Truong Son Soldier: 'The price of peace is priceless'

CCB Cao Duc Dong: Belief that the enemy will return after the war is over

In 1963, when he was only 19 years old, Cao Duc Dong from the sunny and windy Dien Thanh (Dien Chau) joined the army. Needless to say, the excitement and anxiety of a young man who had just left school, and he was the only son in his family, were all mixed up. However, for the sake of the Fatherland, he was willing to sacrifice his youth, so he said goodbye to his family and went to the battlefield with the belief that once the enemy was defeated, he would return.

Documentary photo of reunion with comrades of CCB Cao Duc Dong. Retaken photo

When he joined the army, he was assigned to Battalion 14, with the task of clearing mines, building bridges for vehicles to cross, and shooting down enemy planes. His unit was in charge of fighting from Ngang Pass to Hoang Mai. During the days of fighting on this route, he and his comrades had to face many dangers, with large and small injuries imprinted on their bodies.

Although he was a bit thin and small, young soldier Cao Duc Dong was considered a brave and intelligent person, always achieving achievements in combat. In 1966, he was an outstanding soldier of Military Region 4, sent to attend the National Youth Congress for Victory, had a talk with General Vo Nguyen Giap and was praised by the General for his brave achievements in combat.

Veteran Cao Duc Dong talks about his memories of participating in the Ho Chi Minh campaign. Photo: Thanh Nga

In 1968, when the 338th Division needed reinforcements, Cao Duc Dong was mobilized to the South to fight directly on the Tay Ninh battlefield. Here, recognizing the military theory qualities of the young soldier Cao Duc Dong, his superiors sent him to study at a military school.

Reporter talks with veteran Cao Duc Dong.

After graduating, Cao Duc Dong was assigned to a unit supporting the Xuan Loc - Long Khanh front - the "steel gate" east of Saigon during the fiercest days. Every day, this place had to continuously send tens of thousands of troops, there were battles where our troops "fought hand-to-hand" with the enemy from 5am to 7pm.

Right at the front line at the gateway to Saigon, soldier Cao Duc Dong was one of the members of the Battlefield Command Committee, which proposed combat plans to overcome the enemy and liberate Xuan Loc.

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"With the important war, losing Long Khanh means losing Saigon, so we and the commanders had to come up with the most optimal military plans. There were days when the enemy attacked and bombarded fiercely, both sides fought for every inch of land. The fighting was inconclusive, we withdrew, fought back and forth for 9 days, we concentrated our forces to attack very strongly, supporting 3 divisions for the southern battlefield. By April 21, we had liberated Xuan Loc and Long Khanh.

Veteran Cao Duc Dong

"As the Political Commissar of Regiment 55, Division 341, my comrades and I found combat plans and encouraged them not to retreat in order to completely liberate the South and unify the country as Uncle Ho wished during his lifetime," he recalled.

Veteran Cao Duc Dong continued his reminiscence: “After liberating Xuan Loc, our division continued to attack Trang Bom, Ho Nai, and reached Bien Hoa town when we received news that President Duong Van Minh had surrendered, that we had completely liberated the South and unified the country. The moment I held the walkie-talkie in my hand, I heard my superiors announce peace and burst into tears. I shouted with joy and hugged my comrades and teammates and shouted: Peace, peace, long live Uncle Ho, long live Ho Chi Minh!”.

It can be said that during the fierce war years, soldier Cao Duc Dong was always a shining example for his comrades and teammates to follow because of his bravery, intelligence, and devotion to his comrades and compatriots.

When peace was reunified, Mr. Cao Duc Dong also participated in the fight to protect the northern border, then participated in the fight to support the Cambodian army. There were times when he thought he could not return home. That was the moment he was captured by the enemy while using the walkie-talkie to call his comrades. Immediately, our army opened fire on the siege to rescue them. The two sides fought hand-to-hand and he was saved at the last moment right at the Phnom Penh battlefield.

Now, in a small house in Block 2, Dien Thanh Town, Dien Chau District, veteran Cao Duc Dong lives happily with his children and grandchildren. Despite his old age, he is still enthusiastic about doing many jobs, just to feel that he is still useful and clear-headed. He used to be the Chairman of the Veterans Association, the Chairman of the Town Elderly Association, and the Deputy Head of the Lao Volunteer Army Liaison Committee. For many years, he has also written scripts and composed folk song lyrics for performances at the commune and hamlet levels. Wherever he goes, he is loved by the people, because he always maintains loyalty and filial piety to the people and compatriots, as Uncle Ho advised our soldiers when he was alive.

Veteran Nguyen Khanh Nha: The price of peace is priceless

Joining the army at the age of 20, soldier Nguyen Khanh Nha (born in 1951), from Hung Nguyen district, Nghe An, went to the South to fight. He said: "When I left, I didn't think about the day I would return. However, I was very excited and eager, because I thought I would be able to contribute to the Fatherland!"

Mr. Nguyen Khanh Nha talks about the 81-day and night campaign at Quang Tri Citadel. Photo: Thanh Nga

Entering the army, he was trained as an infantryman, then marched to the Quang Tri battlefield. Young soldier Nguyen Khanh Nha and his teammates had to walk for a month to reach the Quang Tri battlefield. Once there, he was assigned by his superiors to the Artillery Regiment of the 325th Division.

Needless to say, the excitement of a private in his twenties when he was able to immediately access modern military uniforms and equipment. His unit was assigned to fight in the fierce fighting in Quang Tri, he always told himself to try harder so that each of his goals would bring the greatest efficiency to the task of "reclaiming every inch of land" set by his superiors.

“Our artillery unit fought on the outer ring of the Cam Lo battlefield in Quang Tri. This was the fiercest battle, with 81 days and nights of fire and smoke, the enemy and us fought hand-to-hand to win every inch of land, every roof. There were times when we thought we had won it back but were pushed back. Our soldiers sacrificed so much that our superiors had to send a company every day to continue holding the position,” said Mr. Nha.

Mr. Nguyen Khanh Nha talks about his memories of the Ho Chi Minh campaign. Photo: Thanh Nga

He said, seeing his teammates fall right before his eyes while he was helpless, made him extremely sad. That was when a unit had 3 people on target but 2 people next to him fell right in front of him in a split second. Feeling pain at the sacrifice of his teammates, he was even more determined to defeat the enemy.

After liberating Quang Tri, Nguyen Khanh Nha's unit marched to the next battlefields such as Hue, Da Nang, Quang Nam, Quang Ngai, Binh Dinh, Phu Yen, Khanh Hoa..., "We arrived in Saigon when our army sent more reinforcements to continue the attack. At this time, the forces had rushed in, knocked down the gate of the Independence Palace and planted the flag on the roof of the Palace. I will always remember that moment, our army poured into the streets holding red flags with yellow stars shouting: Long live Ho Chi Minh! Long live Vietnam! There is no greater joy", veteran Nguyen Khanh Nha said.

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“To achieve peace, so many comrades’ blood and bones were left on the battlefield, including those who were only 18 or 20 years old, talented students who were only in their first year of university with many unfulfilled dreams. Therefore, we often say to each other: The price of peace is priceless”...

War veteran Nguyen Khanh Nha

During his years in the army, Mr. Nha was awarded many noble orders and medals by the Party and State: Liberation Feat Medal, Glorious Soldier Medal, Ho Chi Minh Campaign Certificate of Merit, Quang Tri Ancient Citadel Commemorative Medal...

From the battlefield, veteran Nguyen Khanh Nha returned to build a family and had 4 children, but the pain of war has not yet ended when he and his wife have 3 children suffering from Agent Orange consequences, the third child Nguyen Khanh Son is the most seriously affected, now only lying in bed, the couple has to take turns taking care of him every day.

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Source: https://baonghean.vn/nguoi-linh-truong-son-cai-gia-cua-hoa-binh-la-vo-gia-10295340.html