DIEU CAI, THE HERO OF CHO RO VILLAGE
(who bravely fell on battle)
Nguyen Mot
A salvo of drum sounds echoed from the long house, then spread over all the fields. The villagers one after the other gathered at the foot of the long house-the village meeting place. Since long the Cho Ro drums had not resounded this way. Since the American troops came here, national highway 20 was crowded with tall soldiers armed to the teeth. Everyday they carried out operations, destroyed and burned houses, plunged villages and hamlets in flames and smoke, denuded mountain and forests. Cho Ro residents did not enough rice to eat, did not have nothing to celebrate the festival in honour of Yang god after rice harvest. They took away even gongs and jars, caught pigs and chickens.
The long house, where night festival took place, nearly collapsed, its floor covered with dust and its facade wide open. The girls forgot their songs and the boys forgot to strike gongs. Then who struck the drum this day ? Why strike the drum in the middle of this rainy seventh month ? Maize in the fields began to have milk, pumpkin plants showed their bright yellow flowers. Cho Ro residents were going to have something to eat, why were the villagers convened here in the middle of the day ? Lots of questions occupied the villagers’ head. When they saw the long house roof appear in the distance, the sky was suddenly shaken by the roaring of a helicopter, the blades of which bent down the maize plants to the ground with the violent wind of their blades. Too accustomed to this scenery, the villagers calmly walked towards the long house. They raised their heads and looked indifferently at the American soldiers sitting at the helicopter door with their menacing black rifle barrels pointed downwards, many American soldiers surrounded the long house, they frightened the villagers with the clanging of their weapons. Standing on the staircase, the American officer stared at the hamlet chief then turned to the interpreter and uttered a long sentence in English, while speaking he waved his pistol in the direction of the villagers. The interpreter turned to the hamlet chief and translated:
- Mr. John orders you to tell everybody to accompany the troops at once to the new hamlet, there the USA Government has built houses for them and will give food to them. At the new hamlet they will live in security, because the Viet Cong Vietnamese communists are now mixing with the population to carry out subversive activities against the republic government.
The hamlet chief fearfully scratched his ear lobe:
- But...
The interpreter stared at him:
- There is no but... you receive money from the Americans, you must work for them !
The hamlet chief turned to the villagers and spoke indistinctly:
- The high mandarin orders...
Fuck you ! Loudly !
- The officer waved his pistol in the direction of the villagers and yelled angrily.
- Speak aloud !
The interpreter translated:
- The high mandarin orders that right now the villagers must move to the strategical hamlet, that they mustn’t supply the Viet Cong with food. There was a murmur in the crowd and someone spoke aloud:
- Impossible ! We cannot abandon our fields !
Bang... Bang...
The American officer shot in the air, then blew into his pistol barrel and turned to the interpreter... Anyone who does not move there is a Viet Cong, and he will be fired at !
The hamlet chief repeated all that the interpreter said to the villagers. The American officer went down, striking the heels of his nailed shoes on the stairs, he asked Dieu Chuot, smiling ironically:
- You a V.C ?
- The hamlet chief fearfully walked behind, waving his hand:
- No ! No !
- Go out !- The officer ordered, the soldiers pointed the sharp ends of their bayonets to everybody side. The troop of villagers walked sadly and heavily in front of black rifle barrels...
The villagers’ new living place was Duc Thang hamlet, surrounded by many barbed wire fences. The children of mountains and forests, who used to live in the middle of nature, to swim freely in the fresh water of Ca Du spring, were now confined in hot barracks roofed with iron sheets, watched closely by secrete eyes. Everyday some persons were arrested and carried away in tight shut vehicles. Little Dieu Cai asked his father:
- Why are these persons arrested, Dad ?
- Because they are suspected to be Viet Cong.
- What does Viet Cong mean, Dad ?
- They are similar to the guerillas in the hamlet who teach you.
- So, they are good people, aren’t they ?
- Yes, they are.
Saying this, Dieu Chuot bent down to sharpen bamboo spikes with a knife. He heard sounds of a cane striking on the ground. The hamlet chief appeared suddenly, waving his cane, asked:
- Have you finished a hundred spikes in full, Mr. Chuot ?
- I’m going to finish them soon.
- Work fast ! I shall deliver them to the high mandarin, and will have them planted around the hamlet, the Viet Cong often come here at present.
The hamlet chief, who liked canned food, became an active lackey of the enemy, who appointed him head of Duc Thang hamlet, since that date the villagers did no longer consider him a Cho Ro man. However, he did not like to be a Cho Ro man, he said that their traditional “lever alcohol” was tastless, he preferred American drinks. He told people to call him “Mr. Hamlet chief”. Waiting for him to go away, Dieu Cai asked his father:
- Why do you make spikes to trap good people ?
- If we do not obey them, they will put us in prison or kill us, my son !
- So the Americans are bad people, aren’t they ?
- Yes, they are.
Dieu Cai’s childhood passed away in frightful gun shots and cruel repression arrests. At 16 he accompanied his father to the fields to plant maize and beans. Everyday, he dad to pass in front of black blockhouses and the inquisitive eyes of the soldiers. At night, he confined himself in his hot apartment roofed with iron sheets. In his dreams, Ca Du spring always appeared to him with its fresh and limpid current. When he was 8, his father entrusted him to watch cows, everyday he and Man drove cows onto the hill, where they played freely. One day, Man proposed a fight game to him. Cai did not like this, he said:
- We are fellow-villagers, we should not fight against each other.
- Let’s practise fighting so that one day we shall fight against the Americans.
Cai agreed, and the children divided themselves into two camps. Cai was to crawl on the ground towards the hill foot, where man’s side was stationed, for reconnaissance. Crawling near a thorny while bamboo bush, Cai suddenly heard a soft call:
- Cai, here !
- Surprised, Cai turned his head with his armed sling .
- It’s I ! I am Anh Nam who taught you at the hamlet. – The voice came from the wild bamboo bush.
- Ah ! Anh Nam !
- Silence ! – Anh Nam pulled Cai into the wild bamboo bush and continued:
I am a guerilla fighting against the Americans. Take this to Mr. Muoi Cuong, do not anybody know that I am here. Do you understand ?
- Yes.
Anh Nam told Cai to carefully hide a bamboo tube, which was as small as the small finger, not to let it fall into the enemy’s hand, and to hand it over to Mr. Muoi Cuong. Knowing that this was an important mission, Cai was both overjoyed and anxious ... Cai did not let anybody know about this, even Man. In the evening driving the cows home, Cai saw the soldiers search the people who entered the hamlet very carefully, whether they were men or women, Cai held the bamboo tube tightly in his hand, he was very anxious. How to circumvent the soldiers ? Many times he decided to drop the bamboo tube on the road side, but remembering and Nam’s words he held it tightly. Nearing the hamlet gate, Cai’s cow suddenly raised her tail and emitted a big heap of excrement on the ground, an idea flashed in his head. Cai approached the cow, passed his hand under the cow’s tail, then suddenly tapped vigourously on her buttock, the cow leapt up to join the herd and passed through gate peacefully. Cai and Man were searched very carefully, but the soldiers found nothing. At home, Cai drew the bamboo tube from the cow’s anus and brought it to Muoi Cuong. Having a mission for the first time in his life, Cai fulfilled it successfully thanks to his intelligence and bravery.
One evening, Cai was looking at his father sharpen bamboo spikes when Muoi Cuong came. He was a peasant in a delta province who settled in Phu Tuc many years ago, he was very closely to Cho Ro people. he saw Muoi Cuong look up in the sky and cry “Oh God !” like Cho Ro people. Once, a guerilla was killed by the Americans, who attacked his corpse to a vehicle which dragged it the streets. Seeing this, Muoi Cuong went and cried “Oh God !” Squatting on the floor to admire the bamboo spikes made by Dieu Chuot, Muoi Cuong cleared his voice:
- Mr. Chuot, I think that you should send Cai to school.
After pondering for a moment, Dieu Chuot said:
- Why should I send him to school while I do not know whether we can survive?
Muoi Cuong slowly breathed in the smoke of his red burned cigarette which was as big as a finger then looked at Dieu Chuot and answered:
- He should go to school, he is intelligent, tomorrow or the day after tomorrow the revolutionaries will come here, and everyone must be literate, both highlanders and lowlanders.
- I obey you – Dieu Chuot said indistinctly.
And on the next day, Dieu Chuot himself sold his flock of chickens to buy new clothes and personally took Dieu Cai to the pastor’s house, asking him to teach the child. His eyes brightened with joy looking at his son who looked very serious and intelligent in his new clothes. Mrs. Buoi smiled seeing the father conduct the son to school.
Dieu Cai went to class in the morning, in the afternoon he drove the cows to the fields. Three months later, Cai brought home a big package of gift, which rejoiced everybody in the family. The pastor came and said to Dieu Chuot:
- Cai is a very good student, at the beginning of the new school year, send him to the public school.
So, this year Cai was admitted to grade 5. His teacher was a lowland Vietnamese, she was very gentle, taught him academic subjects and songs, Cai sang very well, so she loved him very much. Every night, Cai and the children in Duc Thang hamlet gathered at Mrs. Nam’s house located at the hamlet end. She cut off banana leaves and sold them to earn her living, so people called her Mrs. Nam-banana leaves. Mr. Nam told very interesting stories. Every night, he told the stories of Thanh Giong, Son Tinh, Thuy Tinh... to Cai and the other children who listened to him attentively. Many night, Cai saw in dream that he squared his shoulders to become Thanh Giong and like Thanh Giong who chased northern invaders from his homeland, Cai saw himself ride an iron horse and defeat the Americans who ran away in disorder. Every morning, before going to school, he stopped at Mrs. Nam’s house, and helped her place banana leaves into a basket, which she brought to the market for sale.
It was a Monday morning in 1964, the hamlet chief entered the class with a stranger and an American. They told the children to sing and gave them candies, then the hamlet chief said that any child who would sing the best in the class would be given many candies by the “high mandarin” (the American). All eyes looked at Cai, but Cai bite his lips stubbornly. The whole class yelled: Cai, sing ! the hamlet chief pointed his cane at him and ordered:
- You sing !
- No, answered ! – Cai obstinately.
- Ah ! Chuot’s son is arrogant !
Hearing the hamlet chief offend his father’s name, Cai snatched the cane out of the hamlet chief’s hand, then ran out of the class-room. This afternoon, standing on the hill and looking at the hamlet, Cai saw Mr and Mrs Nam’s cottage burning in red flames. Abandoning the herd of cows, Cai rushed to the hamlet, Man and the other children were there, too. Mr and Mrs Nam were tied to a jackfruit tree trunk. Mr. Nam’s hair was painted red with blood, the civil guard officer yelled:
- Where are your Viet Cong children ?
- I don’t know. Mr. Nam answered.
- You don’t know ! You don’t know ! – the officer struck Mr. Nam barbarously with his gun butt.
Cai stared at the officer with his burning eyes, then ran away as if he were chased by a phantom, crossed the springs and the hills in spite of thatch roots and thorny grasses which tore his feet. When he stopped on the Ca Du spring bank to cover his eyes full of tears, it was dark.
At the new that Dieu Cai disappeared for three consecutive days, the whole hamlet was stirred. Somebody said that he was eaten by a tiger. Dieu Chuot, anxious, looked for him everywhere. Mrs. Buoi went so much that her eyes swelled, anxieties, as heavy as mountain rocks, depressed this 40-year old woman who looked like a fading banana leaf. The hamlet chief came, struck his cane on the door and asked:
- Dieu Chuot, your son has joined the Viet Cong, hasn’t he ?
- I don’t know !
- You don’t know, but I do. When he comes back, I shall tell the high mandarin to shoot him down. Do not reproach me then.
Dieu Chuot stared at the traitor, then looked admiringly at the sharp scimitar he was holding in his hand, the hamlet chief walked backwards to the door and went away. A hope flashed in her head when she heard the hamlet chief speak, she pulled Dieu Chuot into the bedroom and murmured something. This afternoon, Dieu Chuot and Muoi Cuong drove their oxen cart into the forest, at the slope turn, they suddenly heard a familiar voice:
- Dad !...
Muoi Cuong jumped down and embraced Dieu Cai in his strong arms:
- So, you are coming back !
Dieu Cai held his father’s raw hands while Dieu Chuot silently looked admiringly at his son. Only a few days had passed, but he looked quite different with his grown up appearance, his short cut hair and a grenade hanging on his side. So, Mrs. Buoi’s guess was exact.
- With Mrs. Nam’s instructions, I sought the liberation army and asked to be admitted to their ranks. They agreed and took me in the guerilla group. Dad, excuse me.
Dieu Chuot was proud looking straight at his son, silently took off his pair of worn Bata’s shoes, handed over to Dieu Cai two hundred piaster which his wife had given him and said in a choked voice:
- Go on with your superiors, your mother and I are overjoyed seeing that you have grown up and become wise.
Then he bent down to put his son’s feet into his own shoes. Hurry up, your superiors are waiting for you. On the Ca Du spring bank near the previous hamlet the cow herding children and the guerrillas were waiting for Dieu Cai, Man also entered the forest to join the district armed troupes.
Two loud explosions...
These air-tearing explosions destroyed a corner of the fortified blockhouse at the end of Duc Thang hamlet. Four enemies were killed on the spot. Dieu Cai returned !... Dieu Cai returned !...Mrs. Buoi was overjoyed hearing the villagers murmured praises for her son. People in Binh Hoa Village told to each other legendary stories about a hero named Dieu Cai who possessed superhuman talents in spite of his young age. Every time people heard a mine explosion or a ringing volley of bullets, invariably on the next day morning there was news of some enemies punished for their sins. The soldiers and officers at Binh Hoa Village and Kiem Tan military sector could not eat and sleep. Every time he passed in front of Mr. Dieu Chuot’s house, the hamlet chief lost his previous arrogant attitude and was pale with fear.
Bang... Bang... Bang...
A salve of explosions resounded right in the middle of the town, everyone was agitated. As if they had eyes, the bullets hit straight the chests of four civil guards who fell in a pool of blood. A man’s shadow disappeared...
It is Dieu Cai ! It is Dieu Cai ! – People roared in chorus, the surviving soldiers lay flatly on the ground with their whole bodies shaken with fear. The chief of post, extremely angry, struck his hand on the table and yelled:
- You all are useless parasites, a whole squad is vanquished by a kid in the middle of the day, what shall I say to my superiors ?
The enemy did not suspect at this 16-year old “kid” was the deputy leader of the guerrilla forces of Binh Hoa Village.
With his eyes reddened by cruelty and anger, the officer ordered:
- Follow me to his house !
Fifteen minutes later, Mr. Dieu Chuot’s house was surrounded by the enemy. There was only Mrs. Buoi at home, the officer asked arrogantly:
- Where is your husband ?
- He’s gone to the forest !
- Where is your son ?
- Which one ?
- Dieu Cai ! – roared the officer.
- He has joined the revolutionaries, if you are courageous, go into the forest and arrest him !
- Impolite ! – He struck the highland woman twice with his rifle butt and added:
- Go into the forest and tell him to return here and report to the national government.
- I don’t know, I don’t go. Go there yourself and arrest him – Mrs. Buoi answered.
- Talk this highland woman to the post – The officer ordered.
Mrs. Buoi was dragged by the soldiers to the post. Consecutively for one month from the day she was arrested, along national highway 20, from km 86 to km 99...the enemy’s posts at the market hamlet, Thai Hoa, Duc Thang hamlets were successively attacked. After the gun shots people saw only enemies’ corpses lying everywhere, nobody know the shadow of a guerrilla. People murmured: Dieu Cai returned ... Dieu Cai returned...
Incurring heavy losses, the enemy asked for reinforcement, fenced more barbed wires, planted more spikes and buried more mines. Kiem Tan military sector sent hundreds of informers everywhere to carry out and investigations and find out the traces of this young guerrilla, whom people glorified as a hero. The man in charge of security at Cay Xang hamlet, reputed for his cruelty, could not catch Dieu Cai and he took revenge on innocent residents for his failure. Tens of people were accused to be Viet Cong and killed by him so that he could report his “exploit” to his superiors
One day, he was amusing himself with girls in a bar on national highway 20 near the market when he saw a drunk policeman, with a cap hiding his face, walked unstably towards him. Arriving at his table, the policeman suddenly took out a pistol, pointed it at his head and yelled:
- Hands up ! I am Dieu Cai.
Dieu Cai ! Dieu Cai ! The girls roared and ran away disorderly. Having no time to make any reaction, the security man felt the back of his neck touched by the cold barrel of the lethal pistol. In a twinkling, Dieu Cai and the security man disappeared in the dark.
The news of the security man arrested by Dieu Cai spread as fast as a flood sweep and rejoiced the villagers. This night, on the bank of Ca Phu spring, the guerrillas gathered to hear Dieu Cai sing revolutionary songs. His baritone voice echoed far away and wild birds kept quiet to listen to it... After three months’ barbarous tortures and allurements without obtaining any information, the enemy released Mrs. Buoi. Right in the night the security man was arrested, at 2 o’clock in the morning, Mrs. Buoi heard calls at the window:
- Mum... Mum... It’s I !
Overjoyed, she opened the door and looked with astonishment at the tall young man who stood straight like an ironwood tree in front of her. Had she not given birth to him on the spring bank seventeen years ago, she would not have believed that it was her Dieu Cai. She fussily awakened Dieu Chuot, told him to kill a chicken for their son, she joyfully watched her son slowly and watched at the steely pistol lying on the table. She murmured to herself “So, he is truly a hero ?”
Dieu Cai said goodbye to his parents and departed.
On the next day morning, the chief of post took his soldiers to Mrs. Buoi’s house. A few minutes later, Muoi Cuong and villagers also came here. The chief of post was interrogating Mrs. Buoi.
- Dieu Cai returned here last night, didn’t he ?
- Yes. But he already departed.
- Ah ! The chief of post pointed his pistol at her.
Muoi Cuong suddenly cried aloud:
- Down with those who arrest innocent people ! Down with... down with...! the villagers roared in chorus. The chief of post angrily fired two shots in the air and went away while the hamlet chief disappeared shamefully when the villagers came.
After this, the Americans troops invaded the mountains, forests, villages and hamlets and carried out terrible raids and operations. Anyone who went out of the hamlet could not bring anything with him. The guerrilla of Binh Hoa Village temporarily withdrew deep into the forest. At that time, Dieu Cai was promoted to the rank of military chief of the village. For long months they had to eat boiled bananas and grilled manioc to survive. The cans of rice that his mother packed in his bag was used to cooked gruel for the sick. No smell of rice, only manioc and wild vegetables, but Dieu Cai remained solid like an ironwood and alert like a wild leopard.
Climbing up to the tree top for observation, Dieu Cai saw in the distance his previous hamlet swarming with American soldiers, Cai calmly ordered his guerrillas to ambush. Dieu Lui and Dieu Nghich buried mines along the spring banks. After some circular flights of the “old ladies”, the enemy approached. Some burstings were heard ...tens of enemies fell on the spring banks, killed by mines, buried by the guerrilla. Bang ! Bang ! The guerrillas’ bullets were shot from everywhere, downwards from the tree tops, from the mountains, upwards from the spring-the enemies did not know where to hide themselves. They ran away like bees chased out o their hives. That time the guerrillas of Binh Hoa won a great battle, recovered lots of trophies.
After the 1969 great anti-raid victory, Dieu Cai said to his fellow combatants:
- We must find a way to shoot down the enemy’s planes, we cannot let them master our sky.
- But how could we hit their planes ? We have no anti-aircraft guns !
- They fly low, this rifle can do this !
Cai showed them the American rifle with 8 bullets which he had recovered in an anti-raid battle. To demonstrate his words, on the next day at 8 a.m, he led a group of 3 persons to ambush in the Chot plain, also called Tam Buong estuary, adjacent to Doc Mo, Gia Kiem area. This uncultivated plain was close to Kiem Tan military sector, on it there were only marshes covered with grass and reeds. To protect this military sector, the enemy’s reconnaissance planes flew very low to carry out air patrol. As he had expected, about half an hour later an “old lady” (reconnoitring plane L 19) appeared in the sky. After some circles, the plane flew over the plain and bent down the reeds with the wind of its blades. Dieu Cai leant his back against an earth mound, fixed his eyes on this big black raven and moved his rifle barrel in its direction as in childhood he aimed his sling in the direction of hawks. Waiting for the plane to begin its second circle, he aimed at it front part and pressed the trigger bang ! bang ! two distinct shots were heard. The hit plane faltered, blazed up and plunged its head on the plain, coils of black smoke mounted up in the air. In the forest, the guerrillas roared joyfully:
- Dieu Cai has hit a plane !
Dieu Cai’s exploit added strength and confidence to the guerrillas and the population. Upon the news that Dieu Cai downed a plane with his rifle, Dieu Man and district troops came to reinforce the Binh Hoa guerrillas. A few days later, Cai and his comrades ambushed at km 96 just on the national road. This time they shot down a helicopter. The guerrilla forces developed incessantly, many youths entered the forest to join Cai’s unit. The assistance given by the district troupes led by Dieu Man, his previous fellow-cow-herdsman, added more force to the guerrilla group. Under the command of the young talented village military chief, the Binh Hoa guerrilla group successively organized ambush combats along national highway 20, which confined the enemy in their posts. Thanks to his singing skill and camouflage talent, he often disguised himself into a policeman or an itinerant singer to return to the village and disseminate tracts or make propaganda for the guerrilla group. When the alerted enemy arrived, he disappeared. Appearing then disappearing, Dieu Cai was the terror of the enemy. In 1969, the Binh Hoa party committee announced a good piece of news: “Dieu Cai was chosen to attend the region-level emulation combatants’ congress. At the congress, our comrades palpated Dieu Cai’s arms admiringly and lavished praised to the national hero of the Cho Ro race, which made his face redden. He always explained that these exploits were not his own, but of the Binh Hoa guerrilla group. Dieu Cai’s modesty made him more estimable. At the congress, the participants appointed him to be a member of the “Excellent children of the South” to visit Uncle’s Ho native place and the socialist North-Viet Nam.
Returning back to his guerrillas from the congress, he was teased amusingly by his comrades. After sharing gifts to everybody, Cai went to the rock on the spring bank, sat on it and looked in the direction of Duc Thang hamlet in the distance, where his parents and his younger sister Dieu Man lived fearfully under the enemy’s constraint.
Being aware of the sadness of his childhood friend, Dieu Man approached and asked:
- Why have you been sad since your return from the congress, Cai ?
- I am chosen to visit the Northern part of Viet Nam, said Cai.
- You should be joyous then !
- I am both joyous and anxious because who will care for the guerrilla group ? You all need my presence, the villagers are repressed, barbarously by the enemy. But if I do not go to the North this time, when shall I have another opportunity ? I don’t know what to decide
- No problem. we shall go there tomorrow or the day after tomorrow, when the nation is unified – said Dieu Man.
- Yes ! You are right, Man ! – Dieu Cai’s eyes brightened – I must stay to fight with you. One day, when the nation is unified, you and I visit Uncle Ho’s native village. Having settled his anxiety, Cai embraced Man and pulled him into the spring. The two friends played in the water as they had done when they herded cows together.
In the cavern, comrade Quan, head of Kiem Tan military zone, was studying a military card attentively, the attendant suddenly entered:
- Comrade, Dieu Cai, the head of Binh Hoa guerrilla group, wants to see you.
- Well, let him in.
He merrily walked to the door and warmly shook hands with the two outstanding guerrillas in the eastern region:
- Well, are you ready for your travel ?
Dieu Cai scratching his head, said hesitatingly:
- Comrade, allow me to... stay !
- Ha, what did you say ?
- Allow me to stay with you team-mates !
Then, lest that the head of the military zone would interrupt him, he clearly presented the reasons for his request.
The old commander nodded silently, then tapped his shoulder:
- Your combative spirit is very praiseworthy:
Then, he took out the pistol he bore on his side and handed it to Cai. Cai admired the weapon for some time, then gave it back to the commander and said:
- Give me an AR 15 rifle for me to attack the Binh Hoa headquarters and punish the enemy !
- You have it ! He handed an AR 15 to Cai, was very confident in this young combatant and saw him to the door.
Keeping his promise to the commander, in a fine morning in the middle of October 1969, he led the guerrillas and the armed police forces to attack Binh Hoa headquarters on two sides. After less than an hour of combat, the enemy ran away, the guerrillas occupied Binh Hoa headquarters for many consecutive hours.
After this heavy defeat, the enemy angrily brought tanks here to carry out mopping-up operations. Our rifle bullets shot against the tanks were like arrows shot into an elephant hide, the guerrillas incurred significant losses. In face of the enemy who used tanks and heavy machine guns in their operations, Cai knew that we could not resist, so he ordered his guerrillas to withdraw into the deep forest to preserve our forces. As a result, the enemy multiplied their pillages and murders and terrorized “pro-communist” families. Many nights, Cai could not sleep, became haggard sensibly, looking at him, nobody thought that he recently reached his 18th birth anniversary. Being both angry with the enemy and anxious for his family, Cai often sat on a rock and looked with intense hatred in the direction of the enemy’s post. Knowing his friend’s state of mind, Man Proposed a stratagem:
- To destroy tanks, we must have anti-tank mines.
- Where would we find mines ? – Asked Cai.
- I have heard that in the forest of military zone D there is a workshop specialized in the manufacture of anti-tank mines.
- I shall go there.
- But it is a long way from here.
- However far it is, I shall go – said Dieu Cai determinedly.
Right in this night, Cai said goodbye to his comrades, strapped his knapsack to his back and departed for the workshop located in the forests of military zone D. After crossing forests and springs for three days and three nights, Dieu Cai returned to Ca Du base with his heavy knapsack on his back. Five square mines similar to glutinous rice cakes were camouflaged under bamboo leaves.
After the Tet (lunar year’s day festival), American tanks flocked into the forest again. This time, the Binh Hoa guerrillas were more self-confident with their new weapons. They ambushed around the hill. Foreseeing the itinerary of the tanks, Cai buried three mines in important places. Six tanks in a transversal rank advanced in the direction of the base, the first tree turned round the hill, two turned right, one turned left as Cai had foreseen.
Bang ! Bang ! Bang ! Three deafening explosions shook the mountain and the forest, rocks fell down noisily. Three tanks overturned... using mines for the first time, the Binh Hoa guerrillas won a resounding victory. Thirty-six American soldiers died on the battle-field, tens of them were injured. The district people’s committee awarded letters of commendation to Dieu Cai and his guerrilla group.
After each battle, he returned to the base, leisurely leant his back against a rock, looking in the sky and sang his preferred traditional song, dreaming of a day when the country was united, he would then go to the North and visit Uncle Ho’s native place.
- But he could not go to the North !
Dieu Man sadly said so to me. To conceal his intense emotion, he advanced his hand to peel a rambutan.
- Cai sang very well, his voice enchanted all of us then – Mrs. Hue, Man’s wife said. Pushing the rambutan towards me, she continued:
- We were close friends, I was then a nurse in the forest, he and my husband loved each other very much. Both of them were alike, so people took them for brothers, but Cai was taller.
Hearing Mrs. Hue speak, I remembered that when I contacted the people’s committee of Tuc Trung village to inquire about hero Dieu Cai, a village official said to me Dieu Cai’s brother, Dieu Man was still alive and living at km 94, and that I should contact Dieu Man for more information. It was strange that many people still erroneously took them for brothers. Seeing me off, the official added: “ Mr. Man and Mr. Cai shot down American planes together”. I hesitating asked Dieu Man:
- In what circumstances did hero Dieu Cai die ?
Sunshine brightened on the rambutan leaves, birds warbled in the tree, some pieces of sunshine fell on Dieu Man’s robust chest. I said to myself that this scenery was similar to that in the forest at that time !
- This was the saddest day for the guerrilla group and the residents of Binh Hoa. It was the 24th of March, 1970. Dieu Cai led a 4-guerrilla team to the battle. Hearing that the enemy were carrying raid and arrested people in Thai Hoa hamlet, he and his team ambushed on the main road and waited for the enemy to come... unfortunately...Dieu Man hesitated, reluctant to recall this painful event. His wife answered for him:
- He was hit by an oriented mine buried by the enemy. He and his team-mates all died. This was due to an informer, otherwise how could they kill Dieu Cai ?, He was so talented ! This traitor was punished later deserving by our forces.
- Who was this traitor ? – I asked by curiosity.
- I do not remember – Dieu Man answered.
- He cannot remember ! – added his wife – He remembers nothing, even his combat exploits !. Since Dieu Cai’s death, he was replaced him as chief of the village military forces up to the liberation day and sometime after the liberation.
- Although Dieu Cai was conferred the title of hero only after the country reunification, he had been a hero for us while he was still alive. My exploits are nothing compared to his.
As Dieu Man said, before arriving here, I drank coffee in an inn beside the school bearing his name and inquired about hero Dieu Cai. The inn-keeper recounted in detail his exploits going home, I was obsessed by this question:
- It’s strange ! Dieu Man cannot remember his own exploits, but why does he always remember everything about hero Dieu Cai ?