After 50 years, these men who went through the long march now have graying hair and faces etched with the lines of time. They were the young men and women of the 20th century, who lived and fought during the war. Their bare feet and steely determination led to heroic victories that seem legendary. After the war, these historical witnesses lived simple and humble lives, and when they met again, they greeted each other with joy, their eyes sparkling as they recounted stories of the past, filled with pride in their traditions and cherishing the camaraderie of their fellow soldiers.

Veterans, former youth volunteers, and militia members offer incense at the Monument to Heroes and Martyrs on Bac Son Street ( Hanoi ).

At 77 years old, Lieutenant Colonel and Hero of the People's Armed Forces Tran Van Xuan remains healthy and his voice is vibrant. His chest gleams with medals and decorations. He enthusiastically recounts his energetic youth. In 1972, young Tran Van Xuan, a student at the Water Resources University, put aside his studies to join the fight, assigned to Battalion 172, Regiment 64, Division 361 (Air Defense-Air Force). The situation on the battlefields was extremely fierce; enemy aircraft bombed and strafed the combat formations of infantry units, causing heavy losses. At this time, the Soviet Union provided 9K32 Strela-2 shoulder-fired missiles, which were later called A72 in Vietnam. Applying this to combat, gunner Tran Van Xuan studied the aiming mechanism of the 12.7mm gun and then created a targeting frame for the A72. With his homemade equipment and creative, resourceful, and courageous fighting style, sharpshooter Tran Van Xuan excelled, shooting down 8 aircraft and striking fear into the enemy.

During the days when the whole nation went to war, generations of Ho Chi Minh's soldiers overcame all hardships and sacrifices, daring to fight, determined to fight, and winning with ingenuity and courage. In the fierce war, countless officers and soldiers sacrificed their lives or lost parts of their bodies on battlefields across the country. Returning to daily life, these former soldiers stand among the ranks of more than 3 million veterans, together building the precious tradition of Vietnamese veterans: "Loyalty, solidarity, exemplary conduct, and innovation."

Along with the courageous and unwavering fighting spirit of the army, the Youth Volunteer Force made immense contributions to the resistance war against the US and for national liberation. Wherever the battlefield needed them, the Youth Volunteer Force was there; wherever the enemy was, the Youth Volunteer Force was deployed. Over 280,000 young men and women enthusiastically went to the front lines, becoming a special force, ready to undertake arduous tasks in almost all hotbeds of conflict, serving selflessly, ready to sacrifice themselves for the front lines and fighting alongside the army to defeat the enemy.

In her historical recollections, former Youth Volunteer Corps member and Labor Hero Nguyen Thi Kim Hue recalls the years of service and combat under a hail of bombs and bullets. In 1965, Ms. Hue volunteered to join the Youth Volunteer Corps. She served as Squad Leader of Squad 6, Company 759, a Youth Volunteer Corps unit codenamed N75, serving on Route 12A in Minh Hoa District (Quang Binh Province). This was a vital route, heavily bombed by the US Air Force to prevent the supply of manpower and resources to the Southern battlefield. Each time they went into battle, she and her comrades were given a "living funeral" ceremony. As a Squad Leader, Comrade Hue faced death many times, being buried under rubble by bombs, but upon regaining consciousness, she would rush to the front lines, defusing unexploded bombs, leveling the road surface, and bravely and resolutely acting as a human marker, ensuring the timely passage of traffic and the safe passage of key points.

Veterans, former youth volunteers, and militia members met at the Ministry of National Defense auditorium to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the liberation of Southern Vietnam and the reunification of the country.

Colonel Nguyen Khac Nguyet, a former tank driver of the 380th Tank Battalion, 203rd Brigade, who was present at the Independence Palace on the afternoon of April 30, 1975, felt incredibly fortunate to have witnessed the reunification of the nation. Recalling his comrades, he expressed his gratitude to those who had fallen. In his book "Journey to the Independence Palace," veteran Nguyen Khac Nguyet recorded these simple, sincere thoughts: "The journey to that day of victory was not as easy as some might think. In terms of space, it stretched for thousands of kilometers; in terms of time, it was over a thousand days, filled with losses, sacrifices, heroism and cowardice, nobility and baseness, glory and bitterness..."

During the reunion, those who survived the war felt fortunate to still be healthy enough to meet their comrades and reminisce about the past. Time has passed, but the bonds of comradeship remain strong and unwavering. They are united in overcoming the hardships of everyday life, fulfilling their duty of gratitude to their fallen comrades. These flesh-and-blood individuals lived lives as beautiful as legends, dedicating their youth to the Fatherland. To this day, they still uphold the noble qualities of Uncle Ho's soldiers, the image of outstanding Youth Volunteers and Militia members, becoming a source of love, pride, and a beautiful symbol in the hearts of every Vietnamese person. Today's generation will forever remember the contributions and express profound gratitude to those who sacrificed and dedicated themselves to "the Fatherland soaring into the boundless spring."

Text and photos: DUC NAM

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    Source: https://www.qdnd.vn/quoc-phong-an-ninh/xay-dung-quan-doi/hoa-lua-nam-xua-nghia-tinh-con-mai-825168