Love story of three soldiers...

QTO - Meeting in the midst of war, two soldiers came together with a sincere and pure love. However, the fierce war left their happiness unfinished, one remained forever on the battlefield of the Ancient Citadel, the other struggled to raise his child during difficult days. Much later, another soldier who shared the same loss shared and made up for the pain of his comrade. Those three soldiers wrote a beautiful love story, not only about love between couples, but also about humanity, comradeship, and sacred comradeship, overcoming loss and pain.

The wife of a martyr of the Citadel

Mrs. Phan Thi Bien Khoi (born in 1948), from Dong Trach commune, Bo Trach district, Quang Binh province (old), now Dong Trach commune (Quang Tri), is a soldier who experienced the fierce war years. She is the wife of martyr Le Binh Chung, the soldier who sacrificed his life in the 81-day and night campaign to protect Quang Tri Citadel.

The love story of the two people is known to many people. Because, Mrs. Khoi is the owner of one of the special letters currently kept at the Quang Tri Ancient Citadel Museum. That letter is proof of a beautiful love in the most fierce war place.

In 1966, when she was just 18 years old, the young girl Phan Thi Bien Khoi registered to join the army. After the training course, she was transferred to Battalion 3, under the Quang Tri Provincial Military Command (B5 battlefield). Here, in early 1969, she met Lieutenant Le Binh Chung (born 1944), from Quynh My commune, Quynh Luu district, Nghe An province.

Warm moment of Mr. Hoang Huu Trach and Mrs. Phan Thi Bien Khoi with their grandchildren - Photo: PP

Their sincere and passionate first love became the driving force that helped them overcome the harsh and fierce days on the battlefield. After more than a year of being in love, Ms. Khoi was seriously injured and suffered from malaria, and had to go to the North for treatment, while Mr. Chung continued to stay on the battlefield.

In early 1970, with the unit's permission, Lieutenant Le Binh Chung returned to his lover's hometown and a simple, warm wedding took place. Before the couple could get to know each other, Chung had to rush back to his unit to continue fighting.

In late 1970, a boy named Le Quang An was born. The name was not only a combination of the two hometowns of Quang Binh and Nghe An, associated with the belief of North-South reunion, but also contained the hope of a peaceful life for the beloved child.

War brought them together with pure love but it was also war that separated them forever. In August 1972, soldier Le Binh Chung remained forever on the battlefield of the Ancient Citadel when the war was at its most fierce stage, leaving behind his gentle wife and young child.

Make up with love

During the days when the movie Red Rain was “burning up” the box office, we went to the house of Mrs. Phan Thi Bien Khoi in residential group 8-Bac Ly, Dong Thuan ward. Different from what we imagined, the person who welcomed the guests was not Mrs. Khoi but a man over 80 years old, walking slowly, with a gentle smile on his face.

He gently told us that he was Mrs. Khoi’s husband. In this meeting, we heard the story of three people, three soldiers who had gone through the war. There, the loss and pain were compensated by love, humanity, and sacred comradeship.

After her husband died, Mrs. Khoi raised her children alone and worked in the locality. Here, she met and became acquainted with Mr. Hoang Huu Trach (born in 1942), from Bac Ly, Dong Hoi, Quang Binh (old), a military officer working at the Quang Binh Provincial Military Command.

Mr. Trach is also a soldier with special circumstances. His first wife, of whom he had been married for just 3 years, passed away from dengue fever while he was fighting in the northern battlefield of Quang Tri, leaving him with two young children.

Mrs. Phan Thi Bien Khoi and Mr. Le Quang An - son of martyr Le Binh Chung - Photo: PP

Sharing the same fate of loss and wishing to give a home to children who had lost their fathers and mothers, the two soldiers decided to get married. Their wedding was simple and quiet, with encouragement from family, friends and comrades.

Under Mrs. Khoi's attentive care, the children had a warm home. Mr. Trach was at ease in his work, continuing to serve the army, contributing to overcoming the consequences of war in the countryside heavily devastated by bombs and bullets in Quang Tri and Hue. In 1991, Mr. Trach retired with the rank of Lieutenant Colonel, Deputy Political Commander of the Quang Binh Provincial Military School (formerly).

In 2000, while constructing a drainage system at the Citadel, workers discovered a shelter containing the remains of five martyrs, including that of martyr Le Binh Chung. During the entire journey to bring the remains of martyr Le Binh Chung back to his hometown for burial, Mr. Hoang Huu Trach was always present, enthusiastically taking care of all the work.

Moreover, almost every year, on the anniversary of his death, Mr. Trach finds a way to go to the hometown of martyr Le Binh Chung to pay his respects. To Mr. Trach, martyr Le Binh Chung was not only a comrade but also a beloved member of his extended family.

After getting married, Mr. Trach and Mrs. Khoi had three more children. In total, they have six grown-up and married children, along with 16 grandchildren. Mr. Le Quang An and his wife currently have two daughters who are studying at university. The extended family currently lives together, warmly and close to each other in residential group 8 - Bac Ly.

In the home of these three soldiers, the memory of martyr Le Binh Chung is preserved by the kindness and wholeheartedness of Mr. Hoang Huu Trach and the immense love of the whole family. There, the children grow up in peace, love, and protection. And the soldiers, in one way or another, still hold hands and continue walking, steadfast after the storm of war.

Phan Phuong

Source: https://baoquangtri.vn/xa-hoi/202510/chuyen-tinh-cua-ba-nguoi-linh-0b10659/