Among them were those who sacrificed heroically, were heroes and martyrs.
Put down the pen and go to war
From 1979 until about 10 years later, tens of thousands of soldiers from Binh Tri Thien and beyond died in the borderland, transformed into reeds and grass and stayed forever in the borderland. But many were lucky enough to return to their motherland. Martyr, Hero of the People's Armed Forces Tran Trong Thuong in Trang Liet village, Thanh Son commune (Thanh Ha) was such a person.
In 1979, news from the border continuously came back: On the night of February 17, the Chinese authorities launched an attack on 6 northern border provinces of Vietnam, along a length of 1,200 km from Ma Lu Thang, Dao San, Pa Nam Cum (Lai Chau) to Po Hen (Quang Ninh).
That very night, the song “Fight for Independence and Freedom” by musician Pham Tuyen was born. “ Gunshots have resounded in the border sky/ Calling all our people to join the new battle… ”, the urging lyrics resounded throughout the villages, urging the young men and women to set out with the fiery spirit of the historic Chi Lang and Bach Dang.
At that time, Mr. Tran Trong Thuong was only 21 years old. But 2 years before that, he had joined the army and was sent to Bac Giang for training. Now, in the small but cozy house, built on the land where he was born and raised, the portrait of martyr, Hero of the People's Armed Forces Tran Trong Thuong is always hung in the most solemn place by his brother Tran Trung Binh and sister-in-law Doan Thi Dung.
The reason why Mr. Thuong, not his brother, joined the army at that time was because both brothers went to the military examination, but Mr. Thuong insisted on joining the army. At that time, Mr. Binh had already started a family. Mr. Thuong insisted that he had to stay home to take care of his elderly parents and sister-in-law.
"The trainer in Bac Giang was able to come home for exactly one day to say goodbye to everyone and then continued on until he died," Ms. Doan Thi Dung emotionally said.
Because he was a student who "put down his pen and went to war", in Mr. Thuong's luggage, in addition to the sweater his mother bought, there was also a fountain pen that his older brother had kept as a souvenir before going to the battlefield. Later, Mr. Thuong always wore the fountain pen in his chest pocket, and during the battle, a bullet pierced through it and almost ripped off the cap. The pen became a priceless keepsake, and was donated by his family to the Hai Duong Provincial Museum for preservation.
In 1979, after nearly 2 years of training, Mr. Thuong was studying to become a non-commissioned officer when he and his unit marched to the border. His family only knew that he belonged to the regular infantry division (Sao Vang Division) and knew about the war situation through sparse letters sent home until he sacrificed himself while repelling a series of attacks by the invaders with his comrades.
Taking you home is "an order from the heart"
Heroic martyr Tran Trong Thuong enlisted in June 1977. At the time of his death, he was a corporal, Squad Leader of C51, D5, E12, F3, Corps 14, Military Region 1.
According to documents, during the resistance against the invaders at the northern border, Mr. Thuong fought in the northwest of Dong Dang (Lang Son). From February 25-28, the enemy used a large force to attack the battlefield. He encouraged his squad to maintain their determination, single-handedly killed 39 enemies, captured 1 gun, and together with his squad killed many others... On March 3, 1979, while leading the attack on the enemy formation, he was hit by a bullet and heroically sacrificed himself.
According to Mr. Tran Trung Binh, after hearing the news of his son's sacrifice, his mother was stunned for many days because of the great pain. Later, when she calmed down, she said that every war is like that, there must be loss and sacrifice before there can be peace. Only if the burial site is determined and the son is brought home can she rest in peace. His mother's wish was like an order, making Mr. Binh restless.
About a year later, when he learned that his brother was buried at Khanh Khe Bridge Cemetery (Van Lang District, Lang Son), Mr. Binh and a cousin brought a bicycle, flashlight, and shovel and quietly boarded a train to Lang Son. At that time, although China had withdrawn its troops, the border situation was still very complicated, and gunfire had not yet subsided, so from Lang Son station to the cemetery where his brother was buried, Mr. Binh had to pass through about 10 strict checkpoints.
When the two brothers arrived, it was nighttime, and gunshots were still heard all around. Luckily, the artillery unit next door picked them up. Mr. Binh expressed his wish to bring his brother's remains up that night and then find a way back to Lang Son town. However, the artillery unit stopped them because at night they were vulnerable to artillery fire from the other side. That night, Mr. Binh and his brothers were taken deep into the village to sleep at a local's house. At that time, the Lang Son people had evacuated to the lowlands, leaving only one person in each house. The village was quiet and desolate, and the sound of gunfire was still there. The desire to welcome his brother back kept him awake until morning.
It was not yet dawn, with the support of the artillery unit, Mr. Binh was able to bring the child up. At that time, the heroic martyr Tran Trong Thuong was still wearing his mother's wool sweater, over which was his military uniform. On his chest, the fountain pen and the Poljot watch that Mr. Binh had given him were still there. On the martyr's waist was still an intact bullet clip. The pen cap was punctured, a trace of the bullet that had taken away the heroic martyr's youth.
On December 20, 1979, martyr Tran Trong Thuong was posthumously awarded the title of Hero of the People's Armed Forces and the Third Class Military Exploit Medal by the President.
Next: Remembering Father's Message
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