The Song of 19 Years Old

Painter Ngo Thanh Nhan confided: “When Mr. Ngo Huy Hoang died, I was only 8 years old. I still remember my family received the news from architect Hoang Linh (former Deputy Director of the Barracks Department, General Department of Logistics, Vietnam People's Army), who was a long-time friend of my father. That day, Mr. Hoang Linh had just returned to Hanoi from the Navy unit in Nghe An and stopped by my house to deliver the bad news.”

Ngo Huy Hoang on the day he joined the army.

I met artist Ngo Thanh Nhan on a rainy afternoon in Da Lat. It was a chance meeting but very interesting, because I just learned that he is the youngest son of architect Ngo Huy Quynh - the person who designed the Independence Stage in Ba Dinh Square. It was from that stage that on September 2, 1945, President Ho Chi Minh read the "Declaration of Independence", giving birth to the Democratic Republic of Vietnam. It was even more interesting when I discovered that artist Ngo Thanh Nhan and I were from the same hometown, Duong Hao ward, Hung Yen province.

The story of our fellow countrymen quickly turned to family matters. Painter Ngo Thanh Nhan shared: “My parents gave birth to five children (four boys, one girl). My brothers and sisters all followed their father’s architectural career. If my eldest brother - Navy soldier Ngo Huy Hoang - had not died at the age of 19, he would have become an architect.” Painter Ngo Thanh Nhan’s story told me that Navy soldier Ngo Huy Hoang was a martyr who died in the opening battle of the Northern army and people’s fight against the war of destruction in the North by the US imperialists’ air force and navy on August 5, 1964.

Artist Ngo Thanh Nhan continued: “At that time, my family had not yet received the death notice, so the news from Mr. Hoang Linh was a real shock. When my mother heard the news, she cried, and I have never forgotten that cry. The atmosphere in the house at 94 Van Ho 3 was heavy. My father tried to hold back his tears and hugged me - because I was the youngest. My brothers and sisters saw that and also rushed over to hug my father.”

According to artist Ngo Thanh Nhan, in July 1963, while studying in class 9G at Hanoi High School 3B (now Viet Duc High School), Ngo Huy Hoang put aside his dream of becoming a good architect and volunteered to join the army. At that time, Ngo Thanh Nhan was only seven years old but still clearly remembers the day he sent his brother off: the heavy army backpack, on top of which was a single mat rolled up. Artist Ngo Thanh Nhan smiled and recalled: “My brother Hoang’s feet were like no other. So big and long that the army-issued shoes were size 42. I have never seen anyone with such big feet.”

From a fair-skinned, scholarly Hanoi student, Ngo Huy Hoang became a Navy soldier. In the sixties of the last century, the Vietnam People's Navy was still very young, and the ships were still rudimentary. Because he was a high school student - very rare at that time - Hoang was sent to a ship piloting class. After nearly a year of training new recruits and studying his profession, Private First Class Ngo Huy Hoang graduated and was assigned to be the co-pilot of the X warship under the Navy Command.

Cover of the comic book about Ngo Huy Hoang.

While telling the story, artist Ngo Thanh Nhan gave me the comic book “Ngo Huy Hoang” published by the Culture - Information Publishing House in 2013 and said: “This comic book was first published in 1964, this is a reprint”. I held the small comic book in my hand, suddenly remembering that in 1965 I had also read it with the book “Chasing Madoc Ships”. At that time, we kids watched it with great interest, everyone dreamed of one day becoming a navy soldier, wearing a hat with the words “Vietnam Navy” and two green ribbons fluttering in the wind.

Nearly half a century later, the reprinted collection of stories evokes in me many emotions. The drawings by artist Huy Toan and the words by writer Phung Thai recreate the fighting life of martyr Ngo Huy Hoang:

“One day in early June 1964, Private Ngo Huy Hoang, who had just graduated from the Maritime School, was assigned to a new unit. The X warship had a new young pilot.”

“How tall this new soldier is! His face is youthful. His skin is tanned, Hoang is as strong as a veteran sailor. Who would have guessed that a few months ago, Hoang was still a student in Hanoi?”

“The first time he went on a mission, Hoang was very excited. He held the wheel firmly, his eyes fixed ahead. The sea surface was calm, with a few mountains appearing and disappearing in the mist.”

“On August 1, 1964, the Fleet received a telegram from a friendly unit reporting that an American destroyer had secretly entered our territorial waters between Hon Mat and Hon Me islands, provoking and threatening fishing boats.”

“On the afternoon of August 2, 1964, the patrol team encountered the destroyer Madoc between Hon Me and Lach Truong estuary. Before our ship could send a signal of resistance, the enemy ship opened fire.”

“The captain ordered the ship to overcome the enemy's long-range fire”...

I stopped reading, and before my eyes appeared the image of small Vietnamese Navy ships overcoming the huge waves and moving out to sea. On that ship, there was a Hanoian pilot trying his best to fight the waves and steer the ship towards the enemy ship. Before my eyes was the vast ocean, the vast blue sky. Wave after wave crashed against the side of the ship. And the young Navy soldiers were straining their eyes to look out to sea.

The People's Army Newspaper, issued on November 26, 1964, reported that Hanoi High School 3B launched a campaign to learn from the heroic sacrifice of Ngo Huy Hoang.

Artist Ngo Thanh Nhan suddenly interrupted my train of thought. He said: “Far from Hanoi and his family, I miss my brother Hoang very much. He once wrote a letter dated July 10, 1964, to his home. I never expected that to be the last letter my brother sent to his parents before he died.”

I turned away to hide the tears that were about to fall. In the letter, Ngo Huy Hoang wrote: “Today I am preparing to go on a business trip at sea, it has been a long time since I last returned. Overall, I am very excited to receive the news that I am preparing to go on this business trip.”

Just over a page of letter, but it exuded an upbeat spirit and readiness to take on challenges. In particular, Hoang also said that his unit had practiced combat alert. Perhaps, he had a premonition of the fierce battle that was approaching?

I trembled as I continued to turn the pages of the comic book. The real battle broke out on the morning of August 5, 1964. At that time, Ngo Huy Hoang's ship was anchored at the military port of Lach Truong, Thanh Hoa . He was wounded twice. And...

“The enemy plane had fled. His teammates quickly bandaged him and took him to the shore on a boat for emergency treatment. Hoang was still breathing, and his teammates rowed the boat as if gliding towards shore.”

“But as soon as they reached the mainland, Hoang was only breathing his last breaths. His friends had time to report that the ship was safely protected, and that the two American planes had paid for their crimes.”

Navy soldier Ngo Huy Hoang died when he was only 19 years old. After his death, Hanoi High School 3B launched a movement to "Learn from the brave fighting example of Navy soldier Ngo Huy Hoang to protect the Fatherland". Painter Ngo Thanh Nhan said: "Currently, the tradition room of Viet Duc High School still preserves photos, memorabilia and combat achievements of my brother, martyr Ngo Huy Hoang".

Source: https://hanoimoi.vn/khuc-trang-ca-tuoi-19-716176.html