Martyr Phan Tu Ky's 20s and 'fiery' photos

Passing away at the most beautiful age, in his 20s, the photos he left behind still live on, still have their value and remind everyone of the heroic fighting years, the unforgettable years...

My dear sister

June 24th of the lunar calendar this year marks the 50th anniversary of the martyr Phan Tu Ky’s death. His death anniversary at his brother Phan Duy Huong’s house (Phong Dinh Cang Street – Vinh City) is never without pure white lilies – a reminder of the purity, nobility and youth of a young man who died at the age of only 24.

Every year, the anniversary of his death is the same, close to July 27th – War Invalids and Martyrs Day, so the atmosphere is even more somber. Half a century has passed, but the longing has never faded.

Martyr Phan Tu Ky. Photo: Provided by family

Martyr Phan Tu Ky (from Quynh Doi commune, Quynh Luu district). When he was young, because his parents died early, his family of 4 children had to wander to different places, depending on relatives. At the age of 10, from Quynh Doi, he followed his brother who had just graduated from the Pedagogical College to Vinh to live together.

Later, his brother was one of the first 9 people selected by the Provincial Party Committee to prepare for the establishment of Nghe An Newspaper, so from then until he left for military service, he lived in the editorial office's dormitory and became the "unofficial" youngest brother of the unit.

Talking about his younger brother Phan Tu Ky, journalist Phan Duy Huong always had very affectionate feelings. In journalist Duy Huong's memory, his youngest brother was a very agile and sociable person, "he did whatever anyone asked of him at the editorial office". Perhaps, growing up in a journalistic environment, Phan Tu Ky at that time also loved to write and take photos, and the person that martyr Tu Ky talked to the most was journalist Duy Lieu, because he was the only person in the editorial office who had a camera.

Journalist Phan Duy Huong shares the story of his younger brother. Photo: My Ha

After finishing high school, journalist Duy Huong asked for his younger brother to work at Nghe An Forestry Department and after more than a year was assigned to the Tan Ky forest investigation team. However, thanks to his ability to sing, play musical instruments and have a talent for writing, he was later assigned back to the Forestry Department headquarters and in charge of the unit's Youth Union.

After working for a short time, in 1968, following the sacred call of the Fatherland, Phan Tu Ky, then 20 years old, volunteered to join the army and when he left, he was still on the payroll of Nghe An Forestry Department.

Days of living and fighting

Enlisting in the army from 1968 until his death in 1972, journalist Phan Duy Huong and martyr Phan Tu Ky only had one hasty meeting at Vinh Bus Station. Talking about this, journalist Phan Duy Huong could not hide his regret because his duty at that time required him to work regularly, sometimes having to stay at the base for many months at a time. Meanwhile, his younger brother Phan Tu Ky, after being assigned to Division 304, because of his talent for writing, photography..., was assigned to the Division's Political Department.

Many photos were taken by martyr Phan Tu Ky along the march. Photo: My Ha

With the mission of the main division, to supplement troops, Phan Tu Ky and his teammates did not stay in one place but only participated in each battle. When the battle ended, each time the troops withdrew, Phan Tu Ky often had the opportunity to stop by Vinh and every time he went to the Nghe An Newspaper Office to visit his brother and uncles and aunts in the unit.

However, during his four years in the army, Phan Tu Ky marched through his hometown many times but never met his brother. The only time they met in a hurry at Vinh Bus Station, the two brothers only talked to each other for a moment and took a quick photo together. Later, when his brother died, journalist Phan Duy Huong cut out that photo and used the part of his brother's photo to make a memorial photo...

Since his younger brother joined the army, correspondence between the two brothers became difficult. Every time he was lucky enough to write to his brother, martyr Phan Tu Ky also expressed regret because the occasions when the two brothers met were so few:“I am very distressed every time I go on business trips or when I am on leave, my brothers and friends cannot meet anyone. I feel lonely. Honestly, I have not found joy in family happiness and I do not know when it will return to me the feelings you had for me before. Mr. Huong! Please keep the photos I left for me. Do not give them to anyone. No matter how ugly or beautiful they are, they still have deep memories. If possible, please give me some books and newspapers, especially those with your articles…”In his letters home, martyr Phan Tu Ky also often asked about his brothers and sisters, uncles and aunts who were working at Nghe An Newspaper, including those who worked in the catering industry...

Martyr Phan Tu Ky's relics were sent back after his death. Photo: Phan Nga

The hurried letters written along the marching route seemed not enough to tell all the years that martyr Phan Tu Ky and his comrades fought fiercely on the Quang Tri battlefield. And it seemed that he did not want his brother to see the hardships and difficulties. Reading martyr Phan Tu Ky's letters always exuded optimism and belief in the justice of the war.

The letter, dated September 22, 1971, was written by him after he had just suffered from a bout of malaria. After 7 days without food or drink, “his health was completely weakened”, he was excited again, “I will be leaving soon. I am very happy to contribute my strength and enthusiasm to the revolution”.

The letter written on August 2, 1972, the day before he died, was still full of enthusiasm: The return of war has caused so many difficulties. I love you all very much, but I don't know what to do. As for me, I have been on many business trips, and it has been quite difficult. Perhaps you have heard the news about the battles and victories here. I recently took some pretty good pictures of the units, people and the people of the liberated areas (Mai Loc, Ai Tu, Quang Tri town...). Although it was really hard, I was very happy in that general atmosphere. Currently, the requirements and tasks are still heavy, but I am trying to do my job well."

Pictures with …”fire”

After the last letter, the young Sergeant Phan Tu Ky sacrificed his life on August 3, 1972, at the Southern Front of Military Region 4 in the Cua village area, Cam Chinh commune, Cam Lo (Quang Tri), leaving behind the battlefield and his unfinished dream of becoming an artist - "I really like artists and that's all my dream is"...

A rare portrait of martyr Phan Tu Ky was taken by a friend at a photo studio. The outfit he wore was borrowed from a friend who is a journalist in Hanoi. Photo: Family provided

The letter written on August 2, 1972, was only received by the family of martyr Phan Tu Ky one year after his death. Among the relics that his comrades sent back, in addition to the letters, diaries, and harmonica, there were also nearly 200 black and white photos and many sketches that he drew along the march. The memorial service for martyr Phan Tu Ky that day in his hometown was organized by his brother and his uncles and brothers at Nghe An Newspaper right at the place where the editorial office was evacuated in Phong Toan village, Hung Dung commune (Vinh city).

The nostalgia for his younger brother was conveyed by journalist and poet Phan Duy Huong (pen name Duong Huy) in the poemUncle Ho's side:

Uncle Nga went to the army/Why has it been so long!/Missing him, Nga often asks:/Where are you now?

Where are you, where are you?/The Truong Son Mountains are so long?/The Truong Sa islands, rising and sinking? Or Kon Tum, Dak Lak?

Mother's eyes were red/Dad looked up at the altar:/The country is no longer at war/Uncle is with Uncle Ho.

The poem was printed in the Vietnamese Textbook for Grade 3.

Seeing his brother's memorabilia again, journalist Phan Duy Huong and his relatives later understood more clearly the silent work his brother went through during the war.

The sketch was drawn by martyr Phan Tu Ky on the march. Photo: Phan Nga

That is the job of a war photographer who rolls around, rushes into battle, and goes deep into each battle. Thanks to that, all the photos he captures are very vivid and realistic, sometimes it is a scene of a unit discussing tactics before the battle, a photo taken on the march, a photo recording an army crossing a river, surrounded by teammates trying to hold poles as support points.

Looking at his photos, those who have not experienced the war will be haunted by the attentive eyes of two young soldiers cutting barbed wire at night to go deep into the enemy base, photos of soldiers in plain clothes holding guns charging into the Tri Thien battlefield, photos of battlefield doctors fighting every second, every minute to save the lives of those wounded in battle...

Photo at Tri Thien Battlefield. Photo: Family provided

With the same camera, viewers can see the optimism and youthfulness of the young soldier when taking pictures of the art troupe, the children in the villages he passed through, and pictures of mothers and sisters at the loom in traditional costumes of ethnic minorities.

In the photo album he sent back, there was a photo he did not take but kept carefully, it was a photo of President Ho Chi Minh. Below the photo was the line “Our army is loyal to the Party, filial to the people… Every mission will be completed, every difficulty will be overcome, every enemy will be defeated”… to remind him to try hard, to fight worthy of the tradition of Uncle Ho’s soldiers.

A photo of martyr Phan Tu Ky. Photo: Family provided

Looking back at the photos of his younger brother, journalist Phan Duy Huong felt both regret and pride and admiration. After many years of preserving them, one day at the end of April 2021, his family decided to donate part of the relics of martyr Phan Tu Ky to the Military Region 4 Museum with the hope that by reading the letters, diaries, and reviewing old photos, today's young generation will better understand a part of the nation's glorious fight.

Journalist Phan Duy Huong presents relics of martyr Phan Tu Ky to the Military Region 4 Museum. Photo: Provided by the family

Many of the old black and white photos have been enlarged and re-printed by journalist Phan Duy Huong, and some of them have been shared on social media. He also hopes that through these photos, maybe some soldiers will be lucky enough to survive, or maybe the families of the soldiers who died will be able to find their loved ones.

And if possible, there should be a photo exhibition to present all the images of the Quang Tri battlefield in the most complete and truthful way. Those are photos with “fire” and unforgettable moments…