Journalist and martyr Pham Quang Du (second from left, holding a baby) takes a photo with reporters from the Central Central Liberation Army Newspaper (Military Region 5) in 1974 (family photo provided).
His hands trembled as he held the black and white photo capturing the moment when poet To Huu took a souvenir photo with students of the Faculty of Journalism and Publishing, Central Propaganda School (now Academy of Journalism and Propaganda), class 1 (1969-1973). In the photo, Pham Quang Du smiled brightly next to the poet and the students. The more he looked, the more memories of his eldest brother flooded back to Mr. Que's heart.
Mr. Que said: Du was born in 1952, the eldest of five siblings. During his childhood, he was one of the best students in Yen Hoanh village, Dinh Tan commune, Yen Dinh district. In 1966, he studied mechanical engineering at Hanoi University of Science and Technology. Because of his love for literature and passion for writing, in 1969 he tried his hand at the entrance exam to the Faculty of Journalism and Publishing, Central Propaganda School and became a student of the first course of the school of journalism. In February 1972, while still a student, he volunteered to join the army, becoming a reporter for the Central Central Liberation Army Newspaper (Military Region 5), holding the rank of second lieutenant.
The march of young soldier Pham Quang Du and his comrades was recounted by journalist Phi Van Chien in an article 23 years ago: "After the Quang Tri campaign in 1972, ten reporters including Nguyen Duy Quyen, Phi Van Chien, Nguyen Viet Lien, Vu Manh Long, Nguyen Minh Quang, Nguyen Dang Tuan, Nguyen Dinh Tran, Nguyen Khac Thong, Pham Quang Du, Pham Duc Ruc, were ordered to reinforce the Central Central Liberation Army Newspaper (Military Region 5). On February 4, 1974, we left Hanoi"...
During the march to the new editorial office, the author recounted the hardships he had to overcome, such as long distances, steep slopes, having to cut through the forest to get there, and even having to leave his belongings behind to make them lighter. However, Du didn't know where he got the energy from, but he suddenly started reciting poetry to... relieve his fatigue. Du recited: "Every hour, I rested for ten minutes/ During the march on foot this morning/ I suddenly missed you going to class every day"... (excerpt from the poem "One Hour and Ten Minutes" by author Pham Tien Duat - PV). Hearing the poem was so good, many people in the group had girlfriends who were teachers, so they started reciting along... The person in front read a sentence, the person behind read a sentence, and so on all day long. The fatigue seemed to disappear.
Mr. Pham Quang Que and his wife (martyr's younger brother) with the remaining mementos of journalist and martyr Pham Quang Du.
Mr. Que recalled that once, Mr. Du wrote a letter about his feelings, working as a journalist during the war but not being able to go to the battlefield, everyone wanted to go to write but could not go. He wanted to go to the battlefield more than anyone else. He was thirsty for news from the battlefield to the rear. Later, when he received the mission to follow the 3rd Division (Sao Vang), his wish was fulfilled.
Like many young soldiers, soldier Pham Quang Du overcame dangerous marching routes. When he reached the Hoa Binh mountain range, An Lao district, Binh Dinh province, he fell into an American ambush and was murdered at the age of 23.
“The day we received the news of Du’s death, my parents cried day and night. When his grave was not found, the whole family still thought there was a mistake, hoping he was still alive. In 2007, his grave was found on the old battlefield. At that time, the family buried the articles, diary and many other mementos in the grave. Hopefully, in the other world, he can live out his passion for traveling and writing.”
The next morning, Mr. Que and I returned to Yen Hoanh village, the birthplace and place where journalist and martyr Pham Quang Du was born and raised. At his home, there were Mr. Pham Quang Thuc (the martyr’s younger brother), Mrs. Pham Thi Thuoc (the martyr’s younger sister) and many children and grandchildren.
Mr. Thuc said: “Every time he returned to his hometown, he always brought gifts for his younger siblings. Knowing that Mr. Que liked to study natural sciences, he gave him some books on Math, Physics, Chemistry... As for me, who was playful at that time, he sometimes gave me a fishing rod, sometimes a small speaker... The gifts were simple but filled with the love of an older brother. Mr. Du loved writing, so he dropped out of his engineering studies at the University of Science and Technology to fulfill his dream of becoming a journalist.”
Mr. Thuc said that every June 21 - Vietnam Revolutionary Press Day, his family members gather to burn incense for him. They sit together, reminisce about old times, and advise their children and grandchildren to live in harmony and follow Uncle Du's example.
Talking to us, Vice Chairman of Dinh Tan Commune People's Committee Trinh Xuan Anh proudly said: "The locality is always proud to have given birth to a heroic son, a brave and enthusiastic war journalist. The sacrifice of journalist and martyr Pham Quang Du is a testament to the brave spirit and readiness to rush into the front line of war journalists. He is one of more than 500 journalists who fell in the resistance wars, leaving a valuable legacy for Vietnam's revolutionary journalism. Following the example of heroic martyrs, constantly striving to improve, today Dinh Tan commune has achieved the standard of a model new-style rural commune, and the locality is also the unit honored to receive the title of Hero of the People's Armed Forces".
Article and photos: Dinh Giang
Source: https://baothanhhoa.vn/ky-niem-100-nam-ngay-bao-chi-cach-mang-viet-nam-21-6-1925-21-6-2025-nbsp-nha-bao-pham-quang-du-song-mai-voi-thoi-gian-252217.htm
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