Western Soldiers’ Heart Club visits and wishes Happy New Year to veteran soldiers

DNHN - Before the Lunar New Year of the Dragon 2024, the Western Soldiers’ Heart Club organised a visit and New Year’s greetings to veteran soldiers of the army.

The delegation included members of the Western Soldiers’ Heart Club, representatives of the Vietnam Veterans Newspaper, and those who had fought on the Southwest battlefield.

In the jubilant atmosphere of the approaching spring, the delegation visited and presented gifts to Hero of the People’s Armed Forces, Colonel Nguyen Minh Quang, former Division Commander of Division 302, Front 479, former Political Commissar, and Director of Political Affairs of Military Region 7. At the age of 93, he is still sharp-minded and enthusiastically recounts the fierce battles of the two resistance wars, as well as his international duty in Cambodia. He said that many of his comrades had dedicated their blood and bones to the Fatherland with a deep sense of patriotism, never hesitating when war broke out. “Today, meeting the soldiers again, meeting you, my children and grandchildren, I remember many brothers and sisters, and I feel sorry for my soldiers who sacrificed their lives in the battle,” he said with emotion.

After visiting and wishing Happy New Year to the Hero of the People’s Armed Forces, Colonel Nguyen Minh Quang at his home in Go Vap District, Ho Chi Minh City, the delegation went to Tay Ninh to visit Colonel Ho Van To, 79 years old this year, former Division Commander of the 5th Infantry Division, former Regiment Commander of the 88th Heroic Regiment. He recounted that at the age of 14, he had become aware of the revolution, joined the local guerrillas, and then went to the regional army. From a private soldier, he rose to the rank of Colonel-Division Commander at the age of 38. He was wounded 14 times in the battles. He is very proud of Uncle Ho’s soldiers. His family respects and worships Uncle Ho, Uncle Ton, and General Vo Nguyen Giap, as well as the soldiers who sacrificed their lives for the Fatherland. “In my life of revolution, I have been a Hero three times: the heroic Vietnamese people, the heroic army, and the heroic division I commanded…”

He is also very proud of the Chairman of the Western Soldiers’ Club, who he adopted as his foster son from the K battlefield and later arranged the marriage for Veteran Nguyen Cong Trung, a man who is wholeheartedly devoted to taking care of his comrades. “The State is still poor, the army is still poor, if we have the conditions, we should contribute to help the Veterans, the kind gesture of the Western Soldiers’ Heart Club is very valuable,” he said.

In response to Colonel Ho Van To’s words, Veteran Nguyen Cong Trung said that the Soldiers’ Heart Club had just contributed to and repaired a house of comradely affection for Veteran Truong Thanh Hoang in Ward 7, Binh Thanh District, Ho Chi Minh City, and soon, the soldier friends will also contribute more money to help veteran Truong Thanh Hoang have a full Tet holiday.

Visiting the house of Major General Nguyen Van Phe, former Division Commander of Division 302, and former Commander of the Song Be Provincial Military Command, who is now over 90 years old and living in Thu Dau Mot City (Binh Duong), he was very happy to hear from those who used to be soldiers. “The comrades in the resistance war have a lot of affection for each other, whoever is wounded and still alive will come to visit in a wheelchair. When Uncle and Tu Quang led the Regiment, we were very hungry, we ate bananas, ate cassava, and many times when we ran out of bananas, we had to eat banana stems. Later, when we opened the way to the people, we asked the people to buy food. There are only a few of us left from that time, including Uncle.”

In response to the sentiments of the veteran soldiers, Veteran Nguyen Cong Trung, on behalf of the delegation, expressed his gratitude for the advice and wished the veteran soldiers good health in the new year, continuing to pass on their glorious achievements, and being valuable examples for the younger generation to follow.

Dao Nhan