The unfinished promise of a CASA 212 soldier with his wife

The last messages made her sob but also filled with hope that her loyal and exemplary husband would never leave her and her children.

“When you marry your brother, you have to be determined to be tough, because of the mission, when you board the plane, the signal can be lost at any time,” Captain Le Van Dinh (born in 1984), a reconnaissance officer of Brigade 918, often comforted and encouraged his wife Do Thi Tham (born in 1988). After 7 days of no news from her husband, the young wife still anxiously hoped for a miracle so that he and his comrades could return.

Captain Le Van Dinh (standing far right) and Lieutenant Colonel Nguyen Duc Hao participate in discussing the search plan for Malaysia Airlines flight MH 370, March 15, 2014.

“Dad, come back to me!”

These past few days, the house was full of paternal and maternal relatives and many people came to visit but there was no sign of her father. Little Le Ha Binh (2 years old), the eldest daughter of Captain Le Van Dinh, kept running in and out asking where her father was. Occasionally, the child rushed into her mother's arms, and her grandmother asked: "Mom, grandma, why hasn't dad Dinh come home yet?" causing Ms. Tham to shed tears.

She said that both children named by Mr. Dinh have the word "Binh" in their first and middle names, with the wish that the country will always be peaceful and life will be peaceful. Just at the beginning of June, baby Ha Binh was celebrated by her parents for her 2nd birthday. Her 3-month-old son was named Binh Minh by his father Dinh. When I visited, baby Binh Minh was dozing in his grandmother's arms, occasionally smiling innocently and adorably.

On the day they got married, Tham was pregnant with her first child but could not keep it. Mrs. Nga and her husband decided to sell their house in Quang Ninh to live with Dinh and his wife to take care of their daughter-in-law in a cramped rented house. When the couple welcomed their first daughter safely, Mrs. Nga stayed to take care of her grandchild for a whole year before moving to Thai Nguyen to live. This was also the place where when Tham gave birth to her second child, all three mother and children moved to live with her husband's parents. Dinh stayed in Hanoi for work.

Tham said that every Friday afternoon after work, Dinh would buy milk, diapers, and fruit for her and her child. “The weekend before the fateful flight, Dinh returned to his hometown and promised to pick her up in Hanoi after the flight. “I will teach her to swim and take her to daycare. I have found a good daycare for Ha Binh!” he told her before returning to Hanoi for work. Now Ha Binh always hopes her father will come back to take her to swimming lessons.”

Dinh and Tham got married in October 2012. During their four years of marriage, they had to move six times, but despite the difficulties, the young couple always persevered and worked hard. “He always took care of his wife and children.

Even though he went through many hardships, he never raised his voice or blamed me. As an emotional and responsible person, he always confided in me and encouraged me: “If you marry me, you have to be strong. When I get on the plane, I might lose signal or have an accident and not return at any time. If you marry me, you accept that!”

Le Van Dinh with his 3-month-old son. Photo provided by family.

“Who has met you,unforgettable"

“That soldier, whoever met him could never forget him”, the lyrics of that song echo forever in us, the neighbors in the 918 apartment complex of Captain Le Van Dinh. Dinh was tall, handsome and impressive with a gentle, kind smile.

The image that makes me admire that soldier is that he does not mind cooking, he is willing to go to the market to buy vegetables for his wife, then sit on the porch to pick vegetables, clean the house and sing happily. The young couple lives in an old, dilapidated level 4 rented house but there has never been any complaint. Taking advantage of the day off, he repairs the house, helps his wife cook, wash and dry clothes.

Born into a poor family, Mrs. Nga, Dinh's mother, recalled that Dinh lived his entire childhood in hardship and deprivation. When he was in high school, his parents separated, adding to his mental deprivation. The young man was determined to pursue a military career, passed the entrance exam and studied at the Special Forces Officer School. The tallest of the K26 water special forces class, he was nicknamed "otter" by his teammates.

After graduating, he worked at the Vietnam Coast Guard in the field of drug crime prevention, stationed in Ha Tinh. In 2011, the entire army held a training exam to pilot reconnaissance aircraft, he became one of the first few officers in the country to be trained in Spain and received the Casa 212 aircraft to perform reconnaissance missions in the country's sea and sky.

Captain Le Van Dinh

During his military career, Captain Dinh was trained as a water commando, a crime fighter, and an air patrolman. But the job that he is passionate about and loves with all his heart is the ability to see the sky, stretching across the country, on each flight.

“He loved flying. Every time he took a flight, he would text me to let me know, and take lots of pictures while flying. When the plane landed, he would call his wife and mother to let them know that he was safe. Dinh said, “Under my wings, our country is so beautiful!” Tham sobbed again as she remembered her husband whom she loved so much.

In the living room, he ordered and hung only one picture of a Casa-212 reconnaissance plane with the national flag flying over the islands. After each flight, when he returned home, he would stand and admire the picture.

For nearly two years, Dinh and Tham rented a house in the military housing complex 918, Phuc Dong ward where he worked. The entire housing complex loved and respected the young couple.

Ms. Dinh Hue, who lives in C5 in the same row as Mr. Dinh and his wife, was in tears as she said: “Just a few months ago, he moved to a new, better house. We, the whole row, were so happy for him. For years, they rented a cramped, old, and dilapidated house. Whenever it rained, Dinh would work hard to fix the leaks and take care of his wife in every little way. When his wife was pregnant and had morning sickness, he just wanted to finish his shift, fly safely, and then rush home to cook for his wife.

Despite the hardship, he is always optimistic and cheerful, taking good care of his wife and children. Every weekend, seeing the beautiful couple happily holding hands and going to the market, I suddenly feel happy. These days, the people of the 918 neighborhood, who are also Dinh's comrades, often come to visit and encourage Tham and her children to overcome difficult times. Witnessing the young wife and two young children, makes everyone feel heartbroken and sympathetic.

Captain Le Van Dinh (sitting) performs a reconnaissance mission on a Casa-212 aircraft. Photo provided by family.

Mrs. Pham Thi Nga, Dinh's mother, said: "He just renovated the house, preparing to welcome his wife and children home, but... From childhood until now, he has never had a day of complete joy...".

The patrol officer was a source of both material and spiritual support for his wife and children. Currently, Ms. Tham is on leave to raise her children. The last messages always made her sob but also filled her with hope that her exemplary and loyal husband would never leave her and her children. At 7am on June 16, Tham texted her husband: "Is it raining in Hanoi?"

Preparing to board the plane, Mr. Dinh replied: “It’s still raining, my dear. But the mission is still flying despite the wind and rain. Why did you wake up so early today?”

Tham: "There was a power outage in the countryside, so I got up and took my child out to the porch to fan him to cool off."

Mr. Dinh: "I'm about to fly, you should rest and recuperate!"

While she was absent-mindedly reading her husband’s messages, baby Binh Minh stirred, thirsty for milk, so she hurried into the room to breastfeed him. The young wife, with tears in her eyes, still believed that her husband was a man who always kept his promises. He would definitely come back… But now, the newly updated information about the fate of the officers and staff on that fateful flight was squeezing her heart. Her eyes were wide open, staring up at the vast sky…/.

According to Tienphong