War invalids and soldiers of the Citadel are devoted to their comrades

Party Admission in the Middle of the Battlefield

In his memoirs about the Quang Tri battlefield, Mr. Nguyen Huu At said that when the resistance war against the US entered its fierce phase, in May 1972, he enlisted and trained new soldiers in Nghia Loc (Nghia Dan). A month later, he received orders to go to war. On the way to Quang Tri, he was promoted to Squad Leader.

The 9 months of fighting with his comrades at the Hai Lang front were unforgettable years of his soldier's life. From a reconnaissance soldier, he was transferred to the main unit of Company 10, Battalion 9, Regiment 209, Division 312 and was promoted to Deputy Platoon Commander.

According to Mr. At, the war in Quang Tri in 1972 and early 1973 was extremely fierce. The enemy fired artillery, raided, and bombed the battlefield day and night. He and his comrades sometimes had to fight in trenches filled with rainwater and blood, before bullets, after bombs, life and death were just a hair's breadth away, but their fighting spirit was very resilient.

Holding the lantern, a souvenir that his comrade from Hai Phong gave him before he died, Mr. At said, "That day at the Quang Tri front, I and my comrades in the unit fought selflessly, no one thought about death, no one promised to return, only knew to fight to win."

Half a century has passed, but the places in Hai Lang such as Tich Tuong, Nhu Le, Coi Hill, Hill 52... during the 81-day and night campaign to protect Quang Tri ancient citadel are still deeply imprinted in the veteran's mind. He was wounded in the head, arms, legs, and the scars remain on his body.

Fighting bravely and achieving many outstanding achievements, he was honored to be admitted to the Party by his unit in the middle of the battlefield. The Party admission ceremony took place in the company command bunker on the banks of the Thach Han River. Mr. At recalled: “I was quite surprised, only when I stood in the command bunker with the national flag hanging did I know I was admitted to the Party.”

A touching memory that he will always remember, that year, in his hometown, the locality organized the Emulation Congress to Win, his parents were invited by the commune to receive the Medal of Honor, everyone thought he had sacrificed.

After the Paris Agreement was signed, he was allowed to return home to visit his hometown (March 1973). When he brought his backpack home, no one recognized him. When his mother realized that he had truly returned alive, standing in front of her son, she fainted.

Heavy heart for teammates

After that, he was sent to study at Army School 1 (Son Tay), then worked at Army School 2 (Dong Nai), Army School 3 (Nha Trang), Military Region 4, Yen Thanh District Team, Anh Son District Team... No matter what position he held, he always completed the assigned tasks well. He retired in 2009 with the rank of Colonel.

Living in his homeland, veteran, colonel, and war invalid (4/4) Nguyen Huu At still maintains a simple, warm, and affectionate lifestyle with his relatives, neighbors, and comrades. He and his wife have 3 children, of which 2 sons are working in the armed forces.

Present at his house in Thuan Hoa hamlet, Thanh Hoa commune on a July morning. In the green garden at the end of the village, as beautiful as a park with all kinds of fruit trees, the 70-year-old veteran is taking care of the garden. It is known that since his retirement, he has been actively working, producing, and raising livestock like a real farmer. According to him, working both improves health and creates clean products for his family...

Not only did he “let go of his right hand and shake his left hand” at work at home, he was also an exemplary and active local association official. He was trusted by his comrades and elected as Chairman of the Thanh Chuong District Ancient Citadel Warriors Association from the first day of its establishment, and a member of the Standing Committee of the Nghe An Province Ancient Citadel Warriors Association.

Mr. At shared: “Returning from the fierce battlefield, I am lucky to be alive today. Therefore, I need to live a life worthy of the sacrifice of my comrades and heroic martyrs.”

Over the years, he has accompanied the Thanh Chuong District Ancient Citadel Soldiers Association to organize many meaningful and practical activities, such as helping each other develop the economy; organizing annual meetings; organizing for comrades to visit old battlefields; visiting sick comrades, giving gifts to families in difficult circumstances and policies during holidays and Tet; providing information about martyrs; participating and coordinating with martyrs' families and functional forces to bring martyrs' remains back to their hometowns.

In particular, the association has mobilized businessmen and philanthropists to build 5 gratitude houses for comrades in difficult circumstances in the district, with a budget of 250 million VND.

Mr. At shared that the Citadel Warriors Association faces many difficulties in its activities, such as the members being old and having no funds. The core members must be proactive, creative, and actively mobilize organizations and individuals to help.

Currently, his concern is to build more gratitude houses, contributing to improving the lives of the families of the Citadel veterans.

Mr. Nguyen Xuan Can - Chairman of the Association of Soldiers of the Ancient Citadel of Nghe An province said: Disabled Colonel Nguyen Huu At always maintains the qualities of Uncle Ho's soldiers, with a strong political stance, morality, and simple style. He is an active, exemplary, and typical association officer, trusted by his comrades and admired by the people. Over the years, the Association of Soldiers of the Ancient Citadel of Thanh Chuong district has always been at the top of the province.