The pain remains.

“Dad, I’m home from school!” The bright voice of the 7-year-old girl, her face still beaming with joy after a lively school day, dispelled the somber atmosphere. Little Le Hai Thanh Tam, daughter of Lieutenant Le Hai Duc, a fallen soldier from Dong Thuan ward, greeted the picture of her father hanging prominently on the high wall with folded hands, a habit she had formed long ago. Welcoming her granddaughter home from school, Mrs. Phan Thi Hanh’s eyes welled up with tears. For fallen soldiers of peacetime, the memories of them will never fade for those who remain, especially for the mothers who bore them.

For his family, the martyr Le Hai Duc still seems to be present somewhere nearby - Photo: MN

The story takes us back to the days when young Le Hai Duc (born in 1989) was a math-specialized student at Quang Binh High School for the Gifted (now Vo Nguyen Giap High School for the Gifted), a time of enthusiasm, dedication, and active participation in group activities. Since his sacrifice, his former homeroom teacher has regularly offered encouragement and visited his family, mourning the loss of his young student.

Phan Thi Hanh's mother (born in 1965) still vividly remembers her son's tall, strong physique and his caring nature towards those around him. He never hesitated to help others, always taking the short end of the stick, never causing his parents any trouble. During his student years and even when working far from home, whenever he had the chance to return, he enthusiastically participated in local volleyball tournaments.

Recalling his memories, his mother said that in everything he did, he always thought things through, considered all options, and made final decisions after consulting with his family, especially his father – who was always close to him and followed his path to adulthood. Mr. Le Hai Dong (born in 1959), the father of martyr Le Hai Duc, shared that after graduating from university and answering the call of young intellectuals to volunteer, Duc went to work at the 337th Economic and National Defense Brigade, stationed in Huong Phung commune, Huong Hoa district, Quang Tri province (formerly).

Despite the hardships and difficulties, he persevered and completed his assigned tasks. Afterward, he continued his military career as if by fate. Those were years away from home; the number of days he spent with his family, visiting his mother, and even after starting his own family, could be counted on the fingers of one hand.

Hanh's mother recounted that some visits home were only a matter of hours, because he would return and immediately leave for his assignments. Some phone calls home were fleeting, lasting only a few minutes, just enough time to ask about the health of his parents, wife, and children before having to put them aside for his assigned duties.

Before he perished in the landslide on October 18, 2020, which buried the barracks of the 337th Economic and National Defense Brigade, he only had time to call home to warn his family to be careful in the heavy rain and rising water, and to say a few words to his daughter before having to hang up and return to his duty.

The mother of martyr Pham Van Thai always remembers her son with deep sorrow - Photo: MN

Hanh's mother is also the daughter of a fallen soldier; her father died when she was not yet 3 years old. Now, with her son Le Hai Duc's sacrifice and his resting place in his beloved homeland of Quang Tri , his daughter is also fatherless, not yet 3 years old. The pain piles upon pain for her. For five years since her son's passing, his photograph has been proudly displayed on the living room wall.

Every day, the whole family still feels his presence, as if he's right there nearby. His daughter grew up, experiencing a childhood without her father's love and care, but still talks to him daily through photos, and sees his image through the stories of her grandparents, aunt, and mother.

Everyone tried to compensate for the immense loss of love the child had suffered. Since the day he sacrificed his life, the family meals have never been without a bowl of rice and a pair of chopsticks, because in the memories of those left behind, he is always present and gives the family strength to overcome the loss and grief.

Also buried in his homeland of Quang Tri during the historic floods of October 2020 was a young man in his twenties from Hai Thanh ward, Dong Hoi city (formerly), now Dong Hoi ward - Sergeant Pham Van Thai, a fallen soldier.

In the small house by the Nhật Lệ River, recently renovated with the contributions and support of the Provincial Military Command and related units and organizations, Mrs. Nguyễn Thị Mỹ Bình (born in 1972) quickly wiped away tears as she spoke about her young son, born in 1999.

Coming from a poor family with frail parents, Pham Van Thai dropped out of school early to work and help support the family. His mother recounted that he started his "business" raising chickens at home, but the income was meager. He then diligently took on various jobs, from arduous welding to joining lion dance troupes during the Mid-Autumn Festival or other events. He gave all his earnings to his parents and his chronically ill eldest sister, keeping only a small amount for himself.

In 2019, answering the sacred call of the Fatherland, he put aside his unfinished dream of working abroad to support his family and enlisted in the army. Stationed far from home at the 337th Economic and National Defense Brigade, he took advantage of his leave days to return home to his family.

My mother recounted that he wouldn't let her cook, instead personally preparing every dish for his parents and sister. In phone calls from afar, he always reminded his parents: "Work less, I'll do everything when I get home. You two are in poor health and need to rest." His wish never came true; just a few months before his discharge from the army and his return home for Tet (Lunar New Year), he sacrificed his life on that fateful day, October 18, 2020.

Just a few hours earlier, he had managed to call his mother, but the corrugated iron roof of their house, bent under the heavy rain, prevented her from clearly hearing her son's voice. Now he was gone forever at the prime of his life. His mother wept, saying, "It seems he didn't even get a girlfriend!"

After their sacrifice, grief was shared by local Party committees, authorities, the military, agencies, units, organizations, and compatriots and comrades from all over the country. Besides regularly visiting and encouraging them, the Military Command of Quang Binh and Quang Tri (formerly) provinces decided to recruit relatives of martyrs who died in peacetime. The Military Command of Quang Binh (formerly) province coordinated support for repairing the house of martyr Pham Van Thai's family... This timely care, encouragement, and sharing helped the families alleviate their pain and strengthen their faith in the absence of their loved ones.

In Gio Linh commune, the 82-year-old mother of Lieutenant Colonel and martyr Bui Phi Cong, Deputy Head of Logistics of Military Region 4, still deeply misses her son. Mother Dinh Thi Hong Thuan emotionally shared that the family had many children and faced economic difficulties, and Cong was the hardest-working son. He was kind and an excellent student.

My mother still remembers the year he passed the university entrance exams for two schools, but she gently advised him to pursue military training because our family was poor and she feared we wouldn't have enough money to support his education. And so, this son of Gio Linh diligently worked hard and achieved success, bringing pride to his mother and family. Due to his work, he rarely had time to visit home, only managing to stop by during his leave. Those phone calls helped ease his mother's longing for him.

Upon receiving the news that her son and his comrades had perished while on a search and rescue mission to mitigate the consequences of a natural disaster at the Rao Trang 3 Hydropower Plant on October 13, 2020, his mother still couldn't believe it was true. She had always hoped that he was working far from home and would occasionally visit her as he used to. She lost her father when she was seven years old, and his children have also been without a father figure throughout their lives...

The passing of martyrs in peacetime leaves behind immense grief and loss for those who remain. For mothers, their sons are still as if they are working far from home, always present with their loved ones and families, accompanying the steps of their homeland and country. Because these men are not only their sons, but sons of the entire Vietnamese nation.

Mai Nhan

Source: https://baoquangtri.vn/nhung-noi-dau-o-lai-196337.htm