The compassionate war invalid

(Baonghean) -One summer morning, we went to Binh Phuc block, Hung Phuc ward, Vinh city to meet Colonel Nguyen Khac Tuyen. Over the rich flavor of a bowl of green tea, he shared with us about his military career.

In the spring of 1951, he left his hometown of Duc Dong - Duc Tho - Ha Tinh to join the army, and a few months later became a nurse serving on the battlefields. In particular, he was honored to participate in the historic Dien Bien Phu campaign. After that, he was able to attend military medical school. In early 1966, he marched to Truong Son. Ten years of continuous fighting on the roads and fierce key points to treat wounded soldiers, being wounded twice and suffering from severe malaria made his health seriously decline, but he still tried his best to fight with his comrades.

After the victory of the resistance war and the reunification of the country, he was assigned by his superiors to be the Principal of the Military Medical High School of Military Region 4, then transferred to become the Head of the Military Medical Department of Military Region 4. In early 1992, he retired early with the rank of colonel, an excellent physician.

Colonel Nguyen Khac Tuyen

Having retired for a few years, he was elected as the Party cell secretary of the block. Then 3 years later, he was assigned the position of chairman of the ward Red Cross. During his years in office, he spent a lot of time for the disabled, orphans, the less fortunate, and those in difficult circumstances. He visited each house and each person to visit, encourage, and share. The Red Cross has closely coordinated with organizations, blocks, businesses, and philanthropists to effectively carry out humanitarian and charitable movements; proposed to the ward to organize free medical examinations and medicine for the disabled every year on April 18, and support orphans in their studies.

In 1988, he mobilized retired military doctors and nurses in the area to establish a military medical veterans club with the aim of exchanging feelings, carrying out charitable activities, providing health advice, and helping teammates and local people. With his solid skills and kind heart, in a short time, the club's activities gained the trust of the people. With the help of the Party Committee, the government and the city's Veterans Association, in early 2000, the Vinh City Military Veterans Clinic was established and received patients. The main subjects were families with preferential policies and families of veterans. Many families in difficult circumstances were treated free of charge.

Despite his busy work, since 2000 he has been trusted by his comrades to be elected as the Head of the Truong Son Provincial Soldiers Liaison Committee. For more than ten years, he has been the nucleus to gather Truong Son soldiers from all over the province. The main goal of the activity is to preserve and promote the Truong Son tradition, encourage and help each other overcome difficulties and rise up in life. In early 2012, the Truong Son Tradition Association, Ho Chi Minh Trail of Nghe An province was established, Mr. Tuyen was elected as the chairman of the association. Currently, he is a member of the Central Executive Committee of the Truong Son Tradition Association, Ho Chi Minh Trail of Vietnam, a member of the Fatherland Front Committee of Hung Phuc Ward (Vinh City).

Now over 80 years old, a war invalid, he still tries very hard to participate in some social activities. He sincerely shared, "To be honest, as long as I am still alive, as long as I have the strength to do something useful for everyone, useful for my comrades, I am very excited."

Holding his hand tightly before leaving, I was deeply impressed with his soldierly qualities and the feelings of a compassionate war invalid.

Article and photos: Duc Khanh