The Will of a Seriously Wounded Soldier

(Baonghean.vn) - A part of his body was left on the battlefield and the haunting aftereffects of war were still present every day, but with the courage and will of Uncle Ho's soldier, he overcame everything, living a useful life to be a solid support for his children and grandchildren. That is the example of 1/4 disabled soldier Dinh Tran Chuong, in hamlet 9, Nghi Long commune, Nghi Loc.

In December 1967, the young man Dinh Tran Chuong, just 20 years old, followed the sacred call of the Fatherland and volunteered to join the army. He was assigned the task of being a reconnaissance liaison for the 82 mortar artillery for Company 4, Battalion 2, Regiment 27 (front B5 - Quang Tri).

On the night of March 26, 1969, the battle was fierce. While participating in the siege of Hill 544 and fighting against the sweep in Tan Lam field, Mr. Chuong's platoon suffered many casualties and sacrifices, leaving only 7 soldiers. At this time, he was appointed by his superiors as Platoon Leader to command in place of the comrade who had just died.

After a day of fighting, his platoon repelled the enemy attack. Late that afternoon, while commanding two combat batteries, he was hit in the knee by an enemy tank shell, breaking his kneecap and his right leg was almost severed. He had to use a worm rope to wrap it to prevent blood loss. When he fainted and fell, he was still clutching his AK, ready to fight.

When he woke up, he found himself lying on the North bank, at the Regiment's Surgical Station. After many days of treatment, his right leg was gangrenous and had to be amputated. He was transferred to Military Hospital 5 in Kim Bang - Ninh Binh for further treatment. When his wound had healed, he was allowed to rest at the Severely Injured Camp.

Mr. Chuong (2nd, right) takes a photo with his teammates and liaison in Ho Khe forest (Quang Tri)

In early 1970, he was assigned to teach culture to war invalids at the convalescent company in Ha Nam. Here, he met and fell in love with a village girl named Bui Thi Mung. In early 1971, his mother's family in Liem Son commune, Thanh Liem district (Ha Nam) and the company organized a wedding ceremony for him and his wife. After that, he was assigned to the Nghe An Department of War Invalids and Social Affairs to teach war invalids from An Ngai stationed in Hoa Son (Do Luong).

After studying at the party school, he was assigned to be in charge of propaganda for the Department of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs of Nghe Tinh province. In 1985, he was given sick leave due to poor health. Returning to his hometown, the commune gave him priority to be given a piece of land of over 900 m2.²to make a life.

In 1995, responding to the district's movement of party members doing business, he pioneered an aquaculture project in the Nam Cam area. His children were at school age, and his wife had to take care of the contracted fields to have rice to eat. He decided to borrow money from the bank to hire someone to dig a pond to raise fish, and every day he went home on his old bicycle with crutches strapped to the back. When releasing the first batch of fish, he had to build a tent to eat and sleep there, monitor and take care of them according to the technical process.

Heaven does not disappoint those who work hard. The 1,500 m2 fish pond with a stable income from fish helps him pay off his bank debt, pay for his children's education, and pay for their medical treatment. Looking at the spacious house of Mr. Chuong's family, we can see the courage and will to overcome difficulties of a war invalid who lost a leg in battle but still stands firm in the economic renovation battle.

Revisiting the old battlefield with teammates...

With a disability rate of 81% and only one leg left, every time the weather changes, the pain of illness torments him, but Mr. Chuong is most tormented by having to witness the pain of his two seriously ill grandchildren every day.

His eldest grandson, Dinh Hoang Tran Hieu (born in 2000), suffered from Japanese encephalitis and was paralyzed on one side of his body, while his granddaughter, Dinh Hoang Quynh Anh, suffered from leukemia. Tormented and saddened by the war-related injuries of his two grandchildren, he spent a lot of time taking care of them. Every day, he supported and trained Hieu and his grandchildren.

Mr. Chuong always kept in mind that he was lucky to return home and needed to live a useful life for his family and society.

Now at the age of 70, with over 40 years of party membership, despite his poor health, he still participates in the Executive Committee of the Commune Elderly Association, the Head of the Association of Hamlet 9, participates in compiling the history of the commune, and is passionate about composing poetry, plays, folk songs, etc. He participates in the activities of the War Veterans Regiment 27 (formerly the heroic Nghe An Red Regiment, founded in Nam Anh Commune (Nam Dan).

Mr. Chuong always believes that he is lucky to be alive and return to his family, even though he has lost a part of his body, so he must live a useful life for his family and society and remember his comrades with gratitude...

Dam Phuong