80 years of loyalty to the Party

In early February 2024, we visited the small house of Mrs. Nong Thi Cam, in residential group 7, Thinh Dan ward ( Thai Nguyen city). Born in 1930, Mrs. Cam turned 94 this year, her spine is weak, and she has to use a wheelchair. Her hearing has also deteriorated a lot, but when we asked her about her revolutionary activities, her eyes lit up with joy, and memories flooded back.

Mrs. Nong Thi Cam's birth name was Nong Thi Ven, born in the Buddhist Village, Phu Thuong Commune (Vo Nhai). Right from the time the Vong Hoi Youth and Children's National Salvation Team was established in Phu Thuong Commune (Vo Nhai) at the end of 1941, little Nong Thi Ven joined the Team with two others. In 1941, comrades Hoang Quoc Viet, Hoang Van Thu and a number of cadres of the Northern Regional Party Committee stayed at the house of Mr. Nong Van Kinh and Mrs. Ly Thi Peo (Ve's maternal uncle). Being introduced, and seeing that little Ven was quick and intelligent, the comrades discussed and agreed to assign her the task of supplying food to the secret cadres, delivering letters from the Buddhist Village to Dinh Ca, up to Nga Hai area, Bac Son district ( Lang Son ).

Comrade Trinh Viet Hung, alternate member of the Party Central Committee, Deputy Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee, Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee, awarded the 80-year Party membership badge to party member Nong Thi Cam.

From 1942 to September 1944, little girl Nong Thi Ven participated in revolutionary activities, was the leader of the Children's National Salvation Association, a secret cadre and the National Salvation Army, a propagandist, and a liaison officer for the National Salvation Army cadres. Mrs. Cam recalled: Until now, I still remember clearly the year 1944. The French colonialists terrorized fiercely, the people in Phu Thuong followed the direction of the Central Committee to carry out the "empty garden, empty house" plan, moving all belongings and food to Phuong Hoang cave.

“At the end of 1944, the French colonialists attacked the cave. Because our forces were thin and our weapons were rudimentary, we had to withdraw. While the enemy was searching, I crawled into a hole about 1 meter deep in the cave and sat there holding my breath. I waited until the next evening before passing the enemy checkpoint, crossing the fields into the forest to meet the cadres. I was very happy to be praised by the revolutionary cadres for their intelligence and bravery,” said Mrs. Cam.

In October 1944, her superiors decided to admit Nong Thi Ven into the Second National Salvation Army Platoon under the name Nong Thi Son. In 1945, when Japan staged a coup against France, little girl Son actively participated in distributing leaflets, mobilizing people to rise up and seize power. After that, Nong Thi Son and a number of members of the Second National Salvation Army Platoon were assigned to liberate La Hien district, then mobilize people in Minh Lap and Hoa Thuong (Dong Hy) communes... to rise up, collect enemy weapons and liberate Thai Nguyen town.

Over the years, party member Nong Thi Cam has always received attention and care from all levels, sectors, collectives and individuals.

After the August Revolution, she was assigned to be a member of the Viet Minh Provincial Committee. On January 3, 1946, she was honored to be admitted to the Indochinese Communist Party (now the Communist Party of Vietnam ), and was recognized as an official party member on May 3, 1946. From then on, she took the name Nong Thi Cam. She said: Remembering that day, it was a great honor. I was young but was admitted to the Party, and was trusted by revolutionary cadres to be assigned tasks. I feel very proud. Standing in the ranks of the Party, I always vow to be loyal and wholeheartedly serve the Party, the revolution and the people.

One year after being admitted to the Party, the Provincial Women's Union for National Salvation was established. Ms. Cam was elected to the Standing Committee of the Union, then became Secretary of the Women's Party Committee of Phu Luong and Vo Nhai districts. In 1954, she worked at the Ethnic Committee of the Viet Bac Autonomous Region, then the Provincial Farmers' Union for National Salvation, Member of the Provincial Rural Work Committee; Standing Committee of Vo Nhai District Party Committee, Vice Chairman of Vo Nhai District People's Committee.

In January 1967, Ms. Nong Thi Cam became a member of the Provincial People's Committee and Head of the Organization Committee of the Bac Thai Provincial Government until her retirement in 1982. In her locality, from 1984 to 1995, she worked as Deputy Secretary of the Party Cell of Block 7, Tan Thinh Ward.

In a simple house in Phai Da hamlet, Kim Phuong commune (Dinh Hoa), we sat and listened to Mrs. Sam Thi Van read clearly each word in the newsletter of the Thai Nguyen provincial women's association. Mrs. Van was born in 1926. This year she turns 98 but is still healthy and able to walk. She has the habit of reading books and newspapers every day.

Before 1945, the revolutionary movement was on the rise in Dinh Hoa district. At that time, Sam Thi Van actively participated in the revolution and in February 1945 was elected Secretary of the Kim Son Commune Women's National Salvation Association. Together with other women's associations in the area, Sam Thi Van led the Kim Son Commune Women's National Salvation Association to coordinate with other organizations and associations to mobilize people to support rice, paddy, buffalo, cows, pigs, chickens and take charge of logistics for the Liberation Army. In the fierce fire, the cadres and soldiers of the Liberation Army and the militia received hot rice balls filled with the love of compatriots, comrades and the brave spirit of the mothers and sisters.

Comrade Pham Hoang Son, Standing Deputy Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee, Chairman of the Provincial People's Council, came to her private home to present the 80-year Party membership badge to comrade Sam Thi Van.

On January 2, 1946, Secretary of the Women's Association for National Salvation of Kim Son Commune Sam Thi Van was admitted to the Party (officially on April 5, 1946). Standing in the ranks of the Party, the revolutionary fire boiled even more in the heart of party member Sam Thi Van. She continued to lead the Women's Association to carry out well the task of propagating and mobilizing people to follow the revolution; secretly sheltering cadres to fight to regain independence for the Fatherland. Party member Van and cadres and women in Dinh Hoa district had many practical activities to support the revolution.

She said: Those days were very hard, there was a shortage of rice, we had to mix corn, cassava, and dig up cassava to eat. But our women's association determined that we had successfully revolted to seize power, independence and freedom were in our hands, so we had to hold on to them firmly. We mobilized the people to increase production, secretly provided food for the army, and were determined to drive the French out of the country.

During her career, Ms. Sam Thi Van participated in and held many important positions in women's associations at all levels. She held the following positions: Deputy Secretary of the Women's Association of Dinh Hoa district; Member of the Executive Committee of the Provincial Mass Mobilization Agency Party Cell, Delegate of the People's Council of the Viet Bac Autonomous Region, Term I; Deputy Secretary of the Women's Association of Thai Nguyen and Bac Thai provinces. In 1975, she held the position of Member of the Executive Committee of the Women's Association of Bac Thai province, but due to poor health, she retired in Kim Tien hamlet, Kim Son commune (Dinh Hoa). Returning to her locality, she continued to be Chairwoman of the Fatherland Front Committee of Kim Son commune. In October 1980, she retired in Kim Tien hamlet, Kim Son commune (now Kim Phuong commune).

For nearly her entire life, Ms. Sam Thi Van was involved in women's work. During the 21-year journey (1954-1975), the women's movement and the activities of the Women's Union of Thai Nguyen and Bac Thai provinces fulfilled two strategic tasks of the Party: Building socialism in the North and fighting to liberate the South and unify the country. Throughout that time, the Provincial Women's Union grew steadily. The movements launched by the Union aroused the spirit of emulation in learning, creative work, solidarity and humanity among women in the province.

During their years of participating in association and government work, the two party members Nong Thi Cam and Sam Thi Van have always been dedicated to their work, completing their tasks well and excellently. With 80 years of Party membership, the two comrades are shining examples in educating the younger generation in tradition. Their families, children and grandchildren are all successful, most of them working in state agencies. Each family has 10-20 party members.

Directly visiting the private residence to present the 80-year Party membership badge to comrade Sam Thi Van, comrade Pham Hoang Son, Standing Deputy Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee, Chairman of the Provincial People's Council, respectfully expressed his deep gratitude for comrade Van's contributions to the revolutionary cause of the Party and the nation. At the same time, he expressed his hope that comrade Sam Thi Van would continue to actively encourage her family, children, and future generations to strictly implement the Party's guidelines and policies and the State's laws; and to foster and educate the revolutionary tradition for the younger generation.

For the younger generation like us, what we admire is the revolutionary enthusiasm, the steadfastness, and the unfailing faith in the Party of the two veteran party members. That spirit is like a torch that lights up future generations.