These days, throughout the martyrs' cemeteries in Dien Bien, a soulful voice still resounds warmly: "The blood of the fallen heroes has soaked every inch of land and blade of grass in the fortifications and trenches, dyeing the national flag redder, making the homeland greener."
"The village youth have come together!"
- You're so small, can you keep up with them? If you do, you'll die...
- The village youth have come together, mother! I can go. I can die too!
That was the whispered story of Mr. Nguyen Duc Noi and his mother, in a dark room in Lang Xuyen village, Gia Tan commune (Gia Loc) 73 years ago. At that time, everything was secret. French military posts were everywhere. If anyone was known to be joining the resistance, their families would be made difficult. Therefore, although 19 families in Lang Xuyen at that time said goodbye to their children going to war without a return date, absolutely no one in the village knew.
In 1952, when he packed his bags and said goodbye to his parents and siblings to go to Dien Bien Phu, Grandpa was only 16 years old.
- It was a dark night, 19 young men from Lang Xuyen, led by a soldier, quietly went on a campaign. Every now and then they saw the lights from the posts, and they all lay down on the ditch bank - Grandpa Noi said.
I don't remember how long it took to walk to Bac Giang for training, then walk to Dien Bien Phu. Upon arrival, my grandfather was assigned to C509, E174, F316. His unit was tasked with "Trinh - cong - ve" (reconnaissance, engineering, protection).
Early in the morning of May 6, 1954, when nearly 1 ton of explosives detonated on A1 hill - the most important stronghold, the key door directly protecting the command center - where the French military headquarters were stationed, Grandpa was in Hong Lieu village (now Noong Bua ward, Dien Bien Phu city), right at the foot of A1 hill, to take care of and transport wounded soldiers.
Mr. Nguyen Duc Noi is 89 years old this year, a 4th class disabled soldier when attacking Na San fort (a key siege battle in the Northwest Campaign, in Mai Son district, Son La province). December 1, 1952. After the campaign ended, Grandpa changed careers, dedicating his youth to the Northwest and then Laos before returning to his hometown Gia Loc.
- Na San garrison, news has come back that I am dead. Mother has set up an altar!
During the campaign, he was injured many times and faced life and death, but he still believed that he was lucky to be able to return to his family. His comrades, now, are lying unknown, under meters of trenches, fortifications... In 2013, he returned to the battlefield.
- Dien Bien was very different then, although bomb craters and fortifications were still there. Many of my brothers were still there. They never came back!
On April 23 and 24, Mr. Nguyen Duc Noi was one of 15 people from Hai Duong who attended a meeting with Party and State leaders, veteran delegates, and former youth volunteers on the occasion of the 70th anniversary of Dien Bien Phu Victory in Hanoi.
In the Dien Bien Phu Campaign of the past, Gia Loc still has 51 wounded and sick soldiers who directly participated and served in combat.
Dad said, "The campaign is over, let's go home."
Mr. Do Xuan Nha, born on February 3, 1932, is from Ung Hoe commune (Ninh Giang), now in Thanh Truong ward (Dien Bien Phu city). Mr. Nha joined the army in 1952, discharged in 1958, belongs to H3, E176, F316.
- After the campaign, he stayed here to work on the farm, rebuilding Dien Bien with everyone. 70 years have passed, and now he is no longer lucid, still urging his children and grandchildren, "The campaign is over, let's go back to the countryside." But there is no one left in the countryside - Mr. Do Xuan Tho, the eldest son, currently Head of the Organizing Committee of the Dien Bien District Party Committee (Dien Bien Province), said when we visited.
Mr. Nha is a 3/4 severely wounded veteran, with a bullet still in his lung. He has difficulty walking and needs someone to help him, but he is very excited when talking about the old battles, even if they are only incoherent stories. After the campaign, like many other veterans, he stayed in Dien Bien and became a farm worker. To have Dien Bien today, many generations have shed blood, sweat and tears to cultivate it. Mr. Nha has 7 children working in Dien Bien province and other provinces. Mr. Nha's children all remember that their fathers and grandfathers devoted their youth to the Northwest, so what they do today is all for that. Dien Bien and the Northwest have become an indispensable part, their second homeland.
During the Dien Bien Phu Campaign, Hai Duong had tens of thousands of soldiers, youth volunteers, and frontline laborers directly participating in the fighting and serving the campaign. The entire province currently has 471 wounded, sick, and military personnel, the oldest of whom is now 107 years old. Hai Duong province has 402 martyrs who directly participated in the campaign. The above number of martyrs are from all 12 districts, towns, and cities. Some martyrs have had their remains brought back to their hometowns, but many others remain scattered in cemeteries in Dien Bien province such as A1, Him Lam, Doc Lap, Tong Khao, a few martyrs have had their names clearly identified, and many others still lie in graves with unknown information.
Next: Copied at A1 National Martyrs Cemetery
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