Within the framework of the Art program “Dien Bien Phu – River’s Desire”, the organizing committee awarded wounded and sick soldiers; former youth volunteer; Children in difficult circumstances receive 70 gifts. At the same time, meet and listen to stories told by historical witnesses and those who directly participated in the Dien Bien Phu campaign.
Mr. Bui Van Tinh and Ms. Phan Thi Bay
Two historical witnesses invited by the organizers to interact at the program are Mr. Bui Van Conscious (95 years old) who fought in Dien Bien, Laos battlefield and was awarded the third-class Glorious Soldier’s Medal, the first-class Anti-American Medal, the second-class Victory Medal, and the Issa-la Medal ( Freedom) of Laos and Ms. Phan Thi Bay (94 years old), former young volunteer serving the Dien Bien Phu campaign.
In the atmosphere of the days when the whole country is looking forward to the 70th anniversary of the Dien Bien Phu victory, two historical witnesses have partly helped audiences across the country understand the difficulties and hardships, not afraid of hardships, The sacrifices of the soldiers, young volunteers, and frontline civilians made the Dien Bien Phu victory “illustrious in five continents, shocking the earth”.
Despite his old age, Mr. Tinh still remembers the memories of that year vividly. He said that in 1954, the French army built a solid underground bunker and arranged artillery and tanks to support it, so the task of destroying the tunnel was assigned to brave soldiers.
Mr. Bui Van Tinh recounted the moment he used explosives to attack hill A1
He himself was only 24 or 25 years old at that time, but was trusted by his superiors to be in charge of 30 soldiers at Group 316. He and his teammates attacked the A1 hill base with an explosive block of about 1 ton (1,000 kg of explosives). . This is the first major explosive block used during 30 years of war to protect the Fatherland.
In the face of a rain of bombs and a storm of bullets from the French army, when moving the bomb to a predetermined position, he and his comrades were very effectively supported by the firepower of our army, so the enemy did not detect them, and the transport took place safely, creating provide a stepping stone for our troops to attack.
“Once I had transported the explosive block to the designated location, I reported to the commander and received orders to withdraw about 200 meters to wait for the explosive to explode. We reported that we had reached a safe hiding place, which was also when the bomb exploded,” Mr. Tinh recounted.
After that, he learned that our army captured General De Cartries (commander of the French army at Dien Bien Phu base). At that time, he was very happy because he and his teammates had contributed to the victory at Dien Bien Phu.
According to Mr. Tinh, when using explosive blocks to attack Hill A1, he and his teammates each brought about 20 kg of pre-packaged explosives from the base.
The 95-year-old Dien Bien soldier excitedly expressed that Dien Bien on the day of victory was still in disarray, but now it is dignified, big and beautiful, 10 times larger than in the past, as Uncle Ho always wished.
Ms. Phan Thi Bay
Ms. Phan Thi Bay (94 years old, former youth volunteer serving the Dien Bien Phu campaign) said that in the past, she volunteered to transport food, guns and ammunition in Upper Laos.
Confessing that she is small, every day, she still carries a few bullets for the soldiers, each weighing 3 kg. While transporting, she and her teammates leveled roads and transferred ammunition from the soldiers.
“While participating, I saw many people injured and dead. In 1953, the Upper Laos campaign was the fiercest, the enemy destroyed the rear and limited food, but we were not afraid. sacrifice hardship. Bullets avoid me, but I can’t avoid bullets. For the people, the country and the Party, we always make efforts,” she said.
