Society

Tearful memories of those who created the Nghe Tinh Soviet through the stories of their relatives

Diep Thanh • September 12, 2025 08:40

From hardship, the generation of fathers and grandfathers of the Nghe Tinh Soviet movement left behind lessons of loyalty to the Party and faith in the revolution for posterity. Today, in the midst of peace, these small stories are recalled as gratitude and reminders, so that each person knows how to preserve, foster and continue those good values ​​in life, so that history will never be silent, so that the drumbeat of the Nghe Tinh Soviet will resonate forever...

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Mr. Dau Cong Dan - son of comrade Dau Du (Dau Gia) (1908-1977)

The silent interval of the communist^(*)

I grew up without knowing that my father was a communist. He started his activities in 1928, but his wife, children, relatives, and siblings did not know. At that time, I only knew that I was labeled by everyone as a landlord's son and a reactionary. I even joined the Youth Union after graduating from 10th grade. I had to write 6 letters in blood before I could join the army. I spent my youth feeling suspicious, wary, ashamed, and miserable... When I joined the army, I was determined to die and considered dying for the Fatherland a source of pride, a way to clear the name of myself and my family.

In 2009, during a visit to the Nghe Tinh Soviet Museum (nowMuseumNghe An - Soviet Nghe Tinh) to find information for a friend, I asked more about my father through his name and hometown. Only then did I realize that he was a revolutionary activist. In my life, it was not until I was 60 that I learned that my father was a revolutionary. The feeling of sadness, joy, shame, and pain... made me numb. But then we understood that: That was the historical context, it was inevitable. At that time, the circumstances, the background at that time had to be like that, only then would we have today. I do not blame anyone, I just hope that the next generation understands the price of peace today to preserve, cherish and live meaningfully.

^(*)The story of the silent sacrifices of the communist Dau Du's family was recorded in the work "The silent space of the communist", author Thuy Vinh, printed in the book "The red suitcase" reprinted in 2024, compiled and edited by the Nghe Tinh Soviet Museum (formerly).

Mr. Nguyen The Dung - son of comrade Nguyen The Lam (1904-1978)

Bullet wound on father's head

My teacher (father) had spent 15 years in prison, physically and mentally tortured, but he almost never told us about what he had experienced. Until one time, in 1972 - 1973, when I cut his hair, I saw a patch of hair growing very messy on his head. When I asked, I learned that it was a bullet wound from the French when he was imprisoned in Kon Tum, for writing leaflets against French colonialism. Among the revolutionary prisoners who were shot that time, my teacher was the last. He said that after being shot, in his hazy memory, he saw comrade Vo Thuc Dong bring a basin to catch the blood flowing from the back of his head, and said: Goodbye, may you rest in peace.

Fortunately, when the prisoner was being pushed to the burial site, my teacher showed signs of being alive. Although the prison guards still wanted to bury him alive, a French doctor in the prison, due to professional principles, did not allow it. My teacher was resuscitated and survived - thanks to that, I am who I am today.

My teacher was able to return home, but he was always concerned about his comrades who had died. Their stories were not told to anyone, no one listened to them, their quiet departure silently made history. That is why, when the local government and other agencies held a memorial service for the revolutionary heroes of the movement,Nghe Tinh Soviet, I was so touched and grateful…

Mr. Vo Van Cau - son of comrade Vo Van Dong (1911-2004)

House on fire, just busy saving files, documents...

In my memory, the image of my father appears with two words: loyalty and filial piety: Loyalty to the Party, Filial piety to the People.

In 1958, my house caught fire. When the villagers shouted, my mother did not call for help to save the house and belongings but exclaimed: "Save the military archives immediately!". Everyone hurriedly pulled out stacks of documents instead of saving property. Later, we learned that those were the first military service records of the Dong Nghi Loc region. That afternoon, the military officers returned, the first thing my father said to them was: The records have been saved! Seeing the devastation of the house, they were moved to tears by their father's choice. Witnessing this, a commune officer even wrote a few lines of poetry:

"The house is on fire and they refuse to put it out."

Go save the file again

Tomorrow all the potatoes will be spoiled.

What should I do now?"

The incident happened when I was very young, but I still remember those verses until now. Our fathers' generation made revolutions and sacrificed themselves in such an innocent and selfless way. That is why I always promise myself to contribute to and preserve the heritage of my homeland, just like my parents did.

Mr. Tran Huu Thuat - son of comrade Tran Huu Quan (1909-1989)

Be strong and love

The most profound thing I learned from my father was comradeship: supporting each other in activities, in prison. My grandfather and father were imprisoned in the same cell, my grandfather was the Secretary of the prison. My father was young and strong, often taking the initiative to take the beatings for the sicker people in prison, including my grandfather. After living together for a while, admiring the young man, my grandfather promised my father: Try to be loyal, fight to the end. When we are liberated and return alive, I will marry my daughter to you.

When the government took over, my grandfather came out first. My father came out in 1945. When he was released, my father rode a purple horse from Cat Van to Phong Thinh to meet my grandparents and ask for my mother's hand in marriage.

There is one more thing I admire about my father: He was fierce on the battlefield, but in life, he was a very emotional person. My 6 sisters and I were never beaten by our father. At 68 years old, when I retired, I still often saw him, one hand rocking the hammock, the other hand fanning my mother to sleep. That love was beautiful, extremely deep. If we could live like him, I believe everyone would have a happy family.

Until now, I always remind my brothers and children that: We are the children of the family, no matter how the times change, no matter how our children and grandchildren choose different careers, we must always maintain steadfast faith in the Party, and must always live and work according to the Constitution and the law.