During the heroic and arduous resistance against the American invaders, countless individuals, full of youthful vigor, fought courageously and made noble sacrifices, many of them giving their lives in the prime of their youth. Among these heroes were members of the Front, who carried within them an unshakable love for the nation, unwavering spirit, and a readiness to sacrifice their youth and lives for the peace, independence, and happiness of the country. They have become eternal flames in the hearts of the people.

These noble sacrifices have merged into a resounding symphony of patriotism, contributing to the historic victory led by Ho Chi Minh, the complete liberation of the South, and the reunification of the nation. Martyr Le Quang Loc stands out as one such exemplary hero.

Born on October 25, 1940, in Tra On, Can Tho (now Binh Minh District, Vinh Long Province), Martyr Le Quang Loc, also known by his aliases Sau Ngoc and Sau Quy, was the youngest child in a prosperous family. As a child, he went to school and witnessed the poverty of his classmates, as well as the suffering of innocent revolutionaries and villagers who were brutally beaten and killed by the enemy on their own soil. His youthful heart could no longer remain carefree or innocent. He began to despise the perpetrators who massacred his people and turned his attention to learning about the Viet Minh and the heroic figures of his nation.

In 1954, refusing to attend the Military Academy in My Tho, he chose to study at Huynh Khuong Ninh School, an institution renowned for its patriotic traditions. Like a young sapling finding fertile soil, it was here that he first became involved in the revolutionary movement, taking on the role of a liaison for the student network in Saigon.

In July 1959, he officially joined the revolutionary organization and was entrusted with tasks such as liaising, printing, and distributing leaflets. Soon after, he was assigned to set up a printing operation in his own home. The revolutionary leaflets that he organized for printing were distributed widely throughout the Saigon-Gia Định area.

In 1960, he was arrested along with several comrades. The enemy moved him through various detention centers, including Chi Hoa, Thu Duc, and Tan Hiep, where he endured brutal torture but refused to divulge any information. He was later brought before a military court for a closed trial. In court, with a calm and composed demeanor, he eloquently and resolutely declared that loving one’s country was no crime. When the lawyer (appointed to defend him) pleaded for leniency due to his youth and lack of forethought in his actions, he sharply responded, “You do not need to, nor should you, make such excuses. I fully understand the actions I have taken.” He was sentenced to five years in prison.

Together with the Executive Committee of the University of Letters and other schools, Lê Quang Lộc was dynamic and proactive in organizing political struggles for students in various forms: rallies, seminars, strikes, and protests demanding peace, the cessation of war, freedom of the press, opposition to the repression of workers, protests against heavy taxes, and resistance to the conscription of students. Through his tireless efforts and dedication, in July 1967, Lê Quang Lộc was honored to be inducted into the Party.

During the Tết Offensive of 1968, fierce battles erupted in the heart of Saigon. The Saigon Student Federation and the Saigon Student Union quickly established relief centers for the victims of the war. Lê Quang Lộc was appointed as the Head of the Gia Định Refugee Center (now the Cancer Hospital), where he helped welcome displaced people and coordinate the distribution of essential supplies. While he was diligently carrying out his humanitarian work, on February 19, 1968, he received urgent orders to join an underground base for a new mission: to participate in the Alliance of National, Democratic, and Peace Forces of Vietnam. He accepted the mission without the chance to bid farewell to his elderly parents or to his girlfriend, Huỳnh Quan Thư, who had been by his side in the public movement at the University of Letters. Although he held deep affection for her, the war and the many sacrifices ahead left him no time to express his feelings.

From 1970 to 1973, Lê Quang Lộc was assigned to the Saigon Youth Union, holding the roles of Executive Committee Member, Head of the Office, and later Deputy Head of the Propaganda Department. Despite the long separation due to the war effort, in 1970, the organization arranged for him to reunite with Huỳnh Quan Thư at a base near the Sở Thượng River, close to the Cambodia border.

In April 1971, along with several other couples, they held a simple but heartfelt wedding ceremony at the base. In 1972, Huỳnh Quan Thư gave birth to their first son, but Lê Quang Lộc, stationed at the Saigon Youth Union base in Cambodia, was unable to meet his child. When their son was just four months old, Huỳnh Quan Thư was forced to leave him with her family, enduring many hardships and dangers to return to the base and continue her work.

After the Paris Peace Accords in 1973, Le Quang Loc was appointed as the Head of the Saigon Youth Union Delegation, tasked with establishing a route back to the South and setting up a base in Thanh An, Ben Cat, Binh Duong. As the Deputy Head of the Propaganda Department, he conducted long-term training for new recruits. In this role, he worked tirelessly, fulfilling all of his duties with great dedication while also providing exceptional care and support for his comrades. Early in 1975, as the conflict in the South intensified, the Youth Union was split into two groups: Group A was assigned to the inner city, and Group B focused on the outskirts. Le Quang Loc was assigned to the Executive Committee of Group B, with the base in Thanh An. After months of yearning and separation, and after writing two letters requesting his son visit him at the base, on March 23, 1975, he finally had the joyous opportunity to meet his 4-year-old son. It was a moment of immense happiness, but tragically, it would be their final reunion.

On April 2, 1975, he tearfully bade farewell to his wife and son as they prepared for the next phase of the struggle. The revolutionary moment had come, and the Party decided to launch the historic Ho Chi Minh Campaign. The Youth Union quickly mobilized forces to seize the opportunity. The student movement was deployed into the heart of Saigon to spark the uprisings. Le Quang Loc was tasked with leading a vanguard unit advancing toward the liberation of Saigon. During the march, his unit was caught in an enemy artillery barrage. Le Quang Loc and his comrades fought valiantly, displaying immense courage and resilience, holding their ground until their last breath. He was martyred in Dong Thanh, Hoc Mon District, on the night of April 14, 1975, into the early hours of April 15, 1975.

Born into a prosperous family, Le Quang Loc could have easily chosen a life of comfort and ease. However, he willingly stepped onto the perilous and challenging path of revolutionary struggle. He dedicated himself fully to his ideals, sacrificing his youth and ultimately his life for the nation. Yet, he never had the chance to return home to visit his elderly parents after years of separation, never got to meet his beloved young daughter, and never fulfilled the promise he had made to his wife: “When peace comes, I will make up for everything.”

On April 30, 1975, as the entire nation rejoiced in the boundless happiness of victory and family reunions, Huynh Quan Thu desperately searched for her husband, unaware that Le Quang Loc had already made the ultimate sacrifice two weeks earlier. The grief was unbearable, and fearing that his mother would not survive the heartbreak, the family decided to keep the news of his death hidden until 1982. Even then, his mother passed away still believing that her son was alive.

Bùi Thị Hoàn

Nguồn: Báo Nhân Dân