Ha Giang people were present in Saigon during the victory on April 30, 1975.

BHG - On this historic April, we had the opportunity to meet veteran Nguyen Duc Thinh, born in 1954, currently the Head of Group 14, Minh Khai Ward, Ha Giang City. Uncle Thinh had a historic journey from Ha Giang to Saigon and was able to join in the moment of victory of the Ho Chi Minh Campaign at noon on April 30, 1975.

In 1972, when he was not yet 18 years old, following the call of the Fatherland, Tay ethnic boy Nguyen Duc Thinh joined the army. After training, Uncle Thinh spent 3 months crossing Truong Son to fight in the South. In April 1973, he was assigned to Group 301, Corps 4 to participate in the liberation of Phuoc Long province. To prepare for the rapid retreat, Uncle Thinh's unit and Corps 4 crossed the Ta Lai River to Phuong Lam, Lam Dong, then attacked Long Khanh, Xuan Loc, the areas where fierce battles took place between us and the enemy, at that time the enemy even dropped chemical bombs.

Veteran Nguyen Duc Thinh has been the head of the residential group for more than 10 years and is a prestigious person in the locality.

With the efforts of the 4th Corps, near the end of April 1975, the eastern door to Saigon was opened, and with the speed of our army, the Politburo decided to launch the historic Ho Chi Minh Campaign. The 4th Corps was one of the main units, considered the "iron fist" to the East in the Ho Chi Minh Campaign from April 26 to 30, 1975. Uncle Thinh recalled that on the way to Saigon, the road was full of abandoned camouflage, and the wreckage of artillery and cars was scattered everywhere. In the areas we liberated, the sound of artillery fire stopped, and people rushed out to the streets to welcome the liberation army, an image that moved everyone. Uncle Thinh continued, the 4th Corps was the unit assigned to plant the flag on the roof of the Independence Palace when we liberated Saigon. However, because the battle in Xuan Loc was so fierce, the progress was slowed down and this honorable task was given to the 2nd Corps.

Passing through Xuan Loc gate, at 12:30 noon on April 30, 1975, Uncle Thinh's unit arrived at the center of Saigon and took over Le Van Duyet Barracks, which was considered the center of the puppet government's political warfare. The center was right next to the Independence Palace and Uncle Thinh recalled that at that time, inside and outside the Palace, there were many tanks, armored vehicles and liberation troops guarding. At that time, Saigon had many people carrying flags and flowers waving to the liberation army. The mood of each of us soldiers was excited and proud, because this was the result of many years of arduous fighting, our nation had defeated a powerful enemy.

Saigon was liberated, the 4th Corps and Uncle Thinh's unit were assigned to manage Saigon. Uncle Thinh recalled that we liberated the city with little bloodshed, the city was kept almost intact. But in the early days of military management, there were still people who died because the remaining puppet troops secretly shot at the liberation troops, so the spirit of vigilance was still high.

It was thought that victory would come the day of reunion. However, in 1977, facing Pol Pot's aggression, Uncle Thinh and his unit and the 4th Corps continued to participate in the Southwestern Border Campaign, carrying out the international mission of destroying the Pol Pot army and liberating the Cambodian capital of Phnom Penh. From 1979 to 1983, he and his unit participated in the sweep of the Pol Pot remnants all the way to the Thai border...

Uncle Thinh emotionally confided: My family had me and my brother go to B. During more than 11 years of fierce fighting, that was the time when my parents did not believe that their son was still alive until I was allowed to return home on leave. At that time, information was very difficult, there were times when I could not contact my family by letter for many years. During the 11 years of fighting, I was allowed to return home on leave twice. Once, when I returned home on leave, it took 15 days to get home. When I returned home, I was dark from the sun and wind, everyone was happy and believed that I was still alive. On the wall of my house in Dao Duc commune, Vi Xuyen, there was a map of Vietnam, my father marked the places from the letters I sent home. At home, my family raised a pig for a long time and it was very big, many people had to carry it, waiting for my brothers and I to come back to butcher it.

In October 1983, after more than 11 years of fighting through many arduous battlefields, Mr. Nguyen Duc Thinh was transferred to many different units and then retired from Ha Giang Automobile Company in 1993. After retiring, Mr. Thinh enthusiastically participated in social work. He has been working as the Team Leader of Team 14, Minh Khai Ward for 10 years and is a prestigious person in the locality. He and his wife have 2 children, both grown up.

Uncle Thinh emotionally shared, on the occasion of the 45th anniversary of the liberation of the South, I had the opportunity to revisit the old battlefield. When I returned, everything had changed, the streets were beautiful. The country today has changed dramatically, worthy of the sacrifices of our entire nation in the long resistance war.

Article and photos: HUY TOAN

Source: https://baohagiang.vn/50-nam-giai-phong-mien-nam-thong-nhat-dat-nuoc/202504/nguoi-ha-giang-co-mat-o-sai-gon-trong-chien-thang-3041975-ab87d9b/