Touching stories about Uncle Ho told by a guard

Memories go with the years

After leaving ATK for Hanoi, Mr. Muoi was selected to attend a class on the Public Security sector. After completing the course, he was assigned to Room 1, Guard Department (now the Guard Command). Here, he was responsible for protecting the second ring at the Presidential Palace from December 1954.

Because of the special mission, the force participating in protecting Uncle Ho was carefully selected. Each guard shift of the police security force at the Presidential Palace only lasted 1 hour, the shifts changed 24/7. In one day, each person took on 2 guard shifts, one in the evening and one during the day.

“Guarding at the Presidential Palace is very strict. In addition to guarding time, everyone also has the task of practicing the skills of a guard, studying culture and politics. When I left to join the resistance, I had just finished 4th grade. Therefore, during this time, I had to fulfill my duties as a guard and complete my general education program. Through many efforts, I was also honored to join the Party. Not only did we perform our tasks well and complete our education programs, we also had to increase production. Uncle Ho said that increasing production would both provide more food and improve our health,” Mr. Muoi recalled.

The photo of the security force was taken with Uncle Ho.

After working in Room 1 for more than 2 years, Mr. Tran Nguyen Muoi was transferred to another position. According to Mr. Muoi, his next task was to ensure absolute safety for foreign leaders when they visited Vietnam and for President Ho Chi Minh's business trips.

“We had to be careful when doing this task because it was extremely difficult. Because at that time, reactionary forces, sabotage forces and enemy agents could be mixed in everywhere. Meanwhile, Uncle Ho was a person close to the people. Wherever he went, he wanted to meet the people directly to listen to their thoughts…”, Mr. Muoi shared about the days of protecting Uncle Ho.

In 1965, Mr. Tran Nguyen Muoi was transferred from the Guard Department - Ministry of Public Security to take up a position at the Military Region 4 Command. From 1965 to the end of 1966, he was responsible for protecting the safety of the Political Commissars of Military Region 4 such as: Lieutenant General Dong Sy Nguyen, Lieutenant General Le Hien Mai.

During 30 years of work, Mr. Muoi received many awards and medals.

In mid-1967, Mr. Tran Nguyen Muoi accompanied the Commander and Political Commissar of Military Region 4, Le Quang Hoa, and the delegation of the Military Region to attend the Congress of heroic emulation soldiers determined to defeat the American invaders. The delegation of heroic emulation soldiers of Military Region 4 had the honor of meeting Uncle Ho and being invited to dinner by him.

"That was probably the "best meal" of my life. That day, my driver and I were eating outside in the car when one of Uncle Ho's attendants came out and told him to call us in to eat together. That day's meal had fish, water spinach, a plate of fried eggs, a bowl of pickled eggplant and a bowl of soy sauce. Uncle introduced the meal: "Fish caught in the pond, homegrown water spinach, chicken eggs, pickled eggplant also grown by the brothers in the garden at the Presidential Palace, and soy sauce was a gift from the people of Nghe An." During the meal, Uncle did not forget to ask about the fighting situation and the lives of the people of Military Region 4. He encouraged the people and soldiers to continue competing to soon drive out the American invaders. Being invited to eat with Uncle, having Uncle serve food, sitting close to Uncle, talking with Uncle..., I was very moved!", Mr. Muoi recalled.

For Mr. Muoi, the 10 years of being a guard protecting Uncle Ho were the most sacred times of his life. Memories of him are always deeply imprinted in his heart.

During more than 30 years of work, regardless of his position, Mr. Tran Nguyen Muoi always completed his tasks excellently, was awarded the First Class Resistance Medal, Second Class Feat of Arms Medal, and Medal for National Security. In 1984, Captain Muoi retired. Returning to his hometown, he continued to receive many tasks in political organizations. In 2018, he was awarded the 55-year Party membership badge.