The story of overcoming difficulties of a 1/4 disabled veteran with 17 bullet fragments in his body
(Baonghean.vn) - Despite being hit by enemy artillery shells that severed one leg and left 17 pieces scattered throughout his body, Mr. Nguyen Van Loi still actively worked, produced, and participated in social work.
Lost 1 leg and still has 17 bullet fragments in the body
Despite the scorching sun, Mr. Nguyen Van Loi (69 years old) in Hamlet 6, Hung Tan Commune (Hung Nguyen) still limped out to the farm to get food for the pigs and chickens in the barn. Looking at the property, no one would think that the owner is a war invalid who has lost 81% of his working capacity.
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| Veteran Nguyen Van Loi fought for 5 years in the Southeast battlefield and achieved many feats. Photo: Cong Kien |
“Take advantage of taking care of the fish pond and livestock, and arrange to go to Hanoi in a few days to attend the national meeting of outstanding severely wounded soldiers organized by the Ministry of Labor, War Invalids and Social Affairs. This is the second time I have participated, the last time was 3 years ago, also held in Hanoi.”
Mr. Loi joined the army at the age of 18, fighting in the Southeast region for 5 consecutive years. During this time, the young soldier achieved many feats and was awarded many medals and orders. These include the First Class Liberation Soldier Medal, the Glorious Soldier Medal, and the Third Class Anti-American National Salvation Medal…
In 1973, during a raid, Mr. Loi was hit by an enemy artillery shell. A large piece was embedded in his leg and had to be amputated, and 17 other pieces were scattered throughout his body, one of which was located 1 cm from the bottom of his heart. He was transferred to the North for treatment and convalescence, then transferred to work at a military garment factory and was discharged in 1986.
19% health still contribute
Returning to his family and hometown during a difficult economic period, losing a leg made it difficult to move and walk, not to mention the pain when the weather changed, but Mr. Nguyen Van Loi was always struggling to find ways to improve his family's life. Along with taking care of the fields, he also expanded his pig and chicken farming, dug ponds to raise fish, so the economy gradually stabilized.
Currently, his family has a fish pond of 6 sao, and a well-built barn system. Normally, there are about 20 pigs and sows in the barn, and about 200 chickens, both meeting food needs and supplying the market. Every year, after deducting expenses, the income from the farm is usually nearly 50 million VND. Seeing that Mr. Loi's method brings economic efficiency, many households in the village have learned and replicated this model, so their lives have been increasingly improved.
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| Disabled soldier Nguyen Van Loi was the pioneer in digging ponds, utilizing the water surface to raise fish and build farms. Photo: Cong Kien |
With only 19% of his health remaining, Mr. Loi still actively participates in social work, serving as the President of the Veterans Association for 15 consecutive years. In this position, he has called on and gathered members to build solidarity, helping each other in life, work and production. This includes establishing wards and associations such as rice wards and money wards to support each other to escape poverty.
Initially, Mr. Loi limited the scope to the Veterans Association and his brothers and relatives, but later expanded the scope to include neighbors. Wards and associations are organized in the form of gathering 10-15 households to agree to contribute a certain amount of money or rice to support each other in a rotating manner.
That means households receive money and rice in order of drawing lots or agreement to use for big things such as building houses, buying buffaloes, cows and other amenities for life. Thanks to that, Mr. Loi's family and many war veterans as well as people in Hamlet 6, Hung Tan Commune have saved and built spacious and solid houses.
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| Along with economic development and livestock and poultry farming, war invalid Nguyen Van Loi is also exemplary in donating land to open rural roads. Photo: Cong Kien |
The commune launched a movement to build new rural areas, including the construction of rural roads and intra-field roads. The most difficult task was to mobilize people to donate land. Knowing that Mr. Loi was a prestigious person in the village, the departments and branches of Hung Tan commune coordinated to mobilize and propagate, first to the war veterans, then to relatives and neighbors.
“To make people listen, I voluntarily donated 60 meters2land to widen the road next to the house, then go to each house to persuade and persuade. There were also families who initially refused, but when they understood the common and long-term benefits, they agreed to donate land. Thanks to that, up to now, most of the roads here have been widened, making travel much more convenient," Mr. Loi recounted.
“War invalid Nguyen Van Loi is a truly exemplary person. Despite being severely disabled, he is still active in working, producing, and participating in social work.”
