Mourning the 4 Nghe An children who died in Rao Trang 3
(Baonghean.vn) - In the past few days, the land of Hue - the heart of the Central region - has been experiencing torrential rain, causing thousands of houses to be submerged in water. The order to rescue the people was issued, and thousands of soldiers of Military Region 4 immediately set out to help the people. Among the 13 officers and soldiers who died in Sub-region 67, there were 4 people from Nghe An.
"Dad Dung, I will wait for you to come home"
Immediately after the information of Lieutenant Colonel Nguyen Tien Dung, Deputy Head of Operations Department, Military Region General Staff,A working group of Military Region 4 sacrificed their lives during a rescue operation in Phong Dien district (Thua Thien Hue)., everyone regrets the exemplary officer. Especially his example of wholehearted devotion to duty and his plans are recounted by his teammates and relatives with utmost respect.
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| Lieutenant Colonel Nguyen Tien Dung (second from left) is always dedicated to his duties. Photo by Ngoc Thang |
Inheriting the qualities of Uncle Ho's soldiers from his father, in 1998, after graduating from high school, Nguyen Tien Dung registered and passed the entrance exam to the Army Officer School 1. After 5 years of studying and graduating with an excellent degree, he returned to his hometown Nghe An to work at Regiment 1, Division 324. Being a diligent, enthusiastic and responsible person, through various positions, he always completed his tasks excellently and was trusted by his superiors and teammates.
Talking about his teammate, Lieutenant Colonel Le Thanh Phong - Deputy Head of the Operations Department shared: Although he has only been at the agency for a short time, Dung has always been exemplary, energetic and enthusiastic in his work. He has been at the agency for less than a month but Dung has volunteered to take on all tasks and go to difficult areas. Before going to help people in the flooded areas of Quang Tri and Thua Thien Hue, he told me, after completing the rescue mission, he will have time to pass on to the brothers in the department the military knowledge after 2 years of studying in the Russian Federation. However, the plan has not come true...
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| Not only is he an exemplary officer, Mr. Dung always cares and is close to soldiers to understand their thoughts and feelings. Photo: Ngoc Thang |
Present at the small house of Mr. Dung's family, Captain Hoang Trong Vinh, Deputy Battalion Commander of Battalion 5, Regiment 335, Division 324, the unit where Mr. Dung worked, shared: "I grew up to be who I am today thanks to the guidance and great help from Mr. Dung. Not only did he equip me to improve my professional qualifications, but he also taught us the ethics of a cadre towards the unit, work... That is to always be devoted to the task, always consider the unit as your own family. Last month I called him, the unit was about to prepare for an exercise and asked him to help me with more skills in staff work on digital maps. He said, after this period, when he has time, he will take a day off to help me...".
Ms. Le Thi Bich Hang, Mr. Dung's wife, shared: "Before he left for work, he told me to stay home and try to take care of my health. We also plan to borrow more money at the end of this year to renovate this level 4 house."
His daughter, Nguyen Thi Ha Phuong, cried: "Dad, I promise I will try to study well and at the end of this year I will have a reward for you! Dad, who will give me the reward when you leave? Dad Dung, I will wait for you to come back."
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| In daily life, Mr. Dung always cares for and visits his fellow soldiers. Photo: Ngoc Thang |
The officers and soldiers who worked with Lieutenant Colonel Nguyen Tien Dung always had warm feelings for him. In particular, the localities where he worked such as Do Luong district; Tuong Son commune, Anh Son... always remember him as a military officer who always devoted himself to the people. Because whenever the people in the area encountered difficulties and hardships, he and the officers and soldiers of the unit were always present in time to join hands with the people to overcome hardships.
An exemplary role model in work as well as in daily life with many unfinished plans and many achievements of the young officer made everyone feel sorry. During 22 years in the army, he was awarded by the Party and the State: First, Second and Third Class Glorious Soldier Medal; Victory Flag Medal; Certificate of Merit from the Minister of National Defense, Certificate of Merit from the Prime Minister; Third Class Fatherland Protection Medal along with many other awards and emulation titles at all levels and for 13 consecutive years from 2004 to 2016, he was awarded the title of Emulation Fighter.
Forever remember the exemplary comrade and brother
"Mr. Thang is not only our leader and brother, but also our close friend" - Those are the feelings of comrades towards Lieutenant Colonel Le Tat Thang, Deputy Brigade Commander - Chief of Staff of the 80th Information Brigade, who recently sacrificed his life in rescue in Thua Thien Hue.
As reporters, during our participation in tasks such as drills, flood and forest fire prevention in provinces from Thanh Hoa to Thua Thien Hue...80th Signal Brigadethen too familiar with the image of the cadre who is always close and sharing.
Until today, after nearly 25 years of leaving school, students of the school year (1993 - 1996) of Kim Lien High School, Nam Dan still remember the image of their friend Le Tat Thang, who was enthusiastic in all team activities and ready to help everyone.
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| Lieutenant Colonel Le Tat Thang (far left) always cares about and looks after the soldiers' meals and sleep. Photo: Ngoc Thang |
As for the officers and soldiers of the 80th Information Brigade and those who worked with him, they cannot forget the image of the commander, the brother, and the friend who always devoted himself to the unit and the soldiers.
Major Le Minh Tuong, former Battalion Commander of Battalion 3, 80th Information Brigade, currently studying at the Army Academy, could not contain his emotions when he heard the news of Thang's sacrifice. On the phone, he told me about Thang's feelings for him and the unit, which Tuong was speechless about. According to Tuong, his maturity today is greatly thanks to Thang's guidance. He told me that on the occasion of the 2019 Military Region-level All-Around Command Officer Competition, regardless of holidays or breaks, Thang trained and corrected him from the smallest movements. And in that competition, Tuong won the First Prize of the Military Region.
According to Major Nguyen Hong Van - Head of the Political Department of the 40 Cua Hoi Nursing Group, who worked with Thang for a long time, in his military career, he rarely saw an officer who cared, was as close, and shared with his comrades as Thang. However...
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| Lieutenant Colonel Le Tat Thang (right) commanded troops to ensure information during rescue operations and help people fight floods in Hue recently. Photo: Ngoc Thang |
His wife, Le Ngoc Diep, who was already sick, was in such a shock that she could only hold the photo of the couple taken a long time ago, silently unable to cry. His children, Le Quyet Tien born in 2005 and Le Minh Hang born in 2013, were starting to grow up, and his parents, now elderly, did not know who to rely on.
In the recent "Great Flood" in Thua Thien Hue, wherever there were leaders, commanders, and soldiers participating in rescue and helping people, wherever there were information soldiers, there was Deputy Brigade Commander - Chief of Staff Le Tat Thang.
In recent days, images of him and his teammates soaking in the raging waters, or clinging to tiny boats to ensure communication and to serve the rescue work have been widely spread on social networks and received both sympathy and admiration. In natural disasters and floods, in hardships and difficulties, the commander of the 80th Information Brigade always shares the difficult work with the soldiers.
In particular, the last images of the working group are still preserved in the memory card of comrade Nguyen Duc Cuong - Deputy Editor-in-Chief of Military Region 4 Newspaper, one of the 8 survivors that day who were just found by the forces lying with the bodies of the martyrs. There is still the image of Lieutenant Colonel Le Tat Thang carrying equipment to replace soldiers through dangerous roads on the march intoRao Trang 3 Hydropower PlantAnd there is the image of the Deputy Brigade Commander - Chief of Staff eating only half a bowl of rice with fish sauce to give to his comrades in the last meal at Ranger Station 67.
When the last images of him and the martyrs in the working group in the house of Ranger Station 67 by the flickering fire that night were posted by Military Zone 4 Newspaper, it made millions of hearts ache. There was still the Brigade commander's kind inquiry about his family's situation and encouragement, reminding his brothers to try to take care of their health because the flood was still long.
Although his family's circumstances were still difficult, comrade Le Tat Thang always tried to overcome them to complete all tasks excellently. He was continuously awarded by all levels for many years, but the greatest reward was the image of an exemplary commander, a brother, a friend who always loved his comrades and soldiers with all his heart forever in everyone's mind.
Unfulfilled promise…
Through the dark night in the rain, we found the small house of Captain Nguyen Canh Cuong, Company Commander, Company 6, Battalion 2, Information Brigade 80, one of 13 officers and soldiers who died during the rescue at Rao Trang 3 Hydropower Plant (Phong Dien District, Thua Thien Hue) in Hamlet 18, Nghi Lien Commune, Vinh City.
In the level 4 house, the eyes of Mr. Nguyen Canh Anh, father of Captain Cuong - a man who had experienced the storm of bombs and bullets in the war against America to save the country, still could not hold back tears. Mr. Anh said: “Of the three children, Cuong is the one who worries about his parents the most. My wife has a heart disease, so the day before going to Hue, he called me to remind my father to remind my mother to take her medicine regularly. But…!”
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| Captain Nguyen Canh Cuong (standing, pointing) is always dedicated, guiding soldiers in training and work. Photo: Ngoc Thang |
“Cuong is a young, dynamic officer who always takes on difficult tasks. Especially in the tasks of ensuring information for drills, preventing and rescuing, and rescuing… Cuong always volunteers to go first. Before going to Hue, Cuong still had 2 days off, but when he heard that the unit was carrying out a rescuing mission, Cuong immediately went to the unit.”
Captain Le Xuan Son's voice - Political Commissar of Battalion 2, Information Brigade 80 seemed to lose its voice when talking about his comrade: "Before leaving for work in Hue, although it was almost time for dinner, Cuong and his comrades in the working group had not had time to eat yet." And then, the last meal of his life with his comrades in the working group was not complete. Because after marching to Ranger Station 67, it was already 8:00 p.m. Everyone searched for a long time to find some rice and a small pot to cook, but because the firewood was wet, the rice could not be cooked and there was still a little fish sauce left by the rangers, so they shared it to regain strength.
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| Captain Nguyen Canh Cuong (standing in the middle) and his teammates were in charge of maintaining a smooth communication network for the recent rescue mission in Hue. Photo: Ngoc Thang |
Mrs. Dinh Thi Thu, Cuong's mother, nearly 70 years old, collapsed in the arms of her relatives. Since hearing the news of Cuong and his working group's accident, many relatives came to visit and encourage them, but the family hid it from her. However, with her intuition and maternal love, Mrs. Thu vaguely realized the bad news that had come to her son. And from that day until now, she has had to continuously take heart medication. Her eyes looked distant and dull, in despair, she occasionally cried: Cuong, you told me to prepare my health to hold your grandchild. But how could you lie to me, Cuong!
Ms. Nguyen Thi Thu Ha, Cuong's wife, is a doctor, but due to the great shock, she was like a soulless person. It is known that Cuong and his wife have been married for a year but still do not have children. Many times, his parents and relatives urged him and his wife to go to the doctor, but because of his duty, Cuong always put it off. And recently, he asked for permission from his unit to take a few days so that he and his wife could go to Hanoi for a check-up. However, before he could take the medicine the doctor prescribed for him and his wife, he passed away...
Mom, why is dad not home yet?
It has been raining continuously in Thanh Vinh for the past few days, causing the alley leading to the house of Senior Lieutenant Colonel QNCNDinh Van Trung - Station Chief 15W of Company 6, Battalion 2, Information Brigade 80 in Block 10, Ben Thuy Ward, Vinh City, was even more muddy. The small alley that usually had few people passing by was now enveloped in an even more gloomy atmosphere of mourning. Many comrades, relatives and neighbors came to encourage and join hands to take care of the family, everyone was in tears because he passed away at such a young age and in such a difficult situation.
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| First Lieutenant Dinh Van Trung (far left) always ensures smooth communication in all missions. Photo: Ngoc Thang |
“It hurts so much, guys! Even though we are not relatives, when we heard about Uncle Trung’s sacrifice, we were all saddened. Every time he comes home, Uncle Trung is always willing to help any family that needs help. Last Sunday, he helped my family fix a broken circuit breaker.”
Being an information staff and always diligent and eager to learn, Trung is very proficient in repairing electricity and water. Therefore, whenever the neighbors have problems with electricity and water, Trung is there to help promptly.
In recent days, upon hearing the news of Trung’s accident, Mr. Dinh Van Dong, Trung’s father, who is 73 years old, could not sleep. His heart disease relapsed, making his eyes dull and his face even more haggard. In a choked voice, Mr. Dong told about Trung’s childhood, making everyone unable to hold back their tears. …At the age of 7, Trung’s mother suddenly passed away. Lacking the love and care of a mother, Trung was at a disadvantage compared to his friends.
Since getting married and having children, Trung's family's situation has become even more difficult. Trung's wife graduated from Vinh University, Faculty of Tourism, but after graduating she couldn't find a job so she is working as a worker in a printing factory, earning just over 3 million VND per month. All of the family's living expenses depend on Trung's small salary, but the family is always warm and harmonious.
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| Senior Lieutenant Dinh Van Trung (right) performed the task of ensuring information for rescue work in Thua Thien Hue recently. Photo: Ngoc Thang |
Ms. Nguyen Thi Anh, wife of Senior Lieutenant Dinh Van Trung, was not sober enough to take care of her husband's work. All the housework was done with the help of comrades, relatives and neighbors. The most heartbreaking were Trung's two young children. Dinh Van Anh Tuan, Trung's eldest son, had just turned 4 years old, and his little daughter, Dinh Thi Thuy Linh, was almost 1 year old, not yet old enough to understand the pain that had befallen their family. His eyes were wide open in bewilderment when he saw his mother crying. Holding on to his mother's shoulder, Tuan whined, "Mom, why isn't dad home yet at night?"
“Trung is a teammate who is devoted to everyone. Although his family situation is still difficult, whenever his friends and teammates need help, he is always willing. Especially in his professional duties, Trung always takes on difficult tasks. During the exercises and communications missions for the Brigade and the Military Region, Trung always volunteered to go first. Yet…”.
1. On October 12, 2020, upon receiving information that many workers at Rao Trang 3 Hydropower Plant in Phong Dien District were in trouble due to being buried by rocks and soil. Despite having just waded through floodwaters to provide supplies to people in deeply flooded areas of Thua Thien Hue Province on their way back, without a moment's rest, the sons of Nghe An and the working group immediately set out to rescue the victims. When they were not far from the scene, rocks and soil from the mountainside collapsed, killing 13 officers in the group while resting in Sub-region 67, including 4 outstanding sons of Nghe An. Their sacrifice left behind endless sorrow for the people and soldiers of the whole country.
2. In recognition of their great contributions and heroic sacrifices, on October 16, 2020, the Prime Minister signed Decision No. 1594/QD-TTg to award the "Fatherland's Gratitude" Certificate to four comrades. At the same time, the Ministry of National Defense signed a decision to posthumously promote the rank of Lieutenant Colonel to Senior Colonel for comrade Nguyen Tien Dung and comrade Le Tat Thang; Captain Nguyen Canh Cuong was posthumously promoted to the rank of Major, and the Central Committee of the Ho Chi Minh Communist Youth Union decided to posthumously award him the "Brave Youth" badge; Senior Lieutenant Dinh Van Trung was posthumously promoted to the rank of Senior Captain.
On October 17, 2020, President Nguyen Phu Trong signed Decision No. 1820/QD-CTN to posthumously award the Second Class Fatherland Protection Medal to comrade Nguyen Tien Dung and comrade Le Tat Thang; posthumously award the Third Class Fatherland Protection Medal to comradeNguyen Canh Cuong and comrade Dinh Van Trung.
In recognition of their heroic sacrifice for the people, the People's Committee of Thua Thien Hue province also posthumously awarded Certificates of Merit to four comrades.
Identities of 13 officers and soldiers who died while performing rescue missions at Rao Trang 3
(Baonghean.vn) - A working group from the Military Region 4 Command; the Department of Rescue and Relief of the Ministry of National Defense, and the People's Committee of Thua Thien Hue province approached the scene, but unfortunately suffered a landslide and died while on duty in the early morning of October 13.
