Brian Jeffrey
Despite her impressive age, Mrs. Ngo Thi Lang from Hoi An City, Quang Nam Province, remains mentally alert and physically fit. She starts her day at 5 am with exercise and manages all her affairs independently.
Yet behind her sharp demeanor, lies a deep-seated sorrow. For nearly six decades, Lang has carried the weight of her son’s disappearance during combat, a pain that is evident in her eyes and etched on her wrinkled face.
Lang has a profound connection to the military, being related to two martyrs and a wounded soldier. Both her spouse and son sacrificed their lives in battles against foreign forces.
Her husband, martyr Huynh Kinh Nhi, hailing from Hoi An, lost his life during the French occupation, leaving Lang to raise their children single-handedly while staying committed to her revolutionary activities.
During her husband’s absence, Lang even transformed their home into a hiding place for revolutionary figures, enduring suspicion and brutality from the enemy without ever divulging any information.
Lang’s eldest daughter pursued studies in Hanoi, her younger son sought work elsewhere, leaving her middle son, Huynh Quang Tho, as the remaining offspring at home. Tragically, Tho volunteered for military service at 17 and never returned, losing his life at age 19 in Nui Thanh, Quang Nam.
Despite her fears, Lang supported her son’s decision to join the military, understanding the gravity of the war. Devastated by his untimely demise, her relentless search for his remains at the Tam Nghia Commune Martyrs Cemetery has been in vain.
However, her youngest son, Huynh Quang Thuyen, who also served in the military, survived and returned home. He now holds significant roles in the local government and continues to seek closure for his brother’s unsettled resting place.
Thuyen recounts his mother’s unending grief and final wish to bring Tho’s remains back to Hoi An for a peaceful farewell as she navigates her twilight years with the support of her family, government, and community.
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Despite finding solace in her living relatives and the annual memorials held in honor of her lost son, Lang continues to be haunted by the unknown whereabouts of his remains. Nonetheless, the unwavering support from her loved ones, community, and the government brings her the greatest comfort in her advanced years.
