Veterans overcome pain, shine in the community

Share and help people in the same situation

83 years old, a war invalid with a 31% disability rate, and infected with toxic chemicals, but every day Mr. Nguyen Dinh Thang in Hamlet 5, Nghi Kim Commune (Vinh City) still helps his children and grandchildren with their business and production. He shared: "At this age, I can rest, but my children are still working hard, so while I still have the strength, I will help them as much as I can...".

Mr. Nguyen Dinh Thang (left) introduces battlefield relics. Photo: Cong Khang

After a moment of silence, Mr. Thang told about his life: In early 1965, the war against America began to enter a fierce phase, he registered to join the army. Assigned to Regiment 33, Division 325A, Mr. Thang and his comrades crossed the Truong Son mountains and forests to operate and fight in the Central Highlands battlefield.

During his 10 years in the Central Highlands, he could not remember how many battles he participated in, how many times he marched through leafless forests and used stream water to cook. After each march, his body was itchy, his whole body was covered in sores, his hair gradually fell out, and he had to use medicine from ethnic minorities to treat it.

In 1974, after being seriously injured and sent to the North to recuperate, Mr. Nguyen Dinh Thang was transferred to the Nghe An Provincial Party Committee's Organization Department, then to the Forestry Department. After getting married, Mr. Thang's wife - Mrs. Pham Thi Ngoc gave birth to 4 children (2 boys, 2 girls), of which 2 had the consequences of chemical poisoning.

Mr. Nguyen Dinh Thang introduces medals and awards from his military service. Photo: Cong Khang

Although their brains were normal, their hands and feet were cracked, their bodies had ulcers, their hair was falling out, and although they went everywhere for treatment, all were in vain. At that moment, Mr. Thang suddenly remembered his years on the battlefield, passing through forests sprayed with toxic chemicals by the American army. Even his two grandchildren suffered from the after-effects, meaning that Agent Orange had affected the third generation.

Faced with many difficulties and sorrows in life, there were times when veteran Nguyen Dinh Thang thought he did not have enough strength to cope. But with the courage of a person who had been through the battlefield, he always tried his best to overcome and become a support for his whole family.

Certificate of Merit awarded by the Provincial People's Committee Chairman to Mr. Nguyen Dinh Thang. Photo: Cong Khang

When he was still healthy, Mr. Thang took on the position of Chairman of the Elderly Association, then Chairman of the Agent Orange Victims Association of Nghi Kim commune and was always highly appreciated by the superior association for his sense of responsibility and work efficiency.

He has mobilized organizations, societies, and philanthropists to support the repair of houses for 4 families of Agent Orange victims and support wheelchairs, shopping carts, sugarcane juicers, animal feed processing machines, and support for pets, and medical expenses for members' families in difficulty with a total amount of hundreds of millions of VND. Because Agent Orange victims are people in the same situation, Mr. Thang always shows concern, helps, and shares...

Mr. Nguyen Dinh Thang's determination to overcome difficulties and his spirit and responsibility have been recognized by the people and all levels and sectors. In particular, he was recently recognized by the Provincial People's Committee as a typical meritorious person of the whole province, and was awarded a Certificate of Merit by the Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee for his contributions to the community and society.

Spread the example of good business

Compared to Mr. Nguyen Dinh Thang, Mr. Phan Thanh Lon (born in 1955), in My Thien hamlet, Nam Cat commune (Nam Dan) is somewhat luckier. Mr. Lon is a war invalid with a disability rate of 71%, a sick soldier with a disability rate of 65% and was exposed to toxic chemicals.

He and his wife have 3 sons, the eldest son has Agent Orange after-effects, so his intelligence is not developing normally. He is now married and has children, but his economic conditions are difficult. As for his two younger brothers, one is working abroad in Germany with an income of 300 - 500 million VND/year; the other works on a farm and in food services with an income of around 300 million VND/year.

Mr. Phan Thanh Lon tells stories about his years on the battlefield. Photo: Cong Khang

Mr. Lon's family once contracted 5 hectares of wasteland to renovate, grow new rice varieties, and borrow capital to develop livestock farming with a total herd of up to 300 pigs, earning an annual income of 100 - 150 million VND.

Mr. Lon said: “In 1972, when I was just 17 years old, I signed up for military service, was assigned to Division 341, and after completing training, I headed straight to the battlefield in the South, specifically the Southeast. During the historic Ho Chi Minh Campaign, I and my unit carried out the mission of attacking Bien Hoa and advancing to break the “gateway” of Xuan Loc. In the stalemate, the enemy used bombers, causing us to cough and suffocate, and we did not have time to take anti-poison measures…”.

Mr. Phan Thanh Lon with battlefield relics. Photo: Cong Khang

Returning to normal life with many difficulties and hardships, carrying with him the injuries and consequences of war, his wife's health was poor but she had experienced many hardships and dangers, Mr. Phan Thanh Lon was determined not to back down in the face of circumstances.

He focused on economic development, taking advantage of land capital to build a farm, thanks to which, life became more and more stable and prosperous, economic efficiency and income increased. When the local government launched the new rural construction, Mr. Lon's family actively participated in contributing to building green - clean - beautiful village roads and alleys.

According to Mr. Lon, the results achieved today are not only due to his own efforts, but also to the attention and support of the local government in creating conditions for contracting wasteland for renovation, construction and economic development of the farm.

Mr. Phan Thanh Lon is considered a role model in farm economic development. Photo: Cong Khang

Mr. Phan Thanh Lon's family has been awarded the title of Cultural Family for many years, becoming a shining example in the economic development movement, striving to become rich in the countryside of Nam Cat.

Recently, on the occasion of the 75th anniversary of War Invalids and Martyrs Day (July 27, 1947 - July 27, 2022), Mr. Lon was honored to attend the Conference to honor outstanding people with merit in the province and was awarded a Certificate of Merit by the Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee for his outstanding achievements in gratitude work, contributing to the cause of construction and socio-economic development of Nghe An province.