Veteran Pham Ngoc Chau: Because I am Uncle Ho's army!

Celebrating 76 YEARS OF VALUED DAY - KILLER (July 27.7.1947, 27.7.2023 - July XNUMX, XNUMX)

Veteran Pham Ngoc Chau: Because I am Uncle Ho's army!

In 2015, veteran soldier Pham Ngoc Chau volunteered to be a "focal point" in the journey to move the remains of martyrs who died in the Cambodian battlefield from the martyrs cemetery in your province to cemeteries in Binh Dinh province. In the past 10 years, despite many difficulties and pressures, Mr. Chau still put his whole heart into this "carrying prison and general" job.

"If it weren't for Uncle Chau..."

The sentence choked, at the same time tears fell on the face of Ms. Nguyen Thi Kieu Linh (daughter of martyr Nguyen Van Bon, from Tuy Phuoc town, Tuy Phuoc district). Having never seen her father's face, she heard that her father died, and then her mother remarried, she always longed to bring her father close to her. Hugging tightly the sarcophagus containing the remains, she whispered: "If it weren't for the affectionate CCBs like Uncle Chau, maybe this whole life longing would never come true."

On July 15.7, the remains of Martyr Bon along with four other martyrs were brought to the cemetery for burial at the Martyrs Cemetery in Nhon Ly Commune (Quy Nhon City), Phuoc Nghia Commune, Phuoc Hung Commune and Tuy Phuoc Town.

● Do you remember how many martyrs' remains have been brought to Binh Dinh?

- I can't remember. Just remember that I retired in 2013, knowing that my brothers and teammates in the provinces supported their families and relatives to bring the remains of martyrs to their hometown, I immediately started working. The most is in the period 2015 – 2018; At that time, there were two times a year, on the occasion of the Invalids and Martyrs' Day on July 27.7 and the founding anniversary of the Vietnam People's Army on December 22.12, moving more than 10 remains of martyrs to their hometown. Now it is less and less, once a year with about 5-7 martyrs' remains.

 ● In the journey to bring the remains of martyrs from your provincial cemetery to Binh Dinh, what stages did you participate in, sir?

– According to the assignment of the brothers in the Soldier's Friendship Branch (under the Committee for Communicating Teams in Cambodia), I am in charge of helping the relatives of martyrs from Binh Dinh to make documents and records for their family members, help them complete administrative procedures as prescribed, because many of the martyrs' family members are working people. I have the advantage that after being discharged from the army, I return to Binh Dinh to work in the banking industry, understand and understand the relevant laws. That is my main job, however, most of the martyrs ask me to do "everything".

For the camaraderie…

Realizing that the majority of relatives and worshipers of martyrs in difficult circumstances only use the amount of support from the State according to regulations to take care of all moving the remains home; However, from Binh Dinh to some southern provinces such as Binh Duong, Tay Ninh, Dong Nai... receiving the remains and then returning, Mr. Chau calculated that if going individually, the cost would not be enough. So, he made a list of martyrs according to each commune and ward, provided them to the Southern CCB brothers, asking them to find a few martyrs at once, to cover enough money to bring home for a while. Recently, the Soldiers' Association has voluntarily donated to finance the free movement of 5 remains to Binh Dinh on July 15.7.

● What motivated you to volunteer to do this…

– I have intended to bring my teammates back to my hometown for a long time. In 1990, when I went to Ho Chi Minh City to study at university, I rented a motorbike taxi to Tay Ninh province to inquire. People pointed me to a vast cemetery, going forever without knowing the way out. The next year, I went back to Ho Chi Minh City to study at university for the second time, and they directed me to the cemetery of Chau Thanh district (Tay Ninh province). When I arrived, seeing my teammates all there, I cried tears of joy.

There are many things that have become "obsessions" that stick me to this forever. That is the image of a father over 90 years old in Dap Da ward (An Nhon town) who always thinks of taking his son home, when he sees his son's coffin in the territory of An Nhon town, he keeps bowing to me and my brothers. I'm CCB. I can contribute in that journey, how can I stand outside.  

Mr. Pham Ngoc Chau regularly updates and communicates information about martyrs' remains with CCB nationwide through personal websites.

● It is known that at first he only brought his 2nd Division comrades home…

– It is true that the comrades in the 2nd Division are prioritized first. However, in the process, anyone who needs me can help.

On July 15.7, along with bringing the remains of 5 martyrs home, in Tay Son district, Vietnamese veterans fighting in Cambodia gathered in large numbers to celebrate the death anniversary of the 18 martyrs of the 18th Company. Regiment 812, Division 309. Brothers from many provinces and cities, of various ages, together burn incense in memory of former comrades, sit back and review old stories, reminding old memories, feeling like blood relatives and friends. so each other.

Or in many trips to move the remains of martyrs to their homeland, some brothers who could not afford to follow them asked the car to stop along the way so that they could prepare a tray of rice to offer to their old comrades.

Mr. Chau instructs relatives to carry out procedures to move martyrs' remains to their hometown. Photo: NT

…and because I am a soldier

On the morning of July 17.7, Mr. Chau lit a pot of delicious tea and sat with some of the martyrs' family members at his own home. Mr. Dinh Van Loi (brother-in-law of martyr Ly Anh Dung, hometown of Nhon Ly) said that someone called to ask Chau if he had taken any money, why did he not contact the authorities directly? , which through Mr. Chau do. "I replied to them that, even for a cup of coffee, Mr. Chau won money with me", Mr. Loi said.

● Being known as a "martyr's stork", do you feel sad...

– They have the right to doubt, the right to verify. I just thought, I've done a lot, I know, it's too bad if I don't help the martyrs' family. Family members from the district returned to the Department of Labor, War Invalids and Social Affairs in Quy Nhon to do the procedures, many of them were not familiar with the road or even knew how to ride a motorbike, so they had to rent a motorbike taxi from their hometown to Quy Nhon, just lost money for a motorbike taxi and also lost money. labor day. As for me, my children have settled down, are also free and want to help. They see me pacing back and forth hard, but I find a lot of joy in what I do.

● Having taken care of so many good things, I'm sure you will stick with this for a long time...

– I'm a CCB, how can I stop when my teammates can't go home. My personality is quite perfectionist, so whoever asked for anything, I accepted, I had to fulfill it. Every time I go, I make a list of everything, afraid that if I go to the cemetery and forget, I will not be able to buy everything. I did a lot, so I got used to it, including small wine bottles, plastic cups, cotton vases, and cashews to line the sarcophagus. For large amounts, I will report the amount to my family, but I will take care of the small and small amounts.

Many times, I sat sketching on paper, then called a welder, gave me money and told me to buy iron as a price, to put "some men" (the sarcophagus) up rather than on the floor, feeling guilty...

● Thank you sir. Wishing you a lot of health to continue the journey full of love!

NGOC TU (Perform)