PANO - Over the past 40 years, veteran Phan Hoang Oanh has often stared at the wharf No. 914 in Con Dao island, the so-called “Hell on Earth”, where his comrades had laid down their lives during the resistant war against American invaders.

On these historic days in April of this year, the memories of the horrible and heroic past have flooded his mind. These days 40 years ago, political prisoners at Con Dao were rising up to liberate themselves from the enemy’s repression making Con Dao full of laughter and tears. Oanh is one of 5 former political prisoners of war now living in Con Dao island, Ba Ria-Vung Tau province.

Holding firm the political stance

Born in the Mekong Delta province of Kien Giang, Phan Hoang Oanh became conscious of the revolution at the early age and had actively participated in revolutionary activities in his hometown. He worked as a liaison, a food supplier to regular units, head of the commune’s militia unit and deputy secretary of the locality’s Youth Union Committee.

Ship taking former POWs on Con Dao island ashore

In 1969, Oanh was injured by the enemy in a sudden ambush while he and his comrades were on a mission at night and intended to return home for treatment for fear that the enemy might not recognize him. However, in the next morning, he was arrested and imprisoned in Chi Hoa prison.

At the jail, Oanh continued to gather his cellmates to protest for promoting welfares and democracy and organizing the celebration of President Ho Chi Minh’s birthday. For these activities, Oanh was convicted and exiled to the prison on Con Dao island in the early of 1970.

Reminiscing the hard time on the “Hell on Earth”, Oanh said that no words could describe the sufferings of POWs in the prison. Besides, it was also a really difficult and fierce struggle for young prisoners as the jailers usually “presented” them with ruthless tortures in an attempt to subdue them. Those who could not stand these barbarous tortures would have yielded to the enemies. This betrayal would affect other prisoners. That was why it was very important to encourage prisoners stay firm with their political stance.

Along with whispering together not to waver in determination, POWs also asked for pieces of newspapers from their fellow-country guards to understand situation from out side, especially the development of the large-scale combats. They gathered to read news and encourage each other to wait for the final victory.

Oanh recalled that once the enemies ruthlessly beat prisoners in Oanh’s detention cell as he had refused to salute their flag. They turned one by one upside down and poured lime water into their nostrils and then hit them by clubs. Being stronger than others, Oanh tried to protect others and the enemies had beaten him until he lost his consciousness. He came to realize that two of his cellmates had died. The remaining people were determined to heighten their political stance at the risk of their lives.

Happiness on the national reunification day

In April 1975, Vietnamese liberation fighters gained great triumphs in many combats. A bit of the cheerful information also came to POWs’ ears through the jailers. This helped consolidate their confidence in the final victory of the nation.

In late April 1975, the warders seemed to be heedless and calm and the number of tortures was fewer and fewer. However, prisoners were kept in their cells and sometimes without meals.

On April 29th, the POWs were surprise to hear a noisy sound from aircraft and motorboat throughout the island. At that time they only thought that the enemies reduced tortures to minimize strikes on the occasion of the International Labor Day (May 1st).

Until April 30th evening, the POWs in the stockade No.7 broke open the door when receiving the news of liberation of Saigon (now Ho Chi Minh City). Then, they unlocked all detention rooms and all the prisoners immediately moved towards the island lord’s palace and warders’ houses but most of them had retreated already. The remaining then unconditionally surrendered. At 8am on May 1st, the POWs took command of Con Dao island. Besides, they carried out combat plans in case the enemies would turn back.

Earlier, Con Dao island was well-known for screams and bloodbaths and this time the island was full of happy shouts and happy tears of the political prisoners. Apart from on-duty teams, others spread out the island to find their comrades and fellow-countrymen in other jails. Some prisoners also prepared artistic performances for welcoming forces from the mainland to take over the island. The atmosphere was animated and joyful as a festive day.

Standing fast on Con Dao island

On May 5th, 1975, the first ships taking POWs to the mainland docked the Con Dao port in response to the expectation of thousands of faithful revolutionary soldiers. It only took nearly two weeks to take all the former POWs ashore. The last ship was scheduled to depart on May 20th.

Phan Hoang Oanh (middle) and his comrades in the Party cell preparing documents for introducing tourists to the victory on April 30th, 1975

Before leaving for the mainland, young people were suggested to stay back to maintain order on the island. Though everybody would like to leave the hell on earth as soon as possible but Phan Hoang Oanh volunteered to stay back to undertake the mission. Later, many others also followed Oanh’s example.

“It was the most difficult decision in my life”, Oanh said. “I tossed and turned all night. I thought of my family, my wife and my children and my responsibility to build my hometown. In the morning of the next day, I sent back a suit and a handkerchief which my mother and my wife presented me before I were shipped to Con Dao island.”

By early 1976, Oanh could be reunited with his family and intended to bring his wife – Tran Thi Duoi and children to the island. However, he dared not break the unity of the big family for his sake. Seeing off her husband after the holidays, Oanh’s wife said in tears that she had waited for him for 5 years with no news of him. She wondered he might not care the family. At that time, Oanh only encouraged his wife to take care of their children and their parents and left for Con Dao to undertake the new mission in peace time.

When Oanh was shipped the island alone, immediately his colleagues knew about the matter. They consulted together and “demanded” him to take his wife and children to the island at any cost. Oanh returned home for the second time and got the different attitude from his wife. She only sat still and quietly when he wanted her and their children also to come to the island. Oanh said that he would have died in the “Hell on Earth” prison, but thanks to the organization and his comrades, he was still alive to be reunited with the family. “At present, Con Dao island is in our hands. We should be responsible for the sacrifices of our comrades who had laid down their lives there. If you see I am wrong, you and our children can stay in the mainland”, Oanh told.

Upon hearing that, his wife said smiling: “We are very glad to see that you alive. From now onwards, I and our children will be with you, wherever you are”.

Oanh shouted with laughter while his wife was leading their maternal grandchild in the shade of trees in the former island lord’s palace. “She has recently retired for a couple of years. Now, she only takes care of our grandchild and receive tourists to the island”, Oanh added.

Oanh also stopped his work at the Con Dao Museum but undertakes the responsibility as Secretary of his residential quarter’s Party cell. He usually tells stories on Con Dao island to visitors, especially students from the mainland touring the special national relic of Con Dao island.

As usual, in the historic month of April, he and his comrades in the Party cell prepared documents for introducing tourists to the indomitable moral strength of the former political prisoners in Con Dao island in the past. Oanh said it is their endless pleasure.

Translated by Pham Huy