The reunion of the "steel roses"

This emotional reunion of 120 outstanding former female revolutionary prisoners was not only an opportunity to reunite after many years of separation, but also a journey back to memories - a place that recorded the steadfast, indomitable days in the cruel prisons of the empire.

Chairwoman of the Provincial Women's Union Nguyen Thi Hong Thai, Head of the Provincial Party Committee's Propaganda and Mass Mobilization Commission Dinh Thi Thu Thanh, Deputy Head of the Provincial National Assembly Delegation Le Dao An Xuan; Colonel Nguyen Thanh Nam, Political Commissar of the Provincial Military Command (from left to right) presented flowers and gifts to outstanding former female revolutionary prisoners. Photo: NGOC DUNG

Do not fall before the enemy

During the meeting after half a century of national reunification, former female revolutionary prisoners recounted their days of imprisonment and torture in imperialist prisons, and the entire hall fell silent. Among them, the story of Mrs. Pham Thi My Thanh (Chi Duc quarter, Chi Thanh town, Tuy An district) moved and heartbroken many people.

Orphaned at a young age, her father captured by the enemy, and her younger sister died early, Ms. Thanh grew up amidst hardship and deprivation. At the age of 17, she joined the revolution, then became a female military medic, traveling through the jungle to care for wounded soldiers and transporting medicine along the war-torn routes.

Captured by the enemy in 1972, Ms. Thanh was emaciated and weighed less than 36kg. She was brutally interrogated by the enemy, then taken to Con Dao prison and imprisoned in this place known as “hell on earth” for nearly 2 years.

In a cell of just over 1 square meter, four people had to take turns sitting, unable to stretch their legs, breathing in the thick darkness filled with the smell of mold, hunger, thirst, and sweat mixed with blood. Sometimes her legs were shackled in a dark room for many days. Once, in the middle of the night, the prison guards dragged her out, beat her unconscious, and poured cold water on her to wake her up so they could continue to interrogate her…

Mrs. Thanh is now 72 years old but still exudes a strong, resilient appearance. Sitting among her former comrades, she slowly reminisces, her voice calm but deep, as if the pain of the years and the steadfast patriotism had blended together, silently giving strength to her strong will in life. She said: “At that time, I always told myself that even if I had to die, I would die with my head held high. I was not allowed to fall before the enemy, I had to maintain the integrity of a revolutionary soldier.”

Immortal faith

Three former female revolutionary prisoners Nguyen Thi Sau, Nguyen Thi Kim Tuong, Pham Thi My Thanh (from left to right) shared about their years of struggle in imperialist prisons at the reunion. Photo: NGOC DUNG

Former revolutionary prisoner Nguyen Thi Kim Tuong (Ward 5, Tuy Hoa City) also wrote her life with courage and resilience. Born into a family with a rich revolutionary tradition, Ms. Tuong was imbued with patriotism early on. Once the President of the Women's Union and Deputy Head of the Military Propaganda Committee of An Chan Commune, in the midst of fierce war, she not only led the movement, but also directly rushed to the front lines, mobilizing local women to raise troops, supply food, hide cadres, maintain communication... In particular, as Deputy Head of the Military Propaganda Committee, she was responsible for persuading enemy soldiers to leave their ranks and return to the People - a silent but dangerous front.

Captured by the enemy in 1964 at the age of 17, Ms. Tuong was imprisoned for 6 years in Phu Tai prison (Binh Dinh), then transferred to Can Tho. At that time, the three survival principles of “don’t hear, don’t know, don’t see” became a strong mental shield, helping her and other female revolutionaries maintain their integrity, overcoming all the torture, seduction and brutal interrogation of the enemy. Once, she and other female prisoners organized a hunger strike for a week to protest the brutal repression in the prison camp. For seven days without food or water, they were forced to drink urine or even use water poured from the toilet to hold on to life and continue fighting.

Mrs. Tuong recalled: In the cold walls of Phu Tai prison, despite being isolated and under strict control, she and her comrades still quietly tried to grasp war news from the outside. When they heard the news of Uncle Ho's death, in the middle of prison, the pain of losing him was like a deep cut into their hearts.

But it was that pain that lit up in them the fire of belief that they must live, that they must continue to move forward to be worthy of Him. “Between the boundary between life and death, what kept my comrades and I from collapsing was the undying belief: The revolution will definitely succeed, the Fatherland will be independent, and the people will live in peace!”, Mrs. Tuong choked.

Bridge of love

Without showing off or making a fuss, Ms. Nguyen Thi Sau (Hoa Hiep Nam ward, Dong Hoa town) - a former female revolutionary prisoner - still lives quietly and contributes as is natural for those who put the Fatherland above their own lives.

At that time, she had only been married for a month when she was captured by the enemy and exiled to Con Dao. Her husband, a secret agent, was also imprisoned by the enemy in this prison. Twice falling into the enemy's hands, Mrs. Sau had to endure the most brutal tortures. But between the line of life and death, she still kept her integrity as a communist soldier, firmly overcoming it with her will and unwavering belief in the revolutionary path.

The stories of Mrs. Thanh, Mrs. Sau, and Mrs. Tuong are just a few small slices of the countless silent yet resilient lives of women who have gone through the fires of war. In the land of yellow flowers and green grass today, many former female revolutionary prisoners who went through life and death, and were tortured in prison, still quietly live in ordinary life, silently spreading the indomitable spirit and deep affection of a time of war. They are sacred pieces of history in the endless epic of the nation. They have written golden pages of history with their own blood, tears, and loyalty throughout their lives.

After the liberation and reunification of the country, she returned to her family and embarked on the journey to build her homeland. She participated in the work of the Women's Union, then successively took on the roles of Vice Chairwoman of the People's Committee and Chief of the Hoa Hiep Nam Commune Police. In every step of her homeland in the post-war period, there was always the figure of that former female prisoner, along with the local government, maintaining security and order, mobilizing people to develop the economy, and building a new life.

The war has been over for half a century, but there are things that remain intact, such as the sacred camaraderie. After retirement, Mrs. Sau did not choose a life of ease. She continued to contribute to the Liaison Committee of the local Patriotic Political Prisoners Association, diligently campaigning to establish the Comradeship Fund. From those sharing hearts, many comrades in difficulty were promptly supported, helped, and shared in times of illness and misfortune...

Mothers and teachers have put aside their youth and entered the life-and-death battle with the spirit of "Determined to die for the Fatherland". That struggle was both arduous and glorious, a living proof of the truth "Nothing is more precious than independence and freedom". We look back to the past to live more responsibly towards our families and society, to contribute to repaying the great contributions of mothers and teachers and join hands to build our homeland and country to become more and more powerful.  

Comrade   Dinh Thi Thu Thanh, Member of the Standing Committee, Head of the Provincial Party Committee's Propaganda and Mass Mobilization Department

During the meaningful meeting, Ms. Nguyen Thi Hong Thai, President of the Provincial Women's Union, emotionally shared: "Phu Yen has more than 1,500 female former revolutionary prisoners who were imprisoned by the enemy in notorious prisons such as Con Dao, Phu Tai, Chi Hoa... When these mothers and sisters left at a young age, they returned with injuries and losses that could not be compensated.

But above all, the mothers and aunts are still loyal to the Party and the Fatherland, keeping the spirit of revolutionary soldiers. The Provincial Women's Union always remembers that gratitude through practical activities such as building houses of gratitude, giving savings books, supporting heroic Vietnamese mothers, and taking care of the lives of families with meritorious services...

 

Source: https://baophuyen.vn/xa-hoi/202504/cuoc-hoi-ngo-cua-nhung-bong-hong-thep-3c51006/