Teammates called out, "Come home, guys!"

The drawing illustrates the 13 officers and soldiers of Rao Trang 3.

During those daysCentral regionSubmerged in heavy rain and floods, for the happiness, lives, and property of the people, the working groups of Military Region 4 set out for rescue and relief operations. Immediately upon receiving news of the landslide at the hydropower plant.Rao Trang 3With workers missing, on the afternoon of October 12th, the working group...Military Region 4Comprising 21 soldiers and officials from Thua Thien Hue province, they overcame difficulties and hardships, trekking through forests and wading through streams to reach the scene of rescue operations.

While en route to the scene, in the early morning of October 13th, the task force met with disaster. Eleven soldiers and two officials from Thua Thien Hue province were buried and killed in a landslide.

On the morning of October 13th, tragic news spread. The loss and heroic sacrifice of 13 officers and soldiers on their way to carry out search and rescue missions at the Rao Trang 3 Hydropower Plant caused immense grief. Their comrades and the local people were deeply saddened.

Officers and soldiers of the Nghe An Provincial Military Command prepare for the ceremony to welcome the fallen heroes back home. Photo: Duc Anh.

Many messages of sorrow, poems, and songs have been posted on social media. Among them, the poem "Come Home, My Brothers" by Major Pham Van Hung, Political Officer of Regiment 764, Nghe An Provincial Military Command, has been shared the most. The poem is a heartfelt tribute from a soldier to his fallen comrades.

GO HOME, GUYS!

Let's go home, guys!

The call of comrades echoed throughout Hue.

Tears of sorrow flowed like waves across the sea.

Teammate, do you hear me...? Answer me!

Let's go home... let's go home, guys!

The storm has passed... the rainforest rain has stopped.

Shouldn't we be home by now?

Where are you... in the coldness of Rào Trăng?

They are ready to brave the storm and the pouring rain.

In response to the call to "serve the people"

What does it matter if there's lightning or heavy rain?

Crossing mountains, traversing forests... that's how they went.

This afternoon the sky sheds tears of farewell.

The young wife is still waiting for news from him.

The young child now lacks someone to protect him.

My mother, with her bent back, gazes anxiously, waiting for news.

Where are you? Come home, Father is worried.

Is a soldier's uniform enough to keep him warm?

Where are you guys, amidst the deep green mountains and forests?

Speak up, everyone's waiting for news from you!

Rao Trang no longer has the clear moonlight.

Only rising floodwaters and falling trees remain.

The central region of Vietnam remains submerged in rain and wind.

Your relatives have cried until they have no more tears left.

....

Let's go home... let's go home, guys!

In his overwhelming grief over the loss of his comrades, Major Pham Van Hung wrote the poem "Come Home, My Brothers." Photo: Duc Anh

Major Pham Van Hung shared: “Throughout October 13th and 14th, perhaps none of us soldiers could sleep. Everyone was thinking of Phong Xuan, Phong Dien, Thua Thien Hue, praying for the safety of our comrades. At 5 a.m. on October 14th, I accidentally read a status update someone wrote on social media: “Come home, brothers!” In the midst of the emotions of a soldier who had participated in many rescue operations, understanding the pain and loss; in the midst of the sorrow and heartbreak of losing comrades… I just started writing. I wrote continuously for 40 minutes until I finished the poem and posted it on my personal Facebook page.”

The poem "Come Home, My Brothers," written by a soldier for his comrades, touched the deepest emotions of grief. The poem was quickly shared widely. On Major Pham Van Hung's personal page alone, it has been shared over 500 times.

The poem came to Ms. Ho Thu Trang (Military Region IV Art Troupe). Sharing the same thoughts and emotions, Ms. Trang asked the author for permission to write the song "Come Home, My Brothers!" which deeply moved people. On the night of October 14th, the song "Come Home, My Brothers!" was recorded and arranged by the team including author Ho Thu Trang, composer Vu Quoc Nam, and Meritorious Artist Vu Tien Lam, and uploaded to YouTube in the early morning of October 15th.

After 15 hours since its release, the song "Come Home, My Brothers" (Lyrics: Pham Hung, Music: Ho Thu Trang), sung by Meritorious Artist Vu Tien Lam, has attracted over 150,000 views. To date, the song continues to be shared widely on social media, with nearly 230,000 views. Many singers are still performing this song...

...While the pain of the Rào Trăng 3 incident in Thừa Thiên Huế had not yet subsided, bad news arrived from Hướng Hóa, Quảng Trị. In the early morning of October 18th, heavy rains, floods, and landslides buried 22 soldiers of the 337th Division. The soldiers in the homeland of President Ho Chi Minh are once again heartbroken by this continued loss. They are eagerly awaiting the return of the martyrs who bravely sacrificed their lives at the Rào Trăng 3 hydropower plant in the early morning of October 19th, while also hoping for good news from Hướng Hóa.

Major Pham Van Hung: Sometime, I will continue writing poems to bring the image of the soldier to everyone. Photo: Duc Anh

One pain followed another. With tears welling up in his eyes, Major Pham Van Hung painfully confided: "Our compatriots in Central Vietnam are in grave danger from the floods. My comrades have suffered so many losses... Sometime, I will continue writing poems to bring the image of the soldiers to everyone, so that people can better understand the noble sacrifice of the soldiers of Uncle Ho."

"There have been too many sacrifices and losses. But we always bear in mind that the People's Army comes from the people and fights for the people. When our compatriots are affected by floods, natural disasters, or enemy attacks, even if we soldiers have to make more sacrifices, suffer more losses, or face more hardships, we are always ready to give our lives for the people and fulfill our duty."