Revolutionary Autumn in Nghe An homeland in the memories of loyal soldiers
(Baonghean.vn) - Although they are almost 100 years old, Nguyen Le Ban and Bui Don - pre-uprising cadres - still remember clearly the memories of the historic Autumn days, the days of boiling revolutionary atmosphere and the joy of the people when they gained freedom and independence.
General Dang Son is in high spirits.
According to the Gregorian calendar, in just over 4 months, Mr. Nguyen Le Ban in Kha Phong village, Nam Son commune (Do Luong) will turn 100 years old. Although he is old, Mr. Ban's memory is still quite good, he still remembers the days when he was the Secretary of the National Salvation Youth Union, rising up with the villagers to fight for power.
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| Nearly 100 years old, Nguyen Le Ban still remembers clearly the days he participated in the struggle for power. Photo: Cong Kien |
Mr. Nguyen Le Ban (born in 1921) was born into a peasant family. Since childhood, he had to herd cows for the landlord to earn his daily meals. When he grew up, he worked as a road worker for the French colonialists, participating in the construction of National Highway 7A through the area. Like many people of his time, Mr. Ban cannot forget the terrible famine of 1945. Every time he remembers it, he sheds tears because of pity for those who died of hunger and thirst.
The revolutionary atmosphere began to boil, and Mr. Ban was trusted by the Viet Minh cadres to be the Secretary of the Youth Union of Kha Phong village, carrying out the task of gathering young people to participate in the struggle for power. "At that time, although they had not yet joined the Self-Defense Team, the young people of Kha Phong village regularly practiced martial arts, prepared knives, swords, and machetes to be ready to act when the opportunity was ripe" - Mr. Ban recalled.
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| Nguyen Le Ban's family has many contributions to the revolutionary cause. Photo: Cong Kien |
According to pre-uprising cadre Nguyen Le Ban, on August 13, 1945, under the direction of the Viet Minh General Headquarters, the people of the villages of Dang Son prepared flags, drums, gongs and weapons to participate in the demonstration. The following afternoon (August 14), the Self-Defense Forces organized a demonstration to raise their prestige and were ready to suppress the reactionary henchmen.
Three days later, receiving orders from the Provisional Revolutionary Committee, the Dang Son militia secretly surrounded the houses of Hoi Ky, Bang Thang, and Bang Hoe to control them, not allowing them to escape or take any action to resist.
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| 70-year Party membership badge of Mr. Nguyen Le Ban. Photo: Cong Kien |
Early the next morning (August 18), the sound of wooden fish resounded everywhere, the people of Nam Son joined 30,000 people from Dang Son, Do Luong, Bach Ha, Thuan Trung and Yen Lang communes to march to Do Luong district capital, shouting slogans: "Down with the Japanese puppet government", "Long live complete independence of Vietnam!", "Support Viet Minh!". After that, the demonstrators listened to speeches from Viet Minh cadres and then returned to prepare for the day of the general uprising.
"Receiving the general uprising order from the Viet Minh government, on the night of August 22, Kha Phong village and the entire Dang Son commune were filled with an atmosphere of preparation. That night, I, along with comrades from the National Salvation Youth Union and other organizations, went to each house to encourage people to sew flags and prepare weapons to join the struggle. The youth force focused on writing banners and distributing leaflets, all eagerly awaiting the historic moment."
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| Kha Phong village, Nam Son commune (Do Luong) - hometown of Nguyen Le Ban, a pre-uprising cadre. Photo: Cong Kien |
Then, at dawn on August 23, Mr. Ban and the Kha Phong villagers joined the crowd from villages and communes in Dang Son commune to participate in the general uprising. Faced with the strength of the masses, the Anh Son District Chief Le Pho and his officials had to hand over their seals and surrender, the Provisional Revolutionary Committee was established, and everywhere there were cheers of joy...
After the revolution succeeded, Mr. Ban continued to participate in the resistance war and contributed his efforts and intelligence to his homeland and country. He held the positions of District Police Chief, Chairman of the District People's Committee and then Secretary of the Nghia Dan District Party Committee. He and his wife had 5 children, one of whom died on the battlefield in the South. This year, he is 71 years old in the Party.
Mr. Nguyen Van Hong - former Party Secretary of Nam Son commune wrote a few verses of poetry dedicated to Mr. Ban: "A life of diligence and thrift, always simple/ Educating with the flag, children go/ Party badge awarded and worn on the chest/ Longevity under the military flag”.
Kim Nhan Fort shakes
At 98 years old and 73 years of Party membership, Mr. Bui Don, residing in Hamlet 1, Thach Son Commune (Anh Son), still remembers clearly the days of revolutionary struggle 75 years ago. At that time, being present in the ranks of the Red Self-Defense Force, carrying out the task of protecting the masses participating in the struggle for power, Mr. Don witnessed the atmosphere of struggle like "water breaking the dike".
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| Despite his old age, Mr. Bui Don is always a strong spiritual support for his family and neighbors. Photo: Cong Kien |
“In those years, people always lived in extreme poverty, many people had nothing to eat, died of hunger, lying around on the streets. The scene of hunger and death made everyone hate the French colonialists, Japanese fascists and the tyrants and village chiefs. When the Viet Minh Front issued the order for a general uprising to seize power, the villages were filled with fighting spirit, everyone wanted to contribute their efforts to gain freedom, independence, and escape from a life of poverty.”
As a healthy, educated young man who was enlightened about the revolutionary spirit early, Bui Don was assigned by the Viet Minh organization to join the Red Self-Defense Force. In neat rows, swords in hand, the Red Self-Defense Force led a demonstration from Lang Dien area (today's Thach Son commune) to the center of Do Luong district to fight against the Japanese fascists and feudal lords.
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| Mr. Bui Don made many contributions to the revolution and was recognized by the Party and the State. Photo: Cong Kien |
Mr. Don could not forget the night of August 22, 1945, when he and the members of the Self-Defense Force entered Kim Nhan post (today’s Phuc Son commune) - where many Japanese soldiers gathered to join the struggle and protect the revolutionary masses. He recalled: “The masses from all over the region poured in more and more, sometimes up to tens of thousands of people, their shouts as loud as if shaking the earth and sky. Facing the fighting spirit of the masses, the Japanese soldiers were terrified and had to lay down their weapons and surrender. The entire masses cheered and excitedly celebrated the victory.”
The joy and excitement continued for weeks after, when the good news of victory poured in from everywhere, especially on September 2nd, President Ho Chi Minh read the “Declaration of Independence” at Ba Dinh Square (Hanoi), giving birth to the Democratic Republic of Vietnam. Joy because from now on, slavery would be eliminated, a life of freedom would be lived, and a good life awaited ahead.
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| 70-year Party membership badge of Mr. Bui Don. Photo: Cong Kien |
After the August Revolution, Mr. Bui Don was assigned to the Guard Team to protect the Nghe An provincial agency. When the resistance war against the French broke out, he joined the army and fought throughout the provinces of the Northwest, went to Upper Laos and marched to participate in the Dien Bien Phu campaign. During the resistance war against the US to save the country, Mr. Don fought in the Central Highlands battlefield, participating in many fierce battles. He was present in the battle of Buon Me Thuot (Dak Lak) in 1975, contributing to the victory of the Central Highlands campaign.
In 1980, Mr. Bui Don retired and returned to his hometown to reunite with his family after more than 34 years of fighting. Back home, he continued to participate in mass activities, served as Party cell secretary for many years, was a solid support for generations of children and grandchildren and villagers, and was respected by everyone.
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| The joy of Mr. Bui Don and his family members. Photo: Cong Kien |
Mr. Bui Don shared: “I was fortunate to witness many historical milestones of the country and people. In particular, I cannot forget the days of the general uprising to seize power, witnessing the joy of changing lives, and removing the chains of slavery.”
