Carrying heavy gratitude to Quang Binh

Towards the 80th anniversary of the founding of the Vietnam People's Army and the 35th anniversary of National Defense Day

(QBĐT) - Veteran, Colonel Ha Van Sy is from Tung Loc commune, Can Loc district, Ha Tinh . He was a former Truong Son soldier, fought and grew up in the fiery land of Quang Binh. He is an example of integrity and perseverance in doing righteous deeds in life. He often proudly says: "I am the son-in-law of Quang Binh ".

Legendary Truong Son soldier

Ha Van Sy was born into a farming family, a family with a tradition of culture, education, patriotism and revolution. In 1962, at the age of 18, he packed his backpack and joined the army. Those were the years when “the whole country marched to fight the enemy”.

In early 1966, he was assigned to the 90th Automobile Transport Battalion under the General Department of Logistics, codenamed “Green Arrow” with the mission of transporting DKB rocket artillery, Hexogen explosives and 120mm mortar shells to the Southern battlefield. From then on, his military career was associated with the strategic route: the legendary Truong Son- Ho Chi Minh Road.

Ha Van Sy and his unit were responsible for transporting essential goods and weapons for Group 559 - Truong Son Command. He participated in many major campaigns, such as: Mau Than in 1968, Route 9 - Southern Laos in 1971, Spring-Summer in 1972, Spring in 1975.

From a soldier, Ha Van Sy gradually matured and was assigned to command. Since 1971, he has been the Political Commissar and Party Secretary of the Automobile Transport Battalion (D30). The work is complicated, the area of ​​operation is wide and dangerous, especially the challenge between life and death, he shared. To overcome difficulties and complete the mission, Ha Van Sy always knows how to bring closeness, love and sincere care to the soldiers in the unit. Thanks to unity and determination, the battalion's transport efficiency always reaches 90% or more.

Colonel Ha Van Sy (2nd from right) during an audience with General Vo Nguyen Giap.

After the country was unified, Ha Van Sy was sent for training by the Party, State and Army and was assigned many important responsibilities such as leader of the Automobile Transport Regiment, Deputy Director and Secretary of the Party Committee of the Petroleum Department (General Department of Logistics). No matter what position he held, in whatever circumstances and conditions, he always devoted all his energy and intelligence to excellently complete his tasks. He was always respected, loved and trusted by his superiors and officers and soldiers of the unit. He was awarded 3 Military Exploit Medals of various types, many other awards and was elected 3 times as an emulation soldier of the General Department of Logistics.

As a third-class disabled veteran, every time the weather changed, his old wounds would relapse, but he did not allow himself to rest. Trusted by the Party Committee of Phuong Mai Ward (Dong Da, Hanoi), Ha Van Sy joined the Party Committee of the ward, was assigned to be the Head of the Propaganda Department, then became the Chairman of the Ward Veterans Association... The work continued to attract him, until today, even though he is now eighty years old.

The search for the remains of the late General Secretary Ha Huy Tap

This year 2024 marks the 20th anniversary of the discovery of the remains of the late General Secretary Ha Huy Tap. General Secretary Ha Huy Tap was arrested by the French in 1938 in Saigon and three years later, on August 28, 1941, he was executed by the French in Hoc Mon, Gia Dinh. That year, he was just 35 years old.

Colonel Ha Van Sy, a descendant of the Ha Viet Nam family, is proud that this is the most meaningful activity he has participated in. According to Mr. Ha Van Sy, finding the remains of the late General Secretary Ha Huy Tap is not only the wish of the Ha Tinh Provincial Party Committee but also the wish of the descendants of the Ha family. This was raised in 2001, and 4 years later there have been no positive “clues” .

In 2005, when he had retired, Mr. Ha Van Sy happened to meet a friend who had just found the remains of a relative. Hope was rekindled. He and Mr. Ha Huy Loi - another member of the Ha family - started to go to Ho Chi Minh City, to Hoc Mon to follow the traces recorded by history.

“My first task when participating in this great work was to re-read history and find documents. It must be said that it was very vague, although I was very determined,” he confided. While reading documents and researching history, I also sought help from psychics, both in the South and the North. “I traveled a lot, all out of pocket, went to all the cemeteries in Hoc Mon and Cu Chi; to 18 betel gardens. I asked people about the shooting range where Ha Huy Tap and his comrades were executed by the French...”, Mr. Ha Van Sy recounted.

This trip was informed by the people of Xuan Thoi Thuong commune, Hoc Mon district, that there was a man named Chin Gioi - whose grandmother had told him the story of the execution of soldiers from the South. Both men went to Chin Gioi's house and asked him to take them to Ben Tam Ngua (in Xuan Thoi Thuong commune, Hoc Mon district), where General Secretary Ha Huy Tap was buried.

Thanks to the help of local living witnesses, combined with information from some psychics, especially psychics in Quang Tri, the search team "narrowed down" the location to be searched in the outbuilding of a house.

At the end of the first phase of the search, Ha Van Sy reported to Mr. Nguyen Thanh Binh, who was then the Secretary of the Ha Tinh Provincial Party Committee. Also participating were Prof. Dr. Dao Vong Duc, Prof. Dr. Phan Thi Phi Phi from the Institute for Human Potential Research. The Standing Committee of the Ha Tinh Provincial Party Committee reported to the Central Committee on one hand, and on the other hand, assigned Mr. Dinh Viet, the Standing Deputy Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee, to join the Ha family, issuing letters of introduction to work with agencies, departments and branches in Ho Chi Minh City.

“Since determining the location, we have worked directly with the commune and district authorities and persuaded the homeowner to allow excavation. During this time, the search team received a lot of support and assistance from the local authorities and the family whose land was determined to have a high probability of finding the remains of Mr. Ha Huy Tap,” Mr. Ha Van Sy added.

During the time searching for the remains of the late General Secretary Ha Huy Tap, the search team received a lot of affection, attention, support and enthusiastic help from the local government. Everything was ready, just waiting for the day to start the excavation. The Ha family's search team decided to excavate on the anniversary of the Southern Uprising.

At exactly 3:05 a.m. on November 22, 2009, after the ceremony and incense burning, the search team brought in an excavator and began digging within a perimeter of about 144 square meters, which was believed to be the “exact location”. After a whole day of digging, at about 7:00 p.m., when digging to a depth of 2.5 meters, the remains were discovered. At 1:30 a.m. on November 23, 2009, the search for the remains of the late General Secretary Ha Huy Tap ended. Everyone present at the scene burst into tears.

After the ceremonies in Ho Chi Minh City, with the attention of the Party and the State, at 5:00 p.m. on December 1, 2009, the ATR72 aircraft of Vietnam Airlines transported the remains of the late General Secretary Ha Huy Tap from Ho Chi Minh City to his hometown in Cam Xuyen (Ha Tinh), amidst the solemn and respectful welcome of the local people.

Epilogue

Colonel Ha Van Sy lives a simple, honest life, always carrying within him the "hot blood" and enthusiasm of "Uncle Ho's Soldier". For nearly 20 years, although he has retired, he has been working tirelessly for the community. For him, contributing to life is repaying gratitude and kindness.

During his years on the front line in Quang Binh, Ha Van Sy grew up from a soldier to a commander. He said: “I received many medals and awards, but the greatest reward was probably meeting my life partner in Quang Binh”. His wife, Mrs. Nguyen Thanh Van (born Nguyen Thi Van), was originally a village girl in Hien Ninh commune (Quang Ninh) and later became a teacher in Tay Truong Son, in Laos. They got married in November 1973.

“I still haven’t forgotten, in the hall where the wedding was held there was a slogan: Only when you are happy will you forget your duty.” Then he smiled, fragrant as the clouds and mountain breeze.

Ngo Duc Hanh

Source: https://www.baoquangbinh.vn/van-hoa/202411/huong-toi-ky-niem-80-nam-ngay-thanh-lap-qdnd-viet-nam-va-35-nam-ngay-hoi-quoc-phong-toan-dan-mang-nang-an-nghia-quang-binh-2222432/