encourage the people to actively increase production, stabilize their lives, and push back famine. One day in February 1982, on the way to Cot Sa La to receive his mission, Toi met a Cambodian woman named Van Na, who was in labor when it started to rain. Seeing that she was very scared, Toi used Cambodian to reassure her: "Don't worry, the Vietnamese army will help you."
Cambodian mother pours drinking water for Vietnamese volunteer soldiers.
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Seeing the woman in pain, struggling, and calling for help, Toi couldn't help but feel confused. He used plastic and tree branches to build a temporary tent to protect her from the rain, then used his dry food to feed her; she had been hungry for several days and her health was exhausted. After being fed, she gradually regained consciousness. The Cambodian woman calmed down and appeared moved, clasping her hands and praying: "Please, Vietnamese soldiers, save my mother and child!". After nearly 20 minutes of struggling, sweating in the wind and rain, at times, Toi was so worried that he almost choked. He used a dagger to cut the baby's umbilical cord. A healthy baby boy cried out at birth to the tears of joy of the Vietnamese volunteer soldier and the young Cambodian mother.
Suddenly, a series of 82mm mortars exploded continuously, deafeningly. To quickly used his body to shield the mother and child. A piece of shrapnel hit his head, blood was everywhere… He fainted, and by the time the unit took him to the regimental surgical station, he had breathed his last, under the palmyra palm tree in the land of pagodas on an early spring day…
Hearing the news of Dang Van Toi's sacrifice, Ms. Van Na was shocked as if she had lost a loved one and mourned Toi as if he were her own brother. Some time later, she called on her husband, Mr. Xe Noi, a soldier of Division 310, Southwestern Military Region, commanded by General Ta Moc, to surrender to the revolution. Later, the "Youth Volunteer Battalion" of the Khmer Rouge that she had joined surrendered to the revolution.
Mr. Xe Noi and Ms. Van Na were deeply moved by Dang Van Toi's noble act. They discussed naming their son Dang Van Nghia to remember the deep gratitude of Platoon Leader Dang Van Toi, of the Vietnamese army.
Nguyen Van Tai (108 Hec Man Street, Vinh City)
