The story of the heroic soldier who shot down the airplane.

- During these historic days of April, we sought out the relatives of Hero of the People's Armed Forces Hoang Van Quyet, originally from Y Tich commune in the former Chi Lang district, now Van Linh commune, Lang Son province, to better understand his life and to further appreciate and be proud of the achievements and contributions of our forefathers to the independence and freedom we enjoy today.

Portrait of Hero of the People's Armed Forces Hoang Van Quyet

Hero of the People's Armed Forces Hoang Van Quyet was born in 1952, of the Tay ethnic group, and grew up in Trung Tam village, Y Tich commune, in the former Chi Lang district, now Van Linh commune. In August 1971, after graduating from Lang Son Secondary Teacher Training School (now Lang Son College), he enlisted and was assigned to the shoulder-fired anti-aircraft missile platoon (A-72), Company 3, Battalion 172, participating in combat in the Southern battlefield.

In the book "Heroic Vietnamese Mothers and Heroes of the People's Armed Forces of Lang Son Province" (National Political Publishing House), kept at the Provincial Military Command, there is a passage about Hero of the People's Armed Forces Hoang Van Quyet: From 1972 to 1975, Comrade Hoang Van Quyet fought in the Southern battlefield. In difficult circumstances, amidst fierce enemy bombing and shelling, carrying heavy weapons on his shoulders, he persevered, bravely overcoming difficulties, fighting intelligently and flexibly, contributing to shooting down many enemy aircraft, and providing timely support to the infantry in fighting the enemy. "He shot down 14 enemy aircraft, and was the person who shot down the most enemy aircraft with shoulder-fired missiles."

At house number 95, Le Lai Street, Ky Lua Ward, where the wife and children of People's Armed Forces Hero Hoang Van Quyet live, many mementos and his handwritten notes, "Days to Remember," recording personal events and achievements are still preserved. According to these notes, the first enemy aircraft he shot down was an AD-6 at the Bau Bang front, Binh Duong province, on September 19, 1972; subsequent ones were shot down in various battlefields in the provinces of Long An, Binh Phuoc, Tay Ninh , etc. The notes also mention that he was awarded the title "Hero for Destroying Enemy Aircraft" 13 times and was awarded the title of People's Armed Forces Hero in 1976.

Relatives view information about People's Armed Forces Hero Hoang Van Quyet posted on social media.

Mrs. To Hong Xuan, wife of People's Armed Forces Hero Hoang Van Quyet, said: After liberation, Mr. Quyet and Battalion 172 were assigned to remain in the South to perform their duties. From 1980 to 1983, he was sent to study at the Missile Command and Technical Officer School in Son Tay, Hanoi. After graduation, he was assigned to work at Battalion 53 ( thuộc Regiment 267, Division 365), stationed in Chi Lang commune. It was there, through our youth group activities, that we met and fell in love. He was promoted to Major in 1985. In 1988, he retired under the disability pension scheme and passed away in 1992 due to illness. While alive, he was very simple, humble, and deeply loved his wife and children; he was the pride of the whole family.

According to Ms. Xuan, some mementos of People's Armed Forces Hero Hoang Van Quyet have been handed over by his family to the Chi Lang Victory Exhibition House, while the rest are carefully preserved by the family.

Visiting the place where he was born and raised, we were even more impressed and proud of People's Armed Forces Hero Hoang Van Quyet. "Since he enlisted, the family received no news from him until after liberation, when relatives received letters from him (mostly written during his time on the battlefield). Because of the lack of information, the family thought he had been killed in action, and my mother cried a lot," recalled Ms. Hoang Thi Hien, currently living in Nam Lan 1 village, Van Linh commune – the younger sister of People's Armed Forces Hero Hoang Van Quyet.

According to Ms. Hien, Mr. Quyet was the eldest of ten siblings. "He was very hardworking, kind, and loving towards his younger siblings. Later, when he worked at Battalion 53, whenever he was on leave, he would often return to his hometown to help his family with farming, raising pigs and chickens, and building pigpens like an ordinary farmer. He was also very humble, never boasting about his personal achievements. Only when he was awarded the title of Hero of the People's Armed Forces did his family learn about his heroic deeds," Ms. Hien recounted.

Although the war is long over, the heroic deeds, especially the achievement of shooting down many enemy aircraft during the resistance war against foreign invaders, of People's Armed Forces Hero Hoang Van Quyet will forever be a source of pride for the Vietnam People's Army, his family, and the people. He is a shining example for today's and future generations to remember, learn from, and emulate.

Source: https://baolangson.vn/chuyen-ve-anh-hung-ban-roi-may-bay-dich-5089269.html