Escape from the earthly hell
Lovingly sent to Xuan Hong and my children ...I will never forget the
darkest days of my family and of my country. Sincerely thanks to those who
helped and covered me during the days while I was escaping from the
prison.
I also show here my appreciation to all the crew on the ship of Cap Anamur
for rescuing me in ocean.
The author’s statement (For these reprinted books)
After escaping from the Z30D prison and after fleeing by boat to France,
although in a very huge hardship, even lamentable, we can say so, in a
country that was strange and quite different to me, I tried my best to write
and complete this book in 1980. It was published for the first time in French
.My purpose at that time was to display to the world the truth concerning
savage actions and behavior of the communist regime in Ha Noi toward the
people of South Viet Nam in general, and specially to hundred of thousand
of military and civil officers of the Republic of South Viet Nam, after the
Communist invasion there on April 30 1975.
I only wanted to be a living witness, to ring a bell to warn all the people in
the free world; I deeply hoped in my heart , all nations over the world will
raise their opinion more strongly and stop and hinder the communist
bloody hands and deliberate my friends who were persecuted to half living
half dead in hard labor in prisons under a regime that is of the most
dictatorial and of no human nature in the mankind history.
Today most of the victims in communist prisoners who were survived have
come and settled in USA one after the other according to the HO plan. This
book that is coarse and superficial should have fulfilled its purpose if an
event did not take place very recently and if our Vietnamese people did not,
once again, get anxious or sleeplessly pondered about it.
On July 11th 1995, the President of The USA Bill Clinton announced that he
will normalize the relationship to Ha Noi regime. His statement made a
choke of indignation in our Vietnamese nationalists who love their
country… But there were also those who showed their high spirit and their
cheerful attitude; they thought this is a good chance for them to go back to
Viet Nam and share their part in the rebuilt of their country, in bringing
happiness and welfare to their people; they were satisfying the need and
were answering the calling of Ha Noi regime…the Vietnamese communists
have called for reconciliation and reunion of the people. I never dare to
criticize them; because it is possible that from their good hearts, they are
willing to do something to help 70 million Vietnamese people who have
been suffered for more than 20 years under the leadership of the Vietnamese
communist party that was dictatorial and stupid. I only would like to
make an additional reminder; so that they can understand that the
communists never love their people nor their country; they would sign any
agreement with us only when they are in weak position, or when they do not
have other choice, or they know a threat of destruction coming to them. But
when they get enough strength, they would not hesitate to turn back and kill
us. Cruelty, immorality, deceitfulness are included in the nature of the
Communists. Do not think that the communists will change their way; for
this is only an illusion. We will find out so abundant proofs of this matter in
history that it should be unnecessary to mention it here; it should be only a
waste of ink and paper.
“Business is business” is for the Americans; “Communist is Communist” is
for us, Vietnamese people; Communist should never be any thing else.
Nobody can know Communist better than the Communists themselves.
Nguyen Ho, a communist party member with 54 years service, now, with his
opened eyes, could not deny the harsh reality in Viet Nam. Let those who
still have not known very well about the Communism in general, especially
about the Vietnamese communist, listen to the interview made for him by
the Democratic forum on July 13 1995 at 7 PM. He said:” It is watchful that
the Vietnamese communist party, with abundance of cunning designs, of
tricks and of stratagems, would deceive the US government as it has on its
people 65 years ago…”
Is the fact of 65 years deceit of the VN communist not strong enough to
open our eyes? I recall the days while I was in the Z30D reeducation camp,
a VN communist prison. One day I heard by hazard a extraordinary story; it
was like this: a lady came to the camp to see and feed her husband just as my
wife did that day. She sat at the other side of my table, saying to her
husband, a prisoner like me: “Last week I met Van Vy, our musician, who
was driving a Honda motorcycle on Le Loi boulevard”. At first nobody
could understand what she meant. But after saying these words she smiled.
Now she could make herself known. Everybody knows that Van Vy is an
ancient music player with an exquisite talent and that his both eyes were
totally blind. Now, fortunately, uncle Ho and his communist party and his
liberation were so great that even the blind musician got light for his eyes ,
so that he could see and drive motorcycle (!) I really admired the unknown
author who created the story that was sensational and immortal. But, it is
regrettable that a few people among us with their full sighted eyes are not to
see and recognize the reality, while a blind “can see” what is happening in
the communist regime.
I would like to give this amusing story as a gift to my readers on the
occasion that this simple book reappears in the world .
Little Saigon, November 1st 2004.
DUONG THANH
THE TURNING POINT OF HISTORY
Duong van Minh, the President of The Republic of South Viet Nam
commanded:” All military soldiers, all government employees must stay at
their positions to hand over them to the revolutionary government and do not
fight back”.
In the position of a President, Mr Minh’s announcement was a national
order. But only a few people obeyed it and stayed in their positions; most of
them left for home; the people of the country were in chaos and turmoil.
Some were running this way, some, that of opposite. Scattered sounds of
firing of all kind of weapons were heard here and there!
I drove my car round about to take a look at the situation. I started from my
house in Gia Dinh city. As I arrived at the bridge of Cau Bong, I saw on the
pavement a dead body with only one leg; the other leg was lying in the
middle of the street with blood all over! A lot of people come and go on
running in a hurry; they did not have any concern to this saddening and
pitiful corpse.
I left Cau Bong bridge and made a turn on to Hien Vuong boulevard. When I
was near the intersection with Hai Ba Trung boulevard I saw a boy about 10
years old; his right arm was broken and almost cut off; with his left hand, he
held firmly the wounded right arm and lifted it up so that it would not fall
down. Blood came out on his body and wet all his shirt. He was crying and
creaming right back of an about 30 years old man who was driving a Honda
motorcycle rushing in the direction to hospital.
I could not drive fast because of a lot of wire barricades everywhere used to
keep people away. When I arrived at the fish market on Tran Quoc Toan
boulevard, I saw a second lieutenant of the Airborn Division who was
pulling out a colt 45, pointing it toward me. I thought he wanted to stop me,
so I slowed down, looked at him waiting for his order. Suddenly, he pointed
the gun to his temple, pulled the trigger without any hesitation but with
calm. After a loud clang sound the military officer felt down to the ground. I
could not control myself, while a respect arose in my heart. When I turned
my eyes from him, I saw about 5 or 7 soldier corpses lying at full length
nearby on the ground in puddles of blood not hardened yet; maybe those
soldiers had killed themselves in a short moment before.
I was puzzled by this sight. I did not want to continue my stroll and I drove
home. I told my wife and my children to pack up their belonging and go to
live with our relatives in Cho Lon city. At that time sounds of firing were
still heard here and there.
When I arrived at our relative’s house, I kept staying inside, never went out
to street for fearing of seeing more heart breaking sights. I tuned the radio to
BBC station and listened to it the whole day, because I wished to know what
is going on in the streets.
The situation seemed to cool down 4 days later; my family and I came back
to our own house in Gia Dinh city. Every part of the city began to be noisy
with the sound of loudspeakers broadcasting songs of deliberation mixed
with the communiqués of the revolutionary government.
My doorbell rang at 9:00 AM on May 14 1975. I answered the door. I was
very startled: Lieutenant An Ngoc Tran was standing firmly in front of me
with a blue-red flag mounted on his shirt pocket (the 2 cm x 4 cm size flag
of the Liberation Front of South Viet Nam), and right in the middle, a
sentence was read “Security committee of Gia Dinh province”. Lieutenant
An was escorted by 3 men with “tai beo” hats on their heads, with AK
submachine guns in their hands.
That happened so suddenly that I got a little embarrassed. But I soon gained
calmness in a short moment; I invited Lieutenant An and his 3 men to enter
my house. At the same time I whispered to my wife to go out quietly
through back door and have the chief of the ward where we resided come.
An and one of his 3 men stepped in with his AK sub machine gun; the other
two stood outside and watched the door.
Not sitting at the chair yet, An introduced me to the soldier:
- This is a Major of the military force, an enemy-hired killer in this zone.
Then he pointed his finger straight to my face, he continued saying:
- Come to my office and “work “.
I looked at the soldier waiting for his interaction. Pointing his AK gun
toward the front door, he commanded:
- Follow me.
I did not want to go but tried to make a delay while waiting for the presence
of the chief of ward and my wife. I replied them;
- Please let me say some thing before you arrest me.
An strongly warned:
- If you want to say anything, come to my office.
But the soldier interfered:
- OK I agree. Go ahead.
I explained to them:
- First, I would like to make a correction that my rank is Captain not
Major, in the military security force. More than that I was transferred to the
Ministry of Education to teach students for a long time ago. I took out of
my pocket and showed them a communiqué of the military administrative
committee of the city of Sai Gon - Gia Dinh . It was signed by General
Tran van Tra; part of it was read: “According to the national spirit of
conciliation and harmony, do not revenge one another for the crimes
convicted before April 30th 1975”. I read it loudly before they did. Then I
asked them:
- So, for what reason do you arrest me?
An replied:
- You are included cruel companion – hired killer!(?) This is the proof: in
the past, you forbade all those who came to my house, and you
condemned that all my family members are Vietnamese Communists.
I rejected what An said:
- You are inventing the story. I never spoke these words. But if I did, let
us think about it…I looked at the soldier as if willing to explain to him,
saying:
- At that time I was a military security Captain; I only said: “Do not enter
the house of lieutenant An, because all people of that house are VCs”. I
never entered his house to make any threats or troubles. Today, I have not
known what lieutenant An is doing in the revolutionary government. But
now he is leading you to my house and he is trying to put me in trouble. So,
you gentlemen, what do you think, An and I, who is more evil?
All of the sudden, my wife came back home with the chief of ward. He
stepped in; his K 54 pistol was hung at his side. He said:
Show me your identity and warrant, my comrades.
The soldier and An reacted, saying:
- Who are you? What makes you want to see our identities?
- I am the chief of ward. If you comrades want to do anything in the
section under my charge, you must let me know. You are doing such
illegal thing like this, you are anti revolutionary.
The soldier strongly reacted:
- You are claiming you are chief of ward, show me your papers first.
- I can not show you my papers.
An argument between them broke out fiercely for the right to look at other
side’s papers first. They were disputing inside; then they continued it
outside; but nobody wanted to show his ID card first. Finally, nothing could
be solved; they came to control themselves to keep from power competing
in the area. They left without saying goodbye; every one went on his way;
so I got out of trouble. The reason why Lt An had prejudice against me was
of little things that would have been counted insignificant if he did not keep
in his heart privately. In the past Lt An usually came and flirted Miss
Mydung thi Tran. She is the daughter of Mr Khoa Cong Tran and Mrs No
thi Nguyen. They were living at 38 Trinh Hoai Duc St, Gia Dinh province.
Mrs No was stout and cook-eyed. Her nature was immoral and fiercelooking; it is hard to find a second woman like her. All people in her
neighborhood knew her deeds. She became known to every body because
she had abused her husband, her children and even her father in law. Every
body in this area was scary of her except me; Therefore I was a sharp thorn
in her eyes; she wanted to do some thing to forewarn me; once she had
hired 2 vagrants come and threaten to shoot at me.
But they two did not get lucky. I did not step back but confronted them. I
seized them right in Mrs No’s house.
Then Lt An appeared, domineering, haughty, extremely proud. It was not
the real manner of an officer in the army. His clothing was quite
extraordinary, not of military uniform. He used to be at My Dung’s home
even while all military units were at camp, in civil clothing or in military
uniform on fighting, or in office, without any badges. When he married My
Dung she was already pregnant for 3 months. After their wedding he wore
military yellow uniform with strings of honor and enjoyed their
honeymoon.
It was certain that My Dung’s friends and her neighbors should wonder:
“Which unit of the army does he serve? He is so unoccupied while those
who were in the army had to stay in their positions or camp almost every
day. They were not permitted to go out or visit their families. Mrs No
proudly answered her neighbors;” My son in-law is working in a secret
unit.”
“Which secret unit?” I asked myself and I decided to find out the unit Lt An
was serving. My decision came from curiosity as well as from my carrier’s
need.
I went to the Military Security Bureau to look for his curriculum vitae. I
could not keep laughing on looking at his picture. It showed a monk in a
dark brown buddhist priest’s dress, with a shiningly shaven head; and this
was his record: An Ngoc Tran, Lieutenant, buddhist’s name: Thich Giac
Ngan, had been serving for The 5th Division.
He had been sent to The Military Security Bureau because of his suspicious
activities. He had been dismissed from the buddhist congregation. He lost
his rank as Lieutenant. An was sent back to a normal citizen. The Military
Security asked him to submit necessary documents like: diplomas,
certificates. If he had earned his high school diploma, he would be sent to
the non-commissioned officer school like all the other civilians.
But An did not have any thing, so the Military Security Bureau sent him to
the Quang Trung Military Training Center. And as the result he had
become a private at once. Since then I had never seen him again.
LIFE AS AN ARMY OFFICER
MILITARY CARRIER
May I open a double quote mark here to tell a little about my military
carrier. In order that you, my readers could understand why I had wanted to
get out of military force to become a normal citizen and the reason of not
leaving Viet Nam to avoid the Communists when they had occupied Saigon
city. And most of all, I wanted to decisively tell you about what the
Communists have talked and done to all of us- who had been fighting,
sacrificing our own bone and blood for peace and freedom of our people.
A lot of chaos occurred in the time I was in College, especially in the
political area. When the Buddhist monk Thich Quang Duc burned himself to
death, the Minister of State Department Vu van Mau shaved his head, I was
attending the Law Faculty in Saigon.
I was 1 of the students who were the most ardent in riots against Ngo Dinh
Diem’s government. So I was watched by secret police. I left Saigon and
resettled in Phu Quoc island; I planned to flee across the sea to Kampuchea .
While in Phu Quoc I lived in fishing families hoping and waiting for an
opportunity.
Out of anticipating, Kampuchea unpredictably broke relation with The
Republic of South Viet Nam while Kampuchea and Viet Nam were
competing the Sovereignty of Right on Phu Quoc Island. They both
increased their navy force to watch and patrol carefully this area. In the
Northern, closed to Kampuchea border, their warships have been ready to
fire at each other. As the result my fleeing plan failed. I would be seized
soon after I returned to the land. No more choice I had to continue my
drifting life here in Phu Quoc.
Time flew rapidly. Money in my pocket was almost gone because I did not
get supply from family. I resigned myself to go to Duong Dong Middle
school and applied for a job of teaching. Since then I got the job of “tapping
children heads”.
On November 11th 1963 the Ngo Đinh Diem government was overthrown.
The new government promulgated a general mobilization in order to cope
with the turbulent situation at that time.
In 1965 I was called to present myself in the 20th military training course in
the Thu Duc military reserve Academy. After graduation I was selected to
serve the military security bureau and I attended a specializing training. I
had passed with a good score; I got the priority to select a location of my
desire to serve. It was not the matter of big root or small root- powerful
people are big root. Youth is eagerness, activity loving, adventure liking;
those had made me to be chosen to work at searching office, part of
intelligent forces, under the command of Lieutenant Colonel Nguyen van
Hoc. Thereafter he had become Colonel as I knew. When he was in the
reeducation camp (communist prison) he went on a hunger-strike and died.
In the time I had been working there Colonel Nguyen Ngoc Loan has been
the Bureau commander. I had been directly commanded by Captain Cao van
Trieu, Cpt Nguyen Cong Hau and Major Bach Ngoc Ho. With the heated
blood and eagerness inside, I had worked eagerly, never hesitated, or
worried of any difficulties and dangers, followed the disciplines and always
tried to complete well my duties I had been entrusted.
Brother Tac Diu Giai, a Chinese Vietnamese was my close friend when we
were in the Cau Bac Elementary School in Mytho city; when we grew up,
we were separated for a long time and got different jobs; but we still had
kept the friendship.
On July 5th 1967, 3 young men in civilian clothes had blocked him down the
Su Van Hanh lane in Cho Lon Chinese town. They arrested and forced him
into a white Toyota car then drove away. His wife saw and noted down the
license plate of the car; she ran to my house very soon and called for help.
I at once looked up in the file and found out this license plate is of the
airforce security unit, which was under the command of Lt Colonel Hiep and
located at 6 Hong Thap Tu boulevard.
I rather had peace in mind at this information. I let Giai’s wife know I got
some clue about her husband. But I did not tell her the agency which had
caught him. Because I did not know yet what kind of crime Giai committed,
so I could not take any action right away. I also recommended her to inform
me immediately if anything else might occur.
Two days later, in a panic-stricken condition, she came and let me know that
a man met her with a suggestion like this, if she wanted her husband
released, she would have to pay him 1 million piasters
( Vietnamese currency) in the coffee shop at the corner of Ton That Dam
and Huynh Thuc Khang streets; he would be there at 6 PM of the next day to
take the money.
So I knew that my friend was innocent. At once, I wrote a report submitted
to Cpt Cao Trieu Van with all the information, including the name of the
agency that seized my friend, the spot where the money will be handled, so
that our higher authorities could have good and in time plan to arrest the
black mail. I submitted my report to Captain Cao Trieu Van, my leader. He
passed it right away to Major Ho, the Bureau Leader, to carefully examine it.
I was waiting impatiently because I thought the time for acting is limited.
Major Ho came back from the office of the Bureau Leader with a pale face. I
was called to meet him. I felt glad inwardly in the thought that I would be
appointed to carry the important duty of wiping out the evil doers. So I
entered with boldness his office. But I did not have the chance to take a seat
when, in his rage of anger, he told me not to meet Giai’wife any more. His
commandment in unkind manner put me to shame. My dream was broken
down; I realized the truth. With a honor of a military officer, I was so proud
because of the military branch I had devoted myself to serve for, was based
on the belief of fighting against all kind of evil. I had never doubt until now.
Who would have thought…!
Many thoughts were spinning in my brain, I could not decide any thing to
do. I asked myself:” Should I obey the order from superior? Or should I hide
myself from the victim? But the victim is my dear friend! How would I have
the courage to continue our friendship? My conscience would not allow me
to do so. For me, what precious in our friendship is good help during our
hard time, not in our happy time.
Or should I not obey his order? A lot of bad things would surely come on
me. I have 2 options to make: I either choose to help my friend; this means I
accept some kind of punishment; or I choose to comply the order? This
means that I should not get any trouble to my life. “Rather die than be put in
shame” was 1 of the Confucius’ sayings which have grasped me; I
considered it a compass that guided me all of my life. Between death and
dishonor, I choose death. So I chose not to comply the order. I made a
petition to sponsor my friend and to have him freed.
Giai, my friend, was freed 10 days later. This couple came to my home
thankfully at his first night of freedom. We shook hands; our face showed
joy, as if we had not met each other for a long time. Then Giai and his wife
said good-by. But before leaving they donated me a box of biscuit as a gift.
After sending them off, I returned into my house and open the box. I was
quite surprised: no biscuits were in the box but lots of pieces of 500 piasters.
I was very embarrassed and did not know what to do. First I wanted to count
the money. But I changed my mind because I was afraid that this money
might deduce me. I put the lid back to the box which I placed into a cabinet
without telling about it to my wife.
At night I thought hard about it. What should I do? Getting it or not getting
it? We just got married, lack of money, with a lot of debts not yet paid off.
Getting it, many problems would be solved. The amount of money was
pretty big, at least three or four hundred thousands piasters, I guessed. Is it
alright to take it? They voluntarily offered me it, I did not requested it; on
the other hand, no body knows about it...I had my head in a pressure; the
problem could not be solved easily.
Then, I said to myself: “the money would be taken secretly; but I knew it
myself; my conscience is the strict judge who will sentence me lifetime and
stings me. My soul would be uneasy forever. Taking the money will be an
action that will be a black point in my heart, not cleanable in my whole life.
If I accept it this time, I will have a habit to do the wrong. Because of
thinking like that, I returned the box to my friends the next morning. My
friends kept asking me to have it. They did not know what else to do to
return for the favor I had been doing for them.
I had decisively said NO and turned away immediately to avoid the
seduction of the money.
After that , his wife shaved her hair, came to Lang Ong Temple at Ba Chieu
market with a roasted pig as an offering to give thank for their lives being
saved. After the offering, they stopped at my house and gave me a chunk of
roasted meat weighted about 2 kilograms. I received it; and I did not
consider it a bribery but just a sharing the joy of their reunion. Two weeks
had passes without any incident. I thought that everything had been all right.
Suddenly, Major Ho called me to his office. I presented myself in a military
ceremonial. He angrily thundered on me and told me that I am a nondisciplined soldier, not obeying the superior’s orders, continuing the relation
with the criminal, even intervening the service, creating obstacles. He
smashed the table in his wrath.
I was standing, quiet; my heart was broken. But I tried to keep the
subordinate’s behaviors of standing the choke of indignation, not talking
back. Just stepping out of the office, I wrote an application asking for a
transferring to other unit. In the application I also focused on this one point
that is my wife was pregnant for 2 months, my family need my presence at
home. But I would accept to serve wherever the location in the whole
country and I would accept the death of myself to serve the ideal of being
clean and humanitarian.
The application sent to my upper authorities works as a letter to curse the
cowards who were shameless. Since that time, my colleagues renamed me
“the insane second lieutenant”. According to them, to request for a position
in Saigon, people have to “take steps”, to bribe; in my part, I who was
already in Saigon, asked for a location wherever on the country; I am
insane? Am I not?
A week later, I was called to present in person at the administration office of
the Army Security Bureau to receive a new duty. Major Mai Chuy had been
the commander at that time. He asked me:
- Do you know that you already played a game to your superiors? Now, what
do you want?
- It is your right to move me where you want; it is alright for me, I answered.
Major Chuy gave me an advice:
- Do not be a foolish. You are young, so you act in a way that is ambitious
and lack of experience.
- Yes, Sir, You are right. I have not had any experiences of corruption; I
never have known how to bow down in front of any superiors.
Therefore, I must go away.
- Where do you want to go?
- Wherever. I do not care.
- Wherever you want, be it.
His statement surprised me. So I asked:
- Why so be, Major?
I thought in my heart that I had made a loss for them; they would have illtreated me until I am not able to suffer. On the contrary, they gave me the
easiness. They had good reason to do so. Maybe they were afraid a risky
man like I am. I would react strongly against them, would cause
disadvantages for them. Moreover, if they want to have their full time in
performing corruptions, they have to find out some one who is willing to
work patiently, even to spend his own money to pay for gas, office
supplies…for public services. Since I joined the army, my wife has never
had any penny of my salary. That is unbelievable for every one, but that is
the truth! Fortunately, my wife has had her own job, so she could take care
of our family.
- It was the superior’s order I must follow, Major Chuy answered.
- So, I said, please move me to the Military Resting Unit.
- Why do you want to work there?
- Because it is close to my home.
Very soon, I received an order letter to present in person at Military Resting
Unit. Major Nguyen Ngoc Minh was the commander of this camp. He
appointed me to be leader of retransmission section.
When Lieutenant Colonel Le van Loi took major Minh’s place, he ordered
me as the head of Administration Office.
This camp had rarely been known by others. All the VC captured soldiers
were gathered here when they had just been released or escaped. The duty
here had been adjusting their administrational situations, political education,
security examining and enriching their health condition. It was not easy to
carry out my job with pretty delicate and complicated duties. Some of those
soldiers who had been captured had been set back as traitors. Our agency
had to find out the traitors.
Some others had been deserters. After a long time of hiding themselves,
they could not stand any more; so they got to present themselves to the
authorities, stating that they had been captured by VC to avoid from being
accused for deserting.
Some had been arrested by VC while going home, in their permitted leave,
like yearly one. If they did not return on the permitted date, their original
units would report deserting instead of arresting.
The soldiers who had been captured, the victims, need to be materialspiritual enriched. It is good treatment they deserved. On the other hand,
some security measures were also necessary and also, they made the
treatment loose the meanings. That is a difficult job, the boundaries between
right and wrong are not clear. It is extremely difficult to carry out both
matters at the same time, on the same target. So the problem was to do a
very complicated duty. This place was also a good environment for
fertilizing corruption to those who are interesting in it. There were about
600 to 1000 people in the camp. Just illegally taking 10 piasters a day for
each people out of their expense, a big amount of money of 180,000300,000 piasters being stolen. In the meantime, a captain’s salary was only
36,000 piasters. The stolen money was not small at all.
At that time I spent a complex, hardship but also much comforts.
Corruption was controlled. Every one has done their duties the ways that
were free, happy, open and accord.
On the beginning of 1972, Vice President Tran van Huong announced: “we
will not have enough personals if we destroy corruption”! It meant that
nothing could be done with it! Surrendering corruption.
I was very angry and wrote a proposal, focusing: “we still have enough
personals while we are destroying corruption”. I brought it directly to the
Vice President’s mansion, not through military hierarchy, for fear that my
proposal would become a stray one, not arriving to the Vice President.
I arrived at gate 2, on Tu Xuong street. The place had been changed totally.
The Vice President’s palace was so beautiful. It was not like the old time
when I had the duty to guard 3 famous military Generals: Nguyen Chanh
Thi, Ton That Dinh and Ngo Xuan Nhuan. A heavy and very subtle duty. If
superiors’ orders had been completed well, the Generals would annoy. If
trying to please them, I certainly would be punished by superiors. I was
really “under the hammer and above the anvil” or “To be between the devil
and the deep blue sea”. That is the subordinate’s condition used to be. But,
luckily, everything went well at that time.
On January 271973, I got an order to go over all the four tactical military
corps, selecting some US Military bases to establish Military enrichment
camps in each corps. When the war prisoners of both sides were exchanged,
each corps would receive its own captured soldiers; the central military
enrichment would not be able to receive all the captured in 4 corps because
of the big amount.
Because of the urgency, I was given a Cesna aircraft. I flied out to Vung
Tau to find camp locations for the 3rd Corps. By requirement, each camp
had to be large enough to shelter for 5 to 10 thousands people. With such
condition, it was not easy to find a qualified place. Finally I resigned myself
to accept the Australian Military Base, located on the back shore of Vung
Tau beach to establish the camp for the 3rd Corps.
Then, I went on to Nha Trang, Qui Nhon. At 8:30 AM on January 1973, at
the Qui Nhon airport, when I was ready to board the plane back to Saigon, 2
shells were dropping nearby; sand, dirt, fragments flied everywhere.
Fortunately, no one was wounded. Notice that this event occurred while the
cease- fire order had been in effect since 8:00 AM that day. We were
swiftly flying to Saigon with the crew very soon.
Coming to Saigon, I was commanded to go to Can Tho immediately to
build a camp for the 4th Corps. I could not find over there any base that we
could use, except the old Recruiting Center. It was large enough to shelter
about 1,000 people. But it did not meet the requirement. I returned Saigon
and reported the matter the same day on time for preparing.
On February 8th 1973, I received a service order from Military Security
Bureau, having me present in person at Bien Hoa Military Security 3rd
Office to receive a new duty within 24 hours. I hurried to Bien Hoa and
presented myself to Lieutenant Colonel Chi the deputy commandant of
Colonel Nguyen van Khuyen, the commander.
Lieutenant Chi informed me that the 3rd Corps Military Enrichment Camp
had been changed at the last time. The commander had decided to take the
abandoned American Base in Suoi Mau, next to Bien Hoa airport, as the
camp of the 3rd Corps, instead of Vung Tau. I was appointed as a current
deputy commander and a security officer concurrently in the camp.
Lieutenant Colonel led me over there. The camp was so large. We had to
drive car to observe the whole camp which was convenient and guarded by
American soldiers. Not given up yet; we had to wait for the next day to take
over it. Taking advantage of this occasion, I asked a permission to go back
to Saigon. I thought tomorrow would not be too late to carry out the
duty. I was also informed that there would be a P.O.W. exchange. But
the date was not known yet. Therefore, be ready.
The next day, I returned to present myself. Americans turned over the camp.
I received it immediately. Therefore, the base was in the same condition as
it had been. I was given privately a jeep and 2 sergeants belonging to the 3 rd
office to work in the Military Enrichment Camp.
There were 120 specialists not uncluding guards sent there by the Military
Sub Sector. At that time, only 3 of us were there: 2 sergeants and myself.
We were waiting for some more sent from the Political Welfare general
Bureau, the Financial Administration Office, the Transmissional Command
Department, the Military Security Bureau, the Bien Hoa Garrison.
While waiting, 2 sergeants and I went and observed the whole camp to set
out security plans and examining the supplies as well. The total included:
12, 000 meters long of anti-B40 net, rounding around the helicopter airport;
with the estimated value: 1,000 $ x 12,000 = 12,000,000$.
6,000 pieces of iron branders; valued: 600$ x 6,000 = 600,000$.
2,400 pieces of aluminum branders ( size .8 x 4 m) used to make the airport
floor; valued : 2,000$ x 2,400 = 48,000$.
5,000 roofing metal sheets, set standing both sides of each house, sand bags
put in the middle. Roofing metal sheets put over sand bags for precaution of
shelling; valued: 400$ x 5,000 = 2,000,000 $
A bulk of supplies was left for the camp, with its value about 11,600,000 $
.
Returning to my own home in the camp with a folding chair, a suitcase
containing some clothes, a small table, I began to work immediately .I was
only a person entrusted to organize every thing from A to Z in the camp.
I had to arrange first: where will be the camp’s command committee.
Bureaus, offices would be set and organized. Places used to shelter the
returned soldiers had to be fixed, which places would be used to shelter
officers, which to shelter soldiers?
I sketched the organizing hierarchy very soon.
Two sub-officers, detached from the Bureau already went home for
working time was over. Who should be commandant? Nobody knew.
All the camp was empty. No bed for the soldiers yet. Urgent jobs being
important like that, for three people including myself.
At 10:00 AM on February 10th 1973, 6 GMC trucks was coming, carrying a
bunch of wooden beds with a bag of bolts. The 3rd Bureau had detached 2
carpenters to assemble the beds. Five others men presented with a
typewriter.
I had to stay at the camp and work days and nights long and eat only bread
and canned fish. I did not have enough time for cooking, I was not familiar
with all of my workers yet, not knowing their names… they just presented
then disappeared in minute. Finally, I was to work here and there by myself.
I had to carry out both big and small job. Things came repeatedly,
unceasingly; I did not have enough time for eating and sleeping.
On February 12th 1973, at 9:00 PM, I was informed that there would be
about 300 returned soldiers, arriving from Loc Ninh province. I was ordered
to be ready to receive them with neat and clean shelters. I was also informed
that tomorrow, on February 13th 1973, at 9:00 AM a delegation would
come to visit, take photographs and make films. I went and count the
assembled beds. Terrible! Only 2 beds were finished. The tardy situation
was caused by irresponsible and thievish activities of the carpenters.
The phone rang. I picked it up. On the other end of the line, somebody
asked:
- Is this the Military Enrichment camp?
- Yes, it is, I answered.
- The Returned P.O.W. would arrive to Bien Hoa in 20 minutes.
Putting the receiver down on the table, I immediately chose an opening
ground next to the medical station as the place to receive the soldiers. I also
ordered the Military Police to guide the military convoys to appointed
location.
A military band from the 3rd Military Corps arrived, standing both sides to
greet the soldiers. All 9 people who were present in the camp at this
moment were 2 security sergeants, 3 supply workers, 1 military doctor, 2
nurses and I. “The convoy was entering the camp”, the Military polices
informed me. I gave out an order of being ready. The convoy approached
the designed location, then stopped. The band began to play the military
marching.
The P.O.W.s began to step down and walked between the greeting soldiers,
standing at both sides.
The P.O.W.s helped each other walking. Weak, thin and with stooped
bodies they leaned each other for preventing from falling. Many people
were too weak to walk, having to be carried by others on stretchers. They
were walking in the symphonies from the military band. All of them were
wearing green “ba ba” shirts, given by VC. The Marching Symphonies were
so martial, but the P.O.W. so plaintive, so wore out; their clothes ragged.
Like that, quietly they got off the vehicles. When all getting off, I was
choked by tears. The last one was the youngest P.O.W. in the whole world.
That was a 7 years old girl. She could not walk because of her terrible
swollen body. Her father had carried her in his arms with great effort,
dragging his feet. The symphony being playing by the band was so sad in
welcoming returning soldiers.
I turned away to hide emotion and tears breaking out because of my
sentimental nature.
After delivering clothes to every person, I asked the sergeants to lead them
to their shelters. A group of 24 people were in one house. The ones with
serious illness were transferred immediately to the Aid Station for
treatment.
Major DE approached me, saying:
- So jammed! A Senate delegation would come here tomorrow, followed
with journalists. They would take pictures, film. If they see the P.O.W.
sleeping on the floor, in dirty houses, full of garbage like this, we should
have died.
He said so in testiness and left. 2 sergeants and I had to work until 1:00
AM.
First of all I came and visited the youngest girl. She was lying on the Aid
Station with her father. Through the conversation I knew that her father was
a regional soldier.
After a VC attack, her mother died, the fortress overrun; all the soldiers
were captured. In that time she was just 6 years old; her father had to carry
her with him to the VC prison. After 1 year of detaining they were released.
Next, I was to go and observe each zone and asked for their health’s
condition, comforting, encouraging and asking them to help assemble beds
for sleeping. The healthiest ones would help the weakest. In each house, I
selected the highest rankeds for representing for their groups, pushing and
leading the works. They asked for brooms to sweep the garbage since the
shelters were very dirty. Where could such brooms be found at that time? It
was 11:00 PM, no brooms could be found. I suggested them to take off dirty
clothes, supplied by VC and used them as brooms. They followed my
directions well. Everybody shared their hands. Beds were arranged in neat,
on lines just in 45 minutes, a recorded time. All of them had their own
temporary bed for resting.
After that I gathered all the representatives of each group. I explained to
them that:
- Tomorrow morning, a delegation will come and visit us. So, you would
try to urge your brothers to sanitize in and out cleanly.
But now, you should rest for you all look very tired; you should get up early
tomorrow morning at 7:30 AM. After personal hygiene and breakfast, at
8:30, you should weed around the camp, gathering garbage and all the VC
supplied clothes. Then I distributed 3 litters of gasoline for every house to
burn garbage. At 9:30 AM the next morning, the camp was totally neat and
clean. At 10:00 AM the visitors came with Major DE, the commander of the
camp. Major DE was surprised, asking me:
- You made it. How did you do it?
I did not care to answer him but kept quiet.
Since that time, Major DE had me take charge of the whole camp and of a
security officer at the same time. As for him, his duty was to welcome all
the visitors who come to the camp.
Gradually detached officials were sent here to work. Visitors kept coming
repeatedly. The P.O.W.s were poured impetuously to, with all ranks, all
military branches. The number reached to over 3 thousands people. This
camp was the most populated, crowded one of all.
From a quite vacant camp, without management officials, without time for
organizing, without equipments, it became the most paid attention and
visiting because it was close to Saigon city.
I could be suffocated by heavy responsibilities, by mountains of works. The
detached officials, came the same time with the returned soldiers, I received
P.O.W.s and met the officials at the same time and instructed each of them
how and what to do, because they were not accustomed with their new jobs
here. This side was calling for help, other side was too. I myself was
whirling like a propeller. I did not have time to eat nor sleep.
Taking the advantages of disordering, a relatively model organization
brought 3 GMC trucks to the helicopter airport at 3:00 AM, dissembling
and stealing the rounding nets. While checking the guarding stations, I
found out. When seeing my jeep’s lights shining, the thieves hurriedly ran
away. I arrived to the sight and confiscated 6 rolls of net, with the length of
24 meters. I ordered the supply officer to take them to the storage.
Some of the camp officials were thieves also. They removed and stole even
sinks…But when I found out, I wrote reports only to scare them, not to
punish them.
I already got a lot of work to do, but now also had the duty to keep a look
out at thieves, stealing. It was a laborious task. I used as drivers Corporals
THANH and TAM who were just detached to the camp. They helped me
watch the steals occurring everywhere. The contractors who supplied food
for the campers (the returned soldiers) by turns, came to meet me. They
suggested to give me 10% of their business value as commission if I accept
them as suppliers for the camp. I refused, only asking them for the prices.
The one who got the contract was the one who had proposed the lowest
price and I did not take the commission.
Next, some contractors asked permission to build Clubs. Because of the
great number of people in the camp, the camp’s headquarter planned to
build 3 Clubs so that the returned soldiers would have enough places for
entertainment. One Club was reserved for officers, the other 2 for subofficers and soldiers. Many people came and asked me to let them build
Clubs for the camp. They even came to my home, giving gifts, money. I
refused them all.
I gathered all the officials and reserved the families of the officials who
served the camp the right to build the Clubs. The condition and forms of
submitting applications were fixed, for balloting. Anybody gets the ballot,
would get contract, without paying a penny for a bribe. But they would have
to respect the camp’s regulations and sanitary rules.
The thieves did not give up. They kept stealing but changed the method.
They sent people to disassemble first, when finished they used empty
sandbags covering them up, then, carrying them right away by trucks. But
Tam and Thanh were making good watching and examining. Because of
that, they never got loose. We reported to Bien Hoa Military Garrison,
blocking and arresting while they were transporting to the direction of Ho
Nai (Bien Hoa) at 12:00AM. I did not know how the Bien Hoa Military
Garrison has solved the problem. Thereafter, Major De blamed me, why not
reporting him beforehand. I answered :
- You were not here at that time, Major. So I could not. In addition, it was
a hurried job and had to be done immediately; I could not wait, or they
would run away.
Since then, thieves never dared to do more stealing. But came other
difficulties, caused by delegations of visitors who came to the camp. Every
time they came, they were followed by Military Psychological officials who
entertained the P.O.W.s, bursting singing as if in a celebrating festival. That
could help our brothers P.O.W. forgetting all their sad memories they had
experienced. The visitors’ speeches raised our brothers’ spirits to the level
of from a vanquished soldiers to excessively proud ones who disrespected
the camp’s regulation: they gambled, drank, fought against each other,
fought between military branches; they competed to be heroes,…Chaos
spread all over the camp. According to the camp’s regulation, the P.O.W.s
were supposed to remain in the camp for 3 months. They were not allowed
to go out of the camp because of the security reason; but their relatives
might come and visit them anytime. But they have proudly gone out
through the main gate. The Military Polices blocked them up. They
provoked, saying: “Do all of you dare to shoot us? If not, stay away, let us
go”. MPs could not do any thing with it. They called me for help. Even,
there was a group of 3 rangers entering the Club reserved for the Military
Security officials; they broke many things and destroyed the Club. Sergeant
Mai pulled out his pistol. With the same manner, they challenged, saying:
“Dare you shoot me? If not, put your gun back. If not, I will liquidate you
one after another”. At that time they had already been holding in their hands
sharp iron bars, about 60 cm in length.
Security officials did not know how to deal with them and had some one
come and report to me. I arrived to the scene immediately, but too late: they
had all gone. I asked the Security officials if they had known the persons
who had done it. Sergeant said:
- Chien was their leader.
I directly came to the camp to look for Chien. Just arriving at their shelter, I
saw a crowd of people discussing something. I asked them:
Do you know who Chien is?
The crowd kept silence.
Suddenly, one man beat his chest, approaching me and naming himself:
- Private Chien, here.
My face turned red because of anger, but I tried to stay calm. If this case not
being solved cleverly, the problem would create seriously- unexpected
results; if this man be not “liquidated” (arrested), certainly, the camp would
be in disorder.
I asked Chien to get on the Jeep, planned to take him to the Military
Security Bureau. Such a solving was with a purpose of hiding the
arresting away from every body. Captivity of him without cleverness in
front of others might lead to a disorder from the crowd. It was much more
difficult to handle.
Chien said:
- I came here for enrichment. If you captain want saying anything to me,
do it right here. I will not go anywhere. His answer made me somewhat
puzzled a second, then I continued:
- If you said so, I would like to ask you go to my office.
Chien answered:
If going to office, let’s go.
Finally, he followed me to my office and other 300 campers also went after
us. Arriving at the flag- yard in front of the office, I told the security
officials to block the crowd, only let Chien go in my office. It was about
5:00 Pm. The crowd belonging to Chien’s side and curious people were
gathering in the flag-yard waiting for what would happen.
I asked a security sergeant to talk to Chien in the office. I myself stepped
out and called Military Polices. I selected 2 most powerful Military Polices,
one was A. (I could not remember the other’s name). I had both of them
standing right at the front door, waiting for my order. I also told them: “if I
order arresting, would you grasp and force Chien to the Military Security
Bureau for me”. The 2 MPs followed my words, standing at the front door
and being ready. I looked at private Chien from head to toes: long hair
flowing down to his shoulders, openly chested shirt full of tattoos on his
breast, so are his arms and legs; around his neck was a chain with a big
metal dollar. He has sturdy shape and looks healthy, with a haughty,
insolent nature.
I just gave the order of arrest, Chien immediately got out and creamed:
- Brothers, save me. They are capturing me.
MPs could not catch him. So I had to run after him to the flag- yard, holding
him. Then I handcuffed him and walked him to the Jeep parking nearby.
Major De had seen what happened, drove his Jeep away without asking or
saying any thing, considering as if nothing had happened. After forcing
Chien on the Jeep, he jumped out running through the Jeep’s other door.
One of the Security Sergeants ran around to the back of the Jeep to catch
him. But he was kicked by Chien and fell down to the ground on his back. I
immediately approached Chien. He kicked me too, but I caught his leg, put
him down on the ground. Then I handcuffed him, forced him on to the Jeep.
I held him inside the car, ordering the driver to direct to the 3rd Military
Security Bureau.
Returning the camp, I ordered the Security officials to search every camper
whoever had undesirable activities before and bring them to me in a week.
They found out 14 people in total. The remainders hid themselves. They all
were led to meet me. I had them get on a 4x4 pickup truck and be taken to
Bien Hoa market. They were so excited and worried, not knowing about
what kind of punishment they would receive. They obeyed well-behavedly.
I sent them to a barber shop, told the barber to cut their hair short, like new
recruits in training school. When done, I led them to a restaurant, giving
them all-you-can-eat meal. Eating finished, I gave each of them a badge,
mounting above the pocket of their shirt with a red sentence: “Security
Committee”. I charged them the responsibility of keeping the whole camp
in safe and told them: “You must be the best models. If well done, I would
allow you going out 24 hours”. They clapped their hands in cheer and
completed well their duties.
Because of that, the camp was in order, stealing was blocked. I began going
home. My house was in Gia Dinh city, just 36 km away from the camp. 3
months had passed, I did not have any chance to go home, being in the
camp 24/24.
I stopped by and visited my farm in Ong To. I had been raising 20,000
carps, planting 200 coconut trees. After 3 months of my absence, no fish
were left. Coconut trees were damaged by palm grubs; some were still alive
but some dead. The damage was estimated about 200,000 piasters, caused
by “carry out the public works are put first, then home work, later”.
Returning to the camp, heartily saying to Major De, he asked:
- Is your farm fenced?
- Yes, it is. But the fence is very simple, so the thieves can get through, I
said.
- There are some iron nets left by thief in our storage. You can have them.
According to me, the room to store them should be used for rice.
It was reasonable.
- How much can you give me, Major? I asked him.
- We need that room to store rice. So, you can have as much as you want,
taking all is the best.
- - I need about 70 m. It is relatively so much. But I also worry that other
people might make a distinction. All right, I would take 1 roll of 24 m
long. The height of the net is 2,4m, would be cut at .8m. So I would have
a length of 3 times of 2,4m. Maybe I might have enough net for the
need…
- Major De agreed and gave me 1 roll of iron net.
At the same time, a vehicle was driven to Saigon in a mission. I asked the
driver help me bring the net to my farm, 2 km from the high way. That was
all the story. But 6 months later, the 3rd Military Security Bureau ordered
me to come in person, for I was charged of the corruption crime. I presented
myself at the Bureau. Colonel Nguyen van Khuyen was the main Bureau
Commander.
As the result of the investigating, I was not accused of corruption, but of
using military vehicle illegally. I understood right away. Nobody had any
concern of my hard work. They punished me because I used illegally
military vehicle on the 2 km illegal itinerary. Certainly, I displeased with it.
I asked for returning to the Enrichment Center. Just arriving, I got a news
that came upon me like a thunderbolt. My friend, Major Dang Kim Thu, the
Cho Gao district leader and my brother in law, Tran Hieu Linh, the
commandant of Cho Gao Military Security Branch, had been arrested by the
Military Security Bureau. They had been accused of relation to the famous
“Coi Hụ” in Long An province.
I stopped by the MS Bureau for a visit and was refused to meet them with a
reason: the investigation was not finished. Now, the only thing I could do
was sending some money and asking the guards buy some food for them.
Thu and I were close friends. His parents were very poor: his father had had
to pedal cycle for living; I still remembered his father’s cycle number; it
was 444, a very easy number to remember. Many people in his family had
been living in a working neighborhood near Cha pagoda (Indian pagoda) in
Cho Cu, My Tho city. I had ever come to his home and spent nights with
him when going together to Nguyen Dinh Chieu High School in Mytho
city; we had been sleeping on a badly made bed.
As a small boy, Thu had had to be going to sell candies, to do dish washing,
dragon dancing for living and to practice martial art. When he had been a
small boy, being able to show fencing to earn money. I love him because he
is a good friend, ready to sacrifice for his friend, having respectable martial
manners, and being a goal keeper for a famous Mytho soccer team.
Therefore he had been known by many people.
After passing the baccalaureate 2nd part examination, I continued my
education in college. Because of poverty, not having enough support, Thu
had volunteered going to the Da Lat National Military Academy.
Training finished, he had been transferred to a Ranger battalion and facing
many dangerous situations in Ben Tre province. On his body still having a
lot of wounds and fragments; but he never cared about them.
Thu had had a friend named Quach Tinh Can who passed Da Lat’s
examination first place and being selected by General Cao van Vien as an
attache’. Can had known Thu’s abilities and virtuousity. So, he had
introduced Thu with General Vien as a bodyguard. Thu had been serving
General Vien from being a Lieutenant to becoming a Major. One day some
friends came to the General staff office to visit Thu and ask Thu to have a
drink, in a place in front of the Phi Long gate. When they had entered, the
waitress did not welcome them, because they did not belong to the Air
Force. Thu’s friend argued with her but Thu asked his friend to go out,
saying:
- We have money. Everywhere we can have a drink; Let’s not come here.
Sellers need customers; we, customers, do not need them. Thu pulled his
friends out (They were in civilian clothes).
- While they were arguing, suddenly came a Captain, stepped out from the
back and pointed his pistol to Thu, saying:
- Go out. If not, I will blow your head off.
Thu answered calmly:
- You see, I’m pulling my friend out. But now, you are pointing me with
your gun. Well, I promise, I will be out, but … with a condition, that is I
got to have your gun.
- Then, Thu attacked the Captain by beating him repeatedly. The Captain
did not have enough time to react, falling down to the ground. Thu took
his pistol and gave it to Colonel Nguyen, the Chief of the Cabinet of
General Vien.
- The lady owner reported to authority. The Captain who had pointed the
gun to Thu was transferred away from his unit. Thu, also, was
transferred to be the Cho Gao district leader.
As a result of investigation, Thu was sent to the Go Vap Military Prison.
When I came to visit him, he told me everything about that event.
About 4 months before the “Coi Hu Long An” occurred, Lieutenant Diep
who was serving in Go Cong, met Thu in Cho Gao and introduced him a
man about 40 of age. That man introduced himself that he is a servant of
General Nguyen Vinh Nghi, the commandant of the 3rd Military Corps
wanting to suggest to Thu one thing, telling Thu that a convoy will pass
through Cho Gao district; Thu was asked to connive for them, not examining
the convoy. If agreeing to do so, Thu would receive 1 million piasters.
Thu promised to give an answer after a week. The guest had gone happily.
Thu had known Colonel Chung van Bong, the My Tho province Chief who
has relations with General Nghi. So he reported the matter to Colonel Bong,
asking for order.
The Colonel said: “Let them go”. Thu carried out the order. The first convoy
had got through easily; the man returned and gave Thu 800,000 piasters
instead of 1 million as he had promised; he also said that he had many things
to spend, not having enough for promised amount.
Thu handed to Colonel Bong that money and telling him, that been received.
Bong got angry, throwing the money into the draw, saying:
- You have been stolen as you were not young any more. Bong did not
give Thu even a penny; But Thu did not need that money; he just wanted
to be living peacefully between superiors and subordinates. If being
hard, he would be considered as leaning on General Vien. So, he had had
to obey them. But he was so angry at Colonel Bong for having taken
advantages over himself.
The man came again when “Coi hu Long An” – an illegal business escorted
by Military Police - had happened. Thu refused and introduced him to
Lieutenant Bien, the My Tho Military Zone commandant. Thu decided not
to allow them getting through Cho Gao territory.
“Coi Hu” broken out, The Security Organization found it out and Thu was
arrested. Colonel Bong told Thu’s wife to tell her husband not testifying
anything about him. Let him be out side the jail, so he could “care” for
Thu’s family. He had decoying: “let you be easy”. Thu believed him,
receiving the accusing himself, refusing the relation of Colonel Bong to the
event. As the result, the Military Martial Court sentenced him 20 years of
imprisoning and he was sent to Con Dao Island. Colonel Chung van Bong
returned his favor a rice bag. Mercilessly, Thu was hopeless and wanted to
kill himself. I comforted him a lot, without it he might suicide.
Returning to the Bien Hoa Enrichment Camp I visited old friends and the 2
sub-officers Tam, Thanh. Just 2 months passed but a lot of changes
occurred, even some houses had no partition walls. Nobody was accused for
corruption. In other hands, they were awarded.
Boring of military career, I submitted an application for being transferred to
teaching school; I would like to enjoy family, farming and gardening.
Farewell the arms!
At the beginning of 1974 school year, I was transferred to teach at Nguyen
Cu Trinh High School in Go Vap district, Gia Dinh province.
With white chalk, black board, in front of hundreds of students who know
how to obey and please, the past 10 years of living came back to my mind. I
felt comfortable, life loving. I dreamed of future, planning for my living
post-war.
I developed breading and raising live stocks and planting trees. I raised
2,000 ducks for eggs, farming 10 acres of rice, raising 20,000 catfish,
replacing the number of carps stolen when I had been in the army. My wife
had been working as a dentist in Gia Dinh city, still keeping busy. We had a
stable, comfortable living together.
GOING TO RE-EDUCATION CAMPS
Displeasing with President Thieu’s regime, I decided to stay and live with
Communist regime, with a hope that this would be a better, equal, fair,
human regime. It would help the poors, bring flourishing and happiness to
all people. I was ready to present myself for re-education. I accepted every
hardship to change myself into a good citizen who can be fitted with a new
society.
June 22nd 1975 was the birthday of my first born daughter. I had planned to
organize it solemnly; I would invite all of my friends, for being happy to
welcome peace in my country. That was the first time I have ever seen a day
like that in my life.
But I had to present myself to authorities. My daughter’s birthday was
coincident with the last day for reeducation enrollment. My daughter was
very happy. I changed her dress in the early morning, inviting her friends,
neighbors to come and share the happiness with her. They happily played
with each other without worry anything, waiting for the ceremony. I went in
and took some clothes, medicines and money and a can of prepared meat,
enough for promised-10-day-re-education consumption. Seeing my daughter
was very happily playing, I did not want to disappoint her. So, I tried to hide
from her about my departing.
I had promised with Trinh and Nghia at 14:30, and the 2 brothers coming on
time. We immediately got on. My wife followed us and said:
- Let me accompany you.
- Only 10 days, there is nothing for you to worry. Just finishing, I hurried to
cross the street so that my wife could not accompany us for a farewell. We
went to Le van Duyet avenue, standing on the pavement, waiting for the bus.
All of us kept quiet; nobody said any thing. The twilight was coming down,
the sky was cloudy, with crash of thunder as if warning us the coming of bad
luck. The 3-wheeled-mini-bus was approaching, stopped in front of us. We
quietly got on. The vehicle slowly departed. It started raining on the roof of
the bus.
Nghia said:
- What a fortunate! We were not caught in rain.
The air became taciturn; nobody wanted to say any thing; all of us worried
about what is going to occur in future. The mini-bus swiftly glided in the
rain; there was also a rain in our heart. The circumstance around us was sad
as if being in a funeral.
I did not want to think about any thing else, but only wanted to forget every
thing in the present; I was watching at the trees on the road sides; their
leaves were drooping because of rain water. I also was looking at drops of
rain whirling on the quiet streets; I saw several stores with shut doors,
Few people were walking on the streets. Occasionally, a couple of bicycles
and motorcycles were riding, made water splashing all over. In a moment,
the mini- bus stopped. We got off, hurried stepping in and took refuge
under the porch roof of a house on street to avoid from being wet. We made
our way along the porch to get to the location for presenting ourselves. Just
coming to the end of the street, we saw a big board on the other side of the
street, with yellow letters written on red base: “Nothing is more precious
than independence and freedom”. That board replaced the phrase: “Nguyen
Ba Tong High School”. The main gate was closed tightly; only the small
gate used for walkers was partly opened. Two polices were carrying their
AK47, walked back and forth to guard.
We went across the street, stepped to a small gate in a hurry. The policemen
immediately stopped us, checking our papers. When they finished, they
pointed us going inside.
A lot of people were there. We were on the line following others, snaking
around the school hallway. In turn, we were handed a printed paper to fill
out: name, rank, function, residence, previous residence, spouse’s name,
parents’ names, grand parents’ names… Then, we were grouped; each
group had 40 peoples. I was in group 42, in room D on 2nd floor. We looked
for the locations for our own. When I reached the stairway I met a
policeman fully armed standing and watching.
On the 2nd floor, along the hall way, each room was full of people. All
windows were shut tightly and locked by 2 cross bars of wood. Room D
was so bright. About 50 people were already in there. I was at fault and
stepped in with wet clothing. In a corner, there was a vacant space where I
came to and put my baggage down on the tiled floor. Sitting on the floor, I
leaned my head against my luggage; I looked at the watch; it was 8:00 PM.
Not eating yet, but I did not feel hungry at all. I closed my eyes, pretending
not seeing, hearing, thinking about any thing. Thus, I went to sleep soundly.
The loud speaker in the room waked me up. I sat up and listening to the
announcement from the speaker. All of brothers in the room began to
discuss. Some said the studying is right here. Others said not. At the same
time, a cadre with yellow uniform, about 50 years of age seemed high rank
cadre came and checked the room. The brothers stopped him and asking:
- Please, let us know, cadre, should we stay here for studying or be
transferred to other place?
- You brothers would stay here, go nowhere, the cadre answered.
A hand clapping echoed loudly and happily and the cadre said nothing
more. The air became quiet again; every one seemed optimist, sitting the
floor, leaning against the walls, listening and noting the first lesson
carefully. Three days passed evenly; every day was the same.
TRANG LON RE EDUCATION CAMP (in Tay Ninh province)
On June 25th 1975, all of us were sleeping. Suddenly the warning horn rang.
Every body immediately awoke, looking toward the windows: outside,
polices were surrounding every where. “What happened?” I asked myself,
“was there a disorder?” The loudspeaker was sounding: “Let all the
reeducation inductees prepare to assemble in the yard. Every group of men
should follow the order”.
Each man was called over the name and searched carefully. Then we were
led out of the school by Communist guardsmen; we got on a molotova truck
which had already been parking out side; all the truck was covered tightly by
clothe. Inside, it was totally dark and too crowded, not even able to move,
lacking of air. Finally, the vehicles started to move. Where would we go?
Nobody knew!
One hour, then 2 hours of suffering was passing. We could not stand any
more: we were lacking of air. We asked for opening the cloth covering the
bus. But our request was not answered. I remembered my shaving blade; I
took it out and split the cloth to have air for breathing. Through the hole, I
saw the endless convoy of molotovas. Their headlights were following each
others crawling on the bending road up and down the hills and valleys. I
counted; there were about 100 of them. So, the number of the reeducation
inductees would be about 4,000.
The half moon rose high on the sky, helped me have a blurred vision of my
beloved country. I leaned my head on my baggage. So tired, my mind was
full of thinking about every thing. Suddenly the molotova made an abrupt
turning; I awoke and realized the presence. One vehicle was turned upside
down; some corps were lying on the roadside. The light was so blurred; I
could not count the dead bodies. In peace, we were still bleeding! Tears were
still dropping! Unfortunately!
The molotovas were continuing on the rough road. We fell back and
forward; we crushed each other. Then, the vehicle was slowing down and
gradually stopped. The light from spotlights was illuminating back and forth
to check us. The convoy started to move. After about 10 minutes, it stopped
again. The military guards got off, uncovered the cloth, ordering us to get
off the vehicles.
Some of the Communist cadres were waiting for us here. They told us to
stand in lines; there were 4 lines on the road; we began to count from the
first one to the last one. The bed of reeds was covering around headed high;
no house was in sight; from time to time, the breeze passed over, making
low noise mixing with sounds of toads and insects, causing more
desolateness of the environment.
Then they led us through reeds to a deserted house that had been ruined by
bombing. Bricks and falling tiles were every where; vines were also
interlaced. The cadres said: “You should make this place stable for your
studying”. Every 40 people lived in an 8x8 meters house. Each one had
enough room for spreading a small cot. It was 5:03 AM in the morning, the
moon began to set. The brothers were very tired, mental exhaustion was
the most, sitting against each other to rest and wait for morning come.
At 2:00 AM, a military guard came and ordered 10 people of us to go getting
tools for kitchen and food. The rest of us took care of making our own space
clean then cleaned up around the house. The men returned with tools and
food. We took turn for fixing the meals. The distributed meal for today
was a small bowl of rice and a little bit of vegetable cooked with salt.
Rice was of rotten one buried a long time before. It became brown instead of
white; when we saw it we did not recognize it is rice. The first day, nobody
could eat, but after 1 day we had to eat because of hunger. Gradually we got
accustomed of it.
Three days later, we tidied things up. It was well exposed and spacious for
seeing around. Re-education inductees were every where. Women were the
most pitiful; they were considered as beautiful flowers that were becoming
withered.
After carrying rice, fire-wood, vegetable, doing chores around the camp, the
houses of cadres… we realized that this camp had been the base of the 25th
military division of the Republic of South Vietnam army, in Trang Lon,
province of Tay Ninh.
Five days later, the cadres ordered for grouping and commanded: “Labor
competing, production intensifying”. Through the command, we started to
discuss: “If competing like this, the time of re-education would last for so
long time, not for 10 days, like the announcement been heard”. Some of us
thought that the time would be 10 days. A brother who was lying next to me,
took out a piece of paper and slowly read to every one; he concluded: “the
time will be 10 days”, and continued “the revolutionary government can not
deceive us, can they”?
All of us were sleeping soundly that night. As for me, it was almost 1:00
AM, but I could not close my eyes. I counted every hour passing over. It was
the 10th day in the camp; but I did not see any thing happening. I missed my
wife and children; I missed my orchard that had took a lot of my time for
taking care of, a lot of my sweat and tear, all my capitals . Now the orchard
was deserted. I remembered each of coconut palm trees that had been giving
young green coconuts, falling along side and almost reaching the ground.
Shoals of fish were swimming in the pond. When being fed, they were
happily jumping for food, making the water flashing everywhere. Packs of
pigeons, over 100 of them, were flying in the air; they landed when seeing
me and swarmed around me for feeding. I also missed geese, and rabbit, and
Mina, my beloved, witted dog, always close to me as a loyal fellow. Where
is my dog now? Is it captured and butchered? I remembered about every
thing.
I tried to close my eyes. My mind was whirled by unclear thinking. The roll
of pasted-day-memory film was playing in my mind. I remembered clearly.
In an evening of 1945, when the dinner finished, a man came and asked my
father to a gathering (meeting). I had been six in that time and not knowing
what meeting meant; I begged my father for following him. My father
agreed; he called the family servant who was the third in his family among
his brother and sisters; so I called him “brother the third” (anh Ba). For not
confusing with Anh Ba, my own blood brother, all the people in my family
had called him “big Anh Ba”. The Big Anh Ba prepared for my father 2
torches made of dried coconut palm leaves, 1 of then for departing and
another for returning. We had walked on the village road (covered by red
stones). That night there were a lot of light from torches, enlightened
blurredly. Each person walked with a pointed tam vong (a kind of small,
firm bamboo) with a string tied on 1 end.
In a short time, we arrived there. The place was a big yard used for soccer
game, across the village school. It had been crowded. In the middle of the
yard lit a big camp fire. Boys and girls had been the majority; they had been
gathering around; they had shouted hurrah then downed with something.
I had been/was the youngest, not understanding any thing at all, just sitting
to wait patiently for the end.
On the way home I had asked/asked my father:
- What did they do, dad?
- That was the meeting of Vanguard Youth League, he answered, they had
requested me to be their adviser.
It was what I just knew. Beside, I only desired to be home as soon as
possible. Because of being late at night and I was very sleepy. A couple of
months later, Mr Ba, a leader of my village, a relative with my mom, living
next to our home, suddenly disappeared. As usually, after the serving time
in his office, his family was waiting for him for dinner, but he never come
home; his wife came to my home for checking (because when on his way
home from work, he used to pass my home). Sometimes, he had stopped
by our home to talk with my father. But that day he did not. Mrs Ba ran
every where for searching him; but she got no information about him. His
family considered him missing from that day. Later, we knew that he had
been killed by Viet Minh (The league for the independence of Viet Nam).
Occasionally, there were some warning papers stuck on the trunk of trees at
the cross roads, calling the village officials to resign their duties; if not, they
would be punished; people were not allowed to gather in market. The living
began to be in disorder.
The French troops were moving to our village to establish outposts. My
father who had been educated in French school was able to speak French
fluently. So, when the French came there, they used to come to my family
for visits. My father was warned by Viet Minh. He was in halfway, not
knowing what to do, staying here? Or leaving here? One day, it was late at
night. While we were all sleeping, suddenly some one came, calling: “open
the door, burn the house”.
My parents hurried open the door; a man shouted: “Every body out, burn
the house”! My parents called my brothers and sisters up and asked the man
delaying in a moment for taking a bit of utilities. My father had was excited
and collected a little of clothing and money, then running out with us. Thee
men in black, each of them with a bunch of dry straw, entering my house
and lighting it and making fire. I was so frightened. My mother cried. My
father advised my mom: “Forget it, run”! She said: “Where are we going?”
He answered: “To your parents’ family”. The house of my mother’s grand
mom (my great grand mother) located near there, about 150 meters away.
My whole motherside’s family was living in the same neighborhood and
having some function in the village administration. Just arriving, we saw the
house of my great grand mother being on fire; the flame was so high. Next,
my great grand uncles’ were all burned in the same time, at the same night.
So, we did not have any place to go for a shelter. The sound of firing gun
from the post began shooting toward the fires. My parents led us running to
a trench full of water in the back of the house to avoid bullets. We got all
wet and shook uncontrollably. At about 3:00 O’clock in early morning, the
fire gradually stopped. My parents decided to take us to Mytho city, first
asking my aunt for a shelter, first. Everything would be done later. We
started to move; we had carried our own stuff, crossing the field dikes and
dangerous bamboo bridges on the way toward Mytho city. At the same
night, all the main bridges had been destroyed. Schools were also burned.
Though I walked away from there, I still regrettably looked back, watching
at the violent fires, smoke high in the air. My heart was sunk.
Mytho, a fairly busy city, was bright by the lights. With me every thing was
strange and beautiful. But I did not feel pleased as I did while being in my
village. My aunt’s home was narrow, on Le Loi street. There were 8 people
in my family, including my parents, added to my aunt’s family of 6
people. It was so crowded, we would not be able to stay for a long time.
My father advised my mom to go to his side’s family and stay there, in Cai
Lay district. But my mom did not agree. My grand parents were so oldstyled, hard to please, miserly and stubborn. My mom had known that she
should not be able to live with them and decided not to come there.
My father had to resign himself going with 5 of my brothers and sisters. The
youngest sister stayed with my mom in my aunt’s home. In that time, we
had lived in difficulties, lacking of everything, not enough clothing, without
money. My mom had bought the cheap parachute cloth (used to sew
parachutes for French soldiers) and sewing clothes for us when living with
my grand parents in Cai Lay. Our grand parents’ home located on the main
street. My grand father had retired from work. His house had 2 large floors
and with a heavy ironed door. We were staying there for almost 6 months.
One day, my sister and I were playing on the street, in parachute cloth
dresses. Suddenly, we heard the noisy convoy approaching. We and other
curious children were standing to look at it. When it arrived at us, it
stopped. A French soldier stepped down, chased my sister and I. I hurriedly
escaped to a narrow alley. But my sister was caught; she cried out loudly. I
ran home and told my father what happened. He came to the district hall to
call for help. The French agreed to release my sister. But they took off all
her clothes and burned them up. They forbade us sewing and wearing
clothes from parachute cloth.
When my grand mother knew this, she cursed my mother badly. She took
all our clothes and buried them because she did not want any more trouble..
She continued to grumble for that. She also cursed us almost every day. My
grand father was so gentle but was not able to do anything; he did not have
any power in his house. Whenever he gave us money for treat, he had to
hide away from his wife. My father was not able to stand any longer,
planning to leave them. But he did not reveal his plan to us. We only knew
that he had sold his bike and sobbed. Now I understood that he needed
money for a trip to somewhere.
When the selling finished, he called us sitting around him that night and
said: “anyone of you want to follow me?” All 5 of us kept silence. Because
we all thought that he is still living there. We loved our father very much;
but staying with our grand mother, we had not been able to stand her. The
next morning, my father bought 5 bus tickets to Mytho city and said bye to
us. We were so happy; for from this time we would not have to hear her
daily cursing. Arriving to Mytho then coming to my aunt’s home, we found
that our mom was not there. My mother had taken a shelter in another
relative’s home. My aunt had wanted to help us, but her husband had not
agreed. So we all had to go, every one for different place, staying with this
relative for a couple of days, then leaving for another.
I was 7 years old at that time; wherever I came to, I had to work for living.
Some relatives had forced me selling bread; some, sugar canes, or watching
their chickens, ducks, or taking care of their babies…I was not able to go to
school at all. When I was 10 years of age, noticing every child around going
to school, I also had the desire to go. So I myself went to a school to
register. That was the reason why I went to school very late in my
childhood, and at the same time I also had to work for living. I tried hard,
abandoned all the pleasure of young age. I trained myself so hard for
thinking: “this is the only way which leads me through the darkness and
poverty. Every night, before going to bed, I knelt down on my knees and
pray God to guard me and help me. I was feeling so lonely; only the godly
and invisible God could be the hope in my life. I had to struggle very hard
in my living that was bitter, dishonorable.
Every thing was just built up. I thought that my dream was coming true; in
fact every thing was totally destroyed now.
I was regretting for time and effort put in what I had built up. But I still
hoped that, after the re-education, I would restart every thing.
Suddenly a lot of vehicles were running in the other side of rubber tree
plantation, not going to an end after 30 minutes. Next, the shining of head
lights enlightened through the house where we were sitting. I stood up,
through window I saw a convoy enter the camp, not knowing how many of
them.
I wake my brothers up. They were so happy. (They expected that the
convoy come to carry them back home). Some disassembled their mosquito
nets, rolled up the cots, put their clothing back in their baggages and happily
waited for...
Today is the due for 10 day reeducation; every body was trembling with
excitement in waiting for the moment of returning home. A long time after,
the vehicles started and left the camp, my friends were so frustrated. The
next morning, checking the situation, we realized the vehicles that were
seen last night carried more reeducation camp inductees into the camp. We
began to discuss about this event. The cadres ordered for grouping; they
explained to calm us down. Many questions were made in this meeting and
2 questions were the most noticeable:
a/ According to the information from the new government: 10 days of reeducation is for below-captain officers. The period has been over, why have
we not been released?
They answered: the government has informed you the period of 10 days for
re-education. You have to finish it before releasing. But you have not had
any education at all; how can you go home?
b/ The second question was asked by Tai, a supervisor of Ho Ngoc Can
high school:
- Sir, my wife has passed away, left 6 children; the oldest is 13 years old,
the youngest, 4. Since I thought that 10 days is the time for re-educating,
I only gave my oldest daughter 3,000 piasters for food expense and
taking care of her younger brothers and sisters. I also promised them that
I would return home after 10 days. Over 10 days passed by, I have not
been released yet. I really worry for the fate of my children, for they are
too young. Please be kind to me and permit me going home to arrange
every thing in my family in 3 days. Then I will return and present myself
for re-education.
We all were moved by his circumstance.
The cadre answered:
- You don’t have “to be full”; your family doesn’t have “to be full”; let
revolutionists “be full” [the northern dialect “lo” (worry) sounds “no” (to
be full) , the meaning of the answer: you don’t have to worry; your
family doesn’t have to worry; let revolutionists take care for you].
After the respond, Tai sat down, covering his face with his hands, hiding the
tears flowing down on his cheeks.
Since then, we all looked forward to be re-educated very soon. During the
time of waiting, we have to compete in labor, in making products. For that
is the most important lesson as we considered.
The cadre said:
- All of you, anyone who doesn’t labor hard, will not allow to go home.
Since that time, each group were sent to a cadre who led us educating,
producing, self-criticizing, self-examining and looked after everyone’s
ideology and curriculum vitae.
With this leading, we had to dig holes in the ground to build at least 1
simple restroom for each group, in order to be easy to use fresh human
manure for the coming plan of producing. To maximize the production, we
had to use up the whole of planting earth. The slogan has been written: “a
piece of earth is equal a piece of gold”. The re-education camp inductees
had to dig the stoned soil, disassembled mines, traps…Another slogan has
also been erected saying: “Our hands can do everything, with the human
power, stone become rice”.
Believing in the promises of the new government, also of the communist
cadres, the re-education camp inductees put all their effort to production.
They hoped that they would be re-examined and let returning home with
their families. They worked at day time; at night they had to self criticized,
self evaluated, self…Everybody were afraid of being under-estimated,
badly evaluated. So, all of us were trying to the best with a hope of
returning home and being free.
- The fertilizers used in production were total of human manure. The fresh
dung was dug up and mixed with water and a little bit of dried grass, let
standing for a couple days, then being used to fertile the earth, and
poured over the growing vegetable. The maggots were plenty,
stinking and dirty that I have never seen before. After 2 weeks of being
there, 4 people of us died. To the third week the cadres in the camp
announced that we were going to start with the first lesson. Our brothers
were very happy. Group 1, group 2, group 3… with neat clothing, by
turn were led to the main conference hall.
The conference hall was a large, open house that was able to contain from
800 to 1,000 people. In it there was no table, no chair, but only a stage used
for the cadre who would stand and speak there. All of us were sitting on the
ground. A cadre about 50 years old stood on the stage in yellow uniform,
with a leather bag on his side. Around him there were 2 men, about 40, in
the same uniforms of style and color. Their faces seemed cold, severe;
sometimes, they spoke to each other in low voice; we could not know what
they were talking about. The atmosphere was heavy and frightened. We all
were so excited and desired to study the first lesson. The cadre slowly took
out a wad of printed paper, saying:
- You are required to clearly note for your studying.
All of us were ready and waiting. He then said:
- You note down the first lesson: “Interior rules of the jail”. Note down:
article number 1…, article number 2…, article number 3… so on.
Nobody understands the first lesson! Being in re-educational school, why
did we have to note the jail rules? What is happening? Our brothers
discussed a lot about it. Somebody said that, we all be jailed, already put in
prison! Others disagreed: “No”. Nothing had been known. Prisoner or not
prisoner is the same. Being locked here, nothing can be changed! This was
all our final hope: trying to obey and make products would result in being
free and returning home.
To the fifth week, once again, we were called and told that we were going
to study the first lesson. Oh! Why do we study the first lesson again? Was it
repeated now after it was already studied? Or, would we never have the last
one?
At the meeting hall, our brothers did not look so happy as they had been the
previous time! At the end of the hall, a table was set at the middle, 3 police
cadres with no rank were sitting there; a wad of papers was in front of them.
Their faces were so icy cold. Our brothers were in line neatly, sitting on the
ground as usual.
The commander entered, standing on the stage, on the left of the hall,
saying:
- This is the first lesson, very important. It would be the measurement of
your honest which is the main fact for your releasing; we will ignore
your crime you committed before. The revolutionary is always the same,
before and after: conciliatory and mediatory. So, going home early or
lately is up to you. We require you working seriously with the cadres
who have responsibilities to educate you.
After finishing their speech, they demanded the representatives of all groups
come and take the papers and deliver to us. The inductees were in a uproar;
they competed for the papers while standing or sitting. They were so eager
to know what kind of lesson that so important? Nobody expected, it was
only pieces of blank paper. The cadres ordered our brothers to be calm
down, keep order so that they could lead carefully the first lesson. Our
brothers kept quiet to listen.
The leading cadre began:
- You just took the papers; now, write with printing letters on the top and
at the middle on the page: “BẢN TỰ KHAI” [self declaration]; name
and family name [in printed], on the next line; then, rank, residence,
functions, previous residence, birth day, birth place…Next, the
curriculum vita of your spouses, children, parents, parents in law,
father’s side, mother’s side, friends…and carefully note those who have
activities and ideologies for counter revolutionary. We were working in
3 days on these self declarations under the control of cadres. After
finishing our work, we all felt dizzy and giddy.
The communist cadres were so dishonest, cunning and foxy. They never
pleased with any of our self declarations. They ordered us do them again
and again a couple days. Each time they told us to be honest. They always
said: “You are not honest enough, you have to write down, how many
revolutionaries had been killed by you, houses were burned, women were
raped…The more you declare, the sooner you will be released.
Believing their words, some naïve brothers tried to lie about their crimes,
write down many imaginary ones, with the hope of going home early. They
did not expect that, a certain dark night, they were called out and never
returned; nobody knew where they were sent to. Next day, the cadres
pretended to be happy and announced with all people in the camp: “All of
you who sincerely declared themselves, were forgiven by the revolutionary
and permitted to go home with their families. Everybody believed them
right away. But several years later, being transferred from this camp to
others and back, we met each others, we realized that we had been deceived
by the communists; the fact was that they had not released our brothers,
they just transferred them to other camp! If we talk about the technique of
cheating, communists are the masters in the whole world. They deserve to
be “peak of human’s intelligence” - on the cheating field - as they call
themselves.