Story of a female Commune Police Chief who was awarded the title of Hero of the People's Armed Forces at the age of 25
(Baonghean.vn) - In the time of war, the story of a woman who was willing to sacrifice her youth to contribute to the country's independence and unification remains beautiful. That is Ms. Nguyen Thi Minh Chau, the female Chief of Commune Police who was awarded the title of Hero of the People's Armed Forces when she was only 25 years old.
Safely protect thousands of tons of supplies for the southern battlefield
Ms. Chau was born in 1945 into a large family in Quynh Hong Commune, Quynh Luu District, Nghe An Province. In 1964, she joined the Public Security Department as a police officer. Two years later, she assumed the position of Deputy Chief of Quynh Hong Commune Police and was honored to join the ranks of the Communist Party of Vietnam.
With a spirit of dedication, responsibility, enthusiasm, positivity and passion in her work, she was trusted by her superiors, elected to the Party Executive Committee of Quynh Hong commune and held the position of Commune Police Chief in 1967. At that time, Ms. Chau was only 22 years old.
From 1965 to 1970, in order to destroy Giat Bridge Station and cut off the vital National Highway 1A route, preventing us from sending people and supplies to the southern battlefield, the US Empire used artillery from the 7th Fleet to continuously fire. Quynh Hong had to endure thousands of tons of bombs and bullets day and night, taking hundreds of lives, destroying houses, village roads, traffic trenches, fields and gardens, etc. They frantically dropped bombs continuously on the train station and National Highway 1A, causing traffic congestion, causing trucks carrying goods and artillery to be stuck.
In the conditions of fierce enemy attacks, the Commune Police Department, together with the militia and youth volunteers, urgently participated in repairing and upgrading the road surface to ensure smooth traffic. In the middle of the pitch-dark night, filled with the smell of bombs and bullets, Ms. Chau and her comrades from the Commune Police Department coordinated with the militia, assigned each team to lead the vehicles into the camouflaged area and immediately sent the goods to the people's houses. Goods, food, provisions, guns and ammunition, thousands of tons of goods in caves and houses were regularly controlled and delivered according to the principles. Thanks to that, from 1967 to 1970, there was no damage or theft, and the houses and properties of the evacuated people were safely protected.
“If the vehicles were carrying artillery shells, we would guide and camouflage them into caves for safe shelter. As for the vehicles carrying goods, we would take them to safe houses. To avoid loss or damage, I made a specific plan, assigned police officers to take turns, coordinated with the owners of the goods (warehouse keepers) and the people (homeowners) to monitor at the same time. Set up security teams in the hamlets, disseminated information about security work, prevented enemy aircraft from bombing, and promptly evacuated the elderly and children to safety. The police, militia, and youth forces stayed behind to both produce and prepare for combat. Thanks to that, although Quynh Hong was fiercely attacked by enemy air forces, I and the Commune Police Department ensured the safety of more than 3,500 tons of state goods evacuated from people's houses,” Ms. Chau said.
Taking advantage of the fierce war, criminals in the commune often collude with long-distance gangsters to steal and consume citizens' property. From Cau Giat intersection down to Provincial Road 37, there are many evacuation agencies, which are also the places where criminals take advantage of to operate, commit property theft, especially bicycle theft. In that situation, under the leadership of the Party Committee and the People's Committee of the commune, the Quynh Hong Commune Police Department regularly held meetings to disseminate the spirit, assigning 4 Deputy Chiefs of Commune Police to be in charge of clusters. Political and criminal subjects are periodically reviewed, inspected and classified, with monthly self-criticism reports, and monitoring and tracking of subjects is carried out closely and regularly.
Despite having to endure many devastating bomb attacks, taking away many lives and properties, the Quynh Hong Commune Police Department and the people always fulfilled their duty of supporting human and material resources to the Southern battlefield; always staying to defend the village, ready to fight to protect the homeland. The Commune Police Department was a unit determined to win the movement to protect national security for 4 consecutive years. On August 25, 1970, Ms. Nguyen Thi Minh Chau was honored to be awarded the title of Hero of the People's Armed Forces by the State when she was only 25 years old.
Keeping Tradition – Fueling the Young Generation
To be closer to their children, in early 2004, Mrs. Chau and her husband moved to live with their son in a house hidden deep in an alley on Nguyen Gia Thieu Street (Hung Dung Ward, Vinh City). Continuing the family tradition, the eldest son and third daughter of Mrs. Chau and her husband are currently officers working in units of the Nghe An Provincial Police.
As one of two children in a family that was honored to follow in the footsteps of their heroic mother, Lieutenant Colonel Tran Hai Ha could not hide his deep pride in his mother. He said that since he was a child, he had heard his mother tell him about the years of bombs and bullets, fighting the American invaders. It was his mother's exploits and achievements that motivated him to voluntarily apply to serve in the police force.
During his career, there were times when he felt discouraged when facing difficulties, but thinking about his mother, he was motivated to strive, proactively overcome difficulties, promote family traditions, continue to contribute to the peace and development of his homeland.
“Returning to normal life, along with my father, my mother is truly the center of solidarity for the whole family. She always follows, cares for and guides every step of her children and grandchildren,” Mr. Ha confided.
Ms. Chau also actively and enthusiastically participates in local activities. For many years, she has been the Head of the Women's Association of the block, an active member of the Senior Citizens Association. This year, due to old age and poor health, to ensure the effective operation of the Association, Ms. Chau has resigned as Head of the Women's Association of the block.
“Ms. Chau always accompanies the members with practical actions, full of sharing and love. She often talks and encourages the women in the block and, based on the actual conditions, organizes many good models to attract women and people to participate in the organization of the Association. Thanks to that, the movement of the branch is growing stronger and developing”, Ms. Nguyen Thi Thanh, Head of the Women's Association of Xuan Trung block, Hung Dung ward shared.
Our meeting with Hero of the People's Armed Forces Nguyen Thi Minh Chau is even more meaningful, when the whole country is rejoicing in the historic days of April - the 49th anniversary of the Liberation of the South and the reunification of the country. We are even more grateful and respectful of the sacrifices and silent contributions of people like Mrs. Chau, contributing to the overall victory of the whole nation. She not only fulfilled her role as a wife and daughter in the family, but above all, she also made brilliant achievements contributing to the victory over the American invaders. That is the motivation urging and calling on the young generation of Nghe An Police to strive, strive, continue and further enhance the tradition of the Heroic Unit of the People's Armed Forces.
