"Dien Bien Phu Artillery" and invaluable lessons

Colonel Nguyen Dinh Chuan - former Chief of Air Defense of Military Region 4, who fought in the Dien Bien Phu Campaign, talked with Nghe An Newspaper reporters.

- Colonel Nguyen Dinh Chuan, as a soldier who participated from the beginning to the end of the Dien Bien Phu Campaign, contributing his part to the great victory of the nation; 61 years have passed, what are your vivid memories?

- I have never forgotten the image of our army's "Determination to fight and win" flag flying on the A1 high point on May 7, 1954 and the image of more than 2,000 enemy troops retreating and raising the white flag of surrender.

- I also remember, the enemy was extremely panicked at that time, how many artillery shells they poured on Dien Bien made this whole basin burn fiercely... As a soldier, I felt honored and proud to have directly participated in the fighting from the beginning to the end of the Dien Bien Phu Campaign and to have contributed a small part to this resounding victory.

- The Dien Bien Phu victory also marked a milestone in the maturity of the Vietnam People's Army. This was also the first time our army pulled heavy artillery to attack the enemy's flank and became a legend in the Dien Bien Phu Victory. As one of the first Vietnamese officers to be properly trained in anti-aircraft artillery and applied it in practice right at the Dien Bien Phu Campaign, can you tell us more about that legend...

Colonel Nguyen Dinh Chuan talks with reporters.

- In 1950, I joined the army at the age of 19. When I joined the army, I was sent to study clerical work. After finishing the course, thanks to my good academic performance, certificates of merit, and ability, I was sent to study at the Guangxi Military Academy (China) on anti-aircraft artillery, using heavy artillery. After studying, I was promoted to Deputy Platoon Leader, Battery Leader of the 37mm Gun, the most advanced and modern gun. "In" the campaign, to pull one of those guns, it took more than 100 people. The enemy constantly monitored, so our journey at that time was to pull at night, well camouflaged during the day, and on moonlit nights, we pulled non-stop. To pull the gun over Pha Din Pass, it took us a whole night... After pulling the gun in, sometimes we had to pull it out again and this was a really hard task, especially when the enemy discovered us with flares and increased bombing. At that time, I was in Company 828, right behind To Vinh Dien's Artillery Company 827. When he died, we were right behind him and witnessed the whole process of him and his teammates trying to keep the cannon from going down the cliff. It was really fierce…

- Dien Bien Phu was the strongest stronghold of the French expeditionary army. Here, in addition to a large army and dense fortifications, the French army also had absolute superiority in air force and tanks. In your opinion, what was the reason for our final victory in the situation of the balance of power at that time?

- During the campaign, we were regularly taught politics, the army and people believed in the leadership of the Party, Uncle Ho and the generals. I still remember very clearly, when we were preparing to launch the campaign, news from the rear about the rent reduction policy had been implemented, the brothers were very excited because from now on the farmers began to have land and the Dien Bien Phu soldiers were mostly from farmers. Then Uncle Ho sent a letter to encourage all the cadres and soldiers before going to battle... All those factors created a miraculous strength, helping the army and laborers not to retreat in the face of difficulties, accepting all sacrifices and hardships to try to complete the mission. During the fight with the enemy, we had many strategies to deceive the enemy, trying to keep our forces hidden, high determination, clever tricks to make the enemy fall into a passive situation. In the Dien Bien Phu Campaign, we used a lot of "strategies", waiting for the right moment to move to a general offensive with the aim of "fighting fast, winning fast", "fighting sure, winning sure". And thanks to that skillful direction, the campaign achieved a resounding success that "shook the world"...

- Can you share how meaningful the Dien Bien Phu Campaign was to your military career?

- For me, Dien Bien Phu was the first military exercise, which helped me grow up and was where I took my first steps in the art of air defense. The later victories of my teammates and I to protect the sky of Hanoi, protect Hai Phong, protect Vinh City, protect Quang Tri Citadel... all started from the invaluable lessons of those days... "heads heated with iron fire/ gouging mountains, sleeping in tunnels, pouring rain and eating rice balls/ blood mixed with mud"...

- Thank you for this conversation, Colonel!

My Ha