Sergeant Lau Ba Dia is ready for a new "battle"!

Lau Ba Dia said he was very lucky to become a soldier of Regiment 335 - Division 324. Here he was trained, studied and matured. Photo: Le Tuong Hieu

A moment later, the couple met. I don't know what they talked about, but when they handed the phone back to the Platoon Leader, Ba Dia's face lit up, his eyes sparkling as if he had just experienced something exciting. Pulling me to the stone bench, Dia happily said: "I won't hide anything from you, I only have a few days left to complete my military service. My wife called to ask so that my mother and children could come pick me up. I missed everyone so much after two years away from home, but I had to hide it in my heart to complete my mission well. This Tet, my husband and I will buy a lot of meat, wrap a lot of banh chung, and buy new clothes to go out in the Spring."

Sergeant Lau Ba Dia. Photo: Le Tuong Hieu

Having said that, Dia touched her chest, reached into her pocket and showed me a pair of beautiful pink earrings. Seeing that I didn’t understand, Dia spoke softly but almost loudly: “In Truong Son village, my family is very poor, lacking many things, but I thought I had to buy something to give my wife. So when the Battalion Political Commissar went on a mission, I asked him to buy me these earrings. This is a gift to thank Vu Y Re. Y Re was my wife and suffered many disadvantages. “He” had to stay home all year round to take care of the fields and family while I worked…” My story with Sergeant Lau Ba Dia, Squad Leader of Company 9, Battalion 6, Regiment 335, Division 324 (Military Region 4) continued to grow.

Unit officers exchange professional knowledge with Sergeant Lau Ba Dia. Photo: Le Tuong Hieu

Sergeant Lau Ba Dia is a Mong ethnic, from Truong Son village, Nam Can commune, Ky Son district (Nghe An). His family has 4 siblings, Dia is the youngest. In 2014, he married Vu Y Re, and now has a son who is nearly 3 years old. The couple is living with his parents, their life depends on farming, and a few buffaloes and cows, so his family is still poor. In 2016, Lau Ba Dia joined the army and with his own efforts, he was admitted to the Party at the unit, and was awarded the title of Advanced Soldier.

A corner of Truong Son village, Nam Can commune (Ky Son) - the hometown of Lau Ba Dia. Photo: Ho Phuong

When I asked Dia what he remembered most after 2 years of service, after a moment of contemplation, he expressed: “The most memorable thing is the day I joined the army. It was raining, and only my mother and brother took me to the district. My wife carried the baby to the alley and then turned back. My mother stood by the door looking at her son. At that time, I thought, if everyone wants to be happy, who will I send my hardships to? I told myself to work with peace of mind and complete all tasks well. That was the way I loved my family. After completing the rookie training course, I registered to study squad leader. Then in my new position, I had to work harder, in addition to my own duties, I had to take care of the soldiers. We were always close and encouraged each other to work together. The important thing is that in everything we do, we must set an example for the soldiers to follow.”

At the unit, Dia and his teammates joined in helping people build new rural areas in the communes where they were stationed. Photo: Le Tuong Hieu

Ba Dia also said that since becoming a soldier, he has learned a lot. Even with simple things like raising livestock and poultry, up to now, in the village, Dia's family has raised them all in the traditional way, without any scientific knowledge. Therefore, buffaloes, pigs and chickens often get sick and die. In the unit, Ba Dia was equipped with knowledge of livestock production, so he is very confident. Pigs must be fed three meals a day, disease prevention, cool barns in the summer, warm barns in the winter to grow quickly and generate high income. When planting any tree, you must make beds, fertilize, weed, and water it to grow quickly and have high productivity. "In the village, our family is still backward. Every time I write a letter or call, I tell my wife to do the same" - Dia laughed happily.

Dia said he will apply the knowledge he learned in the military environment to reality, thereby finding a way to escape poverty and determined to get rich on his homeland's border land. Photo: Le Tuong Hieu

Captain Le Van Chung - Deputy Political Commissar of Battalion 6, Regiment 335 affectionately spoke about Lau Ba Dia: “Comrade Dia is a squad officer who is dedicated to his work. Always enthusiastic, highly responsible, not afraid of hardships. Although he is an ethnic minority, Dia integrates confidently, learns lessons well, actively participates in cultural and artistic activities, sports, and especially knows how to play the flute and sing. In addition to doing his job well, he often helps his teammates and is loved by everyone.”

In the squad, everyone respected Squad Leader Lau Ba Dia. During his military service, every month Dia received his science allowance and saved it to send to his wife. In addition, Dia also saved 6.5 million VND from the allowance, and with the discharge money he brought home this time, he brought home nearly 30 million VND. Dia said that he would invest all the money he received with the production and livestock farming knowledge he learned in the army into practice, thereby finding effective ways to do business and winning the "battle" to escape poverty right on his homeland's border land.

Saying goodbye to Lau Ba Dia when the wild bird on Giang Man range was about to go to sleep, I wished him a healthy return to his homeland and success in realizing his dreams and plans.