Essay Call from Mother Earth

On the occasion of the 78th anniversary of War Invalids and Martyrs Day, I had the opportunity to return to the Martyrs Cemetery of my home province. Standing before the graves with and without names, I heard a sacred call echoing from deep within the earth: “Comrade!”

That call did not come in words. It seemed to echo from the subconscious of the years of blood and fire, from this place, where under the green grass there were bones that were no longer intact. There were bodies that had been burned, buried deep after an unequal battle on New Year's Eve of Mau Than 1968.

That year, when the whole country was eagerly welcoming spring, on the battlefield, the armed forces were in position, preparing to open fire. Battalion 857 - including the Special Forces Company and Company 203 - was assigned a special mission: to attack Vinh Long airport, destroy the enemy's logistics force, and paralyze the enemy's supply center.

In the dark, they marched silently. On their shoulders were not only guns and ammunition but also an iron belief in victory. The battle broke out fiercely. More than 60 enemy helicopters were destroyed, the airport was in chaos. But in that blazing light, 35 of our soldiers heroically sacrificed themselves. They were buried by the enemy and their bodies were burned in a mass grave in the airport area. No trace.

It was more than 40 years later that I still clearly remember the morning of April 4, 2009. The people and armed forces of Vinh Long followed the traces and found the burial place of those 35 soldiers. The remains had turned to soil, only a few pieces of bone remained. The searchers picked up each piece of bone, each handful of dark soil where the bodies had dissolved into the ground, gathered them into 35 coffins, and then attached their names according to the list of martyrs who had sacrificed in the battle that year. Among them was martyr Tran Thanh Liem - Deputy Captain of Company 203 - who volunteered to be the leader, directly commanding the spearhead to penetrate deep into the airport.

They were given a solemn memorial service and burial at the provincial Martyrs Cemetery, amid the sad music of “Soul of the Dead”, amid the silent tears of their comrades, relatives and the people. It was impossible to identify each person, but their sacrifices could never be forgotten. The steles were erected as immortal low notes in the heroic epic of the nation.

I stood still in the middle of the cemetery, listening to the sound of the wind blowing through the trees, recalling the breath of that New Year's Eve. At that time, I was a reporter, following the front command post in Phuoc Trinh hamlet, Phuoc Hau commune to report on victories from all fronts, each attack to the Liberation News Agency to be broadcast on the Liberation Radio and the Voice of Vietnam .

In the wind today, I still feel the smell of smoke, blood and the unfinished dreams of the young soldiers who fell. They were not afraid. They did not resent. They looked at me - their comrade - with gentle, steadfast eyes, and only whispered: "Hello comrade". Then they quietly returned to the mother earth.

The call "comrade" still resonates from that deep place, like a message to those living today.

The graves no longer contain the bodies, for their bodies have melted into the earth. But they do not need to be called by name. Because the sacrifice of the entire platoon has become a symbol of the indomitable spirit of an entire nation.

And I, a lucky person who is still alive and has returned, bow my head silently, to hear more clearly the voice from the ground:

“We have accomplished our mission.

What about you comrades?

A question not just for me. But for all of us - those who are continuing to build and protect the Fatherland today.

NGUYEN THANH HUNG

Source: https://baovinhlong.com.vn/van-hoa-giai-tri/202507/tan-van-tieng-goi-tu-long-dat-me-9d60caf/