Spring and memories…

Mr. Phan Van Quy - Chairman of the Board of Directors of Pacific Group. Photo: Contributor.

PV:Could you tell us about the background of your hometown before you enlisted?

Mr. Phan Van Quy:In 1970-1971, the resistance war against the US entered a new, arduous and fierce phase. In my hometown of Yen Thanh district in particular, and in many other localities across the country in general, young people eagerly registered to enlist in the army with the burning desire to contribute their small part to protecting their homeland and country.

I was 18 years old then, a 9th-grade student. I remember that in every class, my teacher and I would eagerly listen to news from the battlefield and discuss it animatedly. We students were also excited, wanting to register for the first recruitment drive to "put aside our pens and go to war." And my pride burst forth when I heard my name called out on the enlistment list during the end-of-semester summary meeting at Yen Thanh District High School in 1971.

Hero of the Armed Forces Phan Van Quy (center) receives a Certificate of Commendation from the Prime Minister for his contributions to the "Nationwide efforts to build new rural areas" emulation movement during the 2016-2020 period. Photo: Contributor.

PV:Do you remember anything about the day you enlisted?

Mr. Phan Van Quy:It was a bitterly cold winter day, and hundreds of young men from Yen Thanh district lined up neatly in the ranks of those going to war, beginning to realize the ideal of the youth at that time: "The most beautiful life is on the battlefield fighting the enemy." Amidst the farewells of our loved ones, our group of new recruits was gathered at the Hop Thanh commune's football field for the district to hand us over to the military units. Everyone was deeply moved when they heard Mr. Nguyen Ba Ton, the district chairman and a severely wounded veteran from the war against the French, speak and encourage us. The organizers of the farewell ceremony also had poems read and songs about soldiers performed: "Oh, soldier, oh soldier! Your homeland is from nine streams and ten rivers…"

The verses that the girl from the district's cultural center recited during that farewell to my hometown still resonate, following me to the battlefield, and even to this day… That winter afternoon, reluctantly bidding farewell to our homeland and families, our group of new recruits boarded the vehicles, marched to Quang Binh, and were then assigned to various units.

Funding was provided for the construction of a health station in Nhan Thanh commune, Yen Thanh district (Nghe An province). Photo: Contributor.

PV:Fifty years have passed, but surely the years spent in the military, especially the time on the battlefield, remain cherished memories, sir?

Mr. Phan Van Quy:We were merely "descendants" of the Trường Sơn soldiers. Upon entering the battlefield, hearing the poems left behind by our predecessors, we already felt the ferocity and brutality of the war: "My dear, go get married. I'm going to Tha Mé, I'll go and never return." These were key locations like Tha Mé, the Ta Lê tunnel, the Lùm Bùm intersection... These were bomb craters crisscrossed like the footprints of wild animals, forests burned to the ground with only sparse leaves remaining due to Agent Orange and bombs. Amidst this ferocity, I witnessed countless examples of unwavering courage and bravery from my comrades. I myself thought that perhaps I wouldn't die today, but death could come at any moment.

Although we faced death many times, when we reunited with our comrades, we forgot everything and embraced optimism and a love for life. We shared countless stories from our journeys, our laughter echoing through the forest. For me, one fortunate thing was that during my time in the Truong Son battlefield, I had some comrades from Yen Thanh district in the same unit. Occasionally meeting them helped ease my homesickness. There were also comrades from other units; even a brief encounter on the march, a quick wave from the car window, left a strange and lasting impression. The image of our homeland, present in the faces of our comrades, was an invisible strength that helped us persevere through successive campaigns.

Visiting, encouraging, and giving gifts to fellow veterans in Yen Thanh district. Photo: Contributor.

PV:Later, when they return to civilian life, how do these veterans maintain camaraderie and connection with their fellow soldiers, sir?

Mr. Phan Van Quy:To this day, some of the soldiers from Yen Thanh district from back then are still alive, while others have passed away. Although we have returned to civilian life, we always consider ourselves soldiers, living and working for the rest of our lives in a way that is worthy of the title "Ho Chi Minh's Soldiers" that the people bestowed upon us.
On the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the departure of soldiers from Yen Thanh district to the battlefield, my company and I coordinated with the local government to visit and present gifts to encourage over one hundred comrades who enlisted with us and shared the hardships on the battlefield all those years ago.

PV:It is known that over the years, he and his company have sponsored tens of billions of VND for many meaningful projects contributing to the social welfare of his hometown. With the province undergoing renewal and development, what are his plans for the new year?

Vinh Tan International Port, invested in by Pacific Group, has a capacity of 8 million tons per year and is the largest port in the South Central region. Photo: CTV

Mr. Phan Van Quy:In July 2021, our company celebrated its 20th anniversary. Over the years, we have consistently focused our investments on three main areas: Industry, General Contracting, and Real Estate, with projects such as: Vinh Tan International Port (Binh Thuan), Thai Hoa Wind Power Plant (Binh Thuan), Huong Tien Dong Tourist Area (Hoa Binh)...

Following the initial successes of the aforementioned projects, we proposed and received approval from the People's Committee of Nghe An province to conduct a feasibility study for the Dong Hoi International Port project next to the Quynh Lap Power Center in Hoang Mai town. Our group has completed the survey plan and submitted a report to the Management Board of the Southeast Economic Zone (Nghe An). Recently, together with our partners, we proposed to the People's Committee of Nghe An province and the Government to allow us to participate in the feasibility study for an LNG gas-fired power plant in the province.

Like many other people who have left their hometowns, we always long for good news from our homeland and want to contribute a small part to building Nghe An - the homeland of our beloved President Ho Chi Minh - into an increasingly prosperous and beautiful place, as the old folk song says: "The road to Nghe An winds and twists. Green mountains and blue waters like a painted picture."

PV:Thank you, and I wish you great success in all your endeavors!