Page 83 - 206206ebbd60d49765e8b3fbf5adc1e6_1_tmp

atmosphere was very solemn, majestic and very touching. The

official graduation ceremony was held under the presidency
of President Nguyen Van Thieu at Vu Dinh Truong of the
Campus. After the National Flag and the School symbol were
carried through the ceremony, the grandiose military show
with majestic and glorious footsteps of the young men of this
School in white uniforms,yellow Army shoulder Cords, Alpha
shoulder hunches and red tassels, made many participants
extremely touched and extremely proud. These young men
are the Motherland's hope for tomorrow. They are the future
leaders of the nation with a solid knowledge of the military,
along with a university education. When the President
assigned the rank of Lieutenant to the first student, Nguyen

Duc Phong, he received a bow and arrows to shoot in all four
directions, representing their strong determination and their
constant will to serve the Country. The 22B students knelt to
receive the rank of Lieutenant and stood up to become new

career officers of The Army of The Republic of Viet Nam.

Sitting on the stage for teaching staff, my wife and I were

greatly moved as we watched the graduation ceremony...I
later learned the valedictorian Nguyen Duc Phong died while

battling at the Vietnam-Cambodia border in July 1970, I was
really shocked and heartbroken. The image of this intelligent,
talented young man whose life was cut so short is strongly
engraved in my heart for ever…
Now living in a foreign country,with our hair in grey
and white,sitting and counting the shadows of time waiting

for our day to return to dust,our hearts sometimes sink with
distant memories of our wonderful younger days.The sad
and the happy things sometimes alternately come back … We
remember … We forget…
Documenting these aloof recollections allows one to
dearly talk to his relatives, friends,and in a way, allows himself
to live again with unsuccessful ambitions of the past.
San Jose, the days in late winter...
Lê Đình Cai

82 - Ký sự Khúc Quanh Định Mệnh - Lê Đình Cai