Inside the small, simple house, the "Recognition of Service to the Fatherland" certificates are carefully placed in the most prominent spot by the mother. On the altar, where incense smoke rises, photographs, faded by time, still capture the youthful eyes of those sons who sacrificed their lives for national independence.

Mother Dinh Thi Em was born in 1922 into a farming family in Nghe An province. At the age of 18, she got married and gave birth to five children (three sons and two daughters). Her life was filled with hardship and toil raising her children during a time when the country was still at war.

When her husband left to join the resistance against French colonialism, all the family burdens fell on her frail shoulders. She single-handedly cared for her children and participated in production. Besides working in the fields from early morning, she also took the time to cut sedge grass to weave hammocks, which she then sold at the market.

Recalling those years, my mother's voice was slow but full of emotion: "There were days when we didn't have a single grain of rice left, and I had to stay up all night weaving hammocks to be ready for the early morning market. I just hoped to sell them for a few pennies to make ends meet and provide for my children."

Currently, Mrs. Dinh Thi Em lives with her third son, Mr. Nguyen Duy Tung.

My children are all well-behaved, hardworking, and quick to help me with housework and support their younger siblings. At this point, my mother's voice choked with emotion as she spoke of Nguyen Duy Nam – her eldest son. In her memory, Nam was a very affectionate person, always considerate and loving towards his younger siblings.

When he left for military service, his family was still facing many difficulties. His mother hadn't even had a chance to prepare a proper meal for him before he left. Yet, putting aside his youth and personal dreams, he volunteered to pack his bags and go. He enlisted in 1969 in the 968th Division, fighting in Lower Laos. What troubled him most wasn't the hardships of the battlefield, but his worry for his mother raising his younger siblings alone.

In 1972, my mother received news that my brother had bravely sacrificed his life. Her heart ached terribly; she could only bear the loss inside, struggling to continue raising her children.

Portrait of martyr Nguyen Duy Viet.

In 1975, following the general mobilization order, Nguyen Duy Viet, my mother's second son, enlisted in the 341st Division, 4th Corps. He and his comrades participated in the liberation of South Vietnam and the reunification of the country. Afterward, he served on the front lines, defending the northern border in the 166th Brigade, 1st Corps, at the Lang Son front. Every time she recalls the day she saw Viet off, my mother becomes choked with emotion. It was the morning of the second day of Tet (Lunar New Year), when he received his conscription notice. She packed him some steamed rice cakes and some rice balls. She cried a lot that day; she could only watch him from afar, suppressing her worries. In the early days of his military service, he frequently wrote letters home. Through each letter, she knew he was well. But then, due to unit transfers, the letters became less frequent and eventually stopped altogether.

My mother will never forget the last letter he sent home. In it, he asked, "Have we found Nam's grave yet?" No one expected those to be his last words to his family. Shortly after, my mother received the death notice. Nguyen Duy Viet died on February 17, 1979. Twice she sent her son to war, twice she received news of his death; the pain was like a knife cutting deep into her heart. But she understood better than anyone that to achieve independence and freedom, one had to pay with so much blood, bones, and loss. Therefore, she chose to bear the loss herself.

During the fierce years of the war against the Americans, my mother's small house often became a resting place for marching troops. Despite the hardships of life at that time, with family meals consisting only of potatoes and cassava, my mother still tried her best to share with the soldiers.

In recognition of her years of service in combat, my mother was awarded the Third Class Resistance Medal. On July 23, 2014, she was awarded the title of Heroic Vietnamese Mother by the President of Vietnam .

Currently, my mother lives with her third son, Nguyen Duy Tung. After many years of searching, the family found the grave of Nguyen Duy Viet, but Nguyen Duy Nam's remains have yet to be found. This has been a source of worry and anguish for my mother for many years. Now, due to old age and declining health, she is no longer as agile as she once was, but her exemplary character and unwavering, compassionate heart will always be a shining example for her children and grandchildren to learn from and emulate.

    Source: https://www.qdnd.vn/ba-me-viet-nam-anh-hung/me-chon-hy-sinh-ve-cho-rieng-minh-1040287