The kind heart of Mr. Kieu Thau's family

Thau served in the war as a driver on Truong Son Trail before 1975. After the liberation of the South, he was demobilized and worked as a coach driver. With his kindness, friendly and sociable manner, he got much sentiment from his passengers, especially traders of Tho Tang - Vinh Tuong districts. In 2002, the State held screen medical tests for Agent Orange exposure for soldiers who served in the B, and Thau was recognized as an AO victim. Despite the sequelae of Agent Orange in his body, he is still always optimistic. He joins the poetry association of Phu Tho province and had many poems published in the collections of the province and the district. His poems are simple but full of love for his homeland and the country, reflecting the beautiful life today. Both he and his wife get pensions and allowances for victims of Agent Orange; and their children were successful in business, so he always cares about his comrades and spends his savings to support them.

3 of his 5 children are successful entrepreneurs. His eldest son, Mr. Kieu Anh Tuan, is currently the Director of Minh Nhat Company, trading automobiles and auto parts. His second daughter, Ms. Kieu Thi Anh Hong, is the director of Bao Tien Company Limited, trading agricultural and fishery machinery. She was also elected as Vice President of the District Business Association. His third daughter, Ms. Kieu Thi Huong, Director of Hien Nhung Automobile Company, selling cars and was elected Vice President of the Phu Tho Women Entrepreneurs Club.

His three children are philanthropists who always accompany the Red Cross, the Association for Victims of Agent Orange/Dioxin, and their father, a victim of Agent Orange, who always gives his love and sympathy to ease the pain of Agent Orange. Witnessing the pain of their father every time the weather changes, they donates hundreds of millions of VND to the Commune and District's Charity Fund each year. There was a case that an AO victim named Phan Dang Doanh in Village 7, Yen Kien Commune, who suffered from Agent Orange after-effects and passed away. He left behind a daughter named Phan Thi Dung, who was also affected, mentally retarded, and lives in a dilapidated house. Sharing the difficulty of the child, the Doan Hung District Association for Victims of Agent Orange mobilized over 100 million VNS from philanthropists to support the construction of a house for her. This money is mainly donated by Thau's children. As they are successful in business and wealthy, Thau always reminds them to care for those less fortunate, especially war veterans and AO victims. On holidays or his birthday, his children usually give him money or valuable gifts. He uses this money, together with savings from his pension and AO allowance to support more needy victims.

Thau shared that, "I'm old so I don’t have much need. My daily expenses are low. I don’t have to spend much, so what’s the point keeping my money if I don’t use it to help the needy people?" Thau's kindness spreads not only to his children and grandchildren but also to business owners in the area. Whenever someone in the locality is in trouble, everyone unanimously supports. Many kind-hearted people of his village who are working far away or abroad also send hundreds of millions to help needy ones, including direct and indirect AO victims.

As a war veteran serving on Truong Son battlefield during the fiercest years of the war, and being exposed to toxic chemicals sprayed by the US Military, now at the age of 80, Thau is never arrogant, but always happy to share with the difficulty of his comrades. His image is spreading the qualities of Uncle Ho's soldiers and a shining example in the movement of good people - good deeds in Doan Hung district./.

Nguyen Thanh Hong