A steadfast and loyal heart...

(Baonghean) - There are unexpected but deeply moving reunions, filled with affection. The reunion and meeting between renowned pilots of the Vietnam People's Army and the people of Coconut Land (Tuong Son commune, Anh Son district) is one such event...

In late May, a day at the peak of a scorching heatwave, the sun felt like it was burning one's skin, as if the wind was whipping it up. Yet, upon hearing that a delegation of veteran heroes of the armed forces was returning to visit Coconut Airport, the site of a fierce battle they had once fought on, the people of Tuong Son couldn't hide their excitement, traveling a long distance to the old airport to welcome them.

For the people of Coconut Land, this is an opportunity to see firsthand the elite pilots of the Vietnam People's Army who created legends and struck fear into the hearts of even the most formidable American pilots, such as Pham Tuan, Vu Dinh Rang, Pham Phu Thai, and Hoang Bieu. It's also a chance for them to better understand their homeland's traditions, the days spent amidst bombs and bullets, and the brutal years of confrontation with the US Air Force.

Lieutenant General Pham Tuan and his comrades recounted their memories of fighting at Dua Airfield.

The convoy carrying Lieutenant General Pham Tuan – Hero of the Armed Forces, Hero of Labor, Hero of the Soviet Union – and his comrades, all high-ranking generals and officers of our army, back to their old battlefield seemed to move faster that day amidst the excitement and emotion. From Anh Son town, following National Highway 7A, to Tuong Son commune, the lead vehicle turned right and proceeded straight towards Dua Airport. A moment of surprise came to all the former soldiers: "Before, going along National Highway 7A and then turning left would lead to the airport, why is it turning right now?"

This question was quickly answered: after the war, the section of highway passing through the airport was rerouted from right to left, making the road straighter and more convenient for travel. However, 43 years have passed, and the former pilots, who have experienced countless battles, traveled across vast lands, and taken off and landed at numerous airports, still remember the small details of Coconut Airport so clearly. Surely, this land holds countless memories? Along the way, the national flag fluttered in the wind, and locals stood on either side waving, their eyes and smiles filled with warmth and affection.

Crossing a mountain pass, the convoy stopped before a towering limestone peak. There, a large crowd of veterans and local people from the Coconut Land were waiting to meet the hero who had shot down a B-52 "flying fortress," a pilot – Lieutenant General Pham Tuan. Firm handshakes, bright smiles, and warm greetings filled the air. It was as if this land had been waiting for these soldiers to return for all these years. The first to step through the hedge into the land where the farmers were cultivating was Lieutenant General Pham Tuan, followed by Lieutenant General Pham Phu Thai. They lingered for a long time on a patch of cassava plants and turned to the villagers, speaking as if to themselves: "In the old days, we built a hut here to rest after fierce battles with the enemy. Sometimes, the cool breeze would make us fall asleep without realizing it..."

Then General Thai pointed to a cliff face, still riddled with cracks and fissures: “Once, I don’t remember the exact date, I had just landed and brought my fighter plane into the cave to hide it when the enemy pursued me and fired an air-to-ground missile, landing more than 10 meters from the cave’s edge.” Everyone approached the cave entrance, which had once been sealed but now had a small opening just wide enough for one person to pass through. Before the cold, silent cave entrance, which seemed to have “slept” for so many years, today it suddenly came alive with countless memories and heroic deeds.

On the battle-hardened faces of these men who have crossed the thin line between life and death countless times, their eyes, once blazing with fury against the enemy, now well up with tears. Their once powerful hands now search across the stones, as if yearning to touch a cherished and familiar past. Forty-three years ago, their beloved MIG-21 fighter jets would launch surprise attacks to intercept the enemy and land safely after completing their missions in the sky.

Lieutenant General Pham Tuan and his comrades visited Len Thung Cave, a place where they once rested and hid fighter planes.

Stepping through the cave entrance, one enters a completely different space, with little light penetrating and a cool, refreshing atmosphere. The cave is approximately 80 meters long, its walls and floor reinforced with smooth concrete, capable of concealing 4-5 fighter planes. Lieutenant General Pham Tuan and his comrades walked around, searching for the locations where they had once hidden their "combat companions." Memories flooded back...: "Dear people of Tuong Son commune, we are deeply moved by the enduring and unwavering bond between the military and the people. Forty-three years have passed, and we always remember the kindness and support you have given us during those difficult and fierce years. This land was intimately connected to us during our youth, when we were only eighteen or twenty years old, and it was the birthplace of our legendary victories. Today, returning here, we don't have time to visit each family to express our gratitude..."

With overflowing emotion, Lieutenant General Pham Tuan addressed the people of Tuong Son as soon as he emerged from the cave. Before leaving the airport, Lieutenant General Pham Phu Thai's face was filled with nostalgia as he drove along the old runway, the place where he had taken off and landed during confrontations with the US Air Force. The old runway had now become a civilian road, a place for cultivating corn and rice; the landscape had changed considerably. The heroic pilot was watching these changes, searching for memories...

By chance, the villagers gathered in the village hall to listen to Lieutenant General Pham Tuan and the heroic pilots recount their memories of the past. When the pilots entered, everyone stood up and applauded. Some women even embraced the heroic pilots, their eyes filled with tears. In the past, when they were little girls, barely able to walk, the air force soldiers would often carry and cuddle them. Now, the soldiers are around 70, and the women are nearly 50, their hair turning gray, but the memories and gratitude from those years will never fade...

Opening the exchange, on behalf of the pilots who had fought and worked at Dua Airfield, Lieutenant General Pham Tuan expressed his gratitude for the warm and sincere feelings of the people of Tuong Son commune. These feelings were the driving force behind their combat sorties in the past and their return to visit the old battlefield today. After more than 40 years, Tuong Son has undergone spectacular changes with smooth paved roads, spacious houses, prosperous villages, vast fields, and majestic green forests; the homeland has truly been transformed. This is thanks to the people of Tuong Son knowing how to utilize their internal strengths, uphold the patriotic and revolutionary traditions of their ancestors, and foster a spirit of solidarity and mutual support throughout the years.

Lieutenant General Pham Tuan also said: "The people of the Coconut Land can rest assured and be proud because, compared to many other regions, Tuong Son has made significant progress in building their homeland. Many of his comrades deeply regret not being able to arrange a visit to the old battlefield, and they will surely be overjoyed to hear that this land has truly been revived, that the people of the Coconut Land still feel warm, and that the bond between the army and the people remains as strong as ever."

Following up on Lieutenant General Pham Tuan's remarks, Lieutenant General Pham Phu Thai shared that exactly one week ago, while receiving treatment at the hospital, he received a call from Lieutenant General Pham Tuan inviting him to revisit the old battlefield at Dua Airfield. Without a second thought, he immediately accepted, despite his wife, children, and friends trying to dissuade him. For him, the Dua battlefield held an immense appeal; it was closely associated with his youth. As someone who had served as Deputy Commander and Chief of Staff of the Air Defense - Air Force Command, General Thai helped the people of Tuong Son understand the formation, location, and role of Dua Airfield during the years of fighting against the Americans.

Along with several other makeshift airfields in central provinces such as Thanh Hoa, Nghe An, and Quang Binh, Dua Airfield operated from 1964 to 1972. Its main role was to be a surprise launch point for fighter planes to intercept enemy aircraft attacking North Vietnam and dropping bombs on the Truong Son supply route to prevent reinforcements from reaching the South. To enable Dua Airfield to operate, the people of Tuong Son at that time donated land and houses, and contributed their labor to build the runway for our fighter planes to take off and land. During the fierce bombing raids by the US Air Force, the people of Dua wholeheartedly supported and shared the difficulties, hardships, and dangers with the Air Force soldiers. It was here that the Airfield Self-Defense Militia was formed to share the burden with the troops. And not a few families and villages suffered tragedy due to the enemy's bombs...

Colonel Vu Dinh Rang, who was present from the early days of the construction of Dua Airport (1964) and has the strongest connection to this land, also shared his sincere and moving story. He is known as the first pilot of the Vietnam People's Army to shoot down and disable a B-52 "Flying Fortress" of the US. Significantly, this achievement is closely linked to Tuong Son, because his MIG-21 took off from Dua Airport that night. On the night of November 20, 1971, receiving orders to take off to intercept a group of B-52s, guided by the ground command center, Vu Dinh Rang approached the enemy aircraft and fired two missiles at two B-52s at the closest possible range. And one of the two B-52 "Flying Fortresses" was disabled.

There were so many stories to share, so many heartfelt messages to convey, so many lingering memories, but unfortunately, time was too short, and the pilots had to postpone their farewells. Once again, emotion and affection returned in this moment of parting. Nevertheless, this alone is enough to demonstrate the unwavering loyalty and devotion in the bond between the military and the people, the foundation of strength that leads to all victories.

Cong Kien