The veteran met Uncle Ho three times
 |
Mr. Hong cherishes the photo taken with Uncle Ho. |
“Every time I remember the times I met Uncle Ho, my heart feels brighter”! That is the heartfelt sentiment of veteran Nguyen Van Hong every time he has the opportunity to recall the memories of the times he met beloved Uncle Ho when he was still in the army.
Mr. Hong is eighty-five years old this year. When we visited the place where he lives in Tan Chau village, Dien Nguyen commune, Dien Chau district (Nghe An), we were surprised and moved by the simple scene of the small house. The house is filled with memories of the achievements and feats of 25 years of military service that he still keeps. In the most solemn places, he hung medals, badges, certificates of merit, and certificates of merit. He still keeps the Uncle Ho badge and the certificate from 1950.
 |
The photo of Mr. Hong taken with Uncle Ho at the National Heroes and Emulation Fighters Congress in 1966 |
The most sacred keepsake of his life is the photo of him with Uncle Ho. Holding the photo in his trembling hands, Mr. Hong emotionally told us:
The first time he met Uncle Ho was in 1951 when preparing for the second National Party Congress. At that time, Mr. Hong was still an information soldier in the 231st Communications Department's relay unit; that time, he only saw Uncle Ho through a conversation with officers and soldiers of the Information Command, but he still felt extremely happy.
Holding the Uncle Ho badge, a souvenir he has kept for nearly 60 years, Mr. Hong continued with tears in his eyes: “The second time I met Uncle Ho and stood very close to him was in February 1966. At that time, I was a lieutenant, a member of the Regimental Committee and Party cell secretary. The Party cell I was in charge of was the leading flag of the 4-good Party cell. This time, I was elected to attend the conference summarizing the 3-year experience of building the 4-good Party cell and Party committee in Ba Dinh - Hanoi. I always remember what Uncle Ho told me at the conference: “If you want a strong Party, you must have a strong Party cell and Party committee; If you want a strong Party cell and Party committee, you must have good Party members”. Everyone promised Uncle Ho that they would do exactly what he told them”. Mr. Hong looked at the photo and then pointed to show us: “I was standing two rows away from Uncle Ho, and when I got to take a photo with him, everyone was so moved that they cried!
This was the third time I met Uncle Ho and I felt so happy - It was December 1966 at the 4th National Congress of Heroes and Emulation Fighters. At that time, I was an emulation fighter representing Company 2, Regiment 134 - Information Command; Company 2 was the first collective unit to be awarded the title of Hero of the Armed Forces. When we heard that Uncle Ho was visiting, everyone was excited.
Mr. Hong recalled with tears in his eyes: “It was a surprise and a joy to meet Uncle Ho when he came out of the hall. I was flustered and stood at attention to salute him; Seeing the information badge on my lapel, Uncle Ho smiled and told me: “Information must be clear, only with information can there be command, and only with command can there be victory”. I was too emotional and nervous but I managed to stand at attention to salute Uncle Ho and promised: “We promise you: consider the telephone line as a battlefield, the switchboard as a fighting fortress, we would rather sacrifice than let information be interrupted” - Uncle praised: “Very good”!... Mr. Hong’s voice seemed to be lost because he was too emotional. He paused for a moment and then continued: “Uncle Ho’s advice has become a slogan, a letter of determination of all cadres and soldiers throughout the journey of fighting and serving the battle of the information troops; And my company 2 always followed Uncle Ho’s teachings, always maintained the title of hero”.
 |
Mr. Hong is reviewing the souvenirs. |
When talking about veteran Nguyen Van Hong, Mr. Cao Xuan Mai, Secretary of the Dien Nguyen Commune Party Committee, could not stop admiring: "Although he has returned to civilian life, the qualities of a soldier, of Uncle Ho's soldiers, still shine in his thoughts and actions; He has always been an exemplary model for local cadres and people to learn and follow. At the age of eighty-five, Mr. Hong is still the spiritual support of the family and of the people of Dien Nguyen."
Photo story: Tran Canh Yen -Dien Thinh-Dien Chau
;){kind=link}