Touching diary of martyr written for daughter he never met

Hang Ha 14:11 Mar, 28 Mar 2023 to UK Touching diary of martyr written for daughter he never met

Ha Hang

In his battlefield diary, martyr Nguyen Quang So devoted 4 pages to his daughter. The soldier confided to his daughter about the war, family traditions, revolutionary ideals, his happiness and his wishes for his daughter.

My father's war diary

For Mrs. Nguyen Thi Hoa, 59 years old, residing in Thanh Chuong town, Thanh Chuong district, Nghe An province, the “War Diary” relic of her beloved father who sacrificed his life is a priceless gift. Although the gift was printed from a film copy, it still made this woman unable to hide her emotions and burst into tears. Mrs. Nguyen Thi Hoa is the only daughter of martyr Nguyen Quang So, from Thanh Lam commune (now Ngoc Son commune), Thanh Chuong district.

Mrs. Nguyen Thi Hoa was emotional when talking about her father.

According to Mrs. Nguyen Thi Luc (83 years old), wife of martyr Nguyen Quang So, he was born in 1941 (his military enlistment record stated he was born in 1944). After joining the army, he was assigned to study at a military school in Vinh Phuc . During his time studying there, his wife also followed her husband to work at the Brick and Tile Factory. On October 31, 1967, soldier Nguyen Quang So received orders to go to the South to fight, at this time his daughter was just 1 year old.

According to the death certificate, martyr Nguyen Quang So died on the Southern front on February 26, 1969. However, it was not until 1971 that his family received his death certificate. During his years of fighting, he only sent home a hastily written letter, informing that he was on his way to the Central Highlands. The only letter he sent home to his family is no longer available.

Mrs. Hoa's memories of her father seemed to be a blank. So when this woman received a call from her son about her grandfather's diary posted on social media, she was so moved that she couldn't hold back her tears. It was a night at the end of March 2024, her son sent pictures of the diary to Mrs. Hoa. This woman sobbed silently while scrolling through her phone to see pictures of her father's diary. The cover of the diary read "War Diary, Volume 1, Thanh Chuong". At the bottom of the cover of the diary, it also read "To my brother: Nguyen Quang Dong, Nha Giap village, Thanh Lam commune, Thanh Chuong district". Reading the diary her father left behind, Mrs. Hoa burst into tears like a child.

Excerpts from the diary of martyr Nguyen Quang So

In that diary, soldier Nguyen Quang So wrote mostly about the battles he and his unit participated in, about revolutionary ideals, about the soldier's endless longing for his family, wife and daughter. In particular, this soldier devoted 4 pages of the diary to confide in his beloved daughter. Since entering the battlefield, this soldier has not met his daughter once, but the father's love for his daughter is boundless and is expressed in his diary.

And tearful words of advice

During the years of fierce fighting, witnessing the sacrifice of many comrades, it seemed that this soldier also had his own plans.

“Hoa, my child! Today, I feel the need to confide in you. If tomorrow, when reunification comes, I will bring this diary - which was with me during the arduous and fierce days of fighting the Americans - back for you to see. If I am to die (which is natural while fighting the enemy), the Political Department will send it back for you to see. Through this, you will understand something about your father...

Hoa, later you will ask: You studied the history of our nation's heroic fight against the Americans, what did I do at that time? If I were at home, how would I answer you? I want you to be proud of your personal history book: I went to fight against the Americans... "Hoa, my child! Remember, don't let me down. When you grow up, go to school, don't rush to get married... When you grow up, become a true Communist Party member! I wish you to be a good person! Kisses!", excerpt from the diary of martyr Nguyen Quang So for his daughter.

Excerpts from the diary of martyr Nguyen Quang So

On September 19, 1968, the soldier also wrote words of love and advice to his wife. "These past few days I've been thinking about you a lot. The more I think, the more I love you... When I return, I will take care of you, create all the conditions to help you have less hardships and difficulties, you will be proud like any other woman. If I have to sacrifice myself in the struggle with the cruel and savage enemy, this is what I tell you before saying goodbye... If you love me, don't be faithful and suffer. Be bold and find someone to go home with you morning and night, that person must be someone who has returned from fighting the Americans", the diary entries of martyr Nguyen Quang So dedicated to his beloved wife.

Her father died when she was still very young, and her mother remarried, so her life suffered many hardships. After graduating from high school, Hoa went to work in a factory and got married. After a few years, the factory dissolved and she returned to open a small shop in town to make a living.

“My father went to war and died when I was very young. I have almost no memories of him. After 56 years, reading his diary, I was very moved. Thanks to the diary pages, I know how he lived and fought. Each line of his diary dedicated to his family, to his mother and to me is like a consolation that partly compensates for the longing I have had for him over the years,” Ms. Hoa said, her voice choking.

Mr. Le Viet Dung gave a printed copy of the diary to Ms. Hoa's family.

Receiving the diary, Ms. Hoa's family has more hope to find information and remains of martyr Nguyen Quang So. Mr. Le Viet Dung, a volunteer group searching for martyrs' graves and supporting the relocation of martyrs to their hometowns of Nghe An - Ha Tinh, revealed that the diary of martyr Nguyen Quang So was received from the Vietnam Martyrs Support Association to find connections and return it to the family. A member of the Vietnam Martyrs Support Association posted information related to martyr Nguyen Quang So on the website kyvatkhangchien.com and connected to transfer documents to Mr. Le Tien Dung to connect information about the martyr. Very quickly, through policy officers and social networks, Mr. Dung found information about relatives and contacted the martyr's daughter, Ms. Nguyen Thi Hoa.

In the diary of martyr Nguyen Quang So, he wrote a lot about the places where he and his comrades fought. “Although my father’s diary is just photocopies, it is a priceless gift to my family. It is not only valuable in terms of spirit but also in which my father recorded the battles and battle locations that he participated in. Hopefully, with the information we have, we will be able to find my father’s remains and bring them back to his hometown for burial,” Ms. Hoa said, wiping away her tears.