Memories “connect” the roads for Dien Bien Phu Victory

Together with the army, the Youth Volunteers (YVs) are always present in the most difficult and arduous places. The Youth Volunteers always go ahead to pave the way, connect and mend the roads, contributing to the historic victory of Dien Bien Phu "Resounding throughout the five continents, shaking the earth". It has been 70 years, but the memories of a time of fire and war are still intact in the minds of former Hoằng Hóa Youth Volunteers.

Memories “connect” the roads for Dien Bien Phu Victory Hero of the People's Armed Forces - "King of bomb disposal" Cao Xuan Tho shares memories at the Provincial Association of Former Youth Volunteers. Photo: Le Ha

Mr. Le Viet Khich, Khang Tho Hung village, Hoang Duc commune, is a former Youth Volunteer Soldier in the resistance war against the French. I met him just as he was preparing his military uniform to go to Hanoi in the early afternoon to attend a meeting between Party and State leaders and representatives of veterans and former Youth Volunteer Soldiers who participated in the Dien Bien Phu Campaign, co-organized by the Central Committee of the Vietnam Veterans Association. This was not the first time he had been away from home, nor the first time he had attended an important conference, but his mood was very different. Mr. Khich was nervous, restless and excited. Because this was a trip that would bring back many memories to him in his twilight years, mixed with pride and honor. He would meet his comrades from when they were young men and women in their twenties, eager to go to the front lines.

Mr. Khich said: "In February 1952, I was assigned to unit C410 - Team 40 for a while and then transferred to C404 and C408 - Team 40 with the task of transporting goods and food from Co Noi junction ( Son La ) to Tuan Giao (Dien Bien) to open roads and dig traffic trenches... In January 1954, preparing for the Dien Bien Phu Campaign, I and some of my healthier comrades in the unit were added to the army force to dig trenches to surround Dien Bien Phu; build roads for the army to pull artillery to carry out the campaign. This time was difficult and arduous beyond description: eating rice balls, dried fish, sleeping under the open sky and on the ground... But one special thing was the spirit of the Youth Volunteers and the army was extremely enthusiastic. We, the Youth Volunteers, worked day and night, going into the forest to cut down trees and block the muddy roads for vehicles and people to pull artillery to the battlefield. Many routes were attacked by the French. bombs, the Youth Volunteer Force had to open a new road, doing everything possible to let vehicles and people pass.

Fighting directly with the soldiers in fierce places to maintain the traffic arteries for the campaign, many memories kept flooding back, making Mr. Khich emotional. He is 89 years old this year, but he is still lucid. He remembers every event in detail: "During the years of the resistance war, I also met Uncle Ho, he gave the Youth Volunteers a few verses: "Nothing is difficult/ Only fear that the heart is not steadfast/ Digging mountains and filling seas/ With determination, it will be done". For us, the Youth Volunteers, these four verses have always been the guiding principle for our ideals and reason for living until now".

Born in 1929, Mr. Nguyen Dinh Tao in Liem Chinh village, Hoang Son commune has profound memories of the Dien Bien Phu Campaign. He wants to tell us about every memory. The atmosphere of the 70th anniversary of the historic Dien Bien Phu Victory is approaching, making him even more excited. Enlisted in October 1953, Mr. Tao was then the Secretary of the Youth Union for National Salvation. He was assigned to C401 - Team 40 and became Platoon Leader and then Deputy Company Leader.

Mr. Tao shared: “The most memorable period was the 5 days before the Dien Bien Phu Campaign took place, the French attacked very fiercely, destroyed roads, and defused butterfly bombs that were stuck on the roads and stuck in treetops to cause casualties to our forces. The French changed their tactics and now the bombs exploded, so our forces suffered many casualties and making roads was extremely difficult. My unit was instructed on how to defuse bombs and was encouraged by Construction Site 13 and the Central Council, so the soldiers were very enthusiastic”. With the spirit of “One person falls, another stands up” to ensure smooth traffic, we were like worker bees making roads, patching roads, digging trenches, transporting food and weapons day and night. With only torches, we competed to dig trenches, patch roads, and open roads in time for the superiors' instructions to serve the Dien Bien Phu Campaign".

In the same unit with Mr. Tao is Hero Cao Xuan Tho, Hoang Giang commune - Bomb disposal king and met Uncle Ho 4 times, was directly awarded the Third Class Labor Medal by Uncle Ho. In 2014, Comrade Cao Xuan Tho was one of 3 people awarded the title of Hero of the People's Armed Forces by the State for his contributions to the Dien Bien Phu Victory in 1954.

Remembering those arduous and heroic days, the old soldier's eyes still shine with pride in a time of blood and flowers. According to Mr. Tho: "In 1953, the Youth Volunteers were established with the code name XP Group. At that time, the Group decided to establish a team to dispose of unexploded bombs. The two Youth Volunteers Teams 40 and 34 were assigned to protect Routes 13 and 41 to serve the Dien Bien Phu Campaign. I was appointed as the leader of the Bomb Disposal Team (Company 404 - Team 40) to clear the road at the Co Noi intersection and the Hat Lot tunnel (Son La). The bomb disposal tools were very rudimentary, just hoes, shovels, sticks and explosives". However, with the spirit of giving everything for the campaign, not afraid of sacrifice, hardship, with perseverance and creativity, he and his teammates stuck to the road day and night, destroying one bomb after another dropped by the enemy. Because he and his teammates knew, this was the decisive match for the country's destiny of independence and freedom.

According to statistics, Hoang Hoa district has nearly 1,000 young people joining the army to fight against the French colonialists and were assigned to units 34, 40, 42, 36 and ATK serving the Dien Bien Phu Campaign. The soldiers who participated in the war in the past, some left their dreams and youth on the battlefield, some were lucky enough to return to live in peace and continue to devote their strength and intelligence to the cause of building and protecting the country and especially to spreading the revolutionary fire and educating the tradition of patriotism to the younger generation.

Le Ha

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