(VOVworld) - 70 year-old veteran Huynh Ly has kept busy with his family and social work despite reminders of his wounds whenever there’s a change in the weather. A resident of Phu Khuong C village, Cho Gao district, in the southern province of Kien Giang, Huynh Ly has the respect of older villagers while the youngsters consider him a model to follow.
Huynh has not been content in his old age to live quietly with his children. Since his retirement 20 years ago, he has undertaken to be Secretary of the village’s Party cell and involved in a number of community activities. In every circumstance, he has always promoted the spirit of Uncle Ho’s soldier and successfully fulfilled his assignments. As Secretary of the village’s Party cell, Huynh Ly has made sizable contribution to the Party building work and rural development and supported villagers to develop household economy.
Huynh Ly’s family enjoys decent standard of living, the fruit of his efforts to overcome poverty. He sometimes recalls the difficult time after he got married. The couple had to rent land on the river bank to build a house, plant crops, and raise pigs. Every day he went fishing to earn some extra income. Through industriousness and thrift, they saved enough money to buy land to expand their gardening, aquaculture, and husbandry. They raised pigs, fish and bonsai trees. Starting from scratch, Huynh Ly’s family now earns around 5 thousand USD a year. Huynh Ly says:“Returning from military service, I felt healthy enough to contribute to the local party cell and the development of my home village. I have been working hard to grow vegetables and raise fish and pigs to support my family.”
During his 30 years in the military and in the war against the Americans, Huynh Ly had a number of achievements. During an airstrike in Cho Gao district in 1965, he shot down a F100 fighter jet. Three times he disguised himself as a soldier of the Sai Gon regime to help gain a resounding victory. He was serious wounded 8 times. Two bullets remaining in his body would kill him if they were removed.
Since 1986 Huynh Ly has been taking care of the Phu Kiet commune cemetery, which consists of more than 200 martyr graves. He considers this work his duty to his fallen comrades. Huynh Ly says:“They sacrificed their lives for national liberation. I want to care for the graves of these martyrs.”
Huynh Ly has won the trust of the local administration and villagers with his deeds that have always matched his words. Doan Cong Truc, Deputy Head of the Phu Khiet Veteran’s Association talks about the veteran: " Huynh Ly has performed admirably in all activities. He is a good Secretary of the Party cell and cemetery guardian. He is a good model for other veterans."
Huynh Ly has a prosperous family. He has two sons studying at universities in Ho Chi Minh city and one son who is a military officer.