The green-uniformed son of the border village

Efforts for border peace

Born and raised in the border commune of Na Loi (Ky Son), since childhood, Thai ethnic boy Lo Van Khay (born in 1993) has cherished the dream of becoming a soldier with a green uniform, holding a gun firmly to protect the border and his hometown village.

Therefore, although no one in his family was in the border guard profession, in February 2012, Lo Van Khay volunteered to join the army and became a soldier of Battalion 19 (Nghe An Border Guard).

After that, he was transferred to Keng Du Border Post (Ky Son), then continued studying at Army Officer School 1 and Border Guard Intermediate School 2.

After completing his studies in 2016, Lo Van Khay returned to work at Keng Du Border Guard Station and was recruited into the Party. In June 2022, he was transferred to work as an armed officer at My Ly Border Guard Station (Ky Son).
Always considering "The station is home, the border is homeland, and the people of all ethnic groups are blood brothers", in any position, Senior Lieutenant Lo Van Khay always strives to complete all tasks well.

From participating in patrolling and protecting the border, landmarks, and protective forests; participating in combat readiness, patrolling the area of ​​​​Mark 390 and the Nhot Lot and Xop Duong checkpoints during the Covid-19 pandemic outbreak; to working with teammates to effectively maintain the "Community Covid Team" model in 25 villages; strictly managing trails and openings on the border; installing mailboxes to report illegal entry and exit in the border villages of My Ly and Bac Ly communes (Ky Son).

During his work, Senior Lieutenant Lo Van Khay always promoted the spirit of self-study, self-training, improving his political theory, expertise, and professional skills, keeping abreast of the local situation; participating in preventing and fighting all kinds of crimes (drugs, smuggling, illegal transportation of forest products, human trafficking, etc.) to ensure border security.

In 5 years (2018-2023), Senior Lieutenant Lo Van Khay and his unit handled 71 criminal cases/80 subjects, seized 102.36 grams and 2 heroin cakes, 106,016 MTTH pills, 2 kg of crystal meth, 36,994 synthetic drug pills, 1 grenade, 2 military guns with modified stocks, 20 K56 bullets, 34 m3 of various types of wood... Administratively sanctioned 33 cases/41 subjects, fined 77,500,000 VND, seized 38 m3 of wood. In 2023 alone, he directly participated in catching and arresting 3 cases/3 subjects for illegal possession of drugs, seized evidence of 4,000 synthetic drug pills; 0.8 grams of heroin; Propaganda and mobilization of people to voluntarily hand over 15 homemade guns.

At the same time, directly participated in 6 patrols and controls of border lines, landmarks, and border areas under the unit's responsibility; coordinated with the police force and the commune militia to conduct 13 mobile patrols and controls, contributing to firmly protecting the national border security and sovereignty.

My Ly Border Guard Station - where Senior Lieutenant Lo Van Khay is working - is assigned to manage 2 communes My Ly and Bac Ly (Ky Son), including 25 villages, with a border of 48.468 km, 9 landmarks; total population is 2,167 households/10,512 people, mainly Thai, Mong, Kho Mu ethnic groups. People's lives are still difficult, education and awareness, including legal awareness, are limited.
As an ethnic minority, knowledgeable about the customs and practices of the people, Senior Lieutenant Lo Van Khay always tries to build a "bridge" to closely connect the border guards with the ethnic people on the border. He actively works with his teammates to stay close to the people and villages to propagate and mobilize the people to strictly follow the Party's guidelines and policies, the State's policies and laws, and participate with the border guards and localities in managing and protecting the national border.

Propaganda contents are compiled to be concise, easy to understand, easy to remember and cleverly integrated into people's meetings, propaganda through loudspeaker systems, billboards, posters, slogans, leaflets; combining general propaganda with specific propaganda in the people's language.

At the same time, actively enlist the help of village elders, village chiefs, and prestigious people in villages and hamlets to widely launch a mass movement to participate in protecting border sovereignty and security; self-manage border lines, landmarks, security, and order. Thereby, contributing to building a solid people's border defense.

Promoting youth for the community

We first met Senior Lieutenant Lo Van Khay when he was participating in activities to help people repair roads with Keng Du Border Guard Station and had the chance to meet him again a second time when he was working hard with young soldiers of My Ly Border Guard Station to repaint and refurbish the computer room connecting technology to serve the needs of information search and Internet use for students and village cadres.

Next to it is a charity house "Whoever needs, come take, whoever has, share" and a small room with a sign "Friendly barber shop" providing free haircuts for people.

Talking to us, Senior Lieutenant Lo Van Khay said that he feels very happy to contribute to the community, especially the young generation who are children of ethnic minorities in the area.
The enthusiasm and spirit of youth have always been promoted by him throughout his work.

As a member of the Executive Committee of the My Ly Border Guard Station Youth Union, he proactively advised the Youth Union to take care of and guide students in the "Helping Children Go to School" and "Adopted Children of the Border Guard Station" programs sponsored by My Ly Border Guard Station in studying, living and improving life skills.

In addition, he also regularly advises the Executive Committee of the Youth Union to effectively carry out activities to accompany young people in establishing their careers; hunger eradication, poverty reduction and the construction of new rural areas in the area where the unit is stationed. In 2023, the Youth Union of My Ly Border Guard Station coordinated with the local Youth Union to mobilize 321 working days, plant 974 trees of all kinds in the area; repair 2.9 km of rural roads.

At the same time, participate in propagating to the people, especially union members and youth, to effectively implement the Campaign "All people unite to build a cultural life in residential areas"; build bright spots of highland culture, eliminate backward customs, arouse and promote the cultural identity of each ethnic group.

In particular, when the border district of Ky Son suffered a terrible flood (October 2022) causing heavy damage, Senior Lieutenant Lo Van Khay worked side by side with his teammates and people to participate in rescue work and overcome the consequences of natural disasters in the area under his charge. Thereby, he participated in relocating 7 houses at risk of collapse, building 1 semi-permanent house, 3 temporary houses, cleaning 1 school; shoveling landslide soil and rocks into houses for 7 households and the Ky Son District Forest Protection Management Board.

At the same time, call on charitable organizations to donate materials and necessities to the people and flashlights to the rescue forces.
“Everyone chooses the easy work, who will do the hard work?” Like many of his comrades and teammates, Senior Lieutenant Lo Van Khay always believes: “Helping the people is the command from the heart of the border soldiers. Moreover, as a son of the village, I always want to contribute and dedicate myself to my homeland and to the people of other ethnic groups.”

Commenting on professional soldier Lieutenant Lo Van Khay, Lieutenant Colonel Hoang The Tai - Political Commissar of My Ly Border Guard Station said: "Comrade Lo Van Khay always has a high sense of responsibility, is an exemplary leader in performing his duties, and is one of the shining examples for his comrades in the unit to learn from and follow."

With his efforts in work and in the Emulation movement to win, in 2023, Senior Lieutenant Lo Van Khay was honored to be awarded the title of "Basic Emulation Fighter" by the Provincial Border Guard Command and recognized as one of the 10 "Outstanding Young Faces" in the entire border guard force.

He is also one of 5 outstanding individuals in the whole province to be awarded a Certificate of Merit by the Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee for outstanding achievements in 5 years of implementing the National Border Defense Day (2019-2024 period); The Vietnam Youth Union of Nghe An province awarded a Certificate of Merit for outstanding achievements in the youth movement.