Youth at Hanh Dich Border Post

(Baonghean) -For many years now, the green uniforms of border guards have become familiar and close on the difficult frontiers of Nghe An. Coming to Hanh Dich Border Guard Station (Que Phong) in the last days of spring, we realize more reasons for that familiarity, which is thanks to the heroic and silent feats, the sharing of hardships, the “three together”… with the people.

Officers and soldiers of Hanh Dich Border Post help people build roads.

With the task of managing and protecting 20.5 km of border with Laos and being in charge of 19 villages in the two communes of Hanh Dich and Nam Giai, soldiers at Hanh Dich Border Guard Station are planning for a series of possible situations because this is the "season" for transporting drugs, marijuana and other prohibited goods into Vietnam. Therefore, when visiting the station on this occasion, it is difficult to meet all the officers and soldiers, especially the young faces because "most of them are "sent" down to the base, sticking closely to the area to grasp every smallest movement of the subject" - Lieutenant Colonel Le Van Hai - Political Commissar of Hanh Dich Border Guard Station shared.

Lieutenant Colonel Hai added: “With the efforts of the border guards, especially emphasizing the pioneering role of the young, elite force, it can be affirmed that in the area under the management of the station, there has been no encroachment, replanting of opium poppies and illegal migration. The secret bases and networks serving the work of ensuring security and order - social safety are increasingly consolidated and strengthened. The relationship between the border guards and the people is increasingly close. Now, when going down to the villages, stopping by any house, the people welcome the border guards as their children, grandchildren, and relatives!”

Senior Lieutenant Dang Quoc Khanh - Deputy Head of the Drug Crime Prevention Team is an excellent "young man" in performing his duties, becoming a typical example of the Nghe An Border Guard. A day of that young soldier begins with a quiet journey to the field, absorbed in dangerous tasks, and not knowing what time it will end! He volunteers and is proud of his green military uniform, but with his current special job, that uniform only follows him to meetings and solemn places. The rest of the time, he is one of the thousands of ordinary people in the remote mountains to facilitate his search and arrest of criminals.

For many years, he and his teammates have participated in the fight, arrested dozens of cases, hundreds of subjects and many important exhibits, contributing to maintaining peace for the border of the Fatherland. His body was covered with wounds during the performance of his duties. At the end of 2013, on a dark and cold night in an ambush area deep in the forest, Senior Lieutenant Dang Quoc Khanh was recklessly fought back by heroin traffickers, but he still steadfastly protected the exhibits and used martial arts to control the subjects. In summary, the two main subjects in the ring were arrested, 2 heroin cakes weighing 780g were destroyed, and Senior Lieutenant Khanh suffered 30% more injuries, as a silent and inevitable part after the achievements.

With his achievements, in mid-March 2014, the brave border guard was honored as one of the 10 “Outstanding Young Vietnamese Faces of 2013”. Talking about the soldier, Lieutenant Colonel Le Van Hai could not hide his joy and pride: “Along with many titles, certificates of merit, and awards at all levels, Senior Lieutenant Dang Quoc Khanh was decided by his superiors to be promoted ahead of schedule. This is a worthy reward, demonstrating the leaders’ concern and recognition for the silent contributions of his fellow soldiers. Comrade Khanh’s family in his hometown still faces many difficulties, but overcoming all, he is still determined to carry out the tasks assigned by the Fatherland.”

Not only are they brave and intelligent in combat, the young officers and soldiers of Hanh Dich Border Post have also left many marks of their dedication, dynamism and creativity in joining hands to build the new rural areas with the local people. The Post has established a mass mobilization shock team, whose key members are outstanding union members. In addition to mobilizing people to properly implement the policies and laws of the Party and the State, the unit is also effective and active in community activities. Currently, the unit is coordinating to build Pa Kim village - one of 11 villages of Hanh Dich commune to become a cultural, economic and social model village.

Following Lieutenant Nguyen Van Hoi - Captain of the Mass Mobilization Team of Hanh Dich Border Post, we arrived at Pa Kim village on a flat, new asphalt road. Located right behind Hanh Dich Border Post, Pa Kim village from afar looks like a undulating horse's back because of the stilt houses that have faded with time. Being a purely Thai village, Pa Kim has been peaceful for generations with friendly, simple people, only hunger and poverty still persist. The difficulty of Pa Kim is that the traffic routes connecting other villages and the road to the commune center are difficult, along with the fact that the household economy has not found a unique, breakthrough feature. After many discussions with the Commune People's Committee, with the consensus of the people, the officers and soldiers of Hanh Dich Border Post, with the spirit of initiative, creativity and determination of the youth, went directly to each family, recording the thoughts and aspirations of 39 households in the village.

And then in early 2014, the winding, bumpy road full of potholes and elephant holes into Pa Kim was given a new look. Traffic was convenient, Pa Kim people seemed to have more confidence and excitement with other household economic projects jointly implemented by the Commune People's Committee and the Border Guard Station. Lieutenant Nguyen Van Hoi shared: "Currently, many households in the village have implemented the black pig farming model from the capital for building new rural areas, initially bringing in good income. Most recently, the Border Guard Station has just coordinated with the government to propagate and implement the rattan planting model. If the trees grow well and yield high yields, they will open classes to teach rattan weaving for export, solving the problem of idle agricultural labor for the people." Party cell secretary Le Van Dai led us to visit the black pig farming model of union member Vi Van Nam (1981). In 2013, with the encouragement and support of officers and soldiers of Hanh Dich Border Post, Nam participated in the black pig breeding project. From the initial 2 pigs, thanks to proper care, the herd of pigs has grown well, now numbering more than 20.

It is worth mentioning that on the difficult paths of starting a career, there are always the figures of young soldiers standing shoulder to shoulder, because first of all, it comes from the harmony of youth, and indispensable belief in the future, in the good things in this life. Lieutenant Nguyen Van Hoi confided: “Most of the officers and soldiers of the border guard station are at the age of participating in the Youth Union, their spirit is always proactive, strong, and enthusiastic in contributing. Whatever they can do for the villagers, to help the village overcome difficulties and develop, they do not hesitate”.

Phuong Chi