Stories about Vietnamese Heroic Mothers in Dien Sanh

Although their age is “rare in the past and present”, every time they mention the story of the revolution, their loved ones who sacrificed their lives in the resistance war against America, the eyes of Heroic Vietnamese Mother Le Thi So in Trung Truong village and Heroic Vietnamese Mother Dang Thi Thi in Thien Dong village, Dien Sanh commune fill with tears. Because for these mothers, no matter how much time passes, the memories of the fierce war days, when their husbands and children fought bravely and died forever for their homeland and country, are still as if it were yesterday.

Heroic mother Le Thi So always educates patriotism to the young generation - Photo: KS

Mother So is 100 years old this year. She is no longer agile, but her eyes are still bright and her memory is still sharp. She said that her family has 3 Heroic Mothers (mother-in-law, sister-in-law and mother So); 7 people sacrificed in the resistance war against the French and the Americans, including her husband and 1 son.

Mother's husband, martyr Vo Toan, was the Vice Chairman and Finance and Economic Director of Hai Tan Commune (formerly) in 1967-1968. During the war years, the house had 4 rooms, the innermost room had a ceiling made of plaster used to store food and also served as a place for cadres to hide. Thanks to that, many times the enemy came to inspect and search the house but still could not find any cadres. Although they had many children and food was scarce, mother and her husband always saved, saving rice to supply the soldiers.

Because of his secret revolutionary activities and being reported, in 1967, Mr. Vo Toan, So's mother's husband, was arrested by the enemy at Lao Xa, Quang Tri . After many brutal tortures, without being able to extract any information, nearly a year after his arrest, the enemy was forced to release him. Although his body was covered with injuries from torture, he still persisted in participating in the revolution. On September 11, 1968, Mr. Vo Toan and his teammates were on their way to buy rice for soldiers in Hai Tan commune (old), now Nam Hai Lang commune, when they were swept away by the enemy.

Coming up from the basement, he and his teammates resolutely refused to surrender, so they were shot through the chest and died on the spot. Knowing that it would be difficult to escape, during the escape, Mr. Toan and his teammates dug the ground to hide secret documents so the enemy could not find them, ensuring the safety of local revolutionary cadres. Martyr Vo Toan died when his youngest son was just 2 years old, leaving behind his mother So and a group of young children.

“Dien Sanh commune has 51 heroic mothers and currently only 2 are still alive, namely mother So and mother Thi. With deep gratitude and respect for the great contributions and silent sacrifices of mothers to the cause of national liberation, over the years, the Party Committee, the government, agencies, units and socio-political organizations in the commune have always paid special attention and taken good care of heroic mothers through many practical activities of "Repaying gratitude", "Drinking water, remembering its source" such as: Offering incense to visit martyrs' graves; cleaning houses; giving gifts; cooking meals on the occasion of New Year's Eve, War Invalids and Martyrs Day, July 27 and having meals with mothers in a cozy atmosphere...

Through meaningful gratitude activities for heroic Vietnamese mothers and martyrs, a warm atmosphere has been created, contributing to comforting and soothing the pain and loss, helping mothers have moments of peace and warmth," said Cao Thi Phuong Nga, Head of the Department of Culture and Society, People's Committee of Dien Sanh Commune.

Swallowing the pain of losing her husband, So's mother continued to hide cadres, work as a liaison, and supply food to the army. Of her 7 children, 3 grew up to join the revolution, and 1 became a martyr at the age of 15.

“Although he was just a teenager, my son Vo Dinh had a great love for his country and followed his father’s brave example by joining the district armed forces. One day in June 1972, while on his way to a secret meeting with his comrades, he was ambushed by the enemy and died. When I heard the news, I was shocked and heartbroken, but what could I do because my son had devoted his youth to his homeland and country,” So’s mother said in tears.

Heroic Vietnamese Mother Dang Thi Thi and her family enjoyed a warm meal prepared by local youth union members-Photo: KS

Like So’s mother, Thi’s mother also had a husband and children who died in the resistance war against the US. However, Thi’s mother had a more special situation. Thi’s mother said that she got married and only had one son. She and her husband participated in hiding cadres, acting as liaisons and supplying food to revolutionary cadres.

In 1968, her husband was ambushed and shot dead by the enemy at home. Following his father's steadfastness and bravery, at the age of 18, her son, Le Anh Tuan, enthusiastically joined the revolution and was elected as Deputy Commune Security. During a mission in January 1975, while hiding in a bunker, he was shot by the enemy and died at the age of 23, just a few months before his hometown was liberated.

“My son at that time was determined to follow the revolution, so he devoted all his youth to the revolution, and he did not have a lover. His husband died, and his mother's only child also died. There was no greater pain, but I tried to suppress my own pain and continued to participate in the revolution with the hope that one day soon the country would be free of enemies,” Thi's mother said with tears in her eyes.

Putting aside the pain of losing her husband and children, Mother So and Mother Thi always persevered to overcome difficulties to live, work, contribute and raise their remaining children to become good people. The war has been over for more than half a century, but the silent and great sacrifices of Mother So, Mother Thi and countless other Heroic Vietnamese Mothers across the country still live on forever. They are the "torches" that burn forever in the hearts of many generations of Vietnamese people, and their merits will be forever recognized by the Fatherland.

Ko Kan Suong

Source: https://baoquangtri.vn/chuyen-ve-nhung-ba-me-viet-nam-anh-hung-o-dien-sanh-196332.htm