Glorious memories of "unforgettable days"

The Youth Volunteers and civilian laborers on the front lines were a crucial force contributing to the Dien Bien Phu Victory in 1954.

Overcoming difficulties, maintaining unwavering belief in victory.

Born and raised in the mining region, Mr. Vu Cong Hong (born in 1936, now residing in Ha Long City, Quang Ninh province) evacuated with his parents to Thanh Hoa, where he had the opportunity to join the bicycle transport team serving the Dien Bien Phu campaign. In February 1954, the 17-year-old youth – the youngest in the bicycle transport team from Thanh Hoa town at that time – eagerly traversed hundreds of kilometers through the mountains and forests of Hoa Binh and Son La, crossing the Pha Din pass to the Tuan Giao intersection, and advancing into Dien Bien Phu.

Recalling those heroic days, Mr. Hong said that every day he and his comrades crossed three mountain passes, a distance of 35km, to deliver 150kg of supplies to the battlefield. Ignoring bombs and bullets, and undeterred by hardship, eating in the forest and sleeping on plastic sheets spread on the ground, he and his comrades competed hour by hour to ensure supplies for the troops. Although not directly involved in combat, whenever they heard news from the front lines, he and his comrades eagerly awaited the day of victory and "firmly believed they would win."

Mr. Vu Cong Hong fondly recalled the heroic days of participating in the Dien Bien Phu campaign.

“On the afternoon of May 7, 1954, a young man on horseback, carrying a small flag, rode from Dien Bien Phu along the road to Lai Chau . He had spoken so much that his voice was hoarse, but we could still clearly hear him say, ‘We’ve won! We’ve won!’ The workers understood immediately, and the whole group shouted along,” Mr. Hong recounted.

After more than three months serving on the front lines, young men like Mr. Hong, who were assigned to transport duties, officially entered the Dien Bien Phu "basin"—a battlefield still in disarray. He recounted that while the initial joy upon hearing the news of victory was overwhelming, the moments that followed filled him with excitement and anticipation.

Seventy years after the Dien Bien Phu Victory, although the ravages of time have left their mark on their skin and hair, and despite their advanced age where memory is fading, the memories of the 1954 Dien Bien Phu campaign remain beautiful recollections in the lives of the former frontline workers. These memories are a testament to a heroic era, a reminder of gratitude, and a revolutionary lesson for the younger generation.

Mr. Hong vividly remembers the first night after liberation, "there was a film about the 3rd Youth and Student Festival in Budapest (Hungary) being shown. The weapons had been confiscated, but the enemy soldiers were still there, so we watched the film together that night. Watching such a special film together made us very happy and excited."

After the victory, Mr. Vu Cong Hong remained in Dien Bien Phu to serve the activities of our troops until May 29, 1954, before returning to the mining region to work in several agencies of the coal and statistics industry.

For the past 70 years, the most carefully preserved memento he has kept is the certificate of "Glorious Civilian Laborer on the Dien Bien Phu Front" awarded by the General Staff of the Vietnam People's Army. This certificate commemorates those unforgettable days in his life.

Always remember President Ho Chi Minh's teachings.

“I remember at the time I was only 15 years old, and I heard Uncle Ho teach that young people should do small things according to their abilities, so I participated in the resistance. The time I spent contributing my strength alongside the people of the whole country to win independence and freedom is the most memorable experience of my life.” These words, filled with pride, were spoken by Mr. Luong Van Sinh, residing in Co village, Tong Co commune, Thuan Chau district (Son La province).

Mr. Sinh confided that at the time, he was the youngest of the 24 young men from Tong Co commune who participated in transporting food for the soldiers. The spirit of young people like him back then was immeasurable.

Mr. Luong Van Sinh from Co village was the youngest of the 24 young men from Tong Co commune who participated in transporting food supplies during the Dien Bien Phu campaign.

For Mr. Sinh, every difficulty was transformed into determination, a driving force to achieve the highest goal: national independence. "I was the youngest, but I was determined to go, to act, just like so many other Vietnamese people who rushed forward to liberate the country," Mr. Sinh said.

To achieve the earth-shattering victory on May 7, 1954, Thuan Chau district (Son La province) alone had thousands of young volunteers and civilian laborers on the front lines; almost every village and commune had participants. They participated with the enthusiasm of youth and a sense of responsibility to the Fatherland.

Mr. Luong Van Huong, residing in Lanh village, Tong Lanh commune, Thuan Chau district, is now at a very advanced age, but he still recounts vividly the stories of his time as a civilian laborer on the front lines during the arduous Dien Bien Phu campaign 70 years ago.

That year, Mr. Huong was also only 20 years old, the most energetic age of youth. He, along with more than 20 young men from the commune, volunteered to go to the front lines to repair roads for the soldiers at Pha Din Pass and to carry rice and transport food supplies to Muong Ang.

Mr. Luong Van Huong can never forget the memories of participating in the road repair mission for the soldiers at Pha Din Pass.

“When the Dien Bien Phu campaign was about to begin, the district and communes mobilized people to work as civilian laborers on the front lines. Back then, sometimes we went at night, sometimes during the day. Wherever there was bombing, we went to fill in bomb craters, using trees, mortars, and stakes to level the ground. But the more the planes bombed, the more we had to keep going,” Mr. Huong recounted.

The most difficult challenge for Mr. Huong and his comrades at that time was repairing bombed sections of road using rudimentary tools, which was extremely arduous. Furthermore, all missions had to be carried out at night to avoid detection by the enemy, but Mr. Huong and his comrades remained determined to overcome all difficulties to successfully complete all assigned tasks.

Seventy years after the Dien Bien Phu Victory, although the ravages of time have left their mark on their skin and hair, and although they are all at an age where their memory is fading, the memories of the 1954 Dien Bien Phu campaign will always remain beautiful memories in the lives of the former civilian laborers on the front lines.

These memories are a testament to a glorious era, a reminder of gratitude and a revolutionary lesson for today's young generations.

Soldiers from Dien Bien Phu return to visit their comrades.

Source: https://baodantoc.vn/ky-uc-hao-hung-ve-nhung-ngay-khong-quen-1714970337216.htm