Deep gratitude to Dien Bien soldiers

Memories of the battlefield

In a house in block 23, Hung Binh ward (Vinh city), veteran Nguyen Canh Thin (born in 1928), a soldier who directly participated in the Dien Bien Phu Campaign, is still very clear-headed. Recalling his memories of the past, Mr. Nguyen Canh Thin said that in 1950, he eagerly joined the army at the sacred call of the Fatherland, and was assigned to Regiment 174, Division 316. “At that time, I was very excited and eager to go. During the war, everyone thought about death, but they were not afraid. If I lost, I would only sacrifice myself, but in return, I would gain the whole country and the Fatherland, which was a great gain,” Mr. Thin shared.

In March 1954, Mr. Nguyen Canh Thin and his unit arrived at the Dien Bien Phu battlefield very early and participated in two important battles before the opening shots of the Dien Bien Phu battle. In the midst of countless dangers, hardships, and shortages, with bare feet and a steely will, Mr. Thin and his comrades joined the battle, contributing to the final victory of the Dien Bien Phu Campaign.

“Going to battle means charging forward with determination. The joy was overwhelming when I saw the enemy using the white flag to surrender and our army’s flag of determination to fight and win flying over the roof of the enemy command bunker. Those memories are always imprinted in my heart, helping me gain more determination and training to complete my military tasks in the following years,” said Mr. Nguyen Canh Thin.

Having been through two wars, for Mr. Vo Nguoc (born in 1930), in Hung Nghia commune (Hung Nguyen), joining the army and contributing to the Dien Bien Phu Campaign was an honor and a particularly profound memory in his life. Just 22 years old, like many other young men, Vo Nguoc followed the call of the Fatherland and joined the army at D32, Military Region 4, participating in the Upper Laos Campaign. After that, his unit was transferred to Division 36, veteran Vo Nguoc stayed in Company 925 - D5, Regiment 174, Division 36 and began participating in the Dien Bien Phu Campaign.

The most memorable memory of Mr. Nguoc when participating in the campaign was on March 13, 1954, when our troops started firing, opening the Dien Bien Phu Campaign, his division was assigned to attack Him Lam Hill and Doc Lap Hill. At this time, he was assigned as a Squad Leader, with the task of guarding the soldiers digging tunnels and trenches. While on duty, a group of French soldiers attacked, he took out 2 grenades and threw them, killing a number of enemy soldiers, making them not dare to advance. This was his first achievement when participating in the Dien Bien Phu Campaign.

As for former youth volunteer Pham Ngoc Hoa (born 1946), in Da Son commune (Do Luong), in October 1953, when he was only 17 years old, in response to the request for human and material support for the resistance war against the French, he and many other young people of the same age in the locality enthusiastically volunteered to go.

“My village had 50 volunteers to join the youth volunteer force, but only 4 people were selected, including me. At that time, we were still very naive, not understanding much about the revolution or political lines. However, when we gathered at the Dien Bien battlefield, we were truly enlightened, and understood what we needed to do for the Fatherland and the people. My comrades and I participated in clearing roads, filling bomb craters, and defusing unexploded bombs at Pha Din Pass - the vital route for transporting weapons, ammunition, food, and medicine to the Dien Bien battlefield. At that time, each of us was determined to do our best, not afraid of hardship or sacrifice,” Mr. Hoa shared.

Together with the people and soldiers of the whole country, the army and people of Nghe An devoted all their resources and efforts to the Dien Bien Phu Campaign. From February 1954, implementing the General Mobilization Order to serve the Dien Bien Phu Campaign, 5,438 Nghe An youths enthusiastically joined the army. In addition, Nghe An province mobilized 6,600 laborers, contributing more than 1.5 million working days to open the way to the front line. They all carried within them the tradition of the heroic Soviet homeland, revolutionary enthusiasm, contributing with the whole country to create the Dien Bien Phu Victory "famous in five continents, shaking the earth".

Gratitude

Nghe An currently has 696 martyrs, 84 wounded soldiers, 708 Dien Bien soldiers, 408 youth volunteers and 148 frontline laborers who directly participated in the Dien Bien Phu Campaign still alive. After fighting and winning, returning to normal life, the Dien Bien soldiers of the past, regardless of their positions, always maintained the nature of "Uncle Ho's soldiers", becoming the core of local patriotic emulation movements. They are living historical witnesses, contributing to the development of their homeland.

In recent times, the Veterans Association of Nghe An province has encouraged its cadres and members to promote the spirit of Dien Bien Phu Victory and strive to complete all tasks. Mr. Nguyen Duy Can - Vice President of the Veterans Association of Nghe An province said: On holidays, Tet, and the anniversary of Dien Bien Phu Victory, the Association at all levels regularly organizes activities such as: Visiting, encouraging, giving gifts; at the same time, paying attention to ensuring full benefits, policies, health consultation, providing free medicine, organizing longevity celebrations, etc. In addition, the Association at all levels has organized reviews and supported funding to repair and build new houses for Dien Bien Phu veterans to help them stabilize their lives.

Along with that, on the occasion of the 70th anniversary of Dien Bien Phu Victory, the Vietnam Fatherland Front Committee of Nghe An province coordinated with departments, branches and localities to review the subjects who are martyrs, Dien Bien soldiers, youth volunteers, and frontline laborers who directly participated in the Dien Bien Phu Campaign; make budget estimates; guide localities and units, depending on specific conditions, to organize activities to honor, show gratitude and give gifts in a timely and meaningful manner.

Up to now, the Provincial Fatherland Front Committee has coordinated with localities, departments and branches to present gifts to Dien Bien soldiers, youth volunteers, and frontline workers who directly participated in the campaign; visited relatives and burned incense for martyrs who sacrificed their lives in the Dien Bien Phu Campaign with a total amount of nearly 3.8 billion VND (from the budget of the Provincial People's Committee and the Central Committee of the Vietnam Fatherland Front).

In addition, localities and units across the province also allocated budgets, mobilized funds, and presented thousands of gifts to policy beneficiaries on the occasion of the 70th anniversary of the Dien Bien Phu Victory. In addition, the province also organized for a number of outstanding veterans to attend meetings to pay tribute to Dien Bien soldiers, youth volunteers, and frontline workers who directly participated in the campaign, held in Thanh Hoa province and Hanoi capital.

At the meeting with Dien Bien soldiers, youth volunteers, and frontline workers on the occasion of the 70th anniversary of Dien Bien Phu Victory held at the end of April, comrade Hoang Nghia Hieu - Deputy Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee affirmed: "Promoting the fine tradition of the nation "When drinking water, remember its source", the Provincial Party Committee, People's Council, People's Committee, Fatherland Front Committee, socio-political organizations and the People of Nghe An province have been doing and will do their best to show gratitude to the heroic martyrs, wounded soldiers, sick soldiers, youth volunteers, and frontline workers who directly participated in the Dien Bien Phu Campaign with everything they can do to partially compensate for their sacrifices and losses".

In the coming time, the province will continue to properly, fully and thoughtfully implement preferential policies; focus on taking better care of war invalids, families of martyrs, and people with meritorious services to the revolution; pay attention to educating people about national historical traditions and revolutionary achievements to all classes of people, especially the young generation. At the same time, the locality will mobilize social resources to better care for the material and spiritual life of people with meritorious services and their families...

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Comrade Hoang Nghia Hieu - Deputy Secretary of Nghe An Provincial Party Committee.

Minh Quan