Veteran Pham Ngoc Chau: Because I am Uncle Ho's soldier!

COMMEMORATING THE 76TH ANNIVERSARY OF WAR INVALIDS AND MARTYRS' DAY (July 27, 1947 - July 27, 2023)

In 2015, veteran Pham Ngoc Chau volunteered to be a “liaison” in the journey to move the remains of martyrs who died on the Cambodian battlefield from the martyrs’ cemetery in neighboring provinces to cemeteries in Binh Dinh province. For nearly 10 years, despite many difficulties and pressures, Mr. Chau has devoted all his heart to this “carrying the prison and the whole country” job.

“If it weren't for Uncle Chau...”

The words choked up, at the same time tears fell down the face of Nguyen Thi Kieu Linh (daughter of martyr Nguyen Van Bon, from Tuy Phuoc town, Tuy Phuoc district). Having never seen her father's face, when she heard that he had sacrificed himself, and then her mother remarried, she always longed to bring her father back to live near her. Holding tightly the coffin containing his remains, she whispered: "If it weren't for the kind-hearted war veterans like Uncle Chau, this wish would never come true in this lifetime."

On July 15, the remains of martyr Bon and four other martyrs were brought back for burial at the Martyrs Cemetery of Nhon Ly Commune (Quy Nhon City), Phuoc Nghia and Phuoc Hung Communes and Tuy Phuoc Town.

● Do you remember how many martyrs' remains you helped bring back to Binh Dinh?

- I can't remember. I only remember that when I retired in 2013, I learned that my brothers and comrades from the provinces supported families and relatives to bring the remains of martyrs back to their hometowns, so I immediately started working. The most was in the period of 2015 - 2018; at that time, there were two trips a year, on the occasion of the War Invalids and Martyrs Day on July 27 and the anniversary of the founding of the Vietnam People's Army on December 22, moving more than 10 martyrs' remains back to their hometowns. Now it's gradually decreasing, one trip a year with about 5 - 7 martyrs' remains.

● In the journey to bring martyrs' remains from the cemetery of your province to Binh Dinh, what stages did you participate in, sir?

- According to the assignment of the brothers in the Soldiers' Affection Association (under the Cambodian Battlefield Comrades Liaison Committee), I am mainly responsible for helping the relatives of martyrs from Binh Dinh to prepare documents and files for their relatives, helping them complete administrative procedures according to regulations, because many of the martyrs' relatives are laborers. I have the advantage that after being discharged from the army, I returned to Binh Dinh to work in the banking industry, understanding and grasping relevant legal regulations. That is my main job, however, most of the martyrs' relatives ask me to do "everything".

For the sake of comradeship...

Mr. Pham Ngoc Chau is 70 years old this year, living in Quy Nhon City. He fought in the Cambodian battlefield from 1978 to 1982 in Company 11, Regiment 93, Division 2, Military Region 5.

Realizing that most relatives and worshipers of martyrs in difficult circumstances only use the State's support money according to regulations to take care of everything to move the remains home; however, from Binh Dinh to some southern provinces such as Binh Duong, Tay Ninh, Dong Nai... to receive the remains and then return, Mr. Chau calculated that if he went to each family individually, the cost would not be enough. So, he made a list of martyrs by commune and ward, provided it to the Southern War Veterans, and asked them to find a few martyrs at once, to cover the cost of bringing them back at once. Recently, the Soldiers' Love Association voluntarily donated to sponsor the free transfer of 5 remains to Binh Dinh on July 15.

● What motivated you to volunteer to do this...

- I have intended to bring my comrades back to my hometown for a long time. In 1990, when I went to Ho Chi Minh City to study at university, I hired a motorbike taxi to go to Tay Ninh province and asked around. They pointed me to a vast cemetery, and I kept walking but could not find the way out. The following year, I went to Ho Chi Minh City for my second semester of university, and they pointed me to the Chau Thanh district cemetery (Tay Ninh province). When I arrived and saw all my comrades there, I was so happy that I cried tears of joy.

There are many things that have become “obsession” that bind me to this work. That is the image of a father over 90 years old in Dap Da ward (An Nhon town) who always thinks about bringing his son home. When he saw his son’s coffin arrive in An Nhon town, he clasped his hands and bowed to me and the other war veterans. I can contribute to that journey, how can I stand aside?

Mr. Pham Ngoc Chau regularly updates and communicates information about martyrs' remains with war veterans nationwide through his personal websites.

● It is known that at first he only brought his teammates from Division 2 home...

- It's true that I prioritize my teammates in Division 2 first. However, during the process, I will help anyone who needs me.

On July 15, along with the repatriation of the remains of 5 martyrs, in Tay Son district, many Vietnamese veterans who fought in Cambodia gathered to hold a memorial service for 18 martyrs of Company 18, Regiment 812, Division 309. Brothers from many provinces and cities, of many ages, burned incense together to remember their old comrades, sat down to talk about old stories, and recalled old memories, feeling like they were blood relatives.

Or on many trips to transport martyrs' remains back to their hometowns, some brothers who were unable to go along asked the vehicle to stop along the way so they could prepare a meal to worship their old comrades.

Mr. Chau guides relatives through the procedures to move the martyr's remains back to their hometown. Photo: NT

...and because I am a soldier

On the morning of July 17, Mr. Chau poured a pot of good tea and sat with some relatives of martyrs at his private home. Mr. Dinh Van Loi (brother-in-law of martyr Ly Anh Dung, from Nhon Ly commune) said that someone called to ask Mr. Chau if he had taken any money, why Mr. Loi did not contact the authorities directly, but through Mr. Chau. "I told them that Mr. Chau even tried to pay for a cup of coffee with me," Mr. Loi said.

● Being branded as a "martyr broker", do you feel sad...

- They have the right to doubt, to verify. I just think, I have done a lot, I know, if I don't help the martyr's family, it would be a sin. The family members from the district go to the Department of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs in Quy Nhon to do the procedures, many people don't know the way, don't even know how to ride a motorbike, so they have to hire a motorbike taxi from their hometown to Quy Nhon, not only losing the motorbike taxi fare, but also losing a day of work. As for me, my children are settled, I have free time and want to help. They see me going back and forth, hard, but I find a lot of joy in what I do.

● Cherishing so many good things, you will probably stick with this for a long time...

- I am a veteran, how can I stop when there are still comrades who have not returned home? I am quite a perfectionist, so if someone asks me to do something, I have to do it. Every time I go, I make a list of everything, afraid that if I forget when I get to the cemetery, how can I buy each little thing. I have done it so much that I am used to it, including small bottles of wine, plastic cups, flower vases, and red fabric to line the coffin. For large amounts, I inform my family, but for small amounts, I take care of them myself.

Many times, I sat down and sketched on paper, then called the welder, gave him money and told him to buy iron to make a shelf to put "them" (the sarcophagi) on, because I felt sorry for putting them on the floor...

● Thank you. Wishing you good health to continue your meaningful journey!

“Chau and I were in the same regiment. When we met again, we discovered that we shared the same desire to bring martyrs back to their hometowns, so we became very close. Chau was the one who contributed greatly to bringing 17 martyrs who died at the southwestern border back to their hometown in Binh Dinh in 2015 and 2016. We sympathized with each other, considering it our responsibility to honor our fallen comrades and soldiers. Not only did we put in the effort, we also spent our own money many times to bring martyrs back to their hometowns...”.

Mr. LE THANH, a war veteran in Binh Duong province, member of the Soldiers' Compassion Association

NGOC TU (Implementation)

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