103-year-old man, 80 years of Party membership, forever remembers the Party admission ceremony in the corn field by the Lam River

Youth struggle

Upon receiving the news that Mr. Phan To Duc (born in 1916) in Vo Liet commune, Thanh Chuong district, had just been awarded the 80-year Party badge, we visited his house in Kim Tien hamlet to congratulate him. The 103-year-old man now has difficulty walking and his ears are a bit "heavy" but his demeanor is agile.

“Recently, I received the 80-year Party badge from comrade Nguyen Dac Vinh - Member of the Party Central Committee, Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee, Head of the Provincial National Assembly Delegation. I am very happy and honored!”, Mr. Duc happily told the guests.

103 years old, 80 years in the Party, but Mr. Phan To Duc is still quite lucid. Photo: Cong Kien

After taking a sip of tea, Mr. Duc began to talk about his youth, when his family, village and hometown were exploited by the colonial and feudal governments: “In the past, this land was very poor, the rice, potatoes and cassava produced were not enough to pay taxes to the tyrants, every family was starving, and they had no clothes to wear. If anyone had any intention of resisting, they would immediately arrest and brutally beat them, many people lost their lives,” he said.

Born into a poor Confucian family, with a father who was a teacher, Mr. Phan To Duc had the opportunity to read books and newspapers, make friends and receive new streams of thought. When the Nghe - Tinh Soviet movement (1930 - 1931) broke out, Vo Liet was one of the fierce and boiling points of struggle, although not yet 15 years old, the young man realized the strength of the masses.

Phan To Duc still arranges his personal documents and belongings neatly and carefully. Photo: Cong Kien

In his youth, Mr. Phan To Duc and his friends of the same age, who had progressive ideas, gathered into groups to organize readings of books and newspapers, and to propagate revolutionary policies to the people in the area. Every night, these progressive youths divided themselves up to go to the hamlets, to each house to read books and newspapers and talk to the people about the hardships and pain they were enduring because of high taxes and levies.

Then he pointed out the new direction, which was to follow the Party to persevere in the fight to the end. Carrying out this mission, Mr. Phan To Duc and his friends often faced danger, because the village chiefs and bullies arranged their henchmen everywhere to monitor and stalk them. If they were suspicious, they would send troops to surround and search for them to arrest them.

Comrade Nguyen Dac Vinh - Member of the Party Central Committee, Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee, Head of the Provincial National Assembly Delegation presented the 80-year Party badge to Mr. Phan To Duc. Photo: Nguyen Trung Thanh

Enthusiastic and passionate in the struggle movement, in August 1940, the young man from Vo Liet was admitted to the Party. “Nearly 80 years have passed, but my memory still retains the image of the admission ceremony that took place in the cornfield by the Lam River. In front of the red flag of hammer and sickle, I happily and loudly recited the oath to wholeheartedly follow the Party, and fight with the people for independence and freedom,” shared Mr. Phan To Duc.

During his revolutionary activities, in early 1941, he was arrested and taken to Thanh Chuong district office, then taken to Rang station (Thanh Phong) for interrogation. Keeping his oath before the Party flag, despite the severe beatings, the young man did not reveal a word, and was then exiled by the enemy to Vinh prison. Next, he was sentenced to 12 years in prison and exiled to Buon Ma Thuot prison (Dak Lak) - a place used to detain and exile political prisoners and famous for its brutal torture.

Phan To Duc and his comrades continued their struggle in prison until the end of August 1945, when the general uprising took place across the country, and imprisoned soldiers were liberated...

Every day, Mr. Phan To Duc reads newspapers and watches TV to update information. Photo: Cong Kien

After the revolution, Mr. Phan To Duc returned to his hometown to work as a propaganda officer until his retirement. Returning to the countryside, he enthusiastically participated in the Elderly Association, and together with other elders in the commune, he planted medicinal herbs to raise funds, helped each other live healthy and useful lives, and became the spiritual support of his family and village.

In recent years, he has not had the strength to attend party cell meetings, but whenever there is an important matter, the village committee and neighbors still come to his house to receive advice and guidance from the elders. His family has 7 children, all of whom are successful, many of whom have doctorates and masters degrees.

Mr. Phan To Duc exchanged information in the newspaper with Mr. Nguyen Huu Thanh (Chairman of the Association of Revolutionary Soldiers imprisoned by the enemy in Thanh Chuong district). Photo: Cong Kien

Mr. Duc was excited: “Life is now happy, the house is spacious, the food is delicious, the clothes are nice, the transportation is convenient. A few years ago, my children and grandchildren sometimes took me to Vinh, Cua Lo and Hanoi, each time I went there I saw a new development, sometimes I couldn’t recognize the place I had been to, when we were young, none of us dared to dream of having a life like today”.

Not to mention far away, right in his hometown of Vo Liet, life is improving day by day, village roads are paved with asphalt and concrete, houses are spacious, yards are full of rice, children are studying well.

The joy of reunion of Mr. Phan To Duc's extended family. Photo: GĐCC

Notably, at the age of 103, Mr. Phan To Duc still updates information through the press every day. “I am a veteran cadre, and the State provides Nghe An Newspaper, which has become an important spiritual food. No longer strong enough to travel far, reading the newspaper I grasp the developments in life everywhere in the province, from the coastal areas, the plains to the midlands and mountains. On days when I am busy or sick and cannot read the newspaper, I feel like I am missing a close friend, and I am proud that I am probably the oldest reader.”

Mr. Nguyen Huu Thanh - Chairman of the Association of Revolutionary Soldiers imprisoned by the enemy in Thanh Chuong district said that Mr. Phan To Duc was an active member, old but still cared about his brothers in the association. Although he could not participate in activities for several years, he still had important contributions to promote the movement, becoming a "spiritual support" for his family and village. People often affectionately called him "The big tree" next to Vo Liet communal house.