Tưởng nhớ Đại Tá Nguyễn Đình Bảo

Tưởng Nhớ Cố Đại Tá Nguyễn Đình Bảo

February 21, 2014 at 10:35pm

Tưởng Nhớ Cố Đại Tá Nguyễn Đình Bảo

The Commander's Burial (Colonel Nguyen Dinh Bao)

We wrapped him in a poncho,

Even his dismembered legs.

He had known that he was dying,

And he spoke his last words.

"Tell my wife I loved her true.

Tell my children to remember me.

Tell my paratroopers to never surrender.

You, my officers, one final salute."

He lays in a shallow grave alone;

No bugles, no farewell rifle salute,

Only a few shovels of red earth.

His grave is marked with his helmet.

He fought bravely until the end.

He fought against heavy odds.

He has fought his last battle.

With his glory, we leave him.

By John J. Duffy

Chôn Người Chỉ Huy

(Đại Tá Nguyễn Đình Bảo)

Biết mình sắp mất, ông trối

“Nói với vợ tôi, tôi yêu cô ấy tha thiết,

Nhắn giùm các con luôn nhớ đến tôi,

Kêu những người lính Dù, nhất quyết không hàng giặc,

Riêng anh và các viên sĩ quan, lời chào vĩnh biệt”

Chúng tôi bọc thân xác ông trong chiếc poncho

Đặt ông nằm riêng dưới hố cạn,

Không tiếng kèn, không một phát súng tiễn đưa

Chỉ vài nắm đất phủ vội lên

Và nón sắt làm dấu cho nấm mộ

Chiến đấu dũng cảm cho tới phút cuối

Với một chống mười, ông nào ngán

Ông đánh trận chiến cuối cùng

Ôi! Người chỉ huy quá đổi tự hào

Chúng tôi xin chào giã biệt

Phúc chuyển ngữ

The Commanders Family

(Colonel Nguyen Dinh Bao Memorial Service)

Can you picture the scene:

Incense burning, banners hung, casket draped.

The moans and the weeping blend,

Sorrow hangs in the atmosphere.

The Commander's comrades gathered,

To offer their last salute.

The young widow strong at first,

But soon sorrow overcomes her.

It is not the smoke which tears my eyes,

Although I have lit seven joss sticks.

The words are spoken for all to hear.

Now, it is I who must say the last

I will say the truth, and how he died:

"He died leading the paratroopers he loved."

"He died fighting for the freedom he cherished."

"He died a hero of his country."

By John J. Duffy

Tiễn Biệt

(Đám Tang Đại Tá Nguyễn Đình Bảo)

Có khi nào bạn trông thấy cảnh:

Băng rôn, nhang khói, hòm cài hoa

Tiếng khóc thầm thì và rên ra

Không khí thật quá ư buồn thảm

Chiến hữu cùng nhau hội tụ lại

Đến đầy, chào kính, tiễn biệt ông

Người quả phụ trẻ ráng cứng cỏi

Nỗi sầu quá lớn, lệ tuôn rơi

Không phải khói làm tôi ướt mắt

Tuy đã thắp nhang khá nhiều lần

Lời chia buồn, mọi người cùng nghe

Giờ, đến lúc tôi phải lên tiếng

Sự thật và cách nào ông mất

“Ông hy sinh, dẫn dắt lính Dù”

“Chiến đấu vì Tự Do Hạnh Phúc”

“Là người hùng của đất nước ông”

Phúc chuyển ngữ

John J Duffy nguyên là Thiếu Tá cố vấn cho TĐ 11 Dù. Ông cùng đánh trận Charlie với cố Đại Tá Nguyễn Đình Bảo. Căn hầm Đại Tá Bảo bị pháo trúng, Đại Tá Bảo hy sinh. Cùng thời gian, căn hầm của Thiếu Tá Duffy cũng bị pháo bắn sập, các người lính chung hầm bị chết, riêng ông, may mắn, chỉ bị thương.