President Ho Chi Minh's affection for wounded soldiers and martyrs.

(Baoghean.vn) - During his lifetime, President Ho Chi Minh always paid special attention to wounded soldiers and martyrs. Despite being busy with countless tasks, he always found time to care for, visit, and encourage wounded soldiers, martyrs, and their families. The sacred feelings he had for wounded soldiers and martyrs are reflected in his speeches and writings.

President Ho Chi Minh visits wounded soldiers at a rehabilitation center for severely wounded soldiers in Bac Ninh.

1. In his letter to the Standing Committee of the Organizing Committee for the "National War Invalids Day" on July 27, 1947, Uncle Ho wrote:

“When our homeland is in danger, when our land, our heritage, our ancestral graves, temples, and churches are threatened; when our parents, siblings, wives, children, relatives, and kin are endangered; when our property, fields, houses, gardens, and villages are in peril; who is the first to volunteer to resist the enemy and protect our country? It is the soldiers, some of whom have now become wounded veterans.”

War invalids are those who have sacrificed their families and shed their blood to protect the Fatherland and their compatriots. For the benefit of the Fatherland and its people, these comrades have become ill and weak.

Therefore, the nation and its people must be grateful to and support these heroes.

During times of famine, our people used to skip one meal a week to help those who were starving. Now, in the fight against foreign invasion, I'm sure our people will gladly skip one meal every few months to help the wounded soldiers.

July 27th is an occasion for our people to show filial piety, compassion, and love for wounded soldiers.

… Always believing in the generosity and compassion of our compatriots, I am certain that "Invalids' Day" will have a successful outcome.

I volunteer to send a silk undershirt that the women have given me, one month's salary, one meal for myself and the staff at the Presidential Palace, totaling one thousand one hundred and twenty-seven dong (1,127.00).

2. In his letter to wounded and sick soldiers in July 1948, Uncle Ho wrote:

"Comrades, you sacrificed a part of your lives and blood for the Fatherland, unfortunately being wounded or falling ill before the enemy was completely annihilated and the resistance was completely successful."

I'm sure you all have doubts. But you should, on the one hand, regain your health, and on the other hand, strive to study. Once you've recovered your health, you'll enthusiastically participate in increasing production to benefit the Fatherland, just as you bravely defended our country. You will become exemplary soldiers in the rear, just as you were exemplary soldiers on the front lines. I and the people will always remember you.”

President Ho Chi Minh visited and inquired about the exemplary worker Pham Trung Pon, who was blind in both eyes but had come up with innovative improvements to agricultural tools.

3. In his letter to the soldiers and people of Southern and South Central Vietnam on September 23, 1949, he wrote:

“Today marks the second anniversary of the glorious resistance war in Southern Vietnam and South Central Vietnam. On behalf of the Government and the entire nation, I respectfully bow before the souls of the soldiers and compatriots who sacrificed their lives for the Fatherland. I offer my condolences to the soldiers and compatriots who were wounded, imprisoned by the enemy, or are suffering in enemy-occupied territories…”

4. In a letter to Mr. Vu Dinh Tung – Minister of War Invalids – regarding the campaign to welcome war invalids back to their villages in July 1951, he reiterated:

"Our wounded soldiers have sacrificed a part of their blood and bones to protect the Fatherland and defend their compatriots; they have been utterly loyal to the country and devoted to the people. They have fulfilled their duty and have asked for nothing in return."

…But how should the government and the people adequately repay those loyal and devoted sons and daughters?

…Each commune must, depending on its collective efforts and capabilities, take in a number of wounded soldiers. This assistance should be long-term, not just temporary…

"...In this way, the people of each commune can fulfill their desire to repay the wounded soldiers, while the wounded soldiers can enjoy material security, spiritual happiness, and the opportunity to participate in activities beneficial to society."

5. In his letter to women on March 8, 1952, Uncle Ho wrote:

“…I respectfully bow my head before the souls of the female martyrs who sacrificed themselves for the Fatherland…”

…I respectfully greet the mothers whose sons are serving in the army, and the mothers, wives, and children of fallen soldiers.

…The mothers of soldiers and the women helped the wounded, blending boundless love into their support, caring for the soldiers and the wounded as if they were their own children.”

President Ho Chi Minh visits the martyrs' cemetery.

6. In a letter sent to Mr. Vu Dinh Tung – Minister of War Invalids and Veterans Affairs – on July 27, 1952, he reminded:

"Helping wounded soldiers, sick soldiers, and families of martyrs should be considered a duty, not an act of charity..."

...Regarding the wounded and sick soldiers:

– We must integrate with the people, respect the people, and avoid causing them any inconvenience.

– We must avoid a sense of entitlement, underestimating labor, and disregarding discipline.

– Don't be pessimistic or discouraged; always strive. Today, depending on the circumstances, you brothers will volunteer to increase production…

"If our compatriots are ready to help and you are determined, you will certainly gradually become self-sufficient."

7. Speech at the wreath-laying ceremony at the War Memorial in Ba Dinh, Hanoi, on December 31, 1954:

“…The martyrs sacrificed their lives, but their great contributions have been deeply etched in the hearts of the entire nation and the country.”

The martyrs have sacrificed their lives, but their courageous spirit has permeated the hearts of our entire army and people in the struggle for peace, unity, independence, and democracy in the country.

The warm blood of the martyrs has stained the glorious national flag even more vividly red.
The glorious names of the martyrs will be remembered for generations to come in history.

A stick of incense.
A few words of comfort.
The spirits of the martyrs live on forever!
"Long live the great Vietnamese Fatherland!"

President Ho Chi Minh offered incense and laid a wreath at the Monument to Martyrs in Hanoi (December 31, 1954).

8. During the New Year's Eve celebration at the Hanoi School for the Blind in 1956, Uncle Ho said:

"They may be disabled, but they are not useless."

9. In a letter to Mr. Vu Dinh Tung – Minister of War Invalids on July 27, 1956, President Ho Chi Minh wrote:

“…Wounded soldiers, sick soldiers, military families, and families of martyrs are those who have contributed to the Fatherland and the people. Therefore, it is our duty to be grateful to them, to love them, and to help them.”

10. In his letter to the wounded and sick soldiers at the Ha Nam Convalescent Camp in June 1957, Uncle Ho wrote:

“…You are soldiers who have been trained in revolutionary ethics and discipline by the People's Army, sons who have sacrificed a part of their blood to protect the country. Therefore, you must uphold the fine and glorious traditions of the revolutionary army: maintaining discipline, close unity, genuine solidarity and love among wounded and sick soldiers, between wounded and sick soldiers and the cadres and people working at the camp, and between wounded and sick soldiers in the camp and the people around them.”

11. In his letter to wounded soldiers, sick soldiers, and families of martyrs on July 27, 1959, President Ho Chi Minh also instructed:

“…Over the past year, the families of martyrs and wounded and sick soldiers have made significant contributions to the socialist construction in the North.”

Many families of martyrs enthusiastically participated in labor exchange groups and agricultural cooperatives and achieved considerable success in production and savings. I wish these families to become exemplary revolutionary families…”

12. In his speech at the 30th anniversary of the founding of the Party (January 5, 1960), in the section about wounded soldiers and martyrs, President Ho Chi Minh said the following:

“…When you eat the fruit, remember the person who planted the tree. In today's joyous celebration, we must remember the heroes and martyrs of our Party and our people…”

…The blood of the martyrs has made the revolutionary flag even brighter red. The heroic sacrifice of the martyrs has prepared the ground for our country to blossom with independence and bear the fruits of freedom. Our people will forever remember the gratitude we owe to the martyrs, and we must always learn from their courageous spirit to overcome all difficulties and hardships, and complete the revolutionary cause that the martyrs have entrusted to us…”

President Ho Chi Minh poses for a photo with military delegates, wounded soldiers, and demobilized troops after a meeting at the Presidential Palace, January 29, 1957.

13. In his sacred Testament, our President Ho Chi Minh gave many important instructions regarding the work of Labor, War Invalids and Social Affairs:

“First and foremost is the work concerning people. For those who bravely sacrificed a part of their lives and blood (cadres, soldiers, militia, guerrillas, volunteer youth…), the Party, the Government and our people must find every way to ensure they have stable housing and living conditions, and at the same time, open vocational training classes suitable for each person so that they can gradually become self-reliant.”

For fallen soldiers, each locality (city, village, commune) should build flower gardens and memorial plaques commemorating the heroic sacrifices of the martyrs, to forever educate our people about patriotism.

For the parents, wives, and children (of war invalids and martyrs) who lack the ability to work and are in need, the local authorities (in rural areas, the authorities in collaboration with agricultural cooperatives) must help them find suitable employment, ensuring they do not suffer from hunger or cold.

(Manuscript dated May 1968, published by the Politburo of the 6th Party Congress on August 19, 1989).

Sixty-nine years have passed since President Ho Chi Minh instructed the designation of "Invalids' Day," and the entire Party, people, and army are still striving to implement Ho Chi Minh's ideology, making every effort to repay the gratitude owed to those who have contributed to the nation.

The Party and State's policies and regulations on caring for wounded soldiers, families of martyrs, and meritorious individuals have highly promoted the tradition of "drinking water, remembering the source"—a beautiful tradition of the Vietnamese nation that has existed for thousands of years, further igniting the flame of solidarity and patriotism in generations of Vietnamese people. Uncle Ho's sayings and writings have been and will forever be the guiding principles and way of life for wounded soldiers and families of martyrs, directing the "gratitude and repayment" activities of our people.

Peace(Synthetic)