In the study on the third floor of house number 8 Nguyen Thuong Hien (Hai Ba Trung district, Hanoi), mementos and images of Comrade Nguyen Trac are carefully preserved by the family. Flipping through each photograph and document about their respected father, Mr. Nguyen Chinh (77 years old) and his family members cannot hide their emotion and pride...
The monument remains in the children's memories.
Comrade Nguyen Trac and his wife, Le Thi Truyen, had four children named in order: Chinh, Liem, Kien, and Dung. These names evoke the virtues and qualities of a steadfast communist that Comrade Nguyen Trac always pursued for the revolutionary ideal.
Mr. Nguyen Chinh said that when naming his two daughters, his father decided to choose names usually reserved for boys: Kien and Dung. This reflected the character, ideology, and responsibility of his parents, and also served as a basis for teaching their children and grandchildren to strive for success.
According to Mr. Nguyen Chinh, his mother was born into a poor family in Phuoc Ninh commune, now Phuoc Ninh ward, Hoa Vang district, Da Nang city. His parents met during their revolutionary activities, developed feelings for each other, and officially got married at the end of 1946.
“My grandparents wove a beautiful love story between two comrades, inseparable. She always stood by his side, sharing his hardships, overcoming fierce difficulties, and accompanying him through almost every path of the long resistance war; from the base in Thua Thien Hue, to the base in Quang Tri, to the revolutionary base in Zone 4, Nghe An - Ha Tinh , to the free zone of Thanh Hoa… Wherever she went, my mother actively engaged in agricultural production, raising children, and participating in women's activities at the grassroots level,” Mr. Chinh said.
Mr. Chinh and his two younger siblings were born in the liberated areas of Nghe An and Thanh Hoa provinces, while his youngest sister, Nguyen Thi Dung, was born in Hanoi after the family followed the liberation army from Viet Bac to the capital. The house at 8 Nguyen Thuong Hien Street has been the family's residence since 1954. Here, Mr. Chinh and his siblings received their education and lived in the loving care and guidance of their parents.
“We will always remember him as a kind, strict, and responsible father. Throughout the years we lived with him, we always felt the love he had for his family. He taught us everything from posture and penmanship to every stroke of our pens. He said: 'You must always study hard; only by studying well can you do good work and become a useful member of society,'” Mr. Chinh recalled.
While her two older brothers had to leave home early to join the army, Mrs. Nguyen Thi Kien and her younger sister, Nguyen Thi Dung, had more time to spend with their parents.
“What I really love about him is that, despite being resolute and strong in his work and revolutionary activities, he was extremely loving towards his children. When we made mistakes, he was strict, but afterwards he encouraged us so that we would learn and strive for improvement. He always taught us about character and civic responsibility to the Fatherland,” shared Mrs. Nguyen Thi Kien.
According to Mr. Nguyen Chinh, with many years of experience in revolutionary legal affairs, Comrade Nguyen Trac was always strict with himself. He often advised his children to live honestly, to keep public and private matters separate, and to never covet money or material possessions that did not belong to them.
"He always clearly distinguished right from wrong, ready to debate for hours to defend what was right and clarify what was wrong; perhaps compromise was rare for him, maybe that's what 'Quang Nam people are argumentative' means. He lived frugally and simply, disliking formality."
During the subsidy period, many metal goods and electrical appliances were distributed periodically; when it was his turn, he would often give way to those who needed them more or were in greater need than himself. He admonished himself and reminded us: "Don't make unreasonable demands on the organization or the collective just because you've contributed a little," Mr. Chinh recounted.
Thanks to their father's care, attention, and exemplary behavior, all four of Mr. Chinh's brothers have progressed and matured, along with their two daughters-in-law and two sons-in-law who are officers serving in the army, police, and state agencies, and are all Party members.
Always remember and be proud of Quang land.
When they were children, Nguyen Thi Kien and her siblings were often taken by their father to attend gatherings organized by the Quang Nam Hometown Association at the Thong Nhat Club.
During the period when the country was divided, Comrade Nguyen Trac was very active in the Quang Nam Hometown Association in Hanoi. At that time, Comrade Tran Dinh Tri was the head of the association, and Comrade Nguyen Trac was the deputy head. The association organized regular gatherings for fellow countrymen in many diverse and practical ways.
Although we were born and raised in famous places like Nghe An, Thanh Hoa, and Hanoi, we were very proud when he told us: "Your father is from Quang Nam, your mother is from Da Nang, you are children of Quang Nam, and you must not forget that your family name is Nguyen, from Ha Thanh - Dien Hoa - Dien Ban..." He instilled in our minds our first feelings of homeland.
Mr. Nguyen Chinh
“Back then, when we went to reunions with fellow countrymen, I would cling to his trousers and hide behind him. In my memory, I recall many rich forms of activities, especially cultural and sports events. Particularly, we got to listen to traditional folk songs like Bài Chòi, Hát Bội, and Tuồng… Thanks to that, the cultural impressions of our ancestral homeland of Quang Nam have been deeply ingrained in my siblings and me ever since,” Mrs. Kien shared.
Furthermore, during some gatherings of people from Quang Nam, Mrs. Kien and her siblings even had the opportunity to meet President Ho Chi Minh. He encouraged the cadres and soldiers to have faith in the victory of the cause of liberating the South and unifying the country; he even led everyone in singing the song "Unity" before they left. In addition, at that time, Mrs. Kien also met and listened to her father speak with cadres and soldiers from the South and from Quang Nam who had come to the North for work, treatment, and recuperation…
Mr. Nguyen Chinh said that his father was a true son of Quang Nam province. Although he lived and worked in many different places, he was always proud of and had special feelings for the land and people where he was born.
Occasionally, in conversations with his wife and children, Comrade Nguyen Trac would mention Quang Nam. He proudly spoke of his hometown, known for its delicious Tra Doa sweet potatoes, the best in the country, and then recounted stories of lush green mulberry fields along the Thu Bon River, and the famous Nam O fish sauce… Comrade Nguyen Trac's affection for his homeland was also evident in his concern and encouragement for his fellow countrymen who had relocated to the North and were engaged in new economic activities.
“I still remember the occasions when I accompanied him to the Đồng Giao, Sao Vàng, and Cửu Long farms… He went to each house, inquiring about the labor and production situation of the people in his hometown. He actively worked to build a close and fraternal relationship between the people and soldiers of Quảng Nam and the heroic Thanh Hóa.”
In 1968, his nephew, a wounded soldier, was sent to the North for treatment. Every time they met, he would inquire about his health and the situation back home. He would ask detailed questions about relatives, who was still alive and who had passed away… He had an extraordinary memory, hardly forgetting anyone.
"After reunification, he took his whole family back to visit his ancestral homeland, to see relatives, to light incense for his ancestors on both sides, the lands and people he always cherished..." - Mr. Nguyen Chinh recounted.
Carefully preserve your father's mementos.
In Comrade Nguyen Trac's former office, Mr. Nguyen Chinh's family has preserved the original layout and carefully safeguarded valuable artifacts and images related to him. The family hopes that the province and Dien Ban town will provide support in building a memorial house for Comrade Nguyen Trac, aiming to establish it as a historical revolutionary site in his hometown. The family is ready to provide documents, artifacts, and cooperate to further clarify his life and career.
Source: https://baoquangnam.vn/mot-nhan-cach-lon-mot-ca-tinh-quang-3143709.html
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