Glorious memories
(Baonghean)Fifty-nine years have passed since the earth-shattering victory at Dien Bien Phu. The glorious battles and stories of "digging tunnels in the mountains, sleeping in bunkers, enduring torrential rain, and eating dried rice rations" come flooding back, vividly reviving the memories of the Dien Bien Phu soldiers of yesteryear.
As is customary, at the beginning of May, in the peaceful little house of Mr. Nguyen Van Uy (Hamlet 2, Dien Xuan, Dien Chau), the former Dien Bien Phu soldiers gather around a pot of green tea, reminiscing and discussing activities to be organized to commemorate the Dien Bien Phu victory. They greet each other warmly; their hair has turned gray, and their gait is no longer as agile as before, but when they meet, the memories of those arduous yet glorious years remain as vivid as if it were yesterday.
During the Dien Bien Phu Campaign, Mr. Phan Van Che was the platoon leader of Company 245, Battalion 11, Regiment 141, Division 312. His battalion was assigned the task of liberating Him Lam Hill, marking the beginning of the campaign. “At exactly 5 PM on March 13, 1954, our artillery positions, numbering in the hundreds, surrounded the Dien Bien Phu stronghold, opening fire on the enemy. From the trenches, our troops advanced like a storm. The enemy fired fiercely, and many of our soldiers were wounded and killed. At 6 PM, the first barbed wire fence was breached. My squad was tasked with breaking through the second fence. But as soon as two soldiers in my squad ran up, they were shot dead by the enemy. The third soldier, carrying explosives, reached the fence and was also killed. For the fourth time, I was assigned the task of carrying explosives and jumping to burn through the second fence. At that moment, I felt no hesitation, only burning determination and a burning desire for revenge for my fallen comrades. And I succeeded, breaching the enemy's second fence, paving the way for our troops to advance…”, he recalled with emotion.
Colonel Nguyen Dong and his memoir "A Journey".
During the Dien Bien Phu Campaign, Dien Chau had hundreds of cadres, soldiers, volunteer youth, and civilian workers who directly participated in combat and served on the battlefield. And in that glorious victory, there were the silent achievements of countless ordinary soldiers. Mr. Nguyen Van Uy, Head of the Dien Bien Phu Veterans' Liaison Committee of Dien Chau district, said: “Currently, the entire district has about 30 people who participated in the Dien Bien Phu Campaign who are still alive, the youngest of whom is now nearly 80. Every year, on the anniversary of the Dien Bien Phu Victory, the Liaison Committee organizes a meeting to reminisce about those arduous and heroic days. At the same time, as living witnesses, they tell the local youth about the Battle of Dien Bien Phu, about the courage, sacrifices, and losses of their fathers and brothers, thereby arousing patriotism, responsibility, and national pride in the younger generation...”
For Colonel Nguyen Dong (Hamlet 24, Nghi Phu, Vinh City), the Dien Bien Phu Campaign has become ingrained in his being. His military career has been marked by many historical ups and downs, participating in numerous campaigns and battles. But for him, the one year serving in the Dien Bien Phu Campaign was the most memorable. Around mid-January 1954, he was called to the front lines, tasked with consolidating the unit after the artillery hauling phase. During this period, he had to simultaneously haul the artillery, rebuild the force, boost morale, maintain absolute secrecy, and build shelters for the artillery.
For months on end, day and night, they dug tunnels through the mountains to create shelters for soldiers and artillery. “As the rainy season approached, so many problems arose: preventing landslides in the tunnels; preventing water from accumulating in the trenches; preventing leaks in the sleeping quarters… All done in secrecy. The soldiers hid in long, winding trenches where the mud was waist-deep. Just as Tố Hữu wrote in his poem: ‘56 days and nights digging tunnels, sleeping in bunkers / Rain and meager rations / Blood mixed with mud / Unwavering courage, unyielding determination.’ Two and a half months living and working in tunnels only about 4-5 km from the Mường Thanh basin, yet the enemy never discovered them. It must be said, our army was very intelligent and courageous.”
Colonel Nguyen Dong was also fortunate enough to witness the moment the enemy raised a white flag to surrender. “On the morning of May 7, 1954, I was completing all the paperwork and handing over tasks to my comrades before attending a conference of the General Political Department in Viet Bac when suddenly the observation post announced: ‘The campaign has been completely victorious! The enemy has surrendered!’ Everyone rushed to the observation post to witness the scene of the enemy holding a white cloth in surrender, while our troops jumped into the trenches, bunkers, and fortifications, cheering with joy at the victory. The observation post had only two binoculars and two anti-aircraft guns, and everyone took turns to witness that glorious moment firsthand…”
Nearly 60 years have passed, but in the memory of Dien Bien Phu soldier Nguyen Xuan Tinh (Trung Do, Vinh City), the scene of General De Castries and the French Expeditionary Force's General Staff being captured and interrogated by our troops at the Dien Bien Phu stronghold remains vivid. “Around 5:30 PM on May 7, 1954, Company Commander Tran Quoc Luat led a team of soldiers into the command bunker of the Dien Bien Phu stronghold, capturing General De Castries and his staff, and bringing them to the Headquarters of the 312th Division. I and some comrades who knew French were assigned to act as interpreters… Our officers asked De Castries: “You yourself declared ‘Dien Bien Phu is an impregnable fortress’ and distributed leaflets inviting us to play in the trap you had set at Dien Bien Phu. What do you think of that place? De Castries replied: “Now I have met you. We did not expect you to bring heavy artillery to Dien Bien Phu and use it so effectively.” “Why did General Navarre allow you to carry out the plan to break through the encirclement and escape to Laos, but you didn’t do it?” De Castries said bitterly. “You gentlemen have tightened the encirclement and deployed forces to intercept us, so we cannot take the risk…”
As always, the stories of Dien Bien Phu from these old soldiers become more vibrant when they bring together mementos that President Ho Chi Minh gave to the soldiers who participated in the Dien Bien Phu Campaign: a cup and a "Dien Bien Phu Soldier" badge. The cups, though old, are still intact and carefully preserved. Perhaps the memories of the Dien Bien Phu soldiers' lives and the noble sentiments of the soldiers of President Ho Chi Minh have kept them healthy, happy, and useful, setting a good example for their descendants.
DUY NAM
