Unforgettable days

Heroic memories

These days, Mr. Ha Minh Hien, Dong Tam residential group, Tua Chua town (Tua Chua district) is filled with indescribable pride. Memories of the days participating in the Dien Bien Phu Campaign keep coming back. Fortunately, during my business trip, I was able to meet and listen to Mr. Hien recount the heroic, arduous and united time of our army and people.

71 years ago, Mr. Hien was only 14 years old, following the call of the country, he left his hometown to join the resistance war to save the country. The young soldier enlisted in October 1953 and was assigned to Company 23, Battalion 955, Regiment 159, Northwest Military Region, participating in the Dien Bien Phu campaign. Wearing a military uniform with many medals, next to a hot cup of tea, Mr. Hien thoughtfully recounted: I remember on January 25, 1954, when all the soldiers on the entire front were ready to fire, we received orders to postpone the attack. We changed from the combat motto of "fight fast, win fast" to "fight steadily, advance steadily". Participating in the Dien Bien Phu campaign, we were stationed right next to the Him Lam base. This is the battle that I remember the most. On March 13, 1954, our troops opened fire to attack Him Lam, a strong resistance center consisting of 3 strongholds located on 3 hills next to each other along Highway 41. In that battle, there were comrades that I met that morning, but when I returned at noon, I heard that they had died. At that time, all I knew was that when we met again, I knew that I was still alive.

After 3 attacks on Dien Bien Phu base with many losses and sacrifices, but with the talented military command of General Vo Nguyen Giap, the determination and unity of the entire army and people; after 56 days and nights of arduous fighting, on May 7, 1954, our army and people destroyed the entire Dien Bien Phu base.

With sadness when recalling the past, missing the historical witnesses of that period who were no longer around to witness the changes of the historical land, Mr. Hien tearfully said: To gain victory, many of my comrades and teammates heroically sacrificed and remained on this land... That is why the image of the "Determined to Fight - Determined to Win" flag flying on the roof of General De Castries' bunker, the moment hundreds of French soldiers climbed up and raised the white flag of surrender, is something I will never forget.

"Treat wounded soldiers as relatives"

Participating in the Dien Bien Phu campaign, Mr. Hien directly fought with guns on the battlefield and also supported the medical force in treating wounded soldiers. In the memory of soldier Hien at that time, the war was fierce, many soldiers were wounded, there were days when the number of wounded soldiers brought to the medical stations reached up to thousands of people. There were so many patients, while the medical force at that time only had a few dozen people. During the 56 days and nights of the campaign, day and night, the medical soldiers almost did not have a full night's sleep, only occasionally daring to sit down to rest and then continue to treat patients. In order to share the heavy workload that the medical team had to shoulder, Mr. Hien joined the civilian labor force to support the care of wounded soldiers.

“During the Dien Bien Phu Campaign, the treatment teams had trenches and tents to serve the treatment of wounded soldiers, divided into 3 areas: the seriously wounded area, the moderate wounded area, and the lightly wounded area. When the wounded soldiers arrived at the treatment team, it was usually 1-2 am, so that light would not leak out and reveal the location; we all urgently supported the military doctors to check and select, clean the wounded soldiers' wounds so that they could quickly be transferred to the trenches for first aid. Supporting the care of the wounded soldiers, I personally fed them spoonfuls of thin porridge to help them fight hunger, prevent dehydration, and quickly recover their health; stood by the wounded soldiers at the frog mouths to encourage them, and sometimes even had to be a support for wounded soldiers with trauma or difficulty breathing... With the desire to help more wounded soldiers, I often learned from military doctors about the experience of caring for and treating lightly wounded soldiers. After that, I personally changed the bandages, cleaned the wounds, and stopped the bleeding of my wounded comrades,” Mr. Hien recalled.

No longer through the pages of books, historical documentaries or literary works, the Dien Bien Phu victory exists through the memories of the Dien Bien soldiers of the past. In the house of Dien Bien soldier Ha Minh Hien, the verses “Hoan ho chien sy Dien Bien” by poet To Huu resound, the sound of the heroic memories of the soldiers of the fiery time:

“Cheers to the Dien Bien soldiers!

Heroic warrior

Iron furnace head

Fifty-six days and nights, digging mountains, sleeping in tunnels,

steady rain, rice balls

Blood mixed with mud

"Liver not shaken, will not worn out!"

During the Dien Bien Phu campaign, the medical force treated more than 10,000 wounded soldiers and nearly 4,500 sick soldiers. With the support of soldiers and laborers, thousands of wounded and sick soldiers were cured within 10 days and returned to their combat units, making an important contribution to restoring the fighting strength of units on the entire front.

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