Every early morning, people of Lé village in Thanh Nưa commune are accustomed to the sight of an elderly woman riding a bicycle laden with vegetables to sell at Mường Thanh market. Now in her advanced years, Vũ Thị Phương, a former youth volunteer and 31% war invalid, still lives with shrapnel embedded in her body, causing her pain, especially when the weather changes. Yet, she remains optimistic and industrious.

Recalling her years of service, the memories of war remain vivid in her mind. In 1972, at just 22, she volunteered to join the youth volunteer force and was assigned to Unit 896 under General Department 67, operating along Route 20 in Quảng Bình province. Her duties included digging, filling bomb craters, and ensuring the road remained open for military supplies and troop movements. Each meter of that road, she said, was soaked in the sweat and blood of volunteers. Bombings were constant, and once-lush green hills were quickly reduced to barren stone by relentless attacks.

In 1975, during a heavy air raid, she was wounded in the head and leg by a bomb explosion while on duty. After receiving treatment at the rear, she was discharged in 1976 and returned to Đông Hưng district, Thái Bình province, to start a family. In 1983, she and her family relocated to Điện Biên (then part of Lai Châu province) to begin a new economic life.

Guided by her belief that “wounded but not useless,” she worked hard to reclaim and expand farmland, growing various vegetables and raising poultry. In 2008, with savings accumulated over the years, her family invested in a pond to raise softshell turtles. “At first, I only tried it out. But over time, I realized turtles are easy to raise and rarely get sick, so we expanded to about 1,500 square meters,” she explained.

Thanks to growing market demand, her family now supplies 500-600 kilograms of commercial turtles each year, with individual turtles weighing between 3 and 13 kilograms. They also sell 800-1,000 hatchlings annually, generating nearly 200 million VND in income. Having once braved bullets and bombs for the country’s independence and freedom, she now channels that same strength into economic development and community building.

Similarly, war veteran Vũ Ngọc Ước, from Việt Thanh hamlet, Thanh Nưa commune, is another symbol of perseverance. A 45% agent orange victim, he served in the military twice. In 1971, at age 18, he answered the nation’s call and enlisted in Company 2, Battalion 18, Division 320 of Army Corps 3. With unwavering resolve, he fought in the Central Highlands. After being discharged in 1976, he settled in Điện Biên to start a family and build a life. When the border war broke out in 1979, he reenlisted to serve in logistics.

After retiring from military service in 1980, he took on various roles in the local government of what is now Thanh Nưa commune. He retired in 2013 but continued serving his community, earning the trust of his peers and being elected as the Party Cell Secretary and Head of the local Veterans Association.

In his leadership role, he actively promoted Party-building efforts by studying resolutions, updating meeting content and methods, and improving the quality of grassroots political life. He worked closely with residents, encouraging compliance with Party and State policies while fostering economic development and cultural life. As a result, the hamlet’s poverty rate dropped to just 8 out of 143 households, and the average per capita income reached over VND 40 million per year. In 2023, Việt Thanh was recognized as a model new-style rural hamlet.

For over a decade as head of the local veterans’ association, Mr. Ước has led with integrity and passion. Understanding the needs of members, he has been proactive in helping them develop livelihoods and apply science and technology to create new economic models. His own success in raising high-yield laying hens is a case in point: his family farm now has over 200 chickens, producing 80-90 eggs daily, earning more than VND 7 million per month.

Half a century has passed since national reunification. As Điện Biên continues to grow, veterans like Ms. Phương and Mr. Ước, along with countless others, remain role models. They embody resilience, honor, and the enduring spirit of sacrifice. Their lives are powerful testaments to courage and perseverance, offering inspiration to younger generations.