The story of a martyr recognized after 91 years of sacrifice

The heart of a grandchild

Mr. Pham Ba Tien (residing in Hamlet 2, Thanh Ha Commune, Thanh Chuong District) is the grandson of martyr Pham Khanh. Like many other families in this revolutionary land, Mr. Tien's family silently grieves as many men in the family have fallen for the noble ideals of the Fatherland. He said that he grew up with many memories of his mother, but very few memories of his uncles and father; as for his grandfather, all he knows is through the reminiscences of relatives and the stories of villagers. However, he has never ceased to be proud of his grandfather, his uncle, and his father - the loyal sons of his homeland.

Mr. Pham Ba Tien talks with reporters. Photo: PA

“My grandfather had 5 children, 3 of whom were sons who all followed the revolution. He and his two uncles Pham Tuan and Pham Tung were active in the Nghe Tinh Soviet movement of 1930-1931, and were captured and imprisoned by the enemy; and my father Pham Ba Mai also passed away while on a traffic mission during the resistance war against the US to save the country,” Mr. Tien recalled. For my grandfather, although the information from the family and the village was consistent that Mr. Pham Khanh was a Red Self-Defense Force, actively participated in the Red Peasant Association, his house was a place where secret meetings were often held, and he had great contributions to the local revolutionary movement; but because the time was so long ago, original documents were difficult to find, and witnesses from that period were also lost, the recognition of Mr. Pham Khanh as a martyr encountered many difficulties.

Many times, standing in the middle of the family altar, in front of the portraits and tablets, Mr. Tien asked himself: It has been nearly a century, I still know and understand the origin of my ancestors to burn incense and worship, to be proud of the family tradition; but what about the time that passes, 200 years later and beyond? Will my children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren still know, if there is nothing to record their names? With such concerns, Mr. Pham Ba Tien began the journey to establish a file to recognize his grandfather as a martyr - a journey that even Mr. Tien did not think would take so long.

“I have been to all the places I could go. I “knocked on the doors” of departments and offices from the commune People’s Committee to the district, then went to the Department of Labor, War Invalids and Social Affairs… I also went to the Nghe Tinh Soviet Museum many times to ask the archives department to look up information. I went and came back, then went again, I don’t know how many times, I don’t remember how many sets of documents and papers I wrote and printed; I kept adding, renewing, redoing, notarizing, holding family council meetings, asking for signatures… continuously. I don’t even remember what year I started going, but I am so familiar with people that whenever I see them, policy officers greet me: Uncle Tien is here again!” - Mr. Tien recounted his journey.

Mr. Pham Ba Tien affirmed his belief in the gratitude policy of the Party and State. Photo: PA

For that dutiful grandson, the journey to certify his grandfather as a martyr was not to seek fame, money or benefits for himself, but simply to wish for a worthy recognition and honor from the Party and State for his grandfather and family - people who did not spare their blood and bones for the independence and freedom of the Fatherland; to engrave in the family tree the shining examples, so that future generations will forever maintain the undying pride in their ancestors' generation, and look to them to live a worthy life.

He said that the greatest encouragement after many years of pursuing the recognition of his grandfather as a martyr was the responsibility of those working in policy in the places he visited. Before and during his trip, many acquaintances told him to be careful about "suggestions", that somewhere there were "bad apples spoiling the bunch", but he thought that he would just go straight ahead, with full faith in the gratitude policy of the Party and State; no one would forget those who had contributed to the Fatherland, but because so much time had passed, the confirmation needed to be more meticulous, careful, and thorough... Carrying that belief with him, although he could not avoid times of fatigue, Mr. Pham Ba Tien never had the thought of stopping.

Martyrs are honored

The initial basis that Mr. Pham Ba Tien relied on was the limited information stated in the book History of Thanh Ha Commune Party Committee. It stated: “According to statistics from the Nghe An Provincial Historical Research Board, Nghe Tinh Soviet Museum and Thanh Chuong District Party Committee, during the Nghe Tinh Soviet movement of 1930 - 1931, the entire Thanh Ha commune had 60 cadres, party members, and revolutionary masses who were arrested by the enemy, tortured and imprisoned in many different prisons... There were families of 3 or 4 fathers and sons who participated in revolutionary activities but were all arrested by the enemy, tortured and imprisoned but still remained loyal to the Party... Mr. Pham Khanh's family, all 3 fathers and sons actively participated in the revolutionary movement from the beginning, were arrested by the enemy, brutally tortured, resolutely refused to confess, and were exiled by them”...

Policy officer of Thanh Ha Commune People's Committee talks to reporters about the case of martyr Pham Khanh. Photo: PA

Through the process of searching, looking up, and confirming in many places, Mr. Pham Ba Tien's journey became easier when in early November 2011, the Department of Professional Records of the Ministry of Public Security sent an official dispatch to the People's Committee of Thanh Chuong district regarding the request to provide information about Mr. Pham Khanh to have a basis for establishing a dossier to recognize him as a martyr. Accordingly, the Department has information and documents in French about Mr. Pham Khanh, born in 1869 (62 years old in 1931); native of Son Linh village, Vo Liet commune, Thanh Chuong district, Nghe An province. On September 26, 1931, Mr. Pham Khanh was arrested by the enemy for participating in communist activities with Mr. Hoang Van Toai, Nguyen Dinh Yem, Tran Em Than, Tran Kiem..., prisoner number 749. On September 27, 1931, he died in prison. In November 1931, the Nam Trieu Court of Nghe An province brought the case of Mr. Pham Khanh and his fellow activists to trial. He was sentenced to death by the enemy (verdict No. 193 dated November 19, 1931 of the Southern Court of Nghe An province and Decision dated March 26, 1932 of the Resident of Central Vietnam).

So it was clear. All the information that the family had found out and the responses from the agencies and units were consistent. Mr. Pham Ba Tien said that he would never forget the day he received a phone call from a policy officer: Uncle Tien, your husband's profile has been confirmed; there was information that the Prime Minister had signed a decision to grant the Certificate of Merit from the Fatherland! "My hand holding the phone was shaking, at that time I couldn't think of anything to reply, it took a long time before I remembered to say thank you. I was so happy!" - Mr. Tien recalled.

Vice President Vo Thi Anh Xuan and Deputy Minister of National Defense Vu Hai San presented the Certificate of Merit to the families of martyrs (Mr. Pham Ba Tien stands on the far left). Photo: Lam Tung

In mid-July 2022, Mr. Pham Ba Tien and many other martyrs' relatives were invited to attend the ceremony to present the Certificate of National Recognition - a ceremony organized by the Ministry of Labor, War Invalids and Social Affairs in coordination with the People's Committee of Nghe An province. Representing the martyrs' relatives in speaking at the program, he emotionally talked about his journey of perseverance, thanking the Party, the State and authorities at all levels for accompanying his family until the day the martyrs were honored.

The story of martyr Pham Khanh, who has been waiting for 91 years for recognition, was also emphasized by Minister of Labor, War Invalids and Social Affairs Dao Ngoc Dung in his speech at the ceremony, as an affirmation of the determination of those working in gratitude: “On the occasion of the 75th anniversary of War Invalids and Martyrs Day this year, the Ministry of Labor, War Invalids and Social Affairs has presented the confirmation of 387 martyrs, including extremely touching cases such as Mr. Pham Khanh, born in 1869, who participated in the Red Guards in Nghe An… Today's result is the most practical and meaningful action, expressing the respect and incense of the next generation, of us - those working in war invalids and martyrs for the 1.2 million martyrs who fell for the independence and freedom of the Fatherland. This is also an action stemming from the deep feelings and responsibilities of those who are enjoying peace, independence and freedom today”.