Phạm Thị Đường, wife of journalist martyr Nguyễn Văn Năng, prepares incense and flowers to offer at the altar of her late husband. — VNA/VNS Photo Thế Duyệt

THÁI BÌNH — As the June sunshine spreads golden rays of light over the fragrant fields of rice, Phạm Thị Đường sits in a chair inside her small home in Thái Bình Province, reminiscing about days gone by. 

Her mind is filled with memories, some good, some bad and some so heartbreaking she finds them difficult to discuss.

The 80-year-old is the wife of fallen soldier Nguyễn Văn Năng, a photojournalist who covered the resistance war against the US. 

He was shot dead in the line of duty, with his camera still in his hand as he documented the war for the Liberation News Agency (now Vietnam News Agency).

Before he went to war, the couple had a son. He was not even two years old when his father, a man he had never met, perished.

Đường became a widow at just 23 years old, with a child to raise on her own. In the many years that followed, she knew little about her husband’s death, and never even knew the place he was buried.

But all that changed in 1989 when she received a letter out of the blue.

It was from a comrade of her husband, and although the words on the pages were difficult for Đường to read, she found comfort in what was written. 

Phú Sỹ, who lives in District 1 in HCM City, was also a journalist, filming the war for television news.

In the letter, Sỹ wrote: “I am from Nghệ Tĩnh Province. I worked in the same unit as Hội and Năng. My mission is to film, whereas Năng takes pictures. Before the battle at the Bà Đen Mountain in Tây Ninh Province, we decided to put our names in our breast pockets along with a film roll, and did not bring anything else. Before the moment of facing death, we hugged and encouraged each other. 

“When I returned, Năng was lying right at the edge of the road. I took the camera and a pistol from him. Some soldiers and I buried Năng and about six other soldiers at the edge of the forest.” 

Sỹ had wanted to write much sooner, but had struggled to find an address for the young widow, who was living in Canh Nông Village, Quang Trung Commune, Hưng Hà.

Đường said, "Sỹ’s letter, although very heartbreaking, helped me and my family know a little about my husband's sacrifice, although we still do not know where his grave is."

Journalist Năng was the third child in a family of five siblings.

Not long after getting married, he put aside his own happiness and, in 1964, volunteered to join the army. He underwent training and went to the battlefield in the south. In the fierce war, the young couple lost contact from then on. 

In 1968, when the only son of Đường and Năng was not yet two years old, the family was heartbroken when they received a death notice from Năng’s unit.

Those were extremely painful days for a widow at the age of 23 like Đường.

Pitying her son, who had never met his father, pitying her husband, who had passed away so young, she lived alone, faithful to her vow of loyalty, devoting all her love to raising the son.

Make the Fatherland strong

Journalist martyr Nguyễn Văn Năng (right) with his comrades. — VNA/VNS File Photo

With his heroic contributions and sacrifices to the revolutionary journalism cause, martyr Năng was posthumously awarded the Third Class Military Exploit Medal by the State and the Medal for the News Agency Cause by the Vietnam News Agency.

This was a noble recognition of the State and the sector for a journalist and martyr who devoted his entire youth to the communications cause, contributing to the nation’s victory.

Nguyễn Văn Bằng, the only son of martyr Năng, said that although he had never met his father, his pride in his father was always present through his mother’s and his uncles’ stories.

It has been more than 50 years since his father passed away. Many times, his family has gone to Tây Ninh Province to find his remains, but to no avail.

That is also the concern of Đường. She is now 80 years old and has been worshipping her husband for 57 years. 

She still hopes that one day she will be able to welcome him back, and give a proper burial, laying him to rest to ease the family’s pain. 

Nguyễn Văn Nghiệp, Secretary of the Quang Trung Commune Party Committee, said that, implementing the policy of ‘Repaying gratitude’, over the years, local authorities had always paid attention to and encouraged martyrs’ relatives and the family of journalist and martyr Nguyễn Văn Năng is no exception.

His sacrifice is a shining example of patriotism and dedication to the aspiration for peace, national independence and the noble responsibility of war correspondents .

Nguyễn Văn Năng was one of more than 260 journalists of the Vietnam News Agency who gave their lives in the resistance wars for national liberation.

They were the troops on the frontline, not afraid of difficulties and dangers, ready to rush into battle to record historical moments, conveying the great revolution to domestic people and international friends.

Generations of reporters and editors of the Vietnam News Agency in all 63 provinces and cities across the country and 30 offices all over the continents are still hard at work covering the news.

They are continuing the proud journey that previous generations have worked hard to build and cultivate to promptly convey accurate information to readers, building and protecting the rich and strong Fatherland of Việt Nam, worthy of the title of Hero of the People's Armed Forces during the resistance war and Hero of Labour during the renovation period. — VNS