Veterans proud of being defenders of Quang Tri ancient citadel

(LSO) – During the 81-day fight at the Quang Tri ancient citadel in 1972, thousands of Vietnamese soldiers unyieldingly fought to the last breath of their lives to safeguard every inch of the Fatherland’s soil. Under the enemy’s bombs and bullets that rained down regardless of day or night, a large number of soldiers, hundreds of whom came from Lang Son province, laid down their lives. Those who survived and returned from the battle at the ancient citadel forever keep in mind the unforgettable memories of those summer days, when the whole nation lived for the aspiration for peace and national reunification.

Dang Sy Ngu (born in 1952) from Vy Thuong hamlet of Hoang Dong commune is such a veteran. He recalled that he joined the army in 1970 at the age of 18 with the enthusiasm for defending the Fatherland. The situation in Quang Tri became fierce in March 1972, and everyone who was there could feel that ferocity.

Ngu directly took part in the battle at the Quang Tri ancient citadel. In a raid of the enemy, the shelter that he shared with three other soldiers collapsed due to bombing, killing two of his comrades. He and the remainder were rescued and hospitalised by their comrades.

Taking a sip of tea and talking in a low voice with tears rising in his eyes, the veteran said it was just a thin line between life and death. Every inch of land and every village were torn by bombs and mines during the war. A large number of people sacrificed their lives, but the enemy could not beat the undaunted fighting spirit of the Vietnamese army and people.

He said he feels lucky and proud that he could directly fought in the struggle and return safely to his hometown.

Lang Son’s veterans of the Quang Tri ancient citadel battle in 1972 rejoice at meeting one another again.

Long Ngoc Nam, head of the Lang Son association of the veterans of the Quang Tri ancient citadel battle, said he and his comrades moved along the Truong Son Mountain Range and fought in many battlefields, but Quang Tri on those days were harsher than anywhere else. Whenever a comrade laid down his life, although they knew that the enemy was everywhere and death was near, no one left their deceased comrade without burial on the battlefield.

At that time, the comradeship became even more sacred and the aspiration for life and peace became even brighter than ever, he noted.

Ngu and Nam were among hundreds of people from Lang Son who joined the fight. Ninety-six of them are still alive and currently members of the province’s association of the Quang Tri ancient citadel battle’s veterans.

Nam added they cannot forget one another, so they set up the association. Maybe their lives have been better-off, but they are still concerned about the comrades whose remains haven’t been found. Therefore, they have provided information to assist the search for martyrs’ remains.

Since 2014, the association has directly found remains of three martyrs and helped with the successfully search for more than 10 others, some of whom were from Lang Son.

Besides, the war veterans have also worked hard to educate younger generations about the revolutionary tradition and called on philanthropists to support their old comrades-in-arms who are in disadvantaged circumstances. The association has assisted the building of four houses worth 200 million VND (8,600 USD) for disadvantaged members since 2014. Each year, they also organise trips to the former battlefield to commemorate their fallen comrades.

Though the war ended, peace was restored and the country was reunified, the stories of the soldiers who defended the ancient citadel are always bright examples of the revolutionary heroism. Those stories remind generations nowadays that they should live and make contributions in a way that matches their ancestors’ sacrifice for the sake of the Fatherland’s independence and freedom.