Mr. Hoang Van Bay (left) happily chats with his teammate Mr. Nguyen Hong Thai, who participated in the historic Dien Bien Phu campaign together - Photo: NAM TRAN
At the scientific conference "Dien Bien Phu Victory and the cause of building and defending the socialist Vietnamese Fatherland", the appearance of the Dien Bien soldiers of the past made many young delegates sitting in the auditorium clap their hands, cheering, admiring the generation of fathers and grandfathers who had created such a great victory in history.
The soldiers, who had reached a rare age and had white hair, met each other with tears in their eyes, holding hands and telling stories about Dien Bien Phu in the past, remembering their comrades and teammates who had forever remained on the battlefield.
Friendly meeting with "Mr. Van"
Calling himself "an old soldier with silver hair", at a rare age but with a still resonant and resonant voice, Colonel Nguyen Huu Tai - former political commissar of Regiment 209, Division 312 in the Dien Bien Phu campaign - told about the years of arduous fighting on the battlefield with a spirit of "determination to fight, determination to win".
The Dien Bien soldier recalled the special meeting with General Vo Nguyen Giap when he was ordered to go with Regiment Commander Hoang Cam to the campaign headquarters to hold a conference to review the two campaigns around the beginning of April 1954.
The situation of our troops at that time was very difficult. After many days and nights of pulling artillery in and out, building battlefields, the troops had many sleepless nights, and lacked food and drink, so some even showed negative signs and lacked confidence as the campaign dragged on.
Colonel Nguyen Huu Tai - former political commissar of Regiment 209, Division 312 in the Dien Bien Phu campaign - Photo: NAM TRAN
Attending the conference that day, he was most impressed by the speech of the General Commander-in-Chief, the Campaign Commander, who analyzed our difficulties and shortcomings in depth, especially the shortcomings of some units in the battles on the eastern highlands.
Everyone is aware of their own shortcomings and sees that strict criticism and comments are necessary to help each person complete their tasks.
Not only expressing the will of unity and high determination, the conference also pointed out specific tasks that must be done immediately such as consolidating the battlefield, attacking, sniping, seizing enemy parachutes, digging trenches to cut off the airport, shelling and emphasizing the need to take care of ensuring the material and spiritual life so that the troops have enough strength to fight for a long time...
The next morning, Mr. Tai and the regimental commander worked with "Mr. Van". The general greeted them warmly and smiled, asking them detailed questions about the terrain and the soldiers' lives.
The General paid special attention to the food, health, and dining conditions of the soldiers in the fortifications at the D1 hill defense position. After finishing his work, the Commander-in-Chief invited the soldiers from the position to stay for lunch.
"The meal was wonderful, the atmosphere was friendly and open with the cadres returning from the battlefield. It was a very happy and unforgettable moment for us during a difficult and fierce campaign" - he emotionally recalled.
70 years have passed, the Dien Bien soldiers of the past are moved and wish that hundreds of years from now, or perhaps thousands of years from now, future generations will continue to learn about the historic victory of Dien Bien Phu that shook the world like the victories at Bach Dang, Chi Lang, and Dong Da in the past.
Mrs. Vo Hanh Phuc - daughter of General Vo Nguyen Giap - Photo: NAM TRAN
Holding hands and remembering the past
Returning to the land of the past, Mr. Hoang Van Bay (93 years old, from Dien Chau, Nghe An), who participated in Regiment 174 in the Dien Bien Phu campaign, emotionally recalled the years of arduous fighting on the battlefield.
"We, the Dien Bien soldiers of the past, are also proud that we participated in the battle here. So many friends and comrades sacrificed their lives, and it is precious that we are here today," Mr. Bay expressed.
Next to him, comrade Nguyen Hong Thai (93 years old, from Hai Phong) also remembered the years in the arduous trenches, the trenches were full of water, sometimes the rice was wet from the rain but he achieved a glorious victory after 56 days and nights of steadfast fighting.
70 years later, seeing the old battlefield "change its appearance" into a prosperous and beautiful Dien Bien, what the Dien Bien soldiers of the past wished for was to maintain peace and national independence for future generations.
"I hope that the children will acquire advanced science and build Vietnam to become rich and powerful," Mr. Thai expressed.
Educating the young generation about Dien Bien Phu victory
Talking to Tuoi Tre Online , Ms. Vo Hanh Phuc - daughter of General Vo Nguyen Giap - said that every time she returns to Dien Bien Phu, her emotions are still the same, she is moved to remember Uncle Ho's advice to her father: "we must rely on the people, with the people we have everything".
Expressing gratitude to generations of heroic martyrs who sacrificed for national independence, the daughter of General Vo Nguyen Giap shared that the most important thing is to educate the young generation about the historic victory of Dien Bien Phu, the victory of our Army, with valuable lessons, using new methods and forms of propaganda, applying science, technology and information technology to create interest among young people.
Determined to fight and win on the heroic land of Dien BienSource
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