Touching journey of gratitude to comrades of Nghe An veterans

Proud to be a soldier of the Delta Regiment - Division 320

On January 16, 1951 at Mong La communal house, Nho Quan, Ninh Binh province, the 320th Division (Dong Bang Division) was established and was one of the first main divisions of the Vietnam People's Army. During the resistance war against French colonialism, the Dong Bang Division coordinated with other forces on the battlefield, advancing to the strategic decisive battle - victory.Dien Bien Phu.

During the resistance war against the US to save the country, in 1968, Division 320 participated in the battle to divide the enemy on Highway 9, contributing to the victory of the Highway 9 Khe Sanh - Quang Tri campaign.

Veterans of the 320th Division in Nghe An - Ha Tinh during the departure ceremony to the old battlefield to pay tribute to their comrades. Photo: CK

In early 1971, the 320th Division counterattacked the Lam Son 719 campaign of the ARVN; participated in the 1972 Spring - Summer Campaign on the B3 Central Highlands front, fought the opening battle of the campaign on the 1049 high point and the first key battle of the campaign on the 1015 high point, destroyed the 11th Battalion (paratroopers), heavily damaged the 2nd Battalion (paratroopers) of the ARVN Airborne Division, creating conditions for the forces of the campaign to liberate Dak To, Tan Canh...

In 1975, Division 320 participated.Central Highlands Campaign,Blocking the enemy north of Ban Me Thuot on Highway 14, creating a major breakthrough on the battlefield, opening the way for the defeat and disintegration of the ARVN in the Southern Vietnam battlefield.

Veterans of the 320th Division in Nghe An - Ha Tinh participated in the construction of the Monument House at the 1049 height point, Sa Thay district (Kon Tum). Photo: CK

In the Ho Chi Minh Campaign, from the Northwest, the 320th Division fought the first battle of the 3rd Corps, destroying the 25th puppet Division stationed at the Dong Du - Cu Chi base, opening the steel door of Northwest Saigon for the 3rd Corps to send forces to capture important targets in the inner city... The two regions were unified, the 320th Division continued to participate in the campaign to fight the Fulro forces and fight to protectsouthwestern border.

With its achievements in the cause of building and protecting the Fatherland and performing noble international duties, Division 320 was twice awarded the title of Hero of the People's Armed Forces by the Party and State.

Veterans of the 320th Division in Nghe An - Ha Tinh participated in the construction of the Monument House at the 1015 height point, Sa Thay district (Kon Tum). Photo: CK

After the war ended, the soldiers of Division 320 returned to civilian life. They united, gathered together and established Liaison Committees (BLL) in provinces and cities across the country. The traditional BLL of the 320th Division's Delta Brigade in Nghe An - Ha Tinh was established in 1996. It is a place for members to exchange, share, recall past memories and help each other in life, organize searches and pick up martyrs' remains, visit old battlefields and build works to honor comrades.

Gratitude regardless of hardship

Through the wars, Division 320 had nearly 15,000 martyrs, of which Nghe An had more than 1,200 martyrs, tens of thousands of comrades returned as wounded soldiers, affectingAgent Orange. To honor the sacrifice of comrades, in 2016, the Hanoi 320th Division Command (headed by Lieutenant General, Hero of the People's Armed Forces Khuat Duy Tien) proposed to build a memorial house to honor comrades. Mr. Le Manh Hai - Head of the 320th Division's Traditional Command in Nghe An - Ha Tinh informed the members, and everyone immediately responded.

Inauguration ceremony of Cua Bo Stele House - Duc Co (Gia Lai). Photo: CK

On December 23, 2017, the traditional BLL of Division 320 in Nghe An - Ha Tinh organized a departure ceremony for 28 members. During the ceremony, the BLL representative considered two cases: Mr. Ho Sy Tuong and Nguyen Van Chat, both of whom were seriously ill. With the will and determination of soldiers, the two veterans stood up and said in unison: "Please, comrades, let us go!"

Later, Mr. Nguyen Van Chat confided: “The love of comrades urged me to go on the road, despite the pain of illness. I was lucky enough to return to my family, so I must never forget those who fell.”

Despite being seriously ill, veteran Nguyen Van Chat, from Xuan Hoa commune (Nam Dan), still volunteered to go to the old battlefield to build a memorial monument to his comrades. Photo: CK

The delegation also included Mr. Tran Van Quy and his wife in Phu Dien hamlet, Hung Thanh commune (Hung Nguyen), both over 70 years old, war invalids who also volunteered to build the memorial house. Mr. Quy enlisted in the army and was assigned to Division 320 in 1971, fought in the Central Highlands front and advanced toliberate Saigon

While he still had strength, he wanted to return to the battlefield and personally lay bricks to build memorial steles for his comrades. Mrs. Phan Thi Hong (Mr. Quy’s wife), a former Youth Volunteer, also wanted to accompany people to help with cooking and laundry.

Despite their old age, veteran Tran Van Quy and his wife in Phu Dien hamlet, Hung Thanh commune (Hung Nguyen) still set out to participate in building a memorial house to honor their comrades. Photo: CK

On the morning of December 25, 2017, the war veterans of Nghe An - Ha Tinh departed for the old battlefield. After a journey of thousands of kilometers with many hardships and difficulties, they were still determined to overcome all difficulties and obstacles to complete the memorial stele project.teammateDuring the operation, we must mention the heart of CBB, wounded soldier Le Manh Hai - Head of the Traditional Board of Division 320 in Nghe An - Ha Tinh.

He participated in the 1972 Spring - Summer Campaign, the attack on Dong Du - Cu Chi base in the Ho Chi Minh Campaign, participated in the Campaign against Fulro forces in the Central Highlands and the Southwest Border Campaign. Despite being seriously ill, Mr. Hai, along with the Battlefield Achievements Committee and the veterans, contributed their efforts in surveying, designing, directing the construction and supporting the funding for the construction of memorial houses to honor comrades.

The Traditional Committee of the Delta Corps - Division 320 held the inauguration ceremony of Dong Du Monument House, Cu Chi (Ho Chi Minh City). Photo: CK

And Mr. Dang Van Quyen - Deputy Head of the Management Board, despite his old age, is still enthusiastic, always closely following the construction progress, promptly encouraging and sharing with his teammates.

Lieutenant General, Hero of the People's Armed Forces Khuat Duy Tien - former Commander of Division 320A, Head of the Command Board of the Dong Bang Brigade - Division 320 Hanoi, although he has turned 90, still regularly directs the construction process of the project. The Lieutenant General and his wife have a savings book of several hundred million VND accumulated over many years. They withdrew this money and deposited it in the Project Management Board to build a memorial house to honor the martyrs.heroic martyrs…

Lieutenant General Nguyen Quoc Thuoc (standing in the middle, left row) attended the inauguration ceremony of the Chu Bo - Dac Co Monument House (Gia Lai). Photo: CK

With the correct policy of the Traditional Committee of the Dong Bang Brigade - Division 320 and the direction of the Battlefield Achievements Committee, the efforts of the veterans of Nghe An - Ha Tinh, 04 memorial houses to honor comrades have been completed. Including: Chu Bo - Duc Co memorial house (Gia Lai); Memorial house at high points 1015 and 1049 (Kon Tum); Memorial house at Dong Du - Cu Chi base (Ho Chi Minh City).

Up to now, 3 houses in the Central Highlands have been ranked as provincial historical relics; the Dong Du - Cu Chi Victory Stele House has been ranked as a memorial stele house by the General Department of Politics. In particular, 02 stele houses at the high point 1015 - 1049 in Sa Thay, Kon Tum have been upgraded to a special national historical relic by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism along with the Dak To - Tan Canh Victory Monument complex.

The memorial stele for the heroic martyrs was completed, Division 320 and the traditional ceremony of the Dong Bang Brigade - Division 320 Hanoi awarded Certificates of Merit to 30 war veterans of Nghe An - Ha Tinh and Phu Nguyen Hai Company Limited. Mr. Le Manh Hai was awarded a Certificate of Merit by the People's Committee of Kon Tum province.

Joy on the inauguration day of Dong Du Monument, Cu Chi (Ho Chi Minh City). Photo: CK

The journey of operation of the traditional BLL of the Delta Regiment - Division 320 in Nghe An - Ha Tinh is not long, but the veterans have done many truly meaningful things, always promoting the heroic tradition of the unit, affirming the quality of the unit.Uncle Ho's soldiersin the hearts of the people, contributing to movements and campaigns in the locality of residence.