Brightening the patriotic tradition in Dong Tram Parish

Among the 13 Catholic wounded and sick soldiers at Dong Tram Parish, Dong Lam Parish, Hung Son Commune (Anh Son), there is wounded soldier Dau Van Loi, 1/4 class, who is his maternal grandfather, and wounded soldier 2/4 class Nguyen Cong Cuong, who is his maternal grandson.

Two generations come from a Catholic family, and they all share patriotism, love for their homeland, courage, bravery, and willingness to sacrifice for the independence and freedom of the nation. Currently, the two grandfathers and grandsons and 11 wounded and sick soldiers in the parish are typical parishioners of the movement "All people unite to build new countryside", "Living a good life, living a good religion" in their homeland Hung Son.

On May 15, 1965, at the call of the Fatherland, Catholic youth Dau Van Loi volunteered to join the youth volunteer force of XK 328 Company, N63 Team, XK 300 Platoon when he was just 18 years old.

After more than a year of bravely and courageously working with his teammates to fill bomb craters and transport food and ammunition to the southern battlefield, on August 10, 1966, Dau Van Loi was injured by a series of bombs fired by the American imperialists while repairing a pontoon bridge in Phuong Tich, Nghi Hoa commune (Nghi Loc).

Vietnamese Army soldiers during the anti-American war. Photo archive

He was taken to the N63 Medical Station for treatment with bomb fragments embedded in his thigh and right arm. After more than 4 months of treatment, Dau Van Loi continued to join his comrades in supporting the battlefield until June 1969. Due to the recurrence of his wound and the pressure from the bombing the previous year, he was allowed to return to his hometown, completing his duty as a Youth Volunteer with a disability rate of 21%.

Returning home, the wounds always tormented him, especially when the weather changed. But after the pain, former Youth Volunteer Dau Van Loi was determined to rise up. He found all kinds of jobs to earn money to send his children to school. Currently, his youngest daughter is an agricultural engineer, working at the Agricultural Extension Station of Anh Son district.

Dong Tram Church, Quan Lang Parish. Photo: GPV

Following the family tradition, more than 50 years later, following the example of his grandfather, on February 17, 2017, young Catholic Nguyen Cong Cuong enthusiastically enlisted in the army, belonging to Company 5, Battalion 2, Regiment 1, Division 324. After the new recruit training course in the regiment's 3-explosive inspection, on May 16, 2017, while practicing inspection and performing official duties, Nguyen Cong Cuong was hit by an explosive device that exploded.

Catholic Youth Nguyen Cong Cuong

After being treated at the 108 Military Hospital with a disability rate of 33%, he was recognized by the Ministry of National Defense and the Ministry of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs as a 2/4 class disabled veteran. Like his grandfather, after being discharged from the army and returning to his hometown, with his industrious and patient nature, Nguyen Cong Cuong did not fear difficulties, always had the will to work hard, be diligent, help his family and consciously participate in social activities.

The war is over, the soldiers, the generations of Catholic youth at Dong Tram Parish, Hung Son Commune, once devoted their youth and a part of their blood to regain independence, freedom, build and protect the Fatherland. Now returning to normal life, although carrying the wounds of war, but with will, determination, overcoming difficulties, they have contributed to enriching their families, homeland, and country. You guys truly deserve to be respected and grateful.