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Re: THE MOST POIGNANT STORY THAT I HAVE EVER READ

Anonymous — Wed, 06 Dec 2006 12:43:55 GMT

I'm Vietnamese. I love Dr Dang Thuy Tram and so understand your feelings. I've read her diary hundreds of time with the full feelings as in the first time I've read it. I've just read your translation but feel that it doesn't translate Thuy's soul. It doesn't bring me emotion, sorry to say so. Anyway, your effort is praiseworthy

Re: THE MOST POIGNANT STORY THAT I HAVE EVER READ

Anonymous — Thu, 16 Nov 2006 01:35:22 GMT

The English translation of the diary on the site you mentioned has since been removed. Have you saved a copy of that translation, or do you know how I might get one? I enjoyed reading the excerpts you translated very much.

Re: THE MOST POIGNANT STORY THAT I HAVE EVER READ

Anonymous — Sun, 25 Jun 2006 02:10:07 GMT

Hi,

You can buy Thuy Tram's diary in Nha Xuat Ban Hoi Nha Van, in Vietnam or in any bookstore in Vietnam. You can try with www.hasubasa.com. , or ebay, however, I think you can also borrow one from library in the USA (they also have interlibraryloan service). I've just borrowed one Vietnamese version from Memorial Library in University of Wisconsin Madison and try to translate some pieces of this diary into English.

Thuy Pham

thuy_flc@yahoo.com

Re: THE MOST POIGNANT STORY THAT I HAVE EVER READ

blueclown — Thu, 30 Mar 2006 11:28:04 GMT

Today , i have met Robert Whitehurst . The conversation was quite great . He said that at the end of this year , he will publish the english version of Dang Thuy Tram's diary in the USA . Let's wait

Re: THE MOST POIGNANT STORY THAT I HAVE EVER READ

blueclown — Wed, 01 Feb 2006 16:41:06 GMT

http://www.vietnam.ttu.edu/vietnamcenter/diary/
That is where you can download the whole translation of Dang Thuy Tram's diary . It' time for me to stop posting here . You may not know the reason why a small country can defeat a huge country . Reading this diary , You yourself will know the true answer . Thanks for your supporting during the time I translate this diary . THANK YOU SO MUCH .

Re: THE MOST POIGNANT STORY THAT I HAVE EVER READ

Anonymous — Wed, 01 Feb 2006 15:36:44 GMT

it's bopring

Re: THE MOST POIGNANT STORY THAT I HAVE EVER READ

blueclown — Tue, 31 Jan 2006 15:49:19 GMT

Mr Robert , do you still view my posts ? I know that the translation of Dang Thuy Tram's diary has been published . Can you show me that address where people can buy the book ? Many of my foreigner friends want to read the whole diary . Please reply to me soon .

Re: THE MOST POIGNANT STORY THAT I HAVE EVER READ

blueclown — Sat, 10 Dec 2005 14:28:38 GMT

â2.12.69>>

>>How happy I was when I could live in your ardent sense of mercy . Days living in the North , itâs impossible for me to imagine some times when I can see your glistening eyes , impossible to imagine when I can clutch your hands and give your hair a stroke . Today is that time . There is Thuong beside you , all of us lived in such a mild time . The revolutionary love did warm my heart , I donât feel cold any longer although the breezy wind is coming and drizzling rain is scattering on every village . >>

Tomorrow I will set off , see you soon my beloved people and see you soon , my dear foster brother !>>

â3.12.69>>

Cold night , each blowing gust of northeastern monsoon makes me numb with cold . Running to you , I was trembling slightly because of the coldness but then I got warm again because you brought me a piece of parachute fabric . And you hands wringed mine in profound cherish . It hadnât been time to go , so I lingered in a short time but time doesnât permit me . At 3.45â, brother Thuong and I took the bags over our shoulders . My foster brother saw me off till going to the gathering place . In the parting moment , I saw in your affectionate black eyes an uncanny love and remembrance â I said good bye to you as if to a dear brother by birth . >>

When will I meet you again ? >>

Does the harsh atmosphere of war make me run out of tears ? In the past , a sad story in a film could make me shed tears but now I can bite my lips silently in a parting moment when both people staying and going donât know whether who will live or die then . And this afternoon , standing in front of Nhieuâs grave , I felt that my heart was oozing blood , but I just had tears welling up . His tomb is next to the way , the wreath hasnât withered , he has died for more than 100 days but I still think that young brother has recently laid down . Burning an incense and setting up on his tomb , I didnât know what to say with a dead person . Nhieu ! You have died as an unyielding soldier and your life is such a song for the living to sing and praise . Nhieu ! You died when being in a youthful dreamy life , in a blooming love . Your relatives and I can just promise that we will keep on fighting to revenge for you . â >>

THE SECOND NOTEBOOK>>

1970>>

â Hold fast to the spirit of a Communist . The spirit is as transparent as crystal , as solid as diamond .And hold fast to the resplendent belief . The Communist loves his life so much but if necessary he can be willing to die â>>

( HOANG VAN THU )>>

â31.12.69 >>

On New Year Eve âs of 1969 , we are operating to the old infirmary . The leave-taking moment between me and close people on PHO KHANH land is so unforgettable for me . >>

Nearly one month ago when I came back from the North after 2 years apart , the first close person holding me in the tight arms and shedding tears is Van , a constant friend who loved me as a sister by birth . What can I do to repay for that full of deep affection , Van ? Tonight , when my feet are stepping on familiar and dangerous ways , I am really deep in though . The more violent and fierce the struggle is , the nearer I am to the death . Once , if I had been late for few minutes , I would have been dead or in the enemyâs prison . Not until we were 20 meters far from the hostile , did we run . Luckily , my cadres and wounded soldiers were all right , but I lost all of the bags , there was only a small bag consisting of some technical tools and a radio left . After a night sleeping in the forest and a day climbing over mountains , we finally came to civilians and cadresâ dwelling of Pho Khanh . There we did live in the love of people . Bonâs family , Truu and Hon , Long , Ba, Duc â¦ treated me with kindness and consideration . There , there were also Hoan , Tong , brother Xu .. , who were very soulful and kid-glove cadres . >>

This afternoon , when I left , close people saw me in such a long way . When will I come back here to sit again in the boat sailing on the windy An Khe marsh ? >>

Good bye my beloved Pho Khanh . Good bye Van , we will get together someday>>

Re: THE MOST POIGNANT STORY THAT I HAVE EVER READ

blueclown — Wed, 07 Dec 2005 13:40:17 GMT

i'm translating some more , please wait , thank you

Re: THE MOST POIGNANT STORY THAT I HAVE EVER READ

Anonymous — Sat, 03 Dec 2005 22:19:55 GMT

BlueClown: thank you very much for the translation. please continue when time permits.

dtp

Re: THE MOST POIGNANT STORY THAT I HAVE EVER READ

Anonymous — Sun, 13 Nov 2005 02:02:46 GMT

Why don't you contact Mr. Hieu, the translator during the war, help you put the diary in English?

Re: THE MOST POIGNANT STORY THAT I HAVE EVER READ

Anonymous — Sat, 05 Nov 2005 04:25:16 GMT

"5.11.69

It is still raining . Staying in a house that hasnât suffered from the war , I still donât feel cosy although Iâm living with a happy and full family . Sitting in the camp bed at the centre of the house , I watched the smoke spiralling up from the rice bowl and worried about my people . At the moment , in the cold wind and rain , are you on the way , brother Nam ? The icy wind blowing through your shirt must be making you tremble slightly . I wish this sisterâs sense of mercy could be a flame warming your heart .

Also this time , in the far away South , where fire and smoke is widespread , where is my foster brother ? In the flooding fortification or in the forest ? Each day , iâm farther from you , and I have to compress remembrance with love .

And this time , where are homeless families and children ? Where can you hide ? "

"12.11.69

Coming back to the forest after 3 months fighting strenously against the enemy . I feel so anguished when watching the plain . Hamlets that used to feed me for many days are now trodden on by the enemy . They levelled from Duc Phong to Cua mountain . Standing in Hoi An , I could see My A coast line ! Alas , how heart-broken I am ! The rest people now wander about without any dwellling , they canât leave their hometown even when it is just now a devasted land , trees collapsed under the wheels of bulldozers . Because they still have relations with revolution , wives came back , shouldering in the afternoon day after day on the untidy furrow . They tried to cook a pot of rice so that their husbands wonât be hungry . Old and weak mothers bring rice bowls to each soaked children who have hidden in the river bank ! "

"23.11.69

Today is Phuongâs birthday . ( Phuong is the abbreviation of Phuong Tram , Thuy Tramâs younger sister ) . My sister ! It is not because the drizzling rain and cold wind blowing from the North causes the chill in this forest that I miss you . Everytime , under any circumstances do I keep in mind tranquil memories of our family . I miss the sundays when we celebrated birthday party , our house is full of friends who came and said Happy birthday ,and warm meals as well . Today is sunday , too , so what is my sister doing to celebrate my birthday ? For sure you will remember me , in your happiness is a remembrance to a sister in a distant land . My sister canât imagine what Iâm doing today . Today ? In the morning , I carried a bush-hook for work , at midday , I carried medicine on the shoulders , following 2 comrades , to ask after some ill cadres . On the way , I met soldiers , I hesitated , standing beside a country-man but couldnât say anything . They were picking bamboo sprout , their skins was pale and they told me that they had suffered hunger and malaria for such a long time . This great Resistance is made of bonnes , blood and youths of many people , do you know that ? "

"26.11.69

One more year old , one more arduous year in the South battle field . Hope that Thuy will always be steady on the glorious way that Thuy did choose . Th ! Th is not sad when in Thâs birthday anniversary , there are only wet leaves in the overflowing rain whispering with Th dear words .Th is not sad when the birthday song today is just the sound of stream rushing in noisily . And the room in which Th is sitting to write down on the life notebook is this narrow and wet trench . Th will not be sad because in the future , when opening these pages , Th will be proud of the time of youth . Here , Th doesnât have mild moment with friends , beside a small vase with fragrant roses put on the table . Here , Th doesnât have the happiness of walking next to lover on a silent way , when the sky becomes gradually violet in the sunset . Here , Th is short of many things but Th is also quite adequate .

So cheer up and smile Th , when the life notebook turns over a new page with lots of brilliant glories . "

( Thuy Tram was born on 26.11 , Phuong Tram was born on 23.11 . Of course in different years . So the 2 sisters usually celebrated their birthdays at the same day ) Thatâs why she wrote : . Today is sunday , too , so what is my sister doing to celebrate my birthday ?

"1.12.69

Coming back to Pho Cuong , felt moved when meeting again acquaintances . Pho Cuong hometown is still unchanged : quite jolly , and people greeted me heartily with their whole love . Still the same , everytime like this , I had the feeling of a child who had been far away from hometown for a long time , and then came back home to live in familyâs affection ."

Today is a special day , we are celebrating a 97th anniversary foundation of Chu van an high school .Tonight, there will be shops , and music show , and I will sing a song (i'm nervous) . 97 years is a long time , long enough for many generations to be tought and grew up . Among those generations are many heros like Dang Thuy Tram . Thanks all .

Re: THE MOST POIGNANT STORY THAT I HAVE EVER READ

blueclown — Sun, 30 Oct 2005 05:26:52 GMT

sorry for the mistake above . I don't know what the problem is may be typo. So crazy

Re: THE MOST POIGNANT STORY THAT I HAVE EVER READ

blueclown — Sun, 30 Oct 2005 05:25:12 GMT

I continue now : chemas-microsoft-com:office:office" />>>

â 3.9.69>>

At 9h47â>>

Uncle Ho will forever leave us . >>

Uncle ! We , your children , swear to fight until we can complete your undone will and cause at any cost : To liberate the South and gain independence , freedom for our country . >>

The most heart-broken funeral has come to us . Uncle Ho has passed away . >>

Alas ! I didnât cry but felt that my heart was oozing blood , it was really a wordless anguish . Uncle! Why did you leave us when your cause was still incomplete ! Our country hasnât had national unity , Southern compatriots havenât greeted you to come to the south , but you fell on sleep perpetually . Uncle , in the paradise , you must not feel secure when half of our country is still in fire and sword , Vietnamese âs blood is still oozing for your carreer and our people . >>

Missing you , we swear to struggle to complete our general cause. Missing you , our tears will change into the hatred for the American aggressors . >>

My Uncle ! Vietnamese compatriots , poletarians from all over the world , letâs believe that Uncle Ho will never lay down , your reputation and your cause will live eternally . >>

> >

â 13.9.69>>

My dear foster brother , the more distant you are , the more I miss you . I miss you and worry about you more than ever . The day we will meet each other is as dim as a small light in the late night , Iâm a pedestrian looking fixedly at that lamp in craving and expectation . Do you know how I have struggled to be near you ? When my wish is not gained , I feel painfully grieved . Among hundred thousands of profound anxiety , I canât forget a thing : When will I see you ? When can I live near you as we used to live ? Donât lie down , my dear , please live , you have to live so that there will be one day when I can hug you with my holy affection that I reserve for a dear brother from the South .â>>

* These lines are about Thuan , who I told you to pay great attention to . >>

> >

23.9.69>>

November is nearly over , time runs unexpectedly fast .Autumn has come to the ripe yellow rice field . The scene of harvest should have been so happy because the prosperousness has come after many strenous days . But in fact the American invaders attempt to threaten the rice field . They stage raids on the early morning , bangers ram down the center of field â¦ Anxiety and disgust drowns the happiness of the crop . Suddenly , I remember films and the songs sung on the rice field of socialist , and I writhe in anguish thinking the question : When and when willthe South gain Peace , Freedom and Independence ? >>

There isnât your( Thuan ) letter among the letters from the South . According to some people , I know that you are ailing and miserable , having a nervous breakdown . My compassion for you is so deep . Wherever I am , whatever I do , I canât forget you . Alas , is there a manner that I can share with you that all anguish ? Wish that my brother will be unharmed so that we can meet each other . From a distant place , I send you hundred thousand times of cherish , can you hear me , my special brother !â>>

> >

â30.10.69>>

Flood , water is inundating the whole rice field and villages in low land . >>

The American have landed troops since yesterday morning . This morning , we woke up at 4 to prepare and take precautions that the enemy may lay an ambush . It was still raining ceaselessly . At 7 oâclock in the morning , they began staging raids . We went down the fortification which is a large â scale artillery trench . However it is so old that two air holes are covered . It should have been me and brother Ky that stayed there but I thought it was abit difficult and inconvenient ( although nothing happened) . So I suggested Tam to stay with us . After an hour staying in the fortification , the water began rising and then rised very fast , after a while it run high nearly our chests . I couldnât bear the freeze . In spite of the fact that we didnât know where the American were , we decided to go up and hide in a brushwood . Till midday , we saw Tam and Di carrying the guns . There wasnât another fortification that we could stay in , all of them were flooding but we didnât know where the American were . We all came to Tamâs house , and all of us were wet to the skin , stone-cold and shuddered . However Iâm still happy â there is just this scene when we are soldiers fighting in the war , and peopleâs pale lips were still smiling . All of the radios and watches were dried on the fire because they drank fully water.â>>

> >

I want to tell you a true short story relating to the affection of Dang Thuy Tram âs diary . As you know , her diary has an unbelievable power . There is a young boy who canât get rid of drugs . He had to go to rehabilitation center to get off drugs for many times . But he canât really give up . One day , when he was in the center , his sister came and gave him a book called DANG THUY TRAM â S DIARY . Day after day , he read , and cried . He felt ashamed of his behaviour and determined to undergo detoxification . Now his aim is completed and he has started a new life thanks to the small diary . You see ? No need to treat with violence , or medicine , he can still detoxicate . Dang Thuy Tramâs diary is the most affective dose of medicine that can treat his body by curing his mind and soul . >>

> >

Re: THE MOST POIGNANT STORY THAT I HAVE EVER READ

blueclown — Sun, 23 Oct 2005 06:18:15 GMT

I decided to stop translating as you said , there are some people helping you these days . But now I will change this decision . Despite my busy timetable , I will try to translate more to give you a small hand . Yeah , I will also collect my classmates's opinion on this diary . Recently , our school has had a writting contest about Tram's diary . And many students also feel moved when talking about Tram's diary . We feel very proud of studying in the school where Thuy Tram used to . Many of us are trying to follow her cause , we promise to each other to try our best in education so that someday we can make our country better and more beautiful . See ya soon