We had a chance in million to meet Mr. Phan Hong Nghia (a.k.a Phan Hong Doan), former Deputy Chair of Song Be Province from 1994-2004 and also a former secretary to local youth generation.
Mr. Nghia was born in wartime and participatedn into revolutionary activities as many other youths in the contemporary time.

Mr. Phan Hong Nghia (sitting on the right) is in a photo with officers and staffs of Provincial Youth’s League
"In 1954, I was admitted to the youth's league which had taken great efforts and challenges. And by 1959, I was promoted to Secretary of Phuoc Hoa Commune Youth’s League of Phu Giao District. In those years, the US Army and its puppet government pushed up 10/59 Act to terrorize our forces by guillotine. Hundred our officers had fallen while the public was massarced. Many youths have been well-trained to fight back,” he said.
He retold a time of glory when the youths participated into various activities and movement to fight back in wartime. During a short time, hundred of youths were entitled heroes for helping to shoot down planes and vehicles of the enemy. Armed force heroes such as Hoang Trong Lap, Doan Van Thai, Nguyen Van Be, etc. were all heroic youths who fought with youth spirit, the spirit of patriotism.
Through the disruptive narrative of the now elderly, we could even feel the spirit in his words.
“We, as the the youths once, suffered from all hardship to face up the enemy. We stayed in the forest and when wining 7 motorbikes from the enemy force we had to leave on foot,” he retold.
Reviewing the achievements made, he called upon the current generation of Youth’s League to coordinate the gathering of youths to light up the spirit. He confirmed that the Youth’s League would offer the best training ground.
From his experience, Mr. Nghia raised high expectations for more achievements.
“We should boost up revolutionary ideology education to uphold the freedom won by blood and sacrifices. In wartime, we expressed ourselves by fighting, in peacetime, you should promote such spirit,” he said.
Reported by Kim Ha – Translated by Vi Bao