Sacrificing themselves to fight

In 1971, Nguyen Manh Chuong (born in 1952) in Cao Thuong township (Tan Yen district) postponed his study and enlisted when he was 19 years old. After three months of training in Thai Nguyen province, he was assigned to Division 316 (Viet Bac Military Region) to go to Laos to help the neighboring country.

Former Vietnamese volunteer soldiers who helped the Lao revolution in Lang Giang district meet.

During the years of fighting in Laos, the most memorable memory for Chuong was the battle in the Plain of Jars in Xieng Khouang at the end of 1972. The successful campaign kept the solid connectivity among the revolutionary bases of Laos.

Former volunteer soldier Nguyen Xuan Dau (born in 1941) in An Long village, Yen My commune (Lang Giang district) also had 5 years of fighting in the Lao battlefield (from 1965 to 1970). Looking up at the orders and medals hung solemnly on the walls of his house, Dau recounted his memorable memories in March 1968.

At that time, his unit - the Commandos Reconnaissance Battalion 5 (Military Expert Group 959) - collaborated with other units to perform the task of "attacking the US’s radar station on the peak of Pa Thi" in northwestern Laos. The Pa Thi radar station was a firmly-built super-secret base of the enemy. After more than 3 hours of fighting, Dau and his comrades won, destroying the base.

Unforgettable memories

In the battle against the radar station atop Pa Thi, the sapper force suffered major casualties. Dau was seriously injured in his left arm. He cut off his arm himself, volunteering to sacrifice his life to rush forward to shout to distract the enemy, creating an opportunity for his comrades to move safely.

Former Vietnamese volunteer soldiers who helped the Lao revolution in Tan Yen district recall old memories.

When he woke up, the brave soldier felt he was in the arms of a Lao mother, the wound in his arm saw bleeding stop by forest leaves. “My tears kept flowing. I silently thanked the mother for giving birth to me once more. Only later I knew that she was operating at a revolutionary base of Laos right in the heart of the enemy," Dau recalled.

On the occasion of the 70th anniversary of the traditional day of the Vietnamese volunteer soldiers helping the Lao revolution (October 30, 1949-2019), recently, a number of liaison boards of such districts as Tan Yen, Lang Giang and Hiep Hoa organized talks to educate the traditions for thousands of local students Hoang Dinh Tien, head of the provincial Liaison Committee for Vietnamese volunteer soldiers on missions in Laos.

During the years of fighting in the Land of Million Elephants, the Vietnamese soldiers encountered numerous difficulties and deprivations. Therefore, Nguyen Xuan Dinh (born in 1945) in Lan Tranh 3 village, Lien Chung commune (Tan Yen district) never forget the half-bowls of rice and thin blankets he shared with his comrades in the battlefield.

Among the nearly 2,000 former volunteer soldiers of Bac Giang province who helped the Lao revolution, everyone has memorable memories of comradeship, sentiments between soldiers and local people, and particularly the faithfulness of couples.

The couple of Pham Van Dong and Pham Thi Tham in Kep 11 village, Huong Son commune (Lang Giang district) is a typical example. They together fought in Laos. In 1974, they held a wedding in Sam Nuea town. Now, the old couple is still happy, with successful children and grandchildren.

Each officer and expert who ever fought and worked in Laos keep in mind good impressions on this place. In the current life, each person tries the best to further tighten the Vietnam - Laos special solidarity and friendship.

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Mac Yen