A time of simple happiness

We visited the Logistics and Technical Department of the Air Force Officer School on a historic April morning. The atmosphere of the major anniversaries seemed to stir excitement in everyone. But sitting opposite Major Tran Thi Thanh Van, a statistics officer in the Military Medical Department, we sensed a different kind of tranquility. It was the tranquility of a soul that had weathered storms to achieve serenity and self-assurance.

Ms. Vân greeted us with a gentle smile; her characteristic tan complexion, typical of women from Central Vietnam, seemed to accentuate the resolute look in her eyes. She began her story in a warm, low voice, tinged with the subtle sadness of someone who always holds the past close to her heart.

Major Tran Thi Thanh Van, a non-commissioned officer.

Born in Loc Ninh, Dong Hoi, Quang Binh (now Dong Thuan ward, Quang Tri province), she left her hometown after graduating from high school and moved to Binh Dinh to start a career. It was in this land of "exceptional literary and martial arts skills" that fate brought her together with Hoang Quoc Viet, then a pilot and flight instructor of Regiment 940, stationed at Phu Cat airport.

Love for a military pilot is unlike any other love. It's a blend of pride and silent sacrifice. "Back then, loving a pilot meant accepting days of waiting, nights I stayed awake listening to the wind whistling through the cracks in the window, wondering if the sky would be clear enough for him to fly the next day," Vân recalled fondly.

During those years, the life of a military family, though still difficult and lacking in material comforts, was filled with laughter. In 1997, Ms. Van was recruited into Regiment 940 as a catering staff member. The work was simple, but it brought her peace alongside her husband and son. Every day, after her shift, she would take on extra work sewing hats to earn additional income. Meanwhile, Mr. Viet, after each strenuous training flight, would return home to help his wife care for their only son, Hoang Quoc Dat. Their small communal house was once the envy of many, filled with warmth and complete happiness.

However, the sky wasn't always clear blue. On September 24, 2004, while attending a basic nursing course at the 3rd Army Corps Military School, she received devastating news: her husband, Hoang Quoc Viet, had died while on a training flight mission for pilot trainees. “The world seemed to collapse around me. I couldn't believe it, I didn't want to believe it was true. He left behind so many unfinished plans, and our son was too young to understand the pain of separation,” she recounted, tears streaming down her sun-weathered face as she recalled that moment.

The resilience of the "cactus" in the sand.

After the painful loss of her husband's life, a weak woman might have collapsed. But Van was a soldier, the wife of a pilot who had sacrificed his life for the skies. She told herself she had to live strongly, not only for herself but also for her husband and, most importantly, for her child. From then on, she began a journey of life full of resilience: being both a father and a mother.

The adults' pain was one thing, but the trauma of the children was even more heartbreaking. Little Dat, who was usually very active, suddenly became shy and withdrawn due to the absence of his father's protective care. As he reached adolescence, the rebelliousness of a 15 or 16-year-old without a father's strictness caused Van many sleepless nights. Sometimes Dat would skip school to play video games, and she could only cry silently, feeling helpless and heartbroken.

Major Tran Thi Thanh Van and her son Hoang Quoc Dat on their graduation day.

But then, the boundless love and strength of a "soldier mother" helped her find a way into her child's heart. She taught her child with pride. She told her child about her father's flights, about the ideals he pursued until his last breath. She wanted her child to understand that she was the child of a martyr and that her duty was to live in a way that was worthy of that title.

She has always had the support of her family and, especially, the care and attention from leaders at all levels and her comrades at the Air Force Officer School. The warm, camaraderie-filled military environment is the "soil" that allows this "cactus" to take root deeper and grow stronger in the face of adversity.

The fruits of years of hard work and sweat finally came. The mischievous boy Dat had grown into a mature young man, not only physically but also in ideals. Dat decided to apply to the Air Force Officer School, following in his father's footsteps. After five years as a top-performing student and becoming a member of the Communist Party of Vietnam , he graduated as a military pilot with outstanding results in the 44th course.

Currently, Lieutenant Hoang Quoc Dat is a pilot instructor at Regiment 940, flying the modern Yak-130 aircraft. In 2025, he will have the honor of participating in A50 and A80 missions with the Regiment. The image of her son standing tall in his flight suit, carrying out flights to protect the nation's airspace, is the most invaluable reward for Ms. Van.

She said, "Every time I hear the roar of airplane engines in the sky, I see the image of Viet in it. Dat has continued his father's dream of flying. That is my greatest comfort and motivation to continue contributing to the unit."

Exemplary and responsible towards the unit.

As the wife of a fallen soldier, Major Tran Thi Thanh Van has never considered that as a reason to receive preferential treatment or neglect her work; on the contrary, she has always been a role model of responsibility. In her role as a statistics officer in the Military Medical Department, her work demands meticulousness and absolute accuracy. She meticulously monitors and compiles the figures and reports sent from various units in a scientific manner, ensuring no errors ever occur.

Beyond her professional expertise, Ms. Vân is also the "soul" of the unit's women's movements. Although she humbly acknowledges that she lacks talent, her enthusiasm and sincerity have inspired many other members, creating a vibrant atmosphere within the unit. She lives among her colleagues with tolerance and optimism, like how cacti still bloom brilliantly even when lacking water and soil.

First Lieutenant Hoang Quoc Dat (seated in the cockpit) prepares for a training flight in a Yak-130 aircraft at Regiment 940.

Colonel Nguyen Cong Trang, Head of Logistics and Engineering at the Air Force Officer School, commented on her with utmost respect: “Comrade Van is not only an exemplary and responsible soldier, but also a symbol of resilience in overcoming difficulties. In her professional work, she is always careful and dedicated, a reliable support for the Military Medical Department. But what we appreciate most is her silent sacrifice in raising her son to continue his father's legacy. That is a great contribution to the Army, spreading profound human values ​​within the unit.”

As we bid farewell to Major Tran Thi Thanh Van, we will forever remember her radiant smile. The sky outside remains blue, and behind every safe flight, there are always women like Major Van. Her story is not just the story of a military family, but also a lesson in unwavering loyalty and an undying love for the Fatherland.

    Source: https://www.qdnd.vn/phong-su-dieu-tra/phong-su/cay-xuong-rong-no-hoa-tren-cat-trang-1037671