Kindness in the "steel" unit

(Baonghean) - Division 324 (Military Region 4) is the main unit for training and combat readiness, with high training intensity, great mobility, and limited time. To successfully complete the tasks in the unit requires great effort from the women here, to "take care of both national and family affairs", shouldering "two shoulders".

Women of the Logistics Department, Division 324 (Military Region 4) inspect the "Rice Saving Jar".

It was drizzling and late at night, but from afar we could still recognize Major Nguyen Thi Van, the cook of the 324th Division Infirmary. During the day, she took care of every meal for the officers, soldiers and patients at the infirmary, and in the evening, she took the time to guide her children with their homework. Thanks to her mother's constant care and guidance and her own efforts, last school year, Le Thi Anh Nguyet, Van's eldest daughter, won second prize in the provincial Math competition. Van's husband is Captain Le Anh Khoa, who is working on Coast Guard ship 1014, Squadron 102, Region 1, Vietnam Coast Guard Command. Since their marriage, Khoa has never been home for a full month, sometimes only a few days because of his duty and he has to pack his backpack and return to his unit. The responsibility of taking care of and educating the children fell on her shoulders.

Ms. Van shared: “Mr. Khoa spends most of his time on ships drifting at sea, his work is very hard and dangerous. I often encourage my children to try to study hard and be good so that their father can rest assured to stay at sea and protect the sacred sovereignty of the Fatherland.” There are many days when it is her turn to be on duty in the morning, she has to bring vegetables home to work all night, and at 3 a.m. bring them to the unit to cook, then return to feed the children and send them to school... Despite the hardship, from 2010 until now, Major Nguyen Thi Van has always achieved the title of Emulation Fighter at the grassroots level and has been awarded many prizes for her activities in the Division's Women's Union.

Professional Lieutenant Cao Thi Hai Son, operator of the 18th Information Battalion (324th Division), was supported by officers and soldiers in the Division and the Ministry of National Defense to build a house for her comrades. On the day she received her new house, Ms. Son was given many meaningful gifts by her comrades and the unit. Ms. Son was moved: “My life has never been as happy as today! Growing up, joining the army and then building a family, my husband and I came together with nothing, and had 2 children, but… our love was broken. For more than 5 years, the mother and her children have lived on a meager salary; we did not have the conditions to build a house and cover daily expenses. Today, my family can move back to our new house and the children have more warm blankets every winter…”.

These gifts were taken from the “Rice Savings Jar” fund and the “100 VND/member/day” savings program launched by the Division Women’s Union for many years. Despite the difficulties, for many years, professional First Lieutenant Cao Thi Hai Son has always been an active member of the unit. Besides ensuring smooth communication, she also regularly participates in vibrant cultural and artistic activities, is a radio announcer with a standard voice of the Division, and is also the Head of the Women’s Union of the General Staff Department… in addition to raising her two children to be healthy, well-behaved, and good at studying.

Colonel Trinh Van Hung, Political Commissar of Division 324 (Military Region 4) said: “The Division is a main unit with a large number of soldiers. Although the number of women is not large, for many years, the leaders and commanders of the Division have regularly cared for and encouraged women to work with peace of mind. On holidays and Tet, we often organize gift giving. For women whose families are in difficulty, the Division supports them in building houses for their comrades or provides interest-free loans to help them escape poverty. Thanks to that, over the past years, 100% of the women have completed their tasks well in the unit, while raising their children to be good and studious, and developing the family economy.” In recent years, the Women's Union has promoted the models of "Self-managed Women's Meals", "Bowl of Water on the Training Ground", and giving gifts to new soldiers, soldiers who have completed their military service, and families with preferential policies in the area; 100% of member families meet the 8 criteria of "5 no, 3 clean" and the Project "Educating 5 million mothers to raise good children".

Coming to Division 324, witnessing and sharing the hardships and difficulties of the women here; having to strive every day to build the unit and build a family that "fulfills both roles", I admire the image of the "beautiful women" in the "steel" unit even more.

Le Tuong Hieu

(HT: 5NK 3039 Do Luong)