Tet in the memories of former Phu Quoc prisoners

(Baonghean) - Spring is spreading everywhere, young and old, men and women are excited and happy in the scene of reunion. On this occasion, former prisoners of Phu Quoc reminisce about the Tet holidays in the middle of the ocean, a place once considered "hell on earth".

"Have a good drink and remember this day..."

This year, Mr. Nguyen Truong To in Block 9, Doi Cung Ward (Vinh City) turns 75 years old. Every time he says goodbye to the old year and welcomes the new year, he often remembers the Tet holidays in Phu Quoc prison nearly 50 years ago, when he was a communist prisoner held by the US-puppet regime.

Mr. Nguyen Truong To talks about the Tet holidays of prisoners in Phu Quoc prison. Photo: Cong Kien

“After finishing 10th grade, I joined the army, became a medical soldier, and fought in the battlefields of Quang Tri and Thua Thien. During the Mau Than campaign in 1968, I was awarded the Third Class Military Exploit Medal and the American-killing Hero badge. On May 29, 1968, during an unequal anti-sweep battle, I was wounded and unfortunately fell into the enemy’s hands, imprisoned in Non Nuoc (Da Nang), and transferred to Phu Quoc (Kien Giang) a few months later” - Mr. Nguyen Truong To began the story about his years of suffering in prison.

In this "hell on earth", there is no need to recount the tortures that the guards inflicted on the bodies of communist prisoners. The broken teeth and crushed fingers tell all about what prisoner Nguyen Truong To had to endure.

In prison, he continued to participate in Party activities, teach culture and continue his work of treating his comrades. However, medicine and medical supplies were not available here like on the battlefield, so everything from needles to pliers was homemade.

During those years (1968-1973), Mr. To celebrated 5 Tet holidays on this remote southernmost island, each Tet being an unforgettable memory. Later, when he was able to return to his family and hometown to celebrate Tet holidays together and warmly, the soldier still could not forget those simple Tet holidays like normal days but full of comradeship and team spirit.

Knowing that there would be nothing different from normal days, but the New Year's Eve was approaching, everyone was excited. That night, it seemed like no one slept, the communist prisoners stayed up together, sharing childhood memories, the old Tet holidays with their parents. Then they sat and guessed that at this time, their parents in the countryside would be preparing the altar, offering their ancestors the products they had saved in the fog and sun, under the rain of bombs and bullets of the enemy.

The joy of reunion of Mr. Nguyen Truong To's family members. Photo: Cong Kien

In the morning, the entire cell lined up, facing north to sing the national anthem, and spent a minute in memory of Uncle Ho and the heroes and martyrs who had sacrificed their lives. Then, they sang and played music together, and other cells came over to socialize, because on this occasion the guards seemed to loosen up and lessen their harshness. Mr. To was a fan of “The Tale of Kieu”, knew 3,254 verses of the story by heart, and often told fortunes about Kieu for his fellow prisoners.

The most memorable was the Tet holiday in 1972, after the flag salute and the moment of silence, some of his cellmates asked him to tell his fortune with a Kieu hexagram. And the Kieu verse that Mr. To caught was: "A happy cup, remember this day/ A happy cup, please wait for this day next year". It was concluded that this could be the last Tet holiday in prison, this day next year he could be reunited with his family, and at that moment he had to remember the difficult days of today.

Everyone cheered with joy, hugging each other and singing. Indeed, about a month later, according to the Paris Agreement, Mr. Nguyen Truong To and his comrades were returned to the banks of the Thach Han River (Quang Tri). The following Tet he was reunited with his family and relatives.

Mr. Tang Dinh Thich (born in 1950) in Dien Dong commune (Dien Chau) was also detained in Phu Quoc prison and celebrated 4 Tet holidays on this remote island. Before being arrested, Mr. Thich was a special forces soldier fighting in the Southeast region. In 1969, while infiltrating an area where the US was stationed to find a way to destroy it, he was seriously injured by the enemy counterattack and imprisoned.

"Happy Spring without cake, no food"

As a talented artist, every time he celebrates Tet, Mr. Thich has the opportunity to show off his talent and artistic soul. To this day, he still keeps the verses written nearly half a century ago: "Spring celebration without cakes, without gifts/ No flowers, no firecrackers, no chickens, no pigs/Spring celebration with broken legs, crippled arms/ Swollen face, purple eyebrows, heart filled with hatred".

Mr. Tang Dinh Thich with medals and awards recognizing his contributions during the war against the US. Photo: Cong Kien

After the flag-raising ceremony at New Year's Eve, early in the morning, people headed out to the sea to welcome the sunrise, expressing optimism and confidence in the day of total victory. Like many other cells in Phu Quoc prison, Mr. Tang Dinh Thich and his comrades organized singing and drama performances all night long. The young man from Phu Dien hometown was a famous musician throughout the prison, his talented hands crafted the flutes, erhus and mandolins from pieces of corrugated iron and steel wires that the guards had thrown away in the backyard.

On normal days, to hide from the enemy, he hung the flute on the corrugated iron roof, and buried the two-stringed fiddle and the zither deep in a corner of the cell, waiting for a happy occasion to perform. The sound of his flute and zither encouraged his comrades to maintain their integrity and faith, waiting for the day they could return to continue fighting with their unit and reunite with their families and homeland. And that sound also moved the hearts of the prison guards, who did not rush in to snatch it like before, but stood quietly outside to listen and express their emotions.

Mr. Tang Dinh Thich (left) and his fellow inmate recall memories at Phu Quoc prison. Photo: Cong Kien

Mr. Nguyen Trong Thanh - Chairman of the Association of Revolutionary Soldiers Captured and Imprisoned by the Enemy in Nghe An Province, also a former prisoner in Phu Quoc, said: “Phu Quoc Prison is a place to test the mettle and integrity of communists, and also a place to shine the noble qualities of Vietnam’s elite. In 2012, the collective of revolutionary soldiers captured and imprisoned by the enemy at Phu Quoc Prison were awarded the title of Hero of the People’s Armed Forces.”

Cong Kien