General Chu Huy Man and his hometown Hung Hoa

General Chu Huy Man's real name is Chu Van Dieu, born on March 17, 1913 in Yen Luu village, Yen Truong commune, Hung Nguyen district (now Hung Hoa commune, Vinh city, Nghe An province). Born in a patriotic homeland, seething with revolutionary spirit, comrade Chu Huy Man was enlightened early, had ideals and participated in revolutionary activities from the age of 16. During the Nghe Tinh Soviet movement, he joined the Red Self-Defense Force, concurrently served as the commune Party cell secretary, and later as the Hung Nguyen District Party Committee Secretary. During his revolutionary activities, he continuously held many important positions in the Party, State and Army. General Chu Huy Man was a member of the Politburo, National Assembly delegate, Director of the General Political Department, Deputy Secretary of the Central Military Party Committee (now the Central Military Commission).

We went to Hung Hoa commune, Vinh city to visit the hometown of General Chu Huy Man. Hung Hoa village today is embraced and protected by a high dike road. Mr. Chu Huy Bien, the General's nephew, said that throughout his life, the General was away from home for revolutionary activities. Even during his time as Political Commissar of Military Region 4 , the General was busy with many things so he did not have much time to visit home. Every time he returned, the General would park his car at the entrance of the village, walk along the small muddy road to burn incense for his parents, then ask about the situation of his relatives and neighbors. Hung Hoa commune used to be a low-lying area, with sour fields and salty water that "flooded before it rained", so the people were poorer than in other areas. Whenever he returned to his hometown, the first question the General asked was: "Are our villagers still hungry?" Then, when holding many high positions in the Party, State and army, the General never sought personal gain for his children, grandchildren and relatives. He was exemplary, upright and maintained revolutionary qualities.

Proud to be the hometown of General Chu Huy Man, the Party Committee and people of Hung Hoa commune have aroused the spirit of solidarity to build the homeland. During the two resistance wars against France and the US, thousands of Hung Hoa people went to fight and serve in combat, many of whom heroically sacrificed their lives for the cause of defending the Fatherland.

The war ended, life was difficult, the people promoted the pride of being the hometown of General Chu Huy Man, worked hard, competed in production, pushed back hunger, focused on building infrastructure, improving production techniques, transforming crop and livestock structures, building effective agricultural economic models. The homeland is increasingly prosperous, Hung Hoa land still retains its traditional customs, rustic countryside features. Coming to Hung Hoa land today, the image of a poor, salty, sour-field village is only in memory, but instead is the lush green of sedge fields, the golden color of ripe rice fields, and modern aquaculture fields. With the efforts of the cadres and people of Hung Hoa commune, in 2015 the commune was recognized by the People's Committee of Nghe An province as meeting the standards of a new rural commune and is currently striving to build advanced new rural criteria.

To commemorate the General's merits, in 2013, Nghe An province built the General Chu Huy Man Memorial House to educate generations about the revolutionary spirit, cultural values, ethics and humanity of General Chu Huy Man. Here, the General's nephew, Mr. Chu Huy Bien, is looking after and protecting the memorial house. Over the years, the General Chu Huy Man Memorial House has become a "red address" to educate the younger generation about revolutionary traditions. Every year, the Nguyen Truong To High School Youth Union (Vinh City, Nghe An) organizes a ceremony to admit members of the Youth Union at the General Chu Huy Man Memorial House. Most recently, the Nguyen Truong To High School Youth Union organized a ceremony to offer flowers, incense and admit 102 outstanding young people into the Youth Union at the General Chu Huy Man Memorial House. Before the General's spirit, the youth union members in green shirts volunteered to hold an admission ceremony and swear an oath to actively study, work, practice, participate in social activities, and build and defend the Fatherland.

In the March sunshine, the road along the dike to the General’s hometown is spacious with many works and urban projects bearing a new and vibrant appearance. Along the Lam River, flocks of white storks flock to nest in the mangrove forests. Hung Hoa’s hometown has changed, growing beautifully day by day, as General Chu Huy Man always worried and hoped for.

Article and photos: HOANG HOA LE

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