Major General Nguyen Van Phuoc, the story of the first parade commander

96 years old, with nearly a century of military career, Major General Nguyen Van Phuoc is a living witness to history, from the 1955 parade to the day the country was reunified.

By chance, an old black and white Russian documentary suddenly became a magical bridge between the past and the present. The story began when Nguyen Khang Chien, son of Major General Nguyen Van Phuoc, former Head of the Tank-Armored Department, High-level Military Academy (now the National Defense Academy), searched for documents online. When watching the documentary "Historical Day" copyrighted by Hanoi Radio and Television from the Russian State Film Archive about the January 1, 1955 military parade, he was surprised and moved.

Battalion Commander Nguyen Van Phuoc at the parade on January 1, 1955 at Ba Dinh Square. Photo: Family provided.

In the historical film, he recognized his father. At that time, Major General Nguyen Van Phuoc was a 25-year-old Battalion Commander.

“On the screen was the image of a young, steadfast, and dignified officer leading the command group, raising his hand to salute General Vo Nguyen Giap during the parade. For me, that was a sacred thread connecting the past with the present, a great pride that not everyone has. Because each soldier present that day not only represented the unit, the army, but also represented the country and a heroic history of the nation,” Nguyen Khang Chien shared.

When reviewing those images, the 96-year-old soldier could not hold back his tears. He cried silently, his hand gently placed on his chest. Memories of a military career, of the best years dedicated to the independence and freedom of the nation, came flooding back.

Ultimate honor under the Victory flag

"It was a great responsibility, but above all, a great honor," Major General Nguyen Van Phuoc began his story with memories of the parade 70 years ago.

In 1955, after 9 years of resistance, President Ho Chi Minh , the Party Central Committee and the Government returned to the Capital. A solemn parade was held at Ba Dinh Square to celebrate the historic event. The 25-year-old Battalion Commander Nguyen Van Phuoc was then assigned to command the entire army's Emulation Fighters Bloc, a formation of the most outstanding individuals in combat and labor.

Precious documentary photos are kept respectfully by the family. Photo: Family provided.

He recalled: “To prepare for the ceremony, we had to practice diligently for 3 months at Tong airport (Son Tay), then moved to Bach Mai airport for joint training. The weather was harsh, rainy and cold, but no one was discouraged.”

The joy and honor of the young soldiers seemed to multiply when Uncle Ho visited. "Out of pity for the officers and soldiers who were training hard, Uncle Ho came three times to encourage and give gifts. Every time we saw Uncle Ho, we felt like we were given more strength to complete our mission in the best way possible," he said, his voice still filled with emotion.

On January 1, 1955, under the red flag with yellow star flying over Ba Dinh Square, the young commander Nguyen Van Phuoc and his comrades took brave steps, representing the strength and maturity of the Vietnam People's Army.

"From barefoot soldiers carrying bamboo sticks and flintlock guns, our army became regularized with diverse equipment and weapons. On the face of each soldier at that time, there was boundless pride," Major General Phuoc recalled.

70 years later, when watching the training sessions in preparation for the 80th anniversary of the August Revolution and National Day on September 2, that feeling of pride arose strongly in him. He felt that he had fully fulfilled his duty as a soldier, contributing his blood and bones to the country's independence and complete unification.

Military career journey of nearly a century

With nearly a century of military service, the life of Major General Nguyen Van Phuoc can be considered an epic of patriotism. Born in 1930 in Hung Nguyen ( Nghe An ), when the August Revolution broke out, 15-year-old Nguyen Van Phuoc joined the crowd to seize power. His desire to hold a gun to protect the Fatherland was so strong that the young man walked hundreds of kilometers from his hometown Nghe An to Thanh Hoa to "ask to join the army".

Major General Nguyen Van Phuoc revisits the Dien Bien Phu Battlefield on the occasion of the 70th anniversary of the Dien Bien Phu Victory. Photo: Family provided.

In 1946, during the National Resistance War, he followed his father to join the Engineering Workshop, and then officially entered the military. As a soldier of Company 71, Battalion 375 of Regiment 9, Division 304, he participated in most of the major campaigns in the resistance war against the French such as Tran Hung Dao, Quang Trung, Hoa Binh, Upper Laos and the peak was Dien Bien Phu.

After completing the mission of taking over the capital, his unit withdrew to station in the Mieu Mon area (Hanoi). During this time, he was appointed as Battalion Commander of Battalion 375 (Regiment 9, Division 304), and was then selected to train troops to prepare for the parade at Tong airport.

When peace was restored in the North, he continued his military career and became one of the core cadres who built the Tank - Armored force. During the resistance war against the US, he was present in the fiercest battlefields, from the B5, B4 fronts, to the 1st Army Corps. One of his greatest prides was the more than 10 years he spent working directly with General Le Trong Tan, as an armored staff assistant. He was the one who contributed to commanding the "iron fists" that made the glorious victory of Lang Vay and entered the Independence Palace on the day of total victory.

“I am proud to be a soldier”

A lifetime of fighting, Major General Nguyen Van Phuoc's body bore many injuries. He was wounded many times, including during the Route 6 Campaign, when his tank was hit and it seemed he would never return. He still has many pieces of shrapnel in his body, one in his knee, making it very difficult for him to walk. He also suffers from Agent Orange and must undergo regular treatment.

Major General Nguyen Van Phuoc at the Lang Vay Victory Monument (Quang Tri), December 2022. Photo: Family provided.

But to him, all of that is nothing compared to the sacrifice of his comrades. "Thinking about my fallen comrades, I tell myself that I am much luckier. The moment I witnessed the sacrifice of my comrades, there are no words to describe the pain and loss," the old soldier choked up.

After the reunification day, he organized many reunions for veterans, including a meeting of soldiers who had been on the tank that entered the Independence Palace. For him, it was not just a reunion, but a way to show gratitude to his comrades and to history.

Having devoted his youth to the country, his personal happiness had to be put aside. Married before joining the army, the young soldier Nguyen Van Phuoc left, and was gone for 30 years. Three decades, not a single letter, not a single meeting. It was not until the country was unified that he was reunited with his family. Their first daughter was born after his wife had waited nearly 30 years.

In Nguyen Khang Chien's memory, the image of his hard-working mother, Mrs. Nguyen Thi Phuong, with a shoulder pole and two young children on each end, traveled dozens of kilometers under enemy bombs to protect and raise her children, is deeply imprinted. That is a typical image of the silent sacrifice of millions of Vietnamese women during the war, a solid rear for soldiers like him to hold their guns firmly on the front lines.

Major General Nguyen Van Phuoc revisits the 202nd Tank Regiment - the first tank unit of the Vietnam People's Army. Photo: Family provided.

Nearly a century has passed, from a barefoot boy participating in the revolution, to a battle-hardened general, Major General Nguyen Van Phuoc has lived a full life, witnessing all the ups and downs of the nation. Now, in his old age, his greatest joy is to be with his children and grandchildren, and to see the country change day by day.

"I am proud to have been a soldier, completing the tasks assigned by the Party and State," he shared.

When asked about his message to the younger generation, he expressed: "I just hope that the younger generations will continue to strive to make our country stronger and more powerful, and the people happy."

At the upcoming 80th anniversary of the August Revolution and National Day on September 2nd, at the historic Ba Dinh Square, Vietnam will tell the story of 80 years of national heroism. In that story, there is him, a living witness, a symbol of the generation that sacrificed everything for independence and freedom, silently watching and smiling proudly.

Source: https://khoahocdoisong.vn/thieu-tuong-nguyen-van-phuoc-chuyen-nguoi-chi-huy-khoi-duyet-binh-dau-tien-post2149048828.html