Responsibility and the urge of the heart

Not a day off

During the fourth wave of the epidemic, the army mobilized over 130,000 troops, of which about 20,000 were for epidemic prevention and control at the border, and more than 100,000 were in Ho Chi Minh City. At the discussion session before the National Assembly on November 9, speaking at the Ho Chi Minh City bridge, National Assembly delegate Phan Van Xung, Political Commissar of the Ho Chi Minh City Command, said that the entire army had thoroughly grasped the spirit of "fighting the epidemic like fighting the enemy" and supported Ho Chi Minh City and the southern provinces with more than 133,114 troops (deploying 13 facilities to treat COVID-19 patients with 6,550 beds, establishing 660 mobile medical teams, 510 vaccine teams, 1,125 testing teams...).

Among these, the local army forces in the South from Military Regions 5, 7, and 9 are very large, plus about 20,000 soldiers from the North. Major General Nguyen Van Tin said that before entering the epidemic center, officers and soldiers were all trained in expertise, determined to have the highest determination, overcome all difficulties, and stand side by side with the people to repel the epidemic.

Since the COVID-19 pandemic began until August 2021, the entire army has deployed more than 1,900 anti-epidemic teams and checkpoints with over 13,000 people, strictly controlled land and sea borders, prevented illegal entry and exit; coordinated with localities to organize nearly 5,000 anti-epidemic teams and checkpoints with the participation of over 22,000 officers, soldiers, and militiamen in epidemic areas; deployed 190 quarantine points to serve more than 270,000 people; organized 10 infectious disease field hospitals; converted the function of a military-civilian general hospital into a hospital to treat COVID-19 patients; established a center to treat moderate and severe COVID-19 patients with thousands of doctors and military medical staff. The army has contributed 510 billion VND to support the COVID-19 Vaccine Fund; mobilize thousands of cars to transport vaccines to localities; disinfect thousands of epidemic areas and points.

In addition, the army deployed forces to establish quarantine centers for people infected and suspected of being infected with COVID-19, and social security activities were also carried out quickly and effectively by the army in the epicenter of Ho Chi Minh City and the southern provinces. The army has linked epidemic prevention and control work with caring for people's lives, ensuring good social security; organizing forces to patrol, block, and supply food. The entire army used 6,162 truck trips, 3 ship trips, 156 plane trips, transporting 25,457 tons of goods.

In Ho Chi Minh City, in just a short time of deployment, hundreds of military vehicles have delivered timely support necessities to every corner, helping people in difficulty due to COVID-19. Many special and unprecedented social security activities have also been urgently and effectively deployed by the military forces such as: "Zero-dong stall", "Zero-dong mobile vehicle trip", supporting social security packages for people; harvesting and consuming agricultural products to help people in isolated and locked-down areas; supporting people in taking care of funerals for the deceased, organizing burials and cremations of people who died from COVID-19; receiving, preserving, and handing over ashes to families with relatives. This is an unprecedented task, but officers, soldiers, and militia have been deeply aware of it, treating the deceased as their own relatives, serving with a spirit of dedication, devotion, and respect. Currently, the army is coordinating with authorities to hand over the belongings of people who died from COVID-19 to their families...

Regarding the handling of the bodies and ashes of victims who died from COVID-19, Major General Nguyen Van Tin said that the soldiers were motivated to fulfill their responsibilities with the greatest affection for the people, and to carry out their tasks carefully with a sense of responsibility and the urge of their hearts.

Facing the pandemic, right from the first days, the entire army has always proactively proposed leadership, direction, timely response measures, and led shock forces to carry out tasks on the front line. According to Major General Nguyen Van Tin, trust creates solidarity, the army becomes a support for the Party, the people, and the country. The army's proactive, accurate advice and timely participation from the beginning and on the front line in epidemic prevention and control have contributed to Vietnam's impressive success in the first three waves of the pandemic. Soldiers in all positions have been promoting steadfastness, strong will, calmness, without panic or wavering, each person is aware of ensuring the best health condition to wholeheartedly serve the people.

In addition, the border guards, navy, and coast guard regularly coordinate closely with military regions, maintain nearly 2,000 teams, and checkpoints on land, sea, river, and inland borders, patrolling day and night, strictly controlling borders, quarantine areas, blockade areas, and treatment areas to prevent F0 from entering the interior and spreading to the community.

Along the land borders or on remote islands during stormy days, the patrolling footsteps of the border guards, navy and coast guard of Vietnam have never stopped. Not only in the remote mountainous areas, in quarantine areas, but wherever there are difficulties, the image of "Uncle Ho's soldiers" shines brightly. Whether day or night, rain or shine, thousands of officers and soldiers have remained close to the people and villages for many months, mobilizing and guiding people to implement epidemic prevention and control measures and overcoming all difficulties to persistently stay at the checkpoints, preventing COVID-19 from entering from the border.

Light the fire of faith in the hearts of the people

According to Major General Nguyen Van Tin, the army has accompanied the country through resistance wars and is accompanying the entire Party and people to continue writing feats in the cause of building and defending the socialist Fatherland of Vietnam. In this fight against the COVID-19 pandemic, the people's children with the mission of wearing green military uniforms continue to put aside their personal feelings, overcome all dangers, and go to the red center of the epidemic to join their compatriots, fulfilling the "responsibility to serve the people". That is the sentiment and responsibility of the "Uncle Ho's soldiers". Wherever they are, in any circumstance, "The Fatherland above all, the people above all, selflessly serving the people, serving the people" has, is, and will become the flesh and blood in the thoughts and actions of the officers and soldiers of the Vietnam People's Army.

It is impossible to count all the dangers our soldiers have encountered, and it is impossible to measure the sacrifices our soldiers have made. Although they had to work continuously in an environment with a potential risk of infection, with a large workload, high intensity of work, a thin force, and a large area, everyone's eyes were burning with determination to fight the epidemic, without a single complaint. The images of hardship and acceptance of sacrifice of military officers and soldiers on the front lines have become beautiful symbols for every Vietnamese person to come closer together and aspire to contribute.

Without any noise, without any complaints or blames..., our soldiers just worked silently, contributed silently, sacrificed silently. They left behind feelings of love, respect, and spread altruism and humanity. The "Uncle Ho's soldiers" once again lit the fire of faith in the hearts of the people. It helped each of us to have more confidence in the army, in the leadership and management of the Party and the State. Faith creates strength, creates motivation for everyone to be together, holding hands to overcome difficult historical days.

Major General Nguyen Van Tin said that the value of the image of "Uncle Ho's soldiers" not only shines and exists in every military unit participating in the prevention and fight against the epidemic, but also has the value of spreading, arousing the national spirit, nurturing and flourishing noble deeds in society. It can be said that never before has the trust, consensus and determination of the entire people been as high as now. Along with the activities of the army, there are many volunteer activities, supporting and helping individuals and families in difficult circumstances due to the impact of the epidemic. As Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh said at the "Military-Civilian Sentiment" Program on the evening of December 19: "Military-Civilian Sentiment is an important internal value and endogenous strength that contributes to victory in the war to protect the independence, freedom and unity of the country and overcome difficult moments in history such as the COVID-19 pandemic".

Many years from now, the country will forever remember this historical period. And each time it is mentioned, the image of the officers and soldiers of the Vietnam People's Army will surely remain deeply in the hearts of every Vietnamese person.