The 75-year-old war veteran is still enthusiastically involved in social activities.
(Baonghean.vn) - Since enlisting in the army, Mr. Nguyen Quoc Hoi has continuously dedicated nearly 60 years to the Party, the country, and the people. Now, at the age of 75, this war veteran still works tirelessly, serving as a "pillar of support" for the people of Phuc Loc block, Vinh Tan ward (Vinh city).
In the July sun, Mr. Nguyen Quoc Hoi (born in 1948), Party Secretary and Chairman of the Veterans Association of Phuc Loc block, Vinh Tan ward (Vinh city), still goes door-to-door in neighborhood groups to install fire alarm systems.
“Houses are built close together, families use many electrical appliances, and the weather is hot, so the risk of fire is very high. Following instructions from higher authorities, we encouraged neighborhood groups to install fire alarms, and the households agreed,” Mr. Hoi said.
In 1965, at the age of 17, Mr. Nguyen Quoc Hoi enlisted in the army and became a soldier in the 7th Engineering Regiment. The young soldier's footprints were left across battlefields, starting in Laos, then returning to serve in the Tet Offensive (1968), and later participating in road construction to support the Route 9 – Southern Laos Campaign.
In 1971, Mr. Hoi was sent to the North to study politics. Nearly four years later, he returned to the battlefield and, along with his unit, prepared for the Ho Chi Minh Campaign to completely liberate the South. While preparing for the infantry's river crossing to attack Saigon, Mr. Hoi stepped on an enemy mine and was wounded. Fortunately, the injury was not too serious, and he was still able to witness that sacred moment in Saigon.
When Pol Pot's forces crossed the southwestern border, causing immense suffering to the people, Nguyen Quoc Hoi and his comrades once again set out to serve in the fighting, contributing to the pursuit and eradication of the remnants of this brutal regime. At that very moment, fierce fighting broke out on the northern border, and Hoi's unit was deployed to Son Tay, ready to support the main fighting force.
The combat engineers, both at the forefront and the rear, always faced hardship and danger, especially during the years in the Trường Sơn mountain range engulfed in flames or on the Kampong Cham river in Cambodia. Mr. Hội himself witnessed many times the scenes of bombs and bullets claiming the lives of his comrades, or the extreme pain of soldiers' bodies riddled with bullet wounds and shrapnel.
After the war, Mr. Nguyen Quoc Hoi was transferred to the Political Department of Military Region 4 and retired at the end of 1993 with the rank of Lieutenant Colonel. Nearly 30 years in the military, this soldier achieved many victories and was awarded many prestigious medals and decorations such as: the Order of Military Merit, the Order of Liberation, the Order of the Victorious Military Banner, the Order of Glorious Soldier…
Upon returning home, without even having time to rest, Mr. Hoi was elected Secretary of the Party branch of Phuc Loc block. Sometime later, he became Chairman of the Veterans Association and held many other positions throughout his career. Regardless of the position or the work he performed, war veteran Nguyen Quoc Hoi always demonstrated a sense of responsibility towards the collective and the people, always prioritizing the community's interests over personal ones.
Therefore, Mr. Hoi was always trusted by his superiors and loved by the people of Phuc Loc Hamlet, becoming a shining example for the community. Whenever he spearheaded movements or built public welfare projects, the people in the hamlet wholeheartedly participated and responded. The people of Phuc Loc Hamlet always remember Mr. Hoi's contributions to having clean, beautiful main roads and a spacious community center.
During holidays and Tet (Lunar New Year), Mr. Nguyen Quoc Hoi often takes the initiative to mobilize businesses to donate gifts and encourage families receiving preferential treatment, war veterans, and poor households in the area, so that the holidays are more joyful and the Tet holiday is filled with warmth and human kindness.
Comrade Nguyen Quoc Hoi is a model war invalid who, despite his advanced age, remains actively involved, always at the forefront of various movements, and is highly respected by the people. Throughout his career, Comrade Hoi has achieved many accomplishments recognized by various levels of government, including a Certificate of Commendation from the Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee for his achievements in the work of showing gratitude and contributing to the socio-economic development of Nghe An province.
- Mr. Tran Thai Hoa - Chairman of the Veterans Association of Vinh Tan Ward -
