The story of a war invalid "crippled but not useless"

(Baonghean) -As a war invalid with difficulty moving his limbs, following Uncle Ho's teaching "War invalids are disabled but not useless", Mr. Nguyen Cong Huyen, hamlet 1, Nam Xuan commune, Nam Dan district, has strived to become a famous electronics repairman in the area, built a happy family, and raised 4 children to go to university...

Originally a special forces soldier fighting in the Southeast battlefield, during a reconnaissance mission, Mr. Nguyen Cong Huyen was ambushed, injured and captured by the target and taken to Bien Hoa prison. Due to injuries to his vertebrae, he was almost paralyzed and had difficulty moving. In 1973, he was returned and sent to Ha Nam Ninh for recuperation with a disability rate of 91%. After that, he was transferred to Group 200 - Military Region 4 and in 1976, to Nghe An War Invalids Camp 4. Although it was difficult for him to move around and work, wounded soldier Nguyen Cong Huyen was always optimistic, cheerful and had faith in life.

Every day, he persistently exercises to avoid muscle atrophy and be able to do all personal activities. He also enthusiastically helps and encourages other wounded soldiers in their daily lives. Thanks to that, he received sympathy and sharing from the daughter of the same commune, also a demobilized Truong Son soldier, wounded soldier 4/4 Nguyen Thi Tan. In 1979, the two became husband and wife in the joy of relatives and neighbors. Both families were farmers, with many children (Mr. Huyen is the sixth in a family of 8 children) who could not help much, the couple had to work hard to build a life from scratch. Four children were born one after another, in addition to her husband's disability allowance, his wife worked hard with 6-7 sao of rice fields, raised pigs, and took care of chickens to support her children's education.

Mr. Nguyen Cong Huyen.

In 1989, Nguyen Cong Huyen decided to leave War Invalids Camp 4 to return home to help his wife develop the family economy with the belief that "a war invalid is disabled but not useless". He tried to repair electronics, starting with household items such as fans, televisions, pumps... Although his hands and feet had difficulty moving and his operations were slow, thanks to his perseverance and carefulness, he gradually became a reputable electronics repairman, with students coming to learn the trade and help him. He had many customers, in the early days when the electronics repair profession had not yet developed, not only people in the commune and district but also many people in Hung Nguyen and Nghi Loc also came to him for help. He was awarded a certificate of merit by the Ministry of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs for "policy beneficiaries who overcame difficulties to achieve outstanding achievements in labor and production".

The father's will to overcome difficulties is also an example for his children to rise up. His four children are all good students and obedient. Two of them studied at Vinh University and are now teachers, one studied at a university majoring in Foreign Languages ​​in Hanoi and is now an interpreter, and the youngest son, who just graduated from the University of Science and Technology, is working for Samsung Company in Hanoi. Now, at the age of 70, his hands and feet are getting weaker, his children are grown up, his life is stable, he only accepts to repair broken electronic devices for relatives, friends, and neighbors around Chua Market (Nam Xuan). People respect him because of his virtue of "if you don't accept, then don't accept, but if you accept, you must try to fix it, ensuring quality". The life of seriously wounded soldier Nguyen Cong Huyen is like a fairy tale with a happy ending, originating from the optimism, extraordinary determination and will to rise up "disabled but not useless" of Uncle Ho's soldiers.

Article and photos: Khanh Ly