A lifetime of dedication, forever shining the qualities of Uncle Ho's soldiers

Overcoming bombs and bullets, overcoming yourself

In April 1967, the young man Nguyen Hong Son, just 20 years old, joined the army, joining the fervent spirit of the whole nation. After 4 months of training, he and his comrades marched to the Southern battlefield. Memories of those years were a series of arduous but heroic days in the Southeast battlefield, and the times of moving through units from the 7th Division to the Logistics Department of the Southern Liberation Army (B2). It was during his time fighting in the Southeast battlefield that in 1973 he had the honor of being admitted to the Party.

The battlefield is not only about bombs and bullets. It is also about homesickness and the sacred camaraderie that is nurtured through hardship. He still remembers clearly the verses of poetry that a friend gave him in the middle of the battlefield: “”. According to him, only soldiers can deeply understand those feelings.

Veteran Nguyen Hong Son is still working hard to build his homeland.

The war ended in 1976, when soldier Nguyen Hong Son returned to civilian life, he carried the after-effects of Agent Orange and faced a new challenge. “When I returned from demobilization, with the wounds of war, I had to overcome everything to go to university and to strive,” he shared. But the spirit of a soldier did not allow him to falter. He confided: “Your health may decline, but your will will not fade.”

It was a journey full of determination. In addition to working hours, young Nguyen Hong Son diligently studied every Saturday and Sunday. From 1979 to 1981, he completed high school, then passed the entrance exam and studied at the University of Information and Communications Technology (now the Academy of Posts and Telecommunications Technology). For him, studying was a new weapon to continue serving and building the country.

After graduating from university in 1986, he worked at Dong Hung District Post Office, Thai Binh Province (now Dong Hung Commune, Hung Yen Province), then was transferred to Thai Binh Province Post Office (now Hung Yen).

The nucleus of the movements

In the near future (2028), Mr. Nguyen Hong Son will receive an extremely meaningful milestone: the 55-year Party membership badge. For him, since his military service, the title of Party member was not only a recognition, but also a guideline for all actions, a responsibility to devote his whole life. That quality was most clearly demonstrated when he became the "nucleus" in movements in working agencies and localities after his demobilization.

At the Provincial Post Office , from his initial positions as Party Cell Leader and Party Cell Member, he has always demonstrated the sense of responsibility of a Party member, always promoting and maintaining the qualities of a soldier of Uncle Ho's Army. With his professional capacity and dedication, in 1997, he was appointed to the position of Head of the Technical Management Department of the Provincial Post Office. Not only is he a good manager, he is also a person who is always attentive and devoted to the interests of his colleagues. Because of that prestige, in 2002, he was elected by the collective as the full-time Chairman of the Trade Union, representing and protecting the voice of workers. His journey of dedication continued to be recognized when he held an important position: Standing Member of the Party Committee and Chairman of the Trade Union of the Postal Industry of Thai Binh Province (now Hung Yen) before retiring in 2007.

And even after retirement, the fire of enthusiasm in that soldier has not cooled down. He and his devoted hometown children again established the Cong Hoa Village Association, Thang Long Commune, Dong Hung District, Thai Binh Province (now Dong Hung Commune, Hung Yen Province), with the noble purpose: "Encourage the children and grandchildren to pay attention to education , help build a more prosperous homeland".

He always cherishes and preserves his noble certificates and awards.

Under his leadership, the association has done many meaningful things, joining hands to build martyrs' cemeteries, renovate communal houses and schools, contributing to the construction of cultural environments and new rural areas. The qualities of a soldier and a Party member are not only demonstrated in social work, but are also brought back to nurture by him for his own family. Mr. Son is both an exemplary father and husband, strict but tolerant, and an elder brother, a spiritual support for the whole extended family. It is from that solid foundation that his descendants have all been thoroughly educated, successfully studied and matured, becoming a great source of pride for the veteran. When asked what motivates him to continue working hard despite his old age, he shared: "For me, happiness is simply when I can still contribute and see my homeland change."

Keep your vows in everyday life

Although he has been out of the army for nearly half a century, the qualities of a soldier and a party member remain intact in Mr. Nguyen Hong Son. He still maintains the habit of regular Party activities and is always at the forefront of propaganda and mass mobilization: "In front of the country's major policies, I am still an enthusiastic Party member in propaganda. In front of people's different thoughts, I wholeheartedly explain so that everyone can understand and voluntarily follow the Party's guidelines," he said.

For him, a Party member is not only exemplary in words, but also in every action. In the simple living room, certificates of merit from the Prime Minister, ministries, branches, and especially badges of 30, 40, 45, 50 years of Party membership are hung solemnly. That is a worthy recognition for a life of restlessness. But for the old soldier, the greatest reward is probably the respect of neighbors and the maturity of generations of children and grandchildren.

“No pen or paper can record all the memories and recollections of a liberation soldier’s life,” Mr. Son once contemplated. Indeed, his life and that of his generation is a living history, which cannot be told in words. Through his stories and simple yet noble actions, veteran Nguyen Hong Son left a legacy more precious than medals: the qualities of Uncle Ho’s soldiers, the spirit of tireless dedication, and a heart always “full of enthusiasm” for his homeland and village.

Article and photos: QUYNH TRANG

Source: https://www.qdnd.vn/phong-su-dieu-tra/phong-su/tron-doi-cong-hien-sang-mai-pham-chat-bo-doi-cu-ho-838861