THE INITIAL DAY OF PRESERVING UNCLE HO'S BODY AT "75A"
Colonel NGUYEN VAN CHAU
Former Deputy Director of Institute 69
The President Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum High Command.
In the last days of August 1969, at the specialized medical base 75A, it was very busy and bustling. Continuous inspections were conducted by Party Central Office and military comrades. The specialized laboratory, despite being in the trial phase to check temperature and humidity parameters, was ready to open its doors to visitors.
Every day, the telephone with the number 455 rang incessantly, signaling something urgent. One time, when I hurriedly picked up the receiver upon hearing the ringing, a voice said, "Hello! I am Nguyen Luong Bang...". After hearing my response, he immediately hung up. I reported to Chief Quyen and was reminded:
Telephone number 455 is only used by me and Mr. Dieu to receive instructions and orders from higher authorities.
At 5:30PM. on August 24, which was a Saturday, we, the comrades, planned to go for a walk after dinner. As we stepped out of the Department, Chief Quyen ran over and ordered: "All comrades, officials, and staff from this moment onwards are not allowed to leave the Department - throwing no troops into battle, except for Ms. Quy and Ms. Hang." The order was all, with no explanation. Even Dr. Nguyen Gia Quyen and Dr. Le Dieu had to stay continuously in the working room of the Department.
Throughout that night, almost none of us could close our eyes. Occasionally looking towards the adjacent room, the two would move around, sometimes exchanging something very serious. Later, we learned that on the night of August 24, 1969, President Ho Chi Minh's health had deteriorated significantly. He had difficulty breathing, sometimes requiring oxygen assistance. As the end of August approached, we in the Special Medical Team became busier, with almost no rest, as we urgently prepared the material base and processed the laboratory environment. Particularly, monitoring the temperature and humidity parameters of the "central" rooms and vehicles.
Dr. Sai The was assigned to handle the environment of the FH1468 ambulance and the white Volga car using strong chemicals and ultraviolet rays. His eyes swelled due to the influence of ultraviolet rays and strong chemicals. Chief Quyen and Mr. Dieu had repeatedly asked him to take a break, but he insisted on continuing his work.
At 7:00 PM. on August 28, 1969, under the guidance of Dr. Le Dieu, I, along with Mr. Hat and Mr. Am, conducted an experiment to determine some technical details in the preservation soaking process. The night had fallen, but none of us felt sleepy; we continued to work diligently. We listened to Mr. Dieu explain the technique enthusiastically and responsibly.
On the morning of August 29, Party Secretary Tran Dinh Ly came to work with Dr. Nguyen Gia Quyen and Dr. Le Dieu. Just after 20 minutes, a specialized team was formed, including Dr. Tran Thuy, Dr. Nguyen Van Chau, nurse Nguyen Trung Hat, and medical assistant Pham Ngoc Am. Under the guidance of Dr. Le Dieu, we continued to successfully carry out the experimental soaking and prepared to welcome the health experts from the Institute for the Preservation of Lenin's Body for inspection.
At exactly 7:56PM, On September 1, 1969, the group Soviet health experts, including 5 members, led by Professor and Corresponding Member Dobrop, observed and examined the state of the experimental model, remarking: "The initial results of the preservation are good, in terms of appearance, posture, and color."
Around 10:00AM, on September 2, 1969, an emergency alert was issued. At that moment, we, the four comrades - Dieu, Chau, Hat, and Am, had just stepped out of the laboratory. We looked around, feeling a heavy atmosphere enveloping area 75A. The entrances and exits to area 75A were strictly guarded. Looking at everyone's faces, all seemed saddened. Under the command of Colonel Tran Kinh Chi, everyone quickly boarded the vehicles awaiting orders.
The ambulance with the license plate FH1468, driven by Comrade Nguyen Van Hop, had Colonel Tran Kinh Chi in the command position. Lieutenant Nguyen Gia Quyen, Dr. Nguyen Van Chau, and medic Nguyen Trung Hat were on the floor of the ambulance, with 200kg of ice packs and a stretcher. Following orders from higher authorities, the convoy slowly moved, and about 15 minutes later, it stopped in front of the Presidential Palace gate. Only the vehicle with the license plate FH1468 passed through the gate, proceeding to the row of ancient trees before coming to a halt.
I, along with Dr. Quyen and Medic Hat, quickly stepped out of the ambulance, crossed the grass carpet, and walked swiftly to the front of the thatched-roof house where President Ho Chi Minh rested.
Comrade Tran Quoc Hoan, a Political Bureau member and Minister of Public Security, greeted us and reminded us: "Comrades, stay calm, hold back your sorrow, perform your duties excellently, and no errors are allowed."
Despite Minister Tran Quoc Hoan's advice, when gently moving the stretcher to the side of the President's bed, my eyes blurred, and tears fell onto the stretcher. I quickly wiped away the tears with the edge of my white coat, regained composure, and continued the task.
Party leaders, state officials, and all comrades serving the President stood quietly, tears streaming down, gathering around the President's bed with infinite sympathy, observing the President's last moments before his departure.
In the solemn moment, Prime Minister Pham Van Dong's voice, though sad, was steady: "Alright, everyone, make some space for the specialized comrades to carry out their task." The three of us stood in our designated positions, just as predetermined. Gently, we moved the President from the bed to the stretcher.
The President's entire body was soft, his eyes not sunken but deep, and his face serene in the traditional silk pajamas. We lifted President Ho Chi Minh onto the ambulance with license plate FH1468, and Colonel Tran Kinh Chi ordered the vehicle to start moving. At this moment, the three of us had the opportunity to gaze at the President. No one spoke a word, silently walking in a feeling of sorrow for President Ho Chi Minh, witnessing a great loss for the entire nation. A short distance from the Presidential Palace to Military Hospital 108, but sweat dripped from Hop's face and shoulders, indicating the level of tension he faced in fulfilling a significant responsibility.
At 12:45PM. on September 2, 1969, after the comprehensive examination and initial handling, the long-term preservation work for President Ho Chi Minh's body was carried out in the presence of members of the Steering Committee: Lieutenant General Le Quang Dao - Deputy Chairman of the General Political Department of the People's Army of Vietnam, Colonel Phung The Tai - Deputy Chief of Staff of the People's Army of Vietnam, Colonel Vu Van Can - Deputy Head of the General Logistics Department, and Colonel Tran Kinh Chi - Director of Military Security Directorate.
Under the guidance of Academician Dobrop and the renowned surgeon, Professor, Academician Iu.M. Lopukhin, Professor I.N. Mikhailov, the Soviet-Vietnamese health expert teams coordinated smoothly, working together in a careful, precise, and strictly compliant manner with the preservation process.
The time spent on the technical preservation work yielded crucial initial results, providing favorable conditions for the following days of work. On the fourth continuous day and night (from September 2 to September 5, 1969) with a high sense of responsibility, scientific labor, and seriousness from Soviet health experts and the Special Medical Team, President Ho Chi Minh's body was preserved according to the technological process of the Lenin Institute. The distinctive features of the President's appearance during his lifetime were preserved intact.
At 7:30PM. on September 5, 1969, President Ho Chi Minh's body was placed in Ba Dinh Square for the people and international friends to pay their respects, bidding farewell to him.
The events of the first days of preserving President Ho Chi Minh's body, on September 2, 1969, are long gone, but it is a moment that will stay with me as a magnet. Every time I look at the photo of the Special Medical Team standing next to President Ho Chi Minh's body, a flood of fond memories from those days of preserving the President's body wells up within me. The nostalgia, love, and pride in the work help me overcome myself to live and dedicate.
