'Treasures' from the battlefield of a soldier from Nghe An

"Treasure" of the soldiers fighting against the French

About to turn 90 with more than 30 years of military service, going through lifewarDuring the resistance against the French and the Americans, Mr. Hoa Xuan Tung (born in 1931) in Block 2, Thu Thuy Ward (Cua Lo Town) still keeps the souvenirs of his military life. Besides the medals and documents, Mr. Tung also keeps some valuable photos.

Mr. Hoa Xuan Tung still keeps wartime photos. Photo: NVCC

The most special of these are the photos he took with his comrades in the Party cell in 1950 and the photos of the day of regrouping to the North at Cua Hoi Port (1954). Each photo captures memorable moments, if not major turning points in the soldier's life.

“After more than 30 years in the military, I always cherish the moments I shared with my comrades and teammates the joys and sorrows of life and combat. I always keep the photos carefully, because those are moments in life that will never be repeated,” Mr. Tung shared.

The photo of Mr. Hoa Xuan Tung and his comrades in the Party cell was taken in 1950. Photo: NVCC

At the age of 16, Mr. Hoa Xuan Tung left his hometown of Cua Hoi to join the army, participated in the fight against the French in the Inter-Zone 5 area and was admitted to the Party in the middle of the battlefield (1950). More than 70 years have passed, but Mr. Tung still keeps a photo of 4 comrades in the Party cell, recording the joy and pride of being in the vanguard.

The Geneva Agreement was signed (1954), Mr. Tung and his comrades gathered in the North, and were stationed in Cua Hoi, where they were born and raised. To this day, he still keeps a photo showing the joy of reunion with his brothers and sisters in the family. It was truly a precious moment, not only within the family but also valuable to the homeland and country.

The living room of Mr. Hoa Xuan Tung's family is filled with photos and medals that are war relics. Photo: Cong Kien

For Mr. Tung, these photos are truly "treasures", always cherished on every step of the way.marchAnd when he returned to reunite with his family, he reserved the most prominent place in the living room to hang precious photos.

Born in the same year as Mr. Hoa Xuan Tung, Mr. Nguyen Duy Nhon in Vo Liet commune (Thanh Chuong) also participated in the fight against the French in the mountainous region of Quang Tri. Nearly 70 years have passed, but this anti-French soldier still keeps a priceless souvenir, a small notebook of nearly 100 pages, written by his friends recording his feelings while being tortured in Cam Ranh Prison Camp.

Mr. Nguyen Duy Nhon recounts memories of the battlefield. Photo: Cong Kien

That time, in 1952, during a raid, Mr. Nguyen Duy Nhon unfortunately fell into the enemy's hands, he was transferred to prison in Hue, then Da Nang and finally Cam Ranh (Khanh Hoa). In prison, Mr. Nhon and his comrades and teammates continued tostruggleNo less arduous and fierce, his small notebook became a place to share many emotions about joy, sadness and determination in prison.

The notebook that Mr. Nguyen Duy Nhon brought back from Cam Ranh prison in 1954. Photo: Cong Kien

On August 25, 1954, according to the provisions of the Geneva Agreement, Mr. Nguyen Duy Nhon was returned by France. His return luggage could not be without a small notebook filled with affection and it followed the soldier for the rest of his life. Mr. Nhon confided: "Whenever I am troubled, I read the words of my old comrades to gain more vitality and overcome many difficulties and obstacles."

Relics of the Truong Son fire line

Belonging to the generation of soldiers fighting against the US, Mr. Nguyen Ngoc Binh (born in 1946) in Thanh Tung commune (Thanh Chuong) is keeping many souvenirs of his military years. From medals, badges, military records to notebooks, diaries and handkerchiefs, Mr. Binh has carefully preserved them all. Although the souvenirs have faded with time, they are still cherished by the owner, considered as "treasures" of the soldier's life, attached to his youth.

Diaries and notebooks brought back from the battlefield by Mr. Nguyen Ngoc Binh. Photo: Thanh Quynh

Mr. Binh confided: "To keep thosesouvenirUntil today, there are things that have been around for more than half a century, which are really not easy, because in the rain of bombs and bullets, it is difficult to keep one's life, let alone belongings. Then, in the years when the houses were still simple, storms and floods often threatened, every time there was a flood, I was worried about preserving this priceless "treasure".

Among Mr. Nguyen Ngoc Binh’s memorabilia, we were really impressed with the war diaries. In them, the owner recorded quite regularly and meticulously the work and emotions on the marches to fight the Americans in the Truong Son mountains and forests. Reading the pages recorded from July 1972 in the Quang Tri battlefield, we can feel the “heat” of the “Fiery Summer” with extremely fierce battles.

Battlefield relics are always cherished and preserved by Mr. Nguyen Ngoc Binh. Photo: Thanh Quynh

Through that, we can see the hardships, sacrifices and fighting spirit of the soldiers, and clearly see the optimism towards the future. “My family has had 3 generations of soldiers, my father was a soldier fighting against the French, our son is also following the military path. I keep these souvenirs so that future generations will always remember and be proud of the family tradition,” said Mr. Binh.

Also a soldier fighting against the US, Mr. Ngo Xuan Uoc (born in 1950) in Yen Thuong hamlet, Hung Thinh commune (Hung Nguyen) still keeps some souvenirs from his time as a transporter on the Truong Son route. Among them is an article he gave an interview at the 1973 Army Emulation Congress for Victory. This is an unforgettable memory, a source of pride for a soldier.

Mr. Ngo Xuan Uoc still keeps the article from 1973. Photo: Cong Kien

Because of his achievements, Mr. Uoc was awarded the title ofGroup 559was sent to attend the National Emulation Congress for Victory in Hanoi and was sought out by a journalist for an interview. Returning to the battlefield to continue his duties, a few days later, soldier Ngo Xuan Uoc received a newspaper with an article about his interview at the congress.

The article was titled “Voices of Victory”, the interview with Mr. Uoc was titled “I… the driver”. The whole battalion came to congratulate him, Mr. Uoc cut out the article to keep as a souvenir and has always treasured it for nearly 50 years.

People and war veterans of Vinh city view the exhibition "Memories of the Warring States Period" at Nghe An Museum. Photo: Thanh Chung

There are many, many more.soldieris preserving battlefield relics, marking the glorious years of youth, so that future generations will always be proud. And many relics have been donated by the owners, veterans, to museums to forever preserve the spirit and will of the Vietnamese people on the path of fighting the enemy and saving the country.