The soldier returns from the Quang Da battlefield and the journey of living beautifully in peacetime
In the historical flow of the 80th anniversary of National Day (September 2, 1945 – September 2, 2025), the memories of war and the daily stories of returning soldiers always remind us of the value of independence and freedom. Mr. Pham Trong Song – a soldier who fought in the Quang Da battlefield – is a living proof.
In the historical flow of the 80th anniversary of National Day (September 2, 1945 - September 2, 2025), the memories of war and the daily stories of returning soldiers always remind us of the value of independence and freedom. Mr. Pham Trong Song - a soldier who fought in the Quang Da battlefield is such a typical example.
Content and technique: Diep Thanh
The "miracles" of the wounded
The war invalid with a face full of war scars and a small figure is Mr. Pham Trong Song (born in 1956), currently living with his wife, Mrs. Nguyen Thi Ly (born in 1957) in Vinh Loc ward, Nghe An province. The relationship between him and her was kindled in a place where there seemed to be only pain and memories of war: Nghe An War Invalids Nursing Center.
Born into a family of two brothers, both Mr. Song and his older brother volunteered to join the army when they were old enough. When he was about to go to war, he unexpectedly received a notice of admission to university, but he still insisted on joining the army, determined to follow in his brother's footsteps to protect the Fatherland. He was assigned to Company 11, Regiment 2, Division 324, fighting in the Quang Da battlefield. In 1974, during an attack on an enemy base, he was unfortunately hit by an M79 bullet, losing all his molars, one side of his nose and one eye. The memory of that life-and-death moment is still imprinted in his mind as if it were yesterday.
“A miracle,” Song said of his awakening from a coma. He later learned that his life was saved by a brave doctor who opened his airway when his nose and mouth were blocked. That action saved his life at a moment when he thought he had lost hope.
Returning from the battlefield with a broken body, having to live with the dull pain every time the weather changed, Mr. Song never let the pain overwhelm his will to live. At the Nghe An War Invalids Nursing Center - where there are more than 1,000 wounded and sick soldiers from many provinces and cities, he not only survived, but also found love and happiness.
“At that time, Mr. Song was small and weak, weighing just over 30 kg, and was seriously injured with a deformed face, so few people dared to look him in the eye when talking to him,” Ms. Ly recalled. “But he was a cheerful, hard-working, and compassionate person, so everyone respected him. That’s why I loved him.”
Their love received enthusiastic support from brothers and friends in the family.Nursing Center, but met with fierce opposition from Mrs. Ly's family. As a beautiful, healthy woman, coming from a well-off family, she had many suitors. In the family's eyes, her love and decision to marry a poor, disabled veteran with poor health like Mr. Song was unacceptable.
They were worried that their daughter would suffer, worried that the next generation might be affected by Agent Orange/dioxin. But overcoming all that, Ms. Ly still decided to tie her life to that disabled man. Their wedding was held right at the center, with everyone's help. "Friends contributed each portion of rice, meat, cigarettes to exchange for noodles, chicken, and tea for the wedding. Our honeymoon room was two single beds put together, the rest were shared belongings by comrades. Who would believe that a disabled soldier like me could get married? That was another miracle in my life," Mr. Song emotionally recounted.
Since the day they got married, Mrs. Ly has been with her husband on his endless trips to the hospital. When the weather changed, his old injuries became worse, and he had a high fever and had to be hospitalized. He had undergone 14 major and minor surgeries to reconstruct his jawbone, restore his face, and restore his basic mobility. His arms and legs were covered with scars from the skin grafts he had done to his face.
On Tet holiday, instead of gathering around the family meal, the couple had to go to the hospital. His healthy wife was not only his spiritual support but also his constant caregiver. And then, three children were born, the result of a sincere, simple, and persistent love.
A life worth living
During his 50 years working at the Nghe An War Invalids Nursing Center, Mr. Song was not only known for his beautiful love affair with Ms. Ly, but also as a dynamic war invalid with an economic mind, who knew how to manage and be creative to not only support his family but also help those around him.
In the late 70s, after giving birth to his first son, with a small allowance, he realized that he needed to work extra to take care of his wife and children. Despite being a war invalid, he still carried rice and coal for his unit. In his free time, he opened a bicycle repair kiosk along the route from Vinh to Cua Hoi. Not only did it for himself, he also taught bicycle repair to many young people in the area - who later had stable lives, often visited him, and were grateful to him as a teacher.
Seeing that many disabled soldiers in the center were skillful but unemployed, he proactively connected with local associations and groups to bring in suitable production projects. Joining the Provincial Blind Association, he invested in toothpick production machines, creating jobs for disabled soldiers. He also contacted schools to sell the products. Near the center, there was a handicraft workshop of the Department of Industry and Trade. Mr. Song asked for disabled soldiers to be in charge of the painting and drying stages. This helped them earn more income, improving their lives and creating joy. From that source of income, he was able to provide his 3 children with a full education, and at the same time, help many disabled soldiers and their relatives find jobs...
With his tireless efforts, he was awarded a Certificate of Merit by the Prime Minister for his many achievements in work, overcoming difficulties, overcoming disabilities and making positive contributions to the community. At the age of nearly 70, he continues that journey. No longer directly involved in production, he participates in the Center's Council of War Invalids and Sick Soldiers, providing consulting support, helping his brothers resolve problems with policies and regimes, and encouraging those in difficulty. In 2024, responding to the Prime Minister's call, Mr. Song decided to register.organ donationFor him, this is a way for a part of his body to continue living, to help others, when he is no longer in this world.
“The wounds of war have always made me live in pain, there are many nights when the pain torments me to the point of insomnia, but what I have endured is nothing compared to what my comrades have endured,” Mr. Song hesitated, his voice choked: “Every time I visit the old battlefield, visit my old comrades or burn incense for my comrades at the cemeteries, thinking about their sacrifices and losses, I cannot bear it. The pain of war is not only on their bodies, in their memories, but also on their children and grandchildren. That is the ultimate pain… I always believe that the life I have, the luck I have encountered, are all given to me by my comrades. Therefore, I always remind myself to live a worthy life.”
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