I'll always remember those vibrant times.

(Baonghean)"The decisive moment for the destiny of our nation has arrived. Let all our compatriots rise up and use our strength to liberate ourselves!"

An exemplary party member:

More than half a decade has passed, but Mr. Nguyen Khang (90 years old) from Block 2, Doi Cung Ward, Vinh City, still vividly remembers the words President Ho Chi Minh read in the "Letter Calling for a General Uprising" in the autumn of 1945. The call to arms was only a few short lines, but he says its power was immense because it stirred the consciousness of an entire nation after more than 80 years of suffering and slavery. For him personally, his involvement in the August Revolution was quite accidental, but it was the days of clandestine activity in Vinh - Ben Thuy that truly matured and tempered him, turning him into an exemplary Party member.

Even at over 90 years old, Mrs. Dieu still has a passion for reading.

The person who introduced him to the Viet Minh organization was his older brother, Nguyen Van Luu. He recalled that before 1945, both his parents worked at the Truong Thi Railway Factory, but due to conflicts with the foremen of the painters, they quit their jobs and returned home to cook meals for the workers. His brother, Luu, was also a worker at the time, so he often invited his colleagues to his house. He didn't know what they talked about while eating, but whenever someone from his brother's team came, he was assigned to "stand guard outside the gate while they played cards." If a stranger arrived, he would signal by calling his dog "hun... hun... muc... muc," so the men could disperse through the back door into the fields.

Later, when he was a little older, he learned that they were members of the Viet Minh Front, disguised as laborers who had come to his house for a meal, but were actually there for Party activities. Gradually, gaining the trust of his older brother and the others, he joined the National Salvation Youth Union, distributing leaflets and writing slogans against fascism. He remembers the most dangerous time was at the end of July 1945, when they were given three bundles of leaflets, with pre-written content denouncing Japanese fascism, French colonialism, and high taxes. They were to slip them into the doors of houses where it was convenient, and especially to post three large slogans on Hang Be Street, Hang Su Street, and O Vec Street.

That night, at 9:30, they met at Vinh market, one carrying a bag, another a woven sack, and the third a piece of candy. They agreed that if they were spotted by Japanese soldiers or patrolling secret agents, they would pretend to be street vendors. And they were caught. That time, if they hadn't been quick-witted enough to shout, "Anyone want to buy peanut candy?", all three would have been arrested while posting slogans at the Vinh-Thà Khẹc automobile transport company.

After that night, he and his friends were admitted to the National Salvation Youth League and then assigned to the Suicide Youth Team. To "investigate the activities of Japanese soldiers in Vinh City and surrounding areas, and when the opportunity and conditions arose, to reclaim power from the French and Japanese," they frequently disguised themselves as farmers wearing straw hats and selling brooms, or selling firewood... After the American atomic bombing of Japan, the entire team was ordered to gather at Diệc Pagoda for an emergency mission: "to seize Japanese weapons from two train carriages parked at Vinh station," and then to the "Bathing House" to practice shooting and horseback riding. Later, they learned that the organization was preparing a core force to await the order for a general uprising. And as predicted, when the uprising broke out in Vinh, they were assigned to various communes and neighborhoods to serve as team leaders protecting the Uprising Committee during demonstrations to seize power.

On August 21st, along with tens of thousands of workers and peasants in Vinh - Ben Thuy, under the direct leadership of the Viet Minh and Party cadres and members, the Vinh demonstration took to the streets in a general uprising to seize power. Having completed his mission, he was transferred to Ward 3 to lead the self-defense team, then went to school, and was entrusted with many important tasks by the Party and the State. Now at the age of 90, content with his successful children and grandchildren, he still says, "If it weren't for those days when the Party trusted me and gave me responsibility, I would never have matured. The August Revolution not only changed the destiny of the entire nation, but also gave ordinary people like me the opportunity to change our lives along the path chosen by the Party and President Ho Chi Minh."

As long as I have the strength, I will continue to contribute.

About 20 km from Vinh City, in Hung Nguyen, the Japanese and their collaborators forced people along the Lam River to uproot rice and other crops to plant jute, causing the 1945 famine that killed 6,242 people (about 10% of the population), further intensified the conflict between the people and the old government. In August 1945, although there was no order for a general uprising, under the direction of the Hung Nguyen Viet Minh Executive Committee, a rally and march with more than 2,000 participants was organized. Just a few days later, the Viet Minh Executive Committee proactively led the villages of Yen Dung, Loc Da, Duc Thinh, and Duc Quang to rise up and seize power, achieving victory.

Only a handful of those who participated in the revolutionary activities of that era are still alive today, and Mr. Tran Van Dieu is one of them. Although he is over 90 years old, he remains remarkably sharp-minded. The more I spoke with him, the more I realized he was a living historical record, remembering every detail and event of August 19, 1945, the day Hung Nguyen launched its general uprising. That was also a special day, marking the beginning of his vibrant revolutionary journey, the day he was entrusted by the organization with the position of Commander-in-Chief of the armed self-defense force.

Earlier that morning, through confidential information, he learned that the order for a general uprising had been sent down from the provincial level. Therefore, from early afternoon, he and the people of the three districts of Phù Long, Thông Lãng, and Hải Đô gathered in large numbers at the fish market area (Hưng Thông commune). While the troops were eagerly awaiting orders from above, he was asked by the organization to be the overall commander of the entire demonstration. Although inexperienced, in the midst of this "heated situation," seeing the fervent fighting spirit of the people, he stood on a high platform and shouted loudly, "Down with French imperialism! Down with the puppet government! Long live the Viet Minh Front!" After his shout, the entire stadium erupted in cheers of "Down with! Down with!"

Filled with fervent enthusiasm, a protest of over 10,000 people marched to the provincial capital outside Hung Nguyen town, storming the main gate and seizing the security guard post, the provincial office, the prison, and the storehouse. The sudden and swift raid terrified the officials inside the capital, who quickly surrendered their weapons within 30 minutes. The prefect, Nguyen Tien Don, turned pale and begged for leniency, handing over his seal and records to the revolutionaries.

Immediately after seizing power and declaring the revolution in power, Mr. Tran Van Dieu continued to receive the trust of his superiors and was assigned to the position of Military Commissioner, Chairman of Hung Lam commune, and then transferred to Hanoi to work in enemy propaganda and intellectual mobilization. When the North entered the period of building socialism, he changed course and returned to teaching, and later became an official of the Provincial People's Committee.

His work varied in different periods and tasks, but at every stage and in every position, he dedicated himself wholeheartedly, just as he did in the early days of his revolutionary career. Now, at over 90 years old, he could be enjoying his retirement with his children and grandchildren, but he remains passionately engaged in writing and research. He believes: "As long as I have my health and my mind is sharp, I must continue to set an example for my children and grandchildren, and continue to contribute to my homeland and my country."

My Ha