Forever remembering journalist Pham Dinh Trong

Journalist Pham Dinh Trong (left) and author

A few days ago, hearing that he was “very weak”, we rushed to his house to visit him. At 85 years old, he was like a candle in the wind. When he was unconscious and did not speak, when he regained consciousness, he recognized us - his students and junior colleagues - and called each of us by name, like an echo from the depths of his subconscious: “He (…) lived a very good life! In life, talent is a gift from God; to live honestly and kindly, one must cultivate and practice. You must live truthfully with yourself and with everyone else…”.

That advice, now hearing it again, still feels warm, like a fire giving us faith and determination.

More than 40 years ago, during the war to protect the southwestern border and help Cambodia escape genocide, he led a group of reporters from the People's Army Newspaper to work in Military Region 7. At work, he was serious and intelligent. When "drinking tea and wine", he was like a disciplined Confucian scholar, reciting profound ancient poems, exuding the "dignity" of a scholar.

Before becoming a journalist, Pham Dinh Trong was a teacher. After graduating from Vinh Pedagogical University, he joined the army, became a head teacher and directly taught culture to soldiers and cadets. Generations of students at the Nguyen Van Troi Military Academy under the General Department of Politics still remember the image of "teacher Trong". When I returned to the People's Army Newspaper, I had the opportunity to witness that sentiment: many of his students held high positions and great responsibilities, but when meeting their teacher, they still maintained the same respect and courtesy as before.

For me, nearly 15 years working with him at the Southern Representative Office is a time when I always silently thank life for letting me meet a teacher, a brother, and a friend of my late years.

Journalist Pham Dinh Trong is a teacher not only in his writing, especially his "footnote" articles imbued with humanity, discovery and suggestion, but also in his personality as a writer: honest, not tempted, not retreating in the face of threats...

He was a man who dared to do and take responsibility. At the end of the 20th century, with the support of the Editor-in-Chief of the People's Army Newspaper, he advocated "opening up" the Southern Representative Board. In terms of expertise, he proposed that the Editorial Board print a Southern supplement; proactively organize series of articles appropriate to the locality and reality.

He connected the leaders of the provinces and cities, the Commands of the Military Regions and Corps in the South to open representative offices and permanent offices of the People's Army Newspaper in Can Tho , Da Lat, Buon Ma Thuot; sometimes "reaching out" to Da Nang... As deputy head of the department, he assigned me many tasks. When things were going well, he happily encouraged me; when things were difficult, he always trusted me.

Journalist Pham Dinh Trong also has the qualities of a culturalist and the soul of an artist. Reading his articles, we can feel the layers of his profoundness. He is one of the people who contributed to spreading national culture, especially Quan Ho and Cheo in the southern regions...

Our teacher, our respected commander, our brother, our close friend has breathed his last and returned to our ancestors. He has gone far away but will forever be with us the image of Uncle Ho's soldier, who lived his whole life for his country, his homeland and his comrades.

TRAN THE TUYEN, Colonel, former Head of the Southern Representative Office of the People's Army Newspaper

Source: https://www.sggp.org.vn/mai-nho-nha-bao-pham-dinh-trong-post808622.html