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

Overcome bombs, overcome 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 are the series of arduous but heroic days in the Southeast battlefield, the times moving through units from the 7th Division to the Logistics Department of the Southern Liberation Army (B2). It was during the time fighting in the Southeast battlefield that in 1973 he had the honor of being admitted to the Party.

The battlefield is not only bombs and bullets. It is also a deep nostalgia for home, a sacred comradeship nurtured in 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, to strive,” he shared. But the spirit of a soldier did not allow him to falter. He confided: “Health may decline, but willpower 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 his work agencies and localities after his demobilization.

At the Provincial Post Office , from the initial positions such as Party Cell Leader, Party Cell Member, he 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 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 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: "Encouraging brothers and children to pay attention to education and 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 building a cultural environment and building 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 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, 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, always taking the lead in propagating and mobilizing the masses: "In front of the country's major policies, I am still an enthusiastic Party member in propagating. 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 solemnly hung. That is a worthy recognition for a life of restlessness. But for the old soldier, the greatest reward is probably the respect of the neighbors and the maturity of the younger generations.

“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 that cannot be told in words. Through his stories and simple yet noble actions, veteran Nguyen Hong Son left behind a legacy that is more precious than medals: the qualities of a soldier of Uncle Ho, the spirit of tireless dedication, and a heart that is 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