Emotional memories of a soldier on April 30: “Liberation, I'm back with my mother!”

In the sacred atmosphere of the historic April days commemorating the 50th anniversary of the Liberation of the South and National Reunification ( April 30 , 1975 - April 30, 2025), the Independence Palace (HCMC) welcomed the return of former soldiers.

Among the crowd, Mr. Pham Quang Da - a former water commando soldier and Mr. Vu Duy Liem - a legendary Truong Son driver could not hide their emotions when recalling the heroic memories of the Ho Chi Minh Campaign and the unforgettable years.

Mr. Pham Quang Da - former water commando soldier and Mr. Vu Duy Liem - legendary Truong Son driver visited Independence Palace (HCMC). Photo: Mai Loan.

"Liberated, can go back to mom"

Talking to the reporter of Knowledge and Life, Mr. Pham Quang Da (born in 1947, from Tam Nong, Phu Tho ), currently Chairman of the Phu Tho Association in Tuyen Quang province, seemed to relive the April days nearly half a century ago. In February 1968, the 19-year-old Pham Quang Da enlisted in the army, becoming a water commando of Battalion 407, Military Region 5.

Mr. Pham Quang Da (second from the right in the top row) with his water commando teammates on Phu Quoc Island. Photo: NVCC.

When the Ho Chi Minh Campaign officially opened on April 26, 1975, his unit received a special mission. His 407th Battalion was assigned to liberate some remote islands of the Fatherland such as Tho Chu, Phu Quoc, and Hon Ong and Hon Ba islands bordering Cambodia.

Because of the mission in the remote islands, at the historic moment of noon on April 30, 1975, when Saigon was completely liberated, Mr. Da and his comrades were still on duty. "The mission of the infantry was to liberate the mainland, while the mission of our special forces was to liberate the islands. Luckily, before we arrived, the enemy had already surrendered, their ships had waved the white flag, so there was no need to fight much," Mr. Da recalled.

Although the gunfire had stopped, the work after liberation on the islands, especially Phu Quoc, was extremely complicated. He said: "Civilians were forced by the enemy to flee to the island in large numbers. The task of the liberation army at that time was to restore order and organize the return of people to the mainland. Each family was supported with 500,000 VND (money at that time) and a bag of rice to return to their homeland."

After completing the mission, his unit returned to Cam Ranh, then went to Saigon to meet the Saigon - Gia Dinh City Military Management Committee and participated in welcoming political prisoners back from Con Dao.

For a soldier who had been away from home for 7 years (1968-1975), without a single letter of contact (not even knowing who to send it to), the day the country was reunified was the day the hope of reunion flared up. "At that time, we soldiers hugged each other happily: We are alive, we are back with our mother! During those years, we only wished for the day we could return to our mother, to our hometown, we wished for nothing more. When I returned, my mother hugged me and ran to show off to the neighbors: 'My son Da is back! But many people did not recognize me anymore, because I had been gone for so long", Mr. Da was moved.

Returning to the Independence Palace today with his comrades, Mr. Da was filled with emotion. Photo: Mai Loan.

Having been through many life and death situations, Mr. Da still remembers clearly the time he narrowly escaped death in 1972. During a business trip near his unit, he and a comrade saw a chay tree with fruit so they climbed up to pick it. Suddenly, an American armed helicopter (the 'lamb' type) flew in and landed right on top of the tree. Two American soldiers, one holding a gun, the other a grenade, were right above his head. He quickly jumped down onto a nearby rock and luckily escaped death.

Returning to the Independence Palace today, the veteran could not hide his pride at the changes in the country. "The country is unified, stronger, the people are happier, the young generation has the conditions to develop. We are very excited. The blood, sweat and tears of many generations of fathers and brothers have been shed to have today's independence," he confided.

Video: Veteran Pham Quang Da shares memories at the Independence Palace. Produced by: Mai Loan.

Truong Son truck driver and the memory of "The truck squad without windshields"

Sharing the same sentiments at the Independence Palace was Mr. Vu Duy Liem (born in 1947, from Me Linh, Hanoi). A veteran of the legendary 559th Regiment, who once drove the "windowless cars" through the bombs and bullets of Truong Son in the past, and his comrades traveled from Hanoi to Ho Chi Minh City to revisit this historic place.

Mr. Vu Duy Liem, a soldier of the "truck squads without windshields" of the past. Photo: Mai Loan.

Enlisting at the age of 19, Mr. Liem became a driver for Regiment 559. This trip, according to him, was to "remember the years on the battlefield" and also "to know, to understand, so that his children can understand him".

As a living witness of the "windowless truck squads" that have become part of poetry, Mr. Liem can't help but remember those difficult yet heroic days. He was moved to recite the immortal verses of Pham Tien Duat:

“No glass not because the car has no glass

Bombs exploded, bombs shook, glass broke and gone.

We sit leisurely in the cockpit,

Look at the ground, look at the sky, look straight ahead”

"The poems recorded a time of fire and war," he shared. Then he explained more about the fierceness of the battlefield: "And there was no glass here because we had to take it off proactively. Because the enemy planes were constantly hovering, they were very clever, if we didn't take off the windshield, the reflected light would be exposed, making it easy to be detected."

Standing among historical relics, the former Truong Son truck driver felt "very moved" and "honored and proud" to see "his country expanding" and its people "living gloriously". That pride came from the development of the Fatherland and from the dedication of his generation's youth.

During the meaningful days of April, the image of my fallen comrades reappeared, remembering my fallen comrades. "But I don't know what else to do, I can only sincerely light incense to pay respect to my fallen comrades, and try to live a good life for the sake of those who have passed away."

The stories and memories of Mr. Da, Mr. Liem and many other veterans at the Independence Palace are like vivid films, reminding today's generation of a glorious past, of the great sacrifices to achieve today's peace and independence.

Video: Veteran Vu Uy Liem of the "Windowless Car Squad" shares memories at the Independence Palace. Source: Mai Loan.

Veterans of the heroic 407th Special Forces Battalion of Military Region 5 at the ceremony to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the liberation of Khanh Hoa province (April 2, 1975 - April 2, 2025). Photo: NVCC.

Mr. Pham Quang Da shared that before this trip, on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the liberation of Khanh Hoa province (April 2, 1975 - April 2, 2025), at the invitation of the Provincial Party Committee, People's Committee and departments, agencies and organizations of Khanh Hoa province, the Veterans of the heroic 407th Special Forces Battalion of Military Region 5 were present in large numbers to attend the important event.

The reunion took place at the Center for People with Merits of the province, in Nha Trang city. After many years apart, meeting again, the comrades' hair had turned gray over the years, many still bearing the mark of the difficult subsidy period. Many comrades returned to their beloved homeland, returning to their normal life of "the buffalo goes first, the plow follows". In the group, there was a friend whose two children were victims of Agent Orange/dioxin. Seeing that situation, one could not help but feel sorry.

During his 4-day stay, he and his comrades were arranged by the province to visit Naval Region 4, Cam Ranh District and Khanh Son District - which used to be the old bases. Meeting each other again, the stories of the old soldiers just flowed out, chattering day and night without stopping. Memories of the arduous but heroic days came flooding back: the image of the liberation soldiers fighting while clearing fields, growing corn and cassava, 'each season has its own food', completely self-sufficient in food. He and his comrades also returned to visit Ba Ngoi (Cam Ranh), to pay their respects to their beloved comrades who have forever remained here.

“This is truly a trip full of memories. At this age, perhaps this is the last time we have the opportunity to return to the old battlefield like this. When saying goodbye to each other on the long white sand beach of Nha Trang, we could only hold hands tightly, wish each other good health, try to overcome the situation, and be strong like the years we fought side by side on the Cam Ranh peninsula,” veteran Pham Quang Da was moved.

Source: https://khoahocdoisong.vn/xuc-dong-ky-uc-nguoi-linh-ngay-304-giai-phong-roi-ve-voi-bam-roi-post269126.html