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

Youth struggle

Upon receiving the news that Mr. Phan To Duc (born 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 of Party membership, but Mr. Phan To Duc is still quite lucid. Photo: Cong Kien

After sipping his tea, Mr. Duc began to talk about his youth, when his family, village and hometown were still exploited by the colonial and feudal governments: “In the past, this land was very hungry, the rice, potatoes and cassava produced were not enough to pay taxes to the tyrants, every family was starving, and clothes were not suitable to wear. If anyone had the intention to resist, they were immediately arrested and brutally beaten, many people lost their lives,” he said.

Coming from a poor family of Confucian scholars, 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, with progressive ideas, gathered in groups to organize readings of books and newspapers, propagating revolutionary policies to the people in the area. Every night, these progressive youths divided themselves into hamlets, going into each house to read books and newspapers and talking to the people about the hardships and pain they were enduring because of high taxes and duties.

Then he pointed out the new direction of following the Party to persevere in the fight to the end. Carrying out this task, Mr. Phan To Duc and his friends often faced danger, because the village chiefs and tyrants arranged their henchmen everywhere to monitor, stalk, and if they were suspicious, they would send troops to surround, search and arrest.

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. Before 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” - Mr. Phan To Duc shared.

During his revolutionary activities, in early 1941 he was arrested and taken to Thanh Chuong district office, then taken to Rang police 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.

Mr. 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 the 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 Association of the Elderly, and together with the elders in the commune, 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 the 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 excitedly said: “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 visit Vinh, Cua Lo and Hanoi, each time I went, I saw a change, 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, 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

In particular, at the age of 103, Mr. Phan To Duc still updates information through the press every day. “I am a veteran cadre, the State provided Nghe An Newspaper, the newspaper has become an important spiritual food. No longer strong enough to travel far, reading the newspaper I grasp the developments of life everywhere in the province, from the coastal areas, the plains to the midlands and mountains. On busy days or days when I am sick and cannot read the newspaper, I feel like I am missing a soul mate, 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 in age but still cared about his brothers in the association. In recent years, although he could not participate in activities, 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.