Godmother and wishes from an incomplete childhood
I see Mrs. Bay as my second mother" - Nguyen Hoang Minh, an 8th/5 grade student at Tan Khanh Dong Primary and Secondary School (Dong Thap), emotionally shared.
Born in difficult circumstances, his father left when his mother was pregnant, after giving birth his mother suffered from mental illness, Nguyen Hoang Minh had to live with his maternal grandmother as a hired laborer. Once at risk of dropping out of school due to poverty, Minh was supported with scholarships by Mrs. Bay Diep, encouraged to continue going to school and for many consecutive years achieved excellent student status.
She is one of hundreds of students supported by the "Parental Mother" program and the Education Promotion Fund named after Vietnamese Heroic Mother Le Thi Tu founded by Mrs. Bay Diep from savings and pensions, with a support level of about 100 million VND per year. For her, it is a way to show gratitude to her mother and help those in difficult circumstances have more opportunities to study.
That wish originated from Mrs. Bay Diep's childhood of many hardships. In 1968, when she was 18 years old, she joined the revolution in a situation of not knowing how to read. Not being able to go to school, she took advantage of the temporary silence of bombs and bullets to learn each letter, meeting the requirements of medical work.
From a girl who lacked academic conditions, with self-study willpower, she gradually became a medical officer, a core female military doctor in the Long Hung base area. Therefore, today's scholarships are not only material support but also a way for her to continue her unfinished dream of studying.
War took away her opportunity to be a mother, but the journey of sowing love helped her have more "children" who are students who are given wings to go to school.
Miracles amidst bombs and bullets
“When I was injured, I didn't know anything. Later, listening to the story, I realized that I was still alive thanks to the creative hands of Bay Diep” - Mr. To Van Ha, a 1/4 wounded soldier, completely blind in both eyes, currently living in Tan Khanh Dong commune, recalled.
In early 1969, Mr. To Van Ha and a construction soldier were seriously injured due to the explosion of a detonator. When the base was blockaded, regular forces were mobilized to the front lines, and on the spot there were only 2 ambulances and 2 nurses, including Ms. Diep.
In conditions of lack of medical supplies, no longer having specialized needles and threads, Ms. Diep heated the fire, bent the needle to sew clothes to make surgical needles, and used nylon thread to sew wounds for wounded soldiers. That creative handling in such harsh circumstances contributed to saving the soldier's life.
In 1973, in a field bunker lacking medicine and light, Ms. Diep directly performed a 1-hour 30-minute surgery, treating 3 sections of the injured intestine for a soldier. During the war years, she operated on and treated more than 500 wounded soldiers, cared for about 2,000 turns of soldiers and civilians; many times gave rice and blood to save people.
Not only performing healing duties, she also directly fought. At Rach Ba Nam (Long Hung), during enemy sweeps, she and the military medical team stayed through 3 fortifications, contributing to repelling 9 attacks, protecting wounded soldiers and 2 tons of TNT explosives of the province.
Worthy of being a hero
In 1994, Colonel Pham Phi Hung - former Commander of Vinh Long Provincial Military Command, who used to operate on the same battlefield as Ms. Diep - proposed that the Standing Committee of Dong Thap Provincial Party Committee consider conferring on her the title of Hero of the People's Armed Forces.
After citing the achievements in the process of fighting and rescuing wounded soldiers, he identified Ms. Diep as a woman "brave in front of the enemy, brave in protecting wounded and sick soldiers, responsible and dedicated to her duties".
When approaching the age of eighty, many former comrades continued to encourage Ms. Diep to complete the dossier requesting the title of Hero of the People's Armed Forces. For them, this is not only recognition for her personally, but also a way to recognize the contributions of the field medical force during the war years.
From needles sewing wounds in the battlefield to scholarships today, Mrs. Bay Diep's journey has depicted the beauty of "Steel Lotus" Red Lotus Land: Steadfast in war, compassionate in peacetime.
Ms. Nguyen Thi Ngoc Diep was born in 1950, participated in the revolution in 1968. Position and unit in the resistance war: Squad Leader, Deputy Head of the Military Medical Department of Lap Vo district, Dong Thap province. After the country's reunification, she was a District Party Committee member, Head of the Women's Union of Lap Vo district, former Provincial Party Committee member of 4 terms, Chairwoman of the Dong Thap Provincial Women's Union for 3 terms, Standing Deputy Head of the Provincial Party Committee's Mass Mobilization Committee. During her work, she was awarded 8 Orders, 8 Medals, the title of National Emulation Soldier and dozens of Certificates of Merit and Certificates of Commendation at all levels by the Party and State. She was awarded the Badges of 30, 40, 55 years of Party membership. Currently living in Cao Lanh ward, Dong Thap province.
