Meeting with former Russian servicemen who helped Vietnam.

Former Soviet military experts who assisted Vietnam during the Gulf of Tonkin incident held a reunion in Moscow.

On August 5, 1968, with the "Gulf of Tonkin Incident," the US escalated its bombing campaign against North Vietnam, and on that very first day, Vietnamese missile forces, with the dedicated assistance of Soviet military experts, inflicted devastating blows. And now, as a tradition, every year on August 5th, a moving reunion takes place in Moscow (Russia) between former Soviet military experts and their Vietnamese friends. The 44th reunion was held on August 5th at the Vietnamese Embassy.

Former Soviet military expert at the meeting.

Touching and heartwarming... these are the feelings of hundreds of veterans, now with graying hair and no longer wearing their military uniforms. They came together to reminisce about the beautiful memories of a time of hardship but also of pride, about the camaraderie and brotherhood of Russian and Vietnamese soldiers, of those who were always ready to sacrifice their lives and blood for Vietnam's national independence. Now they have the opportunity to share their joy about the progress and maturity of their Vietnamese friends in the cause of building a peaceful nation today.

Speaking at the meeting, the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Vietnam to the Russian Federation, Pham Xuan Son, happily informed the veterans, former military experts from Russia and some former Soviet republics, and numerous delegates... about the important achievements of the Vietnamese people after the war ended, in which the contributions of Soviet military experts were highly noteworthy.

Ambassador Pham Xuan Son affirmed: “The relationship between our two countries has strong roots, built through difficulties, hardships, and even the blood of the sons and daughters of the Soviet people, the Russian people, and the Vietnamese people... and is still developing strongly. Today we are continuing to carry out this task. In our hearts, Russia, our Russian friends, the Russian people, and our Soviet friends hold a special place. I want to assure you that, following the teachings of the beloved President Ho Chi Minh, implementing the policies of the State and people of Vietnam, continuing the path of previous generations, following the example of our predecessors... the Vietnamese people and we – the diplomats – will do our utmost to further develop the good friendship and strong cooperation between us.”

Vietnamese Ambassador to the Russian Federation Pham Xuan Son delivered a speech expressing gratitude to former Russian and Soviet military experts.

Following this, representatives of the Veterans Association, representatives of the branches of former Russian and Soviet military experts from provinces and cities of the Russian Federation and some CIS republics, expressed their gratitude for such fraternal gatherings and offered many words of praise for the heroic Vietnamese people and army in combat and actively in labor to build the country.

Not only did former Russian military experts who served in the Vietnam War attend the reunion, but each year a few more are absent... many relatives of these former Russian experts were also present at this 44th reunion. Elena Ivanovna Rudolfovna, daughter of veteran Rudolfovanov, commander of the 63rd Battalion, 236th Regiment, one of the two battalions that participated in the first battle of the Vietnamese missile troops, came to the meeting with a photograph of her father in her hand. He passed away in 2012, and therefore this was the first reunion she had attended, although she had heard her father tell many stories about the war in Vietnam, about the camaraderie and about these reunions.

She said emotionally, “I want to say that Russian and Vietnamese veterans should tell their children and grandchildren more about the brotherhood, about the memories of fighting together in the same trenches... so that friendship will endure in the younger generation, so that everyone understands how victory was achieved. This war was a sacred war; together, our people, including my father, contributed to the final victory. We will remember this forever, and I hope everyone will remember it too. Friendship will be an example for our children.”

The meeting concluded with songs of friendship, Russian and Vietnamese songs performed by professional and amateur singers from the Vietnamese community in the Russian Federation, which were warmly applauded by the numerous delegates.

According to vov.vn - LT