Nearly 50 years ago, Mr. Nguyen Van Cu (68 years old) joined the army, participating in the fight against Pol Pot's army in the Cambodian battlefield and the southwestern border. In 1981, he was demobilized and returned to live in Ea Kuang commune (now Ea Phe commune), participating in the commune police force and doing social work in the locality. Difficulties came to the family when he suffered a stroke, causing severe mobility loss. The physical pain had not yet subsided, and the mental burden was added when his daughter-in-law left, leaving two young grandchildren for his grandparents to take care of. With the hardships piling up, the couple had to sell the house they were living in to make ends meet, and then rent a place to stay. Fortunately, a resident of Phuoc Tan 2 village was generous and took them in.
Understanding the difficult situation of his comrades, in early 2025, the Veterans Association of Ea Kuang Commune (formerly) launched a campaign to contribute funds to support Mr. Nguyen Van Cu to have a stable house. Of which, the contribution of veteran members alone was nearly 34 million VND; agencies, units, businesses, and households inside and outside the commune also contributed nearly 44 million VND; a younger brother of Mr. Cu divided a piece of land for his brother to build a new house. Thanks to that cooperation, in March 2025, a new house with an area of 80 m2 was formed, bringing indescribable joy to the whole family.
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| Veterans' association members and officials share the joy of their new home with Mr. Nguyen Van Cu (second from right). |
Disabled soldier Nguyen Vuong Vu (69 years old) was one of the young people who followed the general mobilization order to join the army in 1979 and was assigned to the 26th Information Battalion, 309th Division. During a campaign, he was hit by a mine, leaving his body full of wounds (later he became a 22% disabled soldier), and his health gradually declined over the years. In 1983, he was demobilized and returned to his hometown, but the burden of making a living forced his family to move many times. Currently, he and his wife are staying with relatives in Ea M'Droh commune.
Faced with his family's difficult circumstances, the General Staff of the Vietnam People's Army (VPA) supported the family with 80 million VND to build a house of gratitude with the hope of contributing to bringing a stable and safe life to his family, while helping him live a happy and healthy life and enjoy his old age.
In Pok B village, Quang Phu commune, the story of Mr. Y Wu Hwing (56 years old) moved many people. In his youth, he participated in the FULRO crackdown and joined the local militia. During a mission in the middle of a wild and poisonous forest, Mr. Y Wu Hwing was bitten by an unknown animal, causing both of his legs to become severely necrotic, requiring daily medication. Now, due to old age, declining health, and his wife and children without stable jobs, the whole family has to live in a dilapidated, rickety wooden house built 30 years ago.
Understanding that concern, the General Staff of the Vietnam People's Army promptly supported the family with 80 million VND to build a house. He confided: "Seeing the new house gradually taking shape, my wife and I are very happy and joyful. We look forward to a solid, peaceful home for our old age."
This year, in Dak Lak, the General Staff of the Vietnam People's Army supported 1 billion VND to build 5 Gratitude Houses (for people with meritorious services, relatives of martyrs and war invalids) and 10 houses for poor and near-poor households in the area. Not only stopping at funding, when authorized by the General Staff of the Vietnam People's Army and the Military Region 5 Command, the Provincial Military Command requested agencies and units in the staff force of the Party Committee, local authorities, and socio-political organizations in the area to support additional funding and labor in the process of building houses for beneficiaries. Despite the difficulties, the armed forces units of the province took turns dispatching forces directly to each household to supervise and monitor the progress of the project, and support working days. All aimed at implementing activities fairly, to the right subjects, ensuring resources go to the right place, to the right people, and maximizing efficiency.
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| Officers and soldiers of the provincial armed forces visited and monitored the construction progress of the house for Mr. Y Wu Hwing. |
Mr. Nguyen Van Than, Head of Pok B village, shared that Mr. Y Wu Hwing's family is one of the most difficult households in the village. Therefore, along with the support of the General Staff of the Vietnam People's Army, the Vietnam Fatherland Front Committee of Ea Pok town (old) also provided an additional 40 million VND. In addition to material things, villagers also regularly come to encourage, talk, support funds, advise on materials, support the leveling and digging of foundations, helping the family reduce the financial burden, especially during the period when material prices are high.
Mr. Nguyen Tan Thanh, Chairman of the Ea Phe Commune Veterans Association, also said that after the merger of the three communes of Ea Phe (old), Ea Kuang and Ea Hiu, the new Ea Phe commune currently has 820 veteran members, many of whom are in difficult economic and housing situations. Continuing to join hands to eliminate temporary and dilapidated houses, the Commune Veterans Association will coordinate to survey the conditions, circumstances and aspirations of members and their families; at the same time, mobilize accompanying resources to multiply works and humanitarian works, helping comrades feel more secure and stabilize their lives.
Touching stories about loving homes are still being told every day. They are clear evidence of the strength of the community, of the spirit of “helping each other” and “remembering the source of water” of the nation.
Quynh Anh – Dinh Nga
Source: https://baodaklak.vn/xa-hoi/202507/nghia-tinh-tri-an-c961a86/
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