Back to the old battlefield

A group of nearly 200 veterans (Battalions 70, 72, 74, 11 of Quang Nam Provincial Military Command during the anti-American war) all from the North, now living all over the country, made an appointment to meet in Tam Ky city on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of Quang Nam Province Liberation Day (March 24). From here, they marched to the old battlefield, where they fought and sacrificed their entire youth.

On March 22, 2025, the buses bearing the words "The Northern Veterans Return to the Old Battlefield" left Tam Ky city to march towards the Western Quang Nam region. Son Cam Ha area, now in Tien Phuoc district, is the base area, where the main army units of the province such as Battalions 70, 72, 74, 11 are stationed. The mountains and forests and the people here sheltered and hid the army during the anti-American period. From here, the army units organized many large and small battles in the enemy-occupied areas to expand the liberated areas. However, here, the army had to face harsh natural disasters and the enemy often increased its troops to sweep.

Arriving in Tien Phuoc, the Northern veterans found the people of the past, especially the “mothers” who had taken them in. But the “mothers” had now passed away, and only their descendants and their comrades who remained still welcomed them as blood brothers. This was also one of the sacred things that kept the Northern veterans coming back, no matter how many years had passed.

Returning to the old battlefield this time, like many times, they always stopped at the places where their comrades had sacrificed. Returning to Hiep Duc, on the banks of the Tranh River, spring came and the water flowed gently, but that day, a day at the end of December 1973, the river water flowed turbulently, 4 comrades of Battalion 74 were on duty carrying rice back to the unit that had sacrificed while crossing the river.

Mr. Nguyen Dinh Cu, a soldier of Battalion 74 during the war against the US, recalled: “We had to walk from the base to Phuoc Son to carry rice back to the unit. The round trip took 6 days, very tiring. The way had to cross the Tranh River ferry. That day, many ferries crossed the river safely during the flood season. But on the last trip, the water rose so strongly, the boat capsized, I and 2 other comrades were lucky to cling to the rock and escape death, but 4 of our comrades were permanently buried here, although we stayed for 3 days afterwards but still could not find their bodies.”

Veterans remember their comrades who died in the Tranh River. Photo: THANH XUAN

Standing silently in front of the clear Tranh River, the survivors still gazed longingly at the bottom of the river as if searching for the bodies of their comrades who had turned into rocks. Right above that section of the river, a bridge across the river had been built long after the day of peace.

The bus took the veterans to the eastern region of Thang Binh. This was where the fiercest battles between us and the enemy took place. This was also where many soldiers died. Among them, 6 soldiers of Battalion 74 died on November 16, 1972 on the march. They were buried by the people and after the day of peace, they were brought to the Martyrs' Cemetery of Binh Dinh Commune, Thang Binh District. On March 23, 2025, the last of the 6 martyrs who died that day was contacted by their surviving comrades and their families to organize the return of their remains to their homeland in the North.

In early March 1974, Battalion 74 and Battalion 70 coordinated to attack enemy bases in Que Son, a fierce battle that lasted for a whole week. As a result, we won, but 6 comrades were killed on the artillery mount. Today, veterans returned to this battlefield, burned incense to commemorate their fallen comrades, and searched for their graves in nearby local cemeteries but in vain. Because in each cemetery, there are still countless graves with the inscription "Martyr, identity undetermined".

The eastern area of ​​Thang Binh, where the main army units fought fiercely. Photo: THANH XUAN

Mr. Doan Van Phuc, a soldier of Battalion 74 during the anti-American war, who organized this return to the old battlefield, shared: “We don’t have much time left in our lives, so as long as we can go, we will go to Quang Nam together. Because this is our second homeland, the local people have sheltered and nurtured us during the most difficult and fierce years, and there are still many comrades who have passed away here. We will never forget.”

Veterans reunite in Quang Nam. Photo: THANH XUAN

Returning to Quang Nam on the 50th anniversary of liberation, the Northern veterans are now all over 70 years old, with dim eyes, weak legs, shaking hands, most of them carrying wounds from the battlefield. But returning to Quang Nam, they become stronger than ever, because this is where youth is, where the ideals that have nurtured their entire lives are nurtured.

“We are touched and proud that Quang Nam has developed as it is today. And we will still make an appointment to return to Quang Nam every year on this occasion until we can no longer walk,” said Mr. Vo Quang Tien - Captain of Company 3, Battalion 70 during the anti-American war.

Source: https://baoquangnam.vn/tro-ve-chien-truong-xua-3151312.html