The story of Mr. Lan "the ancient city"
In block 4, Vinh Phu ward, Nghe An, no one is without Mr. Pham Hong Lan. The villagers call him by the affectionate name: Mr. Lan "the ancient city". Mr. Lan was born in 30, at the age of twenty, he joined a unit transporting food and equipment on the Truong Son route, and in 1967 he went to the Quang Tri battlefield.
In my military career, I remember most deeply the 81 days and nights of participating in commanding the 8th Battalion to guard the ancient citadel of Quang Tri, said Colonel Pham Hong Lan.
He then said: In the summer of 1972, Quang Tri province was liberated, and in mid-June, Battalion 8 received orders to organize combat forces to protect Quang Tri town. The Battalion Command at that time included Cao Xuan Khuong, Pham Hong Lan, Le Van Vu, Mai Xuan Chinh. Immediately afterwards, the Party Committee lowered its determination and held a military-political conference to disseminate the task. The battalion called on officers and soldiers: To be assigned the task of locking down the ancient citadel is a great honor, but extremely fierce. The battalion is determined to fight to the end, not disappointing the people of Quang Tri - a land that has suffered much pain and loss. Battalion 8 is the first unit to occupy a combat position in Quang Tri town".
At the end of June, the enemy began attacking Quang Tri town. From June 28 to September 16, the battle between us and the enemy took place extremely fiercely. One day, they fired at the ancient citadel - an area of less than 3km2 - over 5,000 artillery shells, 40-60 times with aircraft of all kinds, both spraying toxic chemicals and dropping deadly bombs, drilled bombs, and air bombs to collapse the citadel walls, mines, and soldiers.
In mid-September 1972, Battalion 8 - the last unit - was ordered to withdraw from the ancient Citadel. During 81 days and nights of holding the garrison, Battalion 8 played 209 big and small matches. Including 35 counterattacks, 48 attacks, 126 matches using mortar guns, B40, B41 and DKZ, destroying and injuring 2,014 enemy names. The Battalion also suffered great losses. When they first entered the checkpoint to keep Quang Tri town, there were only 360 officers and soldiers, and during the war, they were supplemented many times, so the number of soldiers increased to 970 comrades, but when they withdrew, there were only 50 people left.
During those 81 days and nights, officers and soldiers of the Battalion ate dry food, raw rice, and drank bottled water to fight. Rarely did he use a pitcher to boil some boiling water for his injured teammates to drink. Later, Battalion 8 was awarded the title of Hero of the People's Armed Forces. Colonel Pham Hong Lan himself became a disabled soldier with a disability rate of 63%. He was awarded the Third Class Independence Medal, the title of Heroic Unit, 4 First Class Resistance Medals, Emulation Fighter...
So that no one is forgotten
Colonel Pham Hong Lan said that during the August months, near the National Day, he quietly opened a wooden cabinet, took out a thick book, and the gold leaf was plain. It is a "mentary" - recording the names of each team member who has fallen, each night in the forest, each time they escape death in a flash.
During the summer days of 1972, his battalion was surrounded by an enemy regiment, artillery ships from sea, tanks, and airplanes dropping bombs like rain. Around him was smoke and fire and his teammates fell and could not bear to worry. But no one has backed down. The only slogan at that time was: " Tim can't lose the ancient citadel if it's still damaged!".
For every person who fell, he wrote their names in the book - so that no one would be forgotten. Some are only in their late teens and twenties; some write letters to their mothers but have not yet sent them; some have not yet held their loved one's hand. They are lying on the Thach Han River, transforming into the green grass of Quang Tri trees.
After the war, the living returned but no one was intact. Some people have lost part of their bodies, some have permanent heart wounds.
... The young horse Thach Han asks for a light cheo
The riverbank is still there, my friend
In your twenties, Water Waves
The peaceful coastline of the sea will last for thousands of years...
Every time he heard Le Ba Duong's verses, Mr. Lan said: "The Fatherland is a place where people are willing to die, no one needs to know their names. And where there are still people, they must live well, so that the deceased do not sacrifice for nothing".
This year - the 80th anniversary of National Day - he gave incense to his comrades and wished for peace to those who are living and wishing for peace in this country forever.
