Phu Quoc POWs recall their days

PANO - An art exchange titled “Phu Quoc Prisoners of War (POWs)-40 years of victory”, broadcast live on HTV9 and ANTV in the evening of December 4, honoured former POWs of Phu Quoc who joined the fight for national salvation.

Addressing the program, held simultaneously at the Au Co Theatre in Hanoi and film studio of Ho Chi Minh Television Theatre, former General Secretary Le Kha Phieu stressed that during the war, POWs, especially those at the Phu Quoc Prison always showed the courage of revolutionary soldiers and never wavered in their determination to fight foreign invaders. In peace time, they contributed much to the national construction and brightened the virtue of Uncle Ho’s soldiers.

The exchange recaptured the image of loyal Phu Quoc POWs in three chapters, including loyal POWs, combat and return from the victory, which told the story of the losses and bravery in combat of more than 40,000 Phu Quoc POWs, including more than 4,000 deaths. 

In this exchange, witnesses recalled their hard but magnanimous days in the jail, touching the hearts of all audience members. Former POW Dang Van Chien named the enemy’s barbarous torture methods, such as forcing POWs to hold a burning chimney or to walk on spike boards, or hammering a long nail into POWs’ head and bone till death, pulling out POWs’ teeth with pliers, and pressing wooden boards on POWs’ thorax till the thorax was broken.

Meanwhile, former POW Nguyen Minh Hoang recalled the most deadly day on May 6th 1972 when 148 POWs were dead or injured by wardens’ shooting. Former POW Vu Van Kim retold his action of ripping his bowels open to show the resilient will of a party member and POWs’ indignation against the enemy’s policies. Kim’s action inspired the world and people in the US, forcing the US imperialists and puppet troops to release POWs on March 7th, 1974.

After the war, those former POWs tried their best to enrich themselves and the country. They also helped create jobs for their comrades’ children as well.

40 years have gone by since those former POWs victoriously returned home from the Phu Quoc Prison. Their triumphal return remains intact, because they have lived and fought to deserve to be Uncle Ho’s soldiers.

Translated by Mai Huong