The keepsake was presented to the Logistics Museum.

In mid-February 1954, after the strategic attack to liberate Nam Ou river basin in Laos, Division 308 returned to Vietnam to participate in the Dien Bien Phu Campaign. Comrade Nguyen Tho Son took on his duty as a liaison officer for military units to secretly transport weapons to support the front line. This was a difficult task, as Dien Bien Phu was a valley located in the West of the Northwestern region, far from the rear.

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The piece of parachute fabric of Nguyen Tho Son

The only motorway to Dien Bien Phu was long, passing through areas with harsh terrains, including devious and risky passes and hills, high mountains and deep streams. Moreover, the enemy attacked fiercely. Nguyen Tho Son was brave and showed high determination and creativity to overcome all hardships, and closely coordinated with drivers to assist the front line.

At 16:00 on March 3, 1954, Nguyen Tho Son was ordered to lead the way for transport vehicles to the firing line. Vehicles of the Department of Transport under the General Department of Supply (now the General Department of Logistics) traveled through the night without turning on fog lights. While leading the way, Son wore a piece of flare parachute fabric (a booty captured by Son from the French enemy when parachuting goods into Dien Bien Phu) and wrapped a flashlight in red parachute fabric to go ahead, giving signal for vehicles to follow.

Under the guidance of Nguyen Tho Son, they arrived at the gathering point safely. This was the first shipment of weapons, codenamed H12, transported to the Dien Bien Phu battlefield by motor vehicles. Recognizing his achievement, the General Department of Supply honored Nguyen Tho Son with a certificate of merit.

Translated by Quynh Oanh