Memories of a Dien Bien Phu veteran who wrote a letter to the French President
Báo điện tử VOV•22/04/2024
VOV.VN - Besides the heroic memories of the "glorious Dien Bien Phu victory" days 70 years ago, each soldier returning from the front has his own personal, simple stories imbued with optimism and love of peace.
At the age of 97, Mr. Tran Trong Tu (Cam Trung Ward, Cam Pha City, Quang Ninh Province) still speaks with a clear voice when talking about the years of war, when he and his comrades fought from the Border Campaign front to the Dien Bien Phu battlefield. The Deputy Captain of Company 277, Battalion 79, Capital Regiment 102, Division 308 still remembers clearly the battles and feats of arms of that day...
Veteran Tran Trong Tu seems to be back in his twenties when talking about special memories with France thanks to his passion for football.
When talking about his impressions of France when they were no longer facing each other on the front lines, the veteran's eyes, which had gradually dimmed over the years, suddenly sparkled mischievously, as if he were in his twenties again. He enthusiastically talked about his "destiny" with the French, thanks to his intense passion for football.
In 1961, Mr. Tran Trong Tu was a delegate from the Iron and Steel Zone (in present-day Thai Nguyen) and had the honor of attending the 3rd National Youth Union Congress in Hanoi. That was also the first time he had the chance to see the French Communist Youth Union's football team compete in Vietnam. They were invited to join the teams of 12 socialist countries. Before the Vietnam-France match at Hang Day Stadium, Mr. Tu directly sent an analytical letter to the head of the French Communist Youth Union and predicted that France would win with a score of 5-1. As a result, the opposing team won 5-2 and won the championship.
After the French Communist Youth Union returned home, Mr. Tu unexpectedly received a gift from the French sports organization. That gift helped him build a level 4 house and a spacious garden. After many years working in the steel industry, then in education, he still followed French football and always admired them because they had one of the oldest football foundations in Europe and impressive achievements. 37 years later, the opportunity came to him again when the 1998 World Cup took place in France. At this time, Mr. Tran Trong Tu was 71 years old and retired in Cam Pha (Quang Ninh) but still did not miss any match. He followed, took detailed notes, and read newspapers and listened to the radio for experts to evaluate. Analyzing that France would "make history" at home, right before the semi-final match with Croatia, Mr. Tu predicted that France would win and reach the final, eventually beating Brazil 2-1 to be crowned world champion. Therefore, he confidently wrote a letter recording his analysis: "At first I intended to write in French, but then I thought that as descendants of Uncle Ho, "eating rice, wearing cotton clothes", I must speak my native language. First, I sent it to the French Embassy, and sent it directly to French President Jacques Chirac, President of the Sports Federation and the French football team" - Mr. Tran Trong Tu recalled.
The reply letter from the French Embassy was carefully kept by him.
The letter was sent. The results of the matches were not beyond Mr. Tran Ngoc Tu's prediction, only the final score of France winning 3-0 was beyond imagination. On July 29, 1998, the Ambassador of the Republic of France to Vietnam at that time, Mr. Serge Degallaix, sent a reply letter to Mr. Tu. The letter was written in Vietnamese. Mr. Tu recounted verbatim: "Dear Sir. We are very grateful to receive your congratulatory letter. We would like to thank you for the good feelings you have for our team. We would also like to express our admiration for your ability to analyze football. We wish you good health and happiness." In the letter, the French Ambassador also affirmed that he would translate Mr. Tu's letter to send to the individuals and agencies he had suggested. After the World Cup, he received another gift from France - a special gift for a special fan from Vietnam. Now, at the age of "almost a hundred", Mr. Tran Trong Tu can no longer take notes and analyze football like before, but he still diligently participates in activities of veterans, neighborhood groups, and helps with charity... Mr. Nguyen Tien Chuong, Vice President of the Veterans Association of Quarter 6A, Cam Trung Ward, Cam Pha City happily talks about the special veteran of the neighborhood: "Mr. Tu is a very exemplary person. His family is also poor, but his spirit is boundless, helping his comrades and friends, so he is very loved by the locals. We veterans always follow that spirit to learn and strive for the future. "When I sit down to eat but haven't eaten yet, I still sing. When I lie down on the mosquito net, but haven't closed my eyes yet, I still recite poetry", Mr. Tran Trong Tu humorously talks about his current daily life. He still cherishes the idea of recording his life, especially the years in Dien Bien, to preserve for his descendants, "to talk about the past to cherish the peaceful present, and to look towards the future together".
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