The veteran recalled that he was born and grew up in Son Bang commune, Huong Son district, Ha Tinh province. In 1982, responding to the appeal of the nation, he joined the military and was staffed to Commando Battalion 14, Front 479 and fought at Cambodian Theater.
As a commando soldier, he always volunteered to take on risky missions. In 1984, while paving the way for his comrades, he was seriously injured by mine explosion. Two years later, he settled down in Dak Lak.
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Veteran Vu Nhu Thuan (left) introduces his company’s passion fruit products. |
Despite his poor health condition, he was still full of energy. He used to work as a security guard for a company until it was dissolved. Unable to make a living by farming, he started trading coffee to sustain his life. Each day, he traveled to remote villages to collect coffee and then resell them for profit. Thanks to his diligence and dedication, his business was going well. However, the business world was also full of thorns and fierceness. In 2004, he suddenly became penniless because coffee prices dropped suddenly and sharply. Many of his customers ran away with debts, so his difficulties piled up.
Not giving up, the veteran remained calm and optimistic. He encouraged his wife to start all over again. He said with a determined look that “When I headed to the battlefield, I knew that going meant death. Now I am luckier than my comrades because I am still alive, thus the difficulties and challenges in the business world cannot defeat a soldier having gone through the war.”
With lessons drawn, he not only bought coffee, but also other farm produce to diversify the source of his income and reduce risks. When his business became profitable, he used his savings to buy six hectares of land for afforestation and durian growing. Realizing the potential for agricultural product exports, in 2013, the veteran boldly opened Phu An Agricultural Product Co., Ltd. specializing in purchasing and processing local farm produce such as cocoa and passion fruit. With a strategic vision, he not only concentrates on the domestic market but also targets international ones. His company is now creating jobs for dozens of local workers.
According to Chairman of Ea Na commune’s Veterans’ Association Nguyen Duc Thai, veteran Vu Nhu Thuan is a living testament to the determination and spirit of overcoming difficulties of Uncle Ho’s soldiers. He is a source of inspiration for many generations.
Translated by Mai Huong