108-year-old party member's heart stopped beating

In 2019, Nghe An Provincial Party Secretary Nguyen Dac Vinh awarded the 80-year Party membership badge to Mr. Phan To Duc. Photo: Tran Dinh Ha

Born in the year of the Fire Dragon 1916, according to our age, this Spring of the Year of the Cat, Mr. Phan To Duc will be 108 years old. Although he has passed the age of one hundred, this staunch communist soldier still remembers very clearly the stages of his steadfast struggle.

During his lifetime, he said that from the age of 14-15, he witnessed his fathers and uncles in the village fighting against feudal tyrants to demand the abolition of unjust taxes and to fight for freedom and democracy. On September 1, 1930, although he was still young, he was educated and literate, so he followed a group of 20,000 Thanh Chuong farmers to burn down the district office, reading to help protesters understand the meaning of the slogans of the struggle. Then he witnessed the establishment of the Soviet government at Vo Liet communal house. He also witnessed the harsh revenge terror of the colonial and feudal government.

Deeply hating the enemy in 1935, when he came of age, he officially joined the revolution, and in 1939 he was admitted to the Party. Soon after, in 1940, he was elected Deputy Secretary of the General Committee of Vo Liet - where the most vibrant revolutionary movement was in Thanh Chuong district. A year later, he was arrested and imprisoned in Ban Me Thuot prison until the August Revolution in 1945 succeeded.

Mr. Phan To Duc (in blue life jacket, wearing woolen hat standing in the middle) with leaders of Thanh Chuong district through the periods at the rally to celebrate the 90th anniversary of the founding of the Communist Party of Vietnam. Photo: Tran Dinh Ha

After the August Revolution, Mr. Phan To Duc Duc continued to participate in movements and was appointed Deputy Secretary of the Youth for National Salvation of Nghe An Province. Two years later, because he knew Chinese characters, he was transferred to the Department of Culture in charge of museum work. In 1954, he was transferred to the Department of Education in charge of Supplementary Culture and Popular Education until his retirement in 1972.

Returning to live in his hometown, he continued to participate in the Front's work and local activities, translated documents to make records of relics, contributed many ideas to build strong Party cells and Party committees, and actively participated in the movement to build new rural areas in the locality.

At the age of 108, his eyes are still sharp. Every day he still watches TV, listens to the radio, and reads the Party newspaper. The revolutionary spirit and love for his homeland still shine in his heart. He said: “Without the Party and Uncle Ho’s leadership, there would be no revolutionary movement. Seeing the country at peace, developing strongly, and the people’s lives improving, not only people like me but also generations of descendants are proud and satisfied. I vow to follow the Party for the rest of my life.”

With 2 wives and 7 children including 1 son, 6 daughters, his children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren are all grown up. Mr. Phan To Duc is very proud to have just received Tet gifts from the Provincial Party Committee and District Party Committee. He was also visited and presented gifts by National Assembly Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue... Thanh Chuong District Party Committee and Vo Liet Commune Party Committee are carrying out procedures for the Provincial Party Committee to award him the 85-year Party membership badge. In a mixture of emotion and pride, Mr. Phan To Duc confided: "The great contributions and revolutionary traditions of Vo Liet Commune, Thanh Chuong District as well as the province have always been the motivation for me and my children and grandchildren to overcome difficulties and be exemplary in work and daily life".

With such willpower and determination, but due to old age and weakness after a severe illness, the revolutionary flame that always shone brightly in the heart of the veteran revolutionary cadre stopped burning at 2:00 a.m. on February 17, 2023, leaving behind infinite sorrow for his comrades, teammates and family.

Mr. Phan To Duc and his wife, Mrs. Ton Thi Loan, live in Thanh Tien village, Vo Liet commune. Photo: Tran Dinh Ha

Upon receiving the news, Nghe An Provincial Party Committee and Thanh Chuong District Party Committee visited, offered incense to commemorate the veteran revolutionary cadre, and expressed condolences to the family.

Writing in the condolence book and bidding farewell to this veteran and exemplary party member, comrade Nguyen Van Que - Standing Deputy Secretary of Thanh Chuong District Party Committee shared: “Thanh Chuong is a revolutionary land, so there are many revolutionary predecessors. Mr. Phan To Duc is the last veteran revolutionary cadre, a shining example of revolutionary ethics, a dedicated and exemplary party member, and a very responsible citizen. This is a great loss for the district Party Committee and the locality.”