Duc Pho always remembers Dang Thuy Tram

Thuy's second hometown

“My life is marching nights, days crossing forests and streams, to live and treat the people here. I love this land, I love these poor but brave people as much as I love my hometown Hanoi ,” Thuy wrote about Duc Pho in her diary (Dang Thuy Tram’s Diary).

Located right on National Highway 1, about 50 km southeast of Quang Ngai city, near the sea, Dang Thuy Tram Infirmary was built in Pho Cuong commune, Duc Pho town. Not only is it a place to provide primary health care for the people, a place to preserve memories of Ms. Thuy, but it is also a place where future generations can better understand the patriotism, sacrifice and love of the young female doctor when visiting. With two two-story areas connected to each other, going from the outside to the inside of the infirmary, the right building is the medical examination and treatment area, the left is the memorial house displaying the relics of martyr, doctor Dang Thuy Tram. In front of the memorial house is a stone statue, carved in the shape of Ms. Thuy wearing a hat and carrying a first aid bag on her shoulder.

Duc Pho, a coastal land of Quang Ngai, bears indelible marks of history; soldiers and doctors like martyr Dang Thuy Tram fell here, leaving behind an example of patriotism and selfless sacrifice for the Fatherland.

At the end of March, Ms. Thuy's three younger sisters: Phuong Tram, Hien Tram, Kim Tram and Ms. Hien Tram's husband returned to Duc Pho to celebrate the 50th anniversary of Duc Pho Liberation Day (March 23, 1975 - March 23, 2025) and the 5th anniversary of the town's founding. Although it had been several years since they had returned, many people here still recognized them as Ms. Thuy's family and relatives. It was only natural, because even though the years had passed, the name Dang Thuy Tram had become a part of the memory, attached like a part of the flesh and blood of this land. It was a very dear return, because this was the place that forever preserved the beautiful 28th year of the older sister in the family; the land where martyr and doctor Dang Thuy Tram lived, fought and sacrificed.

Exactly 55 years ago, on this land, in a night of bombs and bullets, Duc Pho Infirmary was attacked by the American army. The young female doctor fell, taking with her unfinished dreams and boundless love for her comrades and the people. It was not until 2005, thanks to Fredric Whitehurst - an American soldier from the past, who handed over her diary, that the story of Ms. Thuy was known, touching the hearts of many peace lovers around the world .

Three sisters next to the statue of martyr, doctor Dang Thuy Tram.

Ms. Dang Kim Tram, the youngest sister of Dr. Thuy, was filled with emotion every time she returned to Duc Pho. “Sister Thuy lies here, as if she were a part of this land. Wherever we, her relatives, go, people welcome us like family. That is a precious sentiment that we always cherish and are grateful for.”

Ms. Dang Phuong Tram, the second sister who often receives letters from Ms. Thuy, confided: The most profound memory is the first time their mother, Ms. Doan Ngoc Tram, returned here with Mr. Whitehurst, who kept and returned Ms. Thuy's diary. "Back then, my mother was old but still decided to climb to the place where she sacrificed, going through steep slopes and rough mountain roads. My mother said: I have to go to the place where my child fell, so that my heart can be at peace." Ms. Dang Hien Tram, the third sister in Ms. Thuy's family, thoughtfully shared that the first time the family of dozens of people came to Duc Pho, everyone was enthusiastic, climbing mountains, crossing fields, walking quickly. But now, there are only four people left, the youngest of whom is already 70.

Live forever in the hearts of the people

“When the war ends, we will not only have peace, but we will also have the right to love each other. Love this country, love what we have devoted. A love that is not just words, but actions, sacrifices, drops of sweat and blood shed for noble ideals.”

(Excerpt from Dang Thuy Tram's Diary)

At the October 8th Square, Thuy's relatives were all present at the ceremony to celebrate the 50th anniversary of Duc Pho Liberation Day. The special art program with the theme "Duc Pho - The heroic epic forever resounds" was truly magnificent. Nearly 2,000 people attended, the stage was beautiful and modern, recreating the hardships of Duc Pho in the fire of war and its strong development after the liberation day. And the sisters of Dr. Dang Thuy Tram were all moved and emotional when the speeches mentioned Ms. Thuy's name, to see that, over the past 55 years, she still lives forever in the hearts of the people here, just like the way she dedicated to Duc Pho and the country in each chapter of her diary: "When the war ends, we will not only have peace, but we will also have the right to love each other. Love this country, love what we have contributed. A love that is not just words, but actions, sacrifices, drops of sweat and blood shed for noble ideals." (Excerpt from Dang Thuy Tram's Diary).

The diary pages and stories of martyr Dang Thuy Tram not only tell the feelings of a battlefield doctor but also a great lesson about humanity, resilience, the meaning of life and love for her fellow countrymen. As the years passed, Thuy's younger sisters returned to Duc Pho, still telling small stories about their sister who was always the pride of the whole family. And it was that return, that loving presence that revived in the hearts of the people of Duc Pho the image of a very close Dang Thuy Tram, not only a martyr, a doctor, a communist soldier but also a daughter, a sister, a friend, still present in everyday life, through each page of the diary, through the memories and through the feelings of those who remained.

“A trip back to a land full of memories, holding hands with those who were close to Ms. Thuy and feeling the affection of today's young generation for her made us truly moved. Ms. Thuy seems to have never left this place. She is still here, in the hearts of the people of Duc Pho and in our hearts...”, Ms. Hien Tram emotionally shared.

Sitting next to Mrs. Hien Tram, Mrs. Kim Tram, the youngest of the four sisters, said: “My family life during the years 1956-1965 was very peaceful. On Sunday mornings, Sister Thuy would bring home a bouquet of flowers to put in a jade green vase with folds like lotus leaves, usually white gladiolus or purple bird's foot flowers, if it was summer, lotus. How could we have money to buy flowers, we were so poor back then? Mother sat chopping water spinach with her younger brother Quang (the youngest son - who passed away while doing research abroad - PV) sitting in a rattan cart. Father (Doctor Dang Ngoc Khue) and Sister Thuy and Sister Phuong were busy at the table drawing very large colored gouache paintings to illustrate Dad's anatomy lectures. The record player on top of the commot played the music Danube Bleu or the voices of Dalida or Yma Sumac…”.

Then the US attacked and destroyed the North. In mid-1965, Dr. Ngoc Khue was assigned to reinforce Dong Anh Hospital (Hanoi) as Deputy Director, in charge of the surgical department. At that time, Ms. Thuy was in her final year of medical school, volunteered to go to B and was transferred to a special training class to prepare for work on the battlefield. During her three-month surgical internship, she asked to work at Dong Anh Hospital to be mentored by her father - Ms. Hien Tram recalled.

In her diary, Dr. Dang Thuy Tram talks a lot about her nostalgia for Hanoi and her romantic memories of Hanoi. In addition, Ms. Thuy's gentle Hanoi accent makes many people assume that she is from Hanoi. In fact, her father is from Hue, and her mother is from Quang Nam. Ms. Thuy was born in Hue and moved to Hanoi with her family in 1956. It is worth mentioning that in the romanticism of her father - Dr. Ngoc Khue and the adaptability to all circumstances of her mother - Ms. Ngoc Tram, her four daughters all inherited all the talents and abilities of their parents. All four daughters know how to embroider, draw, cook very well, and love Russian and French literary works such as War and Peace, Anna Katerina, Quiet Flows the Don, Eugenie Grandet... And every night, they keep the habit of reading books before going to bed.

The family tradition has always been preserved and promoted by Dr. Dang Thuy Tram's younger sisters. Therefore, when Ms. Hien Tram revealed that they still saw white bouquets of flowers that many young people placed on Ms. Thuy's grave at Xuan Phuong Martyrs' Cemetery (Hanoi), we understood that the soul, passionate heart and love of Dr. Dang Thuy Tram will remain forever like the verses in her diary: "Who knows that even if we die/ For tomorrow, for a free country/ Then in us will still be full of dreams/ And full of loyal love...".

Sister Thuy's younger sisters have aged with time, along with the daily and hourly changes of the country and of Duc Pho land. The only thing that remains unchanged over the years is the affection of the people of Duc Pho, and more broadly, of the Vietnamese people, for martyr, doctor Dang Thuy Tram. The image of the heroic martyrs who sacrificed their blood and bones, fought with all their might for independence, freedom, peace and happiness of the country and people will forever be engraved in the hearts of every Vietnamese person... And in the gentle incense smoke lingering at Dang Thuy Tram Infirmary, we seem to see Sister Thuy still here, in the peaceful land of Duc Pho.

Source: https://nhandan.vn/duc-pho-mai-nho-dang-thuy-tram-post871037.html