Tough war veteran with deep sentiment for comrades
Born in 1954 in Dong Thanh commune, Vu Thu district, Thai Binh province, Nguyen Thanh Chung voluntarily joined the military when he was 19 years old. Completing training course at Regiment 51 of the Thai Binh provincial Military Command, the young man headed to the Southern theater. As a reconnaissance soldier of Battalion 4 of Eastern Region Command (later Battalion 4, Regiment 271 of Estern Region Command), he and his comrades participated in many battles in the fierce theater of Quang Duc (present Dak Nong province).
    |
 |
|
War veteran Nguyen Thanh Chung (second from the left) and troops of the Dak Nong provincial Military Command in the search for remains of fallen soldiers |
In the 1973 - 1975 period, many Vietnamese troops laid down their lives in the theater. Whenever talking about fallen soldiers, who were hastily buried in deep forests and mountains by their comrades, the old veteran could not hold his tears. The image is so haunting and painful that gives him the burning desire to do whatever it takes to bring fallen comrades back to their families and homeland. “Over the past years, I have taken full advantage of free time and all sources of information to draw map and mark my comrades’ burial locations and work with the Dak Nong provincial Military Command to conduct the search and collection of their remains,” said veteran Nguyen Thanh Chung.
To realize this wish, in 2008, the war veteran made the decision to move his whole family from Lam Dong province to Dak Nong province to facilitate his search and collection of remains of fallen soldiers. That was a tough decision since his family had settled down in the new economic zone in Lam Dong, and he and his eldest son had been exposed to Agent Orange (AO)/dioxin. He kept tossing and turning for nights worrying that moving to a war-torn locality would mess up his family members’ life. The problem was solved when his wife and children said that they supported his decision. The encouragement from his loved ones helped him take a load off his mind.
From the day he moved to Dak Nong, the war veteran has braved all terrain and weather conditions to search for his comrades’ remains. He has climbed hills, crossed streams, walked through forests to survey, search, and collect remains of his comrades. The old veteran was like in a race against time since he was afraid that he would not be able to find all of his comrades because of his illness due to AO/dioxin and his old age. His enthusiasm has been admired by other war veterans, martyrs' families, and officers and soldiers of Dak Nong’s armed forces. They said that veteran Nguyen Thanh Chung has iron will, beautiful comradeship, and great virtues of Uncle Ho's soldiers.
Doing utmost to do good deeds
Although years have gone by, Vu Ta Trong in Nghia Trung ward, Gia Nghia city is always touched when talking about the trip to search and collect the remains of his brother, martyr Vu Ta Truong. According to Trong, his family spent a lot of time and efforts searching for remains of martyr Vu Ta Truong, and without veteran Chung’s support, his family’s wish could not come true.
Mr. Trong recalled that when his family almost gave up searching for martyr Vu Ta Truong’s remains after years-long effort, they fortunately met war veteran Nguyen Thanh Chung in 2005. Chung was the one who not only helped Mr. Trong’s family find the remains of their loved one, but also preserved martyr Truong’s invaluable belongings. He then presented all the items to Mr. Trong’s family. “My family members were happy since our wish came true. We are grateful to Mr. Chung,” said Mr. Trong.
|
|
 |
|
War veteran Nguyen Thanh Chung paying tribute to comrades |
“Belongings that Trong mentioned were a mirror and an unread letter. Truong and I came from the same hometown. We joined the military on the same day and served in the same unit, so when he died, I was really sad,” said Mr. Chung.
According to the veteran, in spite of knowing the burial location of martyr Vu Ta Truong and other comrades, but due to difficult financial conditions, until 2005, he and martyr Truong’s family had not been able to conduct the collection of the martyr’s remains which were found on Bu Room hill in hamlet 8, Quang Tan commune, Tuy Duc district, Dak Nong province and collected by the provincial Military Command.
After completing the collection of martyr Truong’s remains, veteran Nguyen Thanh Chung and other former soldiers of Battalion 4 under Regiment 276 formed a team to survey and conduct the search for other fallen comrades. The former soldiers have provided valuable and reliable information for functional forces of the Dak Nong provincial Military Command; verified information; advised the provincial authorities to build a memorial monument dedicated to martyrs of Battalion 4 in Dao Trung hill in Nam N’Jang commune; assisted the provincial Military Command to collect and rebury dozens of martyrs’ remains.
The old former soldier said that he was happy when he could do something for his fallen comrades’ families. Despite unfavorable terrain and weather conditions, lack of information, and his illness, he continues the search and collection effort. He said that as long as he is still breathing and able to walk, he will look for his comrades.
Major Phan Huu Quy, Head of Policy Office of the Political Department of the provincial Military Command, said that thanks to veteran Chung’s map and information, the provincal party committee, authorities, functional forces and martyrs’ relatives have found and collected the remains of 90 martyrs. In 2020, Chung and his comrades and troops of Dak Nong found three mass grave areas in Tuy Duc district and gathered 20 sets of remains of fallen soldiers.
Admiring Chung’s great efforts, Major Quy recalled that apart from providing information, drawing map of burial location, and directly joining the search and collection, the veteran called on war veterans across the country to support Dak Nong province’s functional forces in searching and collecting martyrs’ remains.
Looking back on what he has done over nearly two decades, veteran Nguyen Thanh Chung deserves to be a bright example in daily life. In recognition of his silent contribution to and outstanding achievements in searching, collecting, and identifying remains of fallen soldiers, the Dak Nong provincial People’s Committee presented a certificate of merit to him. He has also been honored with many certificates of merit by Dak Nong province’s Steering Committee 515 and war veterans’ associations at all levels.
Translated by Tran Hoai