Heroic martyr Nguyen Quoc Tri through the story of his daughter

That is Ms. Nguyen Thi Phuong Lan - daughter of martyr Nguyen Quoc Tri - a living witness recounting the life of her heroic father.

Ms. Nguyen Thi Phuong Lan is over 70 years old this year, but is still healthy and optimistic. I met her at a reunion organized by Historian, Police Colonel Ngo Tri Sinh at Summer Vinh coffee shop in a rather unexpected way. Besides Mr. Sinh and I, there was also veteran journalist Nguyen Dao, the three of us were chatting when two women entered the shop and came to our table. It turned out that Mr. Sinh had invited them to come along without us knowing in advance.

After Mr. Sinh introduced everyone to each other, I learned the names of the two women I first met, Ms. Nguyen Thi Phuong Lan and Ms. Nguyen Thien Thanh Thanh.

Ms. Nguyen Thien Thanh Thanh is a poet, Ms. Nguyen Thi Phuong Lan is a retired Major working at Military Hospital 4. They have been close friends for many years.

When I learned that Ms. Phuong Lan is the daughter of Heroic Martyr Nguyen Quoc Tri, I felt very lucky to meet her to understand more about her father.

When I asked for documents about Nguyen Quoc Tri to research and write an article, Ms. Phuong Lan sent information and photos about him, then informed me that she would be interviewed in the program: "Telling stories of soldiers: Hero Nguyen Quoc Tri - untold stories" jointly produced by Nghe An Radio - Television Station and Nghe An Provincial Military Command.

I heard her story and documents in books and newspapers to create this article to serve readers, contributing to better understanding of the life and career of Hero Nguyen Quoc Tri.

Nguyen Thi Phuong Lan's father was Nguyen Quoc Tri (1919-1967), her mother was Vu Thi Hy, who died in 1983 at the age of 62. They had four children, including the eldest son Nguyen Quoc Si ​​(born in 1942), who studied in Czechoslovakia (formerly), and worked at the Institute of Machine Tools in 1970; the second child was Nguyen Thi Phuong Lan (born in 1948); the third child was Nguyen Quoc Hoa (born in 1957) who worked locally; the fourth child was Nguyen Quoc Binh (born in 1962) who worked at the Hoang Thi Loan Knitting Factory, Vinh city.

Phuong Ky village, Da Son commune, Do Luong district, the hometown of Hero Nguyen Quoc Tri, as well as many other villages on both banks of Lam river, is very beautiful, with green bamboo hedges, banyan trees, water wharves, communal house yards, and green fields stretching along the river. Lam river through Do Luong district meets a bend in front of Qua Son temple (one of the four most beautiful and sacred temples in Nghe An: Nhat Con, nhi Qua, tam Bach Ma, tu Chieu Trung), where alluvium is best for crops, before bringing water downstream to Lam Giang, so this is a good place, giving birth to many talented people for the homeland and the country. Grandparents, parents and the young man Nguyen Quoc Tri himself had to work hard, diligently, farming rice and corn all year round to make a living under the feudal and colonial regime. Nguyen Quoc Tri had a passionate love for his country, participated in the revolution early, at the age of 16 he was captured by the French and exiled to work as a laborer in Laos, he was weak so he was plagued by malaria until he was "near death".

Being a strong and resilient person, he overcame his illness. After recovering, he continued his activities and volunteered to join the Self-Defense Force to fight the Japanese. Together with his teammates, he killed 10 enemies and destroyed 5 military transport vehicles. He enthusiastically participated in the uprising to seize power in Do Luong district (August 1945). After that, he volunteered to join the army and participated in battles on many fronts from Binh Tri Thien, Nghe An... (from December 1946 to January 1947). He personally killed 19 French and 2 Japanese.

After that, he was transferred to Viet Bac, assigned to command the Ba-dô-ka Battery, fought on Route 4 (February 1948), burned 1 troop transport vehicle, killed 30 enemies... During the Viet Bac and Thu Dong campaigns, he commanded the company to many achievements, especially, contributed greatly to capturing 2 Quan 5 members, Lopagiơ and Sáctông.

In the battle of Trung Du, he had the initiative to fight the enemy from the roof down, so he defeated the enemy in the blink of an eye.

In the battle of Ninh Binh, he and 6 other team members used tricks to capture 90 enemies and kill some others, including the second mandarin, son of the enemy general Tatxinhi...

Nhan Dan Newspaper, No. 61, June 12, 1952, had an article by President Ho Chi Minh under the pen name CB summarizing Nguyen Quoc Tri's achievements in emulation and meritorious deeds as follows:

“The hero who competed to destroy the enemy and made achievements, Nguyen Quoc Tri, fought 95 battles from Binh Tri Thien to Viet Bac, personally killed more than 200 enemies, was seriously wounded 5 times but still did not leave the army.

Joined the revolution at the age of 16. Was exiled to Laos by the French. At the age of 17, he joined the army since the uprising. At the Border Battle, soldier Nguyen Quoc Tri went hungry and wet for 2 days chasing the enemy, contributing to the capture of 2 Quan 5 Lơpagiơ and Sáctông.

In the battle of Trung Du, comrade Nguyen Quoc Tri had the initiative to attack from the enemy's roof down, resulting in complete victory in the blink of an eye.

In the battle of Ninh Binh, comrade Quoc Tri and 6 team members used tricks to capture 90 enemies and kill some, including a mandarin, son of enemy general Tatxinhi. The above are just a few examples. Comrade Nguyen Quoc Tri's good qualities are:

- Quick and brave when fighting;

- Resolutely execute the orders given above;

- Love team members like brothers;

- Thrift and respect for public property;

- Honest self-criticism and sincere criticism;

- Comrade Quoc Tri often said: "I have those achievements thanks to Uncle Ho and the Government, thanks to the Party and the people and also thanks to the solidarity of all my comrades."

He was elected as a Hero of the Army by the Army Congress.

When he was in Viet Bac, Nguyen Quoc Tri also had the merit of protecting Uncle Ho (In the photo of Uncle Ho walking with a stick on the campaign trail, there is a picture of him walking right behind Uncle Ho). During the days he lived with Uncle Ho, he learned many good things from the leader, especially the determination to defeat the French. From then on, he always volunteered to go to battle and always defeated the enemy, always worthy of the nickname that Uncle Ho and General Vo Nguyen Giap gave him: "Fast as a squirrel, strong as a tiger".

He deserved to be awarded by the Party, the Government and the Central Military Commission: 1 Third Class Military Exploit Medal; 1 First Class Military Exploit Medal; 1 First Class Resistance Medal; National Emulation Fighter; was 1 of 4 people awarded the title of Hero in the first batch with Cu Chinh Lan, La Van Cau, Ngo Gia Kham (May 19, 1952).

Nguyen Quoc Tri was the Commander of the Capital Regiment, the Vanguard Army. The regiment was brought by Uncle Ho to offer incense and pay tribute at the Hung Kings' temple and pledged to follow in the footsteps of their ancestors to preserve and protect the country: "The Hung Kings had the merit of building the country, we, Uncle and nephew, must strive to protect the country."

When he returned to take over the Capital, he was honored to lead the army to take over the Capital and was the one assigned to raise the National Flag on Thang Long Flagpole (the image of him holding a bouquet of fresh flowers given by the people appeared in many articles and films about the day of the Capital's liberation). He stood in front of the army and was an honorary representative symbolizing the will to defend the Capital (3:00 p.m. on October 10, 1954).

August 16, 1967 was a fateful day, a day of painful loss for Mrs. Vu Thi Hy's family when they were informed that he had sacrificed his life on the artillery field right in his hometown of Do Luong. The day that Lieutenant Colonel, Hero Nguyen Quoc Tri - Principal of Military School of Military Region 4, on his way to visit and encourage soldiers at the artillery field, suddenly sacrificed his life because of a delayed bomb of the American empire. At that time, the eldest brother Quoc Si ​​was still abroad, his mother was sick, so Ms. Phuong Lan, on behalf of the family, suppressed her grief and went to the artillery field to find her father's body. At that time, her father's body was mixed with the bodies of his comrades who had sacrificed their lives.

Ms. Phuong Lan said: "I ran to pick up my father's body but tears could not flow. I collapsed. It was a shocking pain throughout the childhood of the four of us and a poor mother."

Comrades and people held a solemn funeral for him.HeroNguyen Quoc Tri and other martyrs have sacrificed their lives. His grave has become a typical relic, an example for people and young generations to come and offer incense to honor and learn, especially on the occasion of the annual War Invalids and Martyrs Day (July 27). The example of Heroic Martyr Nguyen Quoc Tri has been honored by the Party, the State and the leaders.

On the occasion of Ms. Phuong Lan's visit to the capital to celebrate General Vo Nguyen Giap's 90th birthday, she heard General Giap talk about Uncle Ho's concern and sorrow for Hero and Martyr Nguyen Quoc Tri and the same thing about him when he said: "On July 27th, I went from Hanoi straight to Do Luong District Cemetery to burn incense for your father and Mr. Hoang Kien.".

General Giap also left a handwritten note behind a photo of Hero Nguyen Quoc Tri on May 19, 2002 as follows: I will always remember the image of Hero Nguyen Quoc Tri, the soldier."quick as a squirrel, strong as a tiger" successfully completed all tasks assigned by the unit, leaving a shining example for officers and soldiers of the armed forces. (Signed by Vo Nguyen Giap).

Grateful to the hero, Musician Nguyen Huu Xuong composed and performed a choir called:Song of Hero Nguyen Quoc Tri. Mr. Nguyen Quoc Tri's name was given to a beautiful street in Hanoi, Cau Giay district and a street named after him in Vinh city, Hung Phuc ward, and in his hometown in Do Luong district, there is a secondary school named after him - Nguyen Quoc Tri Secondary School. A traditional memorial house for Heroic Martyr Nguyen Quoc Tri was also built in his hometown - Da Son commune, Do Luong district, Nghe An province./.

References:

1. Provincial Party Committee - People's Council - People's Committee of Nghe An province.Heroic units and individuals of Nghe An province. Vol. 3.- Vinh, Nghe An Publishing House, 2009.- Pp. 481-482.

2. Nhan Dan Newspaper, No. 61, June 12, 1952 (see photo).

3. The testimony of living witness Nguyen Thi Phuong Lan, daughter of hero and martyr Nguyen Quoc Tri through the program: "Telling stories of soldiers: Hero Nguyen Quoc Tri - untold stories"Coordinated by Nghe An Radio and Television Station and Nghe An Provincial Military Command.

And some other documents…