At the age of 75, journalist Tran Van Hien still remembers every moment of his 15-year journey of researching and writing about heroic martyrs who were journalists who heroically sacrificed their lives in wars.
One day near the end of July, we met journalist Tran Van Hien at Da Pagoda (Au Lac Pagoda) in Hung Loc Commune, Vinh City, Nghe An.
This place has a worship space for "The heroic souls of Vietnamese revolutionary journalists" with the list, names, addresses and work units of 511martyrs who were journalists who died in 3 wars to protect the Fatherland.
Journalist Tran Van Hien at the altar of martyr journalists at Au Lac Pagoda. Photo: Quoc Huy
Two friends died in the border battlefield
Sitting silently in front of the altar of martyrs, journalist Tran Van Hien said that in the second course, 1974 - 1976 at Hanoi University of Journalism (Academy of Journalism & Propaganda), he had two friends: Lang Van Mau (born in 1947, working for Hoang Lien Son newspaper), a Nung ethnic, from Cao Bang province and Vu Hien (born in 1947, working for the Navy newspaper), from Thuy Nguyen district, Hai Phong.
Both of Mr. Hien's classmates died in 1979, while working at the northern and southern borders of the country.
“The three of us were classmates, and I was close to Hien. Hien was white-skinned, gentle, scholarly, and spoke softly. Mau was an active person,” Mr. Hien recalled.
Mr. Hien told the story of journalist Vu Hien, who was with Brigade 126 and died on February 7, 1979, while sitting on a tank, carrying an AK rifle and a camera on his chest. Mr. Hien was shot directly at the Valung intersection (Cambodia) on the way to Phnom Penh.
Portrait of journalist Vu Hien (center). Photo: Quoc Huy
Journalist Tran Van Hien is talking with VietNamNet reporter. Photo: Bao Ngoc
At that time, the army entered Phnom Penh (Cambodia), the martyrs were wrapped in plastic bags and placed at the port of Cong Pong Xom to be taken back to the country. However, unfortunately, this port was recaptured by the Pol Pot army and they burned the bodies of the martyrs.
Some time later, when the revolutionary army recaptured the port, the remains of the martyrs were brought to Tho Chu Island (Kien Giang) and buried there until today. Among them, there was martyr Vu Hien, but the location and burial place are unknown.
Martyr Lang Van Mau was a veteran on the battlefield protecting the northern border – working for Hoang Lien Son newspaper. Mr. Hien only knew that Mau was working when he was hit by enemy artillery and died in 1979.
The Brigade Commander's Tale
Journalist Tran Van Hien confided: "Until now, I still love Vu Hien very much. From the two martyrs who were my classmates, I came up with the idea of rewriting all the portraits of the journalists who sacrificed their lives.
Mr. Tran Van Hien introduces the photos of journalist Vu Hien. Photo: Quoc Huy
In 1995, Mr. Hien went to Hai Phong to learn about the sacrifice of journalist Vu Hien. He met Mrs. Nguyen Thi Than (journalist Vu Hien's wife) in the housing area for officers and soldiers of the Navy Command.
"Mrs. Than said, I only received a death notice, not knowing in what circumstances my husband died. After that, I went to Brigade 126 to participate in the attack on Cong Pong Xom port. When I got there, I met Mr. Nguyen Van Tinh - Brigade Commander of Brigade 126," Mr. Tran Van Hien recounted.
"Mr. Nguyen Van Tinh said that Mr. Vu Hien wanted to go quickly on a tank to get to Phnom Penh early instead of taking a truck. When he reached the Valung intersection, he was ambushed by Pol Pot. Mr. Vu Hien sacrificed himself while working, with an AK gun and a camera on his chest," Mr. Hien recalled.
Mr. Tran Van Hien talks about his colleagues. Photo: Quoc Huy
The tank that Vu Hien was following was shot down by a B41. He died, his camera was thrown far away and was saved by his teammates.
This was also the reason why journalist Tran Van Hien wrote an article and a letter to the wife of martyr Vu Hien to let her know about her husband's sacrifice.
“After hearing this, I feel even more sorry for Vu Hien. He left behind four children. Vu Hien was a war correspondent during the war against the US to save the country. However, when peace was restored, he was still the first to enter the fierce Southwest battlefield…”, journalist Tran Van Hien recalled his fallen classmate.
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