More than 50 years have passed, but every time he recalls the memories of wartime, Mr. Vu The Huyen (hometown Hung Yen), a veteran of Company C130, Battalion 2, Division 571, Truong Son Regiment 559, is still choked up.
Mr. Huyen is one of the soldiers who fought at Long Dai Ferry Terminal II (former Quang Binh, this is Quang Tri province) - a famous "fire coordinate" on the legendary Truong Son route. In the midst of bombs and bullets, life and death were only a hair's breadth apart. Young soldiers at that time did not have much time to think for themselves.
In a fierce bombing battle at Long Dai Ferry Terminal II, Mr. Vu The Huyen's comrade, martyr Bui Nang Dac, heroically sacrificed himself. Memories of that moment are still intact in the mind of the veteran.
It should have been me who sacrificed that day...", Mr. Huyen repeatedly told himself.
Recounting the story that saved his life, Mr. Huyen choked up: "After receiving the task at Long Dai Ferry Terminal II, we were divided into 2 teams, one team received the task of cutting down trees to bring back for the troops to disguise and build bunkers, and the other team had the task of going to the ferry terminal to wait to load goods, weapons, stones to fill bomb craters, and transfer them to boats to the other side.
That morning, my task was to be on duty at the ferry wharf, and Mr. Bui Nang Dac's task was to go to the forest to cut down trees. But Mr. Dac wanted me to change tasks for him, because Mr. Dac was itchy, when he finished loading goods, Mr. Dac could take advantage of going down to the river to bathe. So I agreed.
But unexpectedly, US planes bombed, causing Mr. Dac and his brothers and sisters in the team to sacrifice.
When peace was restored, the soldier of the past returned to normal life, but the memory of Long Dai and his fallen comrades has never faded. Every time he returns to the old battlefield or stands in front of his comrades' graves, he remembers the promise from that year and the faces that will forever be in their twenties.
For him, living to this day is both luck and responsibility. The responsibility is to recount the stories of those who sacrificed so that the younger generation understand that today's peace is exchanged for the blood and bones of so many soldiers.
In his old age, every time he mentions the war years, Mr. Vu The Huyen does not talk much about his own achievements but always tells his children and grandchildren about his comrades who bravely sacrificed, especially martyr Bui Nang Dac. For him, it is not only a way to show gratitude to those who fell but also a lesson about patriotism and gratitude for the next generation. Every time he has the opportunity, he and his family return to Long Dai Ferry Terminal II and red addresses to burn incense to commemorate his comrades.
