Nghe An Border Guard Lieutenant postpones wedding to guard border checkpoint to prevent Covid-19

Le Dinh Thanh, from Duc Son commune (Anh Son), fell in love with a girl from Hoa Son commune, 7km from Thanh's house. His future bride is Ms. Nguyen Thi Giang, currently a kindergarten teacher in Keng Du commune, Ky Son district (Nghe An). The place where Giang teaches is nearly 100km of forest road from Thanh's unit.

The young couple was ready for their wedding, but Lieutenant Thanh had to postpone the wedding because of his duty to block the border to prevent the Covid-19 epidemic. Photo: Character provided

Although they have been in love for more than a year, the two rarely have the opportunity to be together. When they miss each other, they only contact each other by phone or text. After a period of getting to know each other, the young couple decided to get married.

After many years of volunteering to be on duty during Tet at the unit, on the occasion of the Lunar New Year of the Canh Ty year, because he intended to start a family, Thanh asked for permission from his unit to return home for Tet holiday, while also organizing the engagement ceremony and agreeing on a date for the wedding ceremony. After that, Thanh returned to work at the unit and set a date to return home to organize the wedding ceremony with his beloved wife after many months of waiting.

However, after returning to the unit, in response to the requirements of the Covid-19 epidemic prevention mission, Le Dinh Thanh volunteered with his teammates to be present at checkpoints to check and control trails and openings, prevent people from illegally crossing the border, and prevent the epidemic. Around the end of February 2020, after a long period of time when Vietnam had not recorded any new cases of Covid-19 infection, Le Dinh Thanh asked the unit commander for permission to take advantage of the 2-day weekend to go home to take wedding photos and return to the unit immediately after.

Lieutenant Le Dinh Thanh is on duty at a border checkpoint. Photo: Hai Thuong

Up to now, in the face of the complicated developments of the Covid-19 epidemic, in order to implement measures to prevent the epidemic, Nghe An Border Guard in general, and Nam Can International Border Gate Border Guard Station in particular, have established 6 additional checkpoints at trails and openings to check and control people from illegally crossing the border, preventing the spread of the epidemic; here, officers and soldiers of the unit have to stay at the checkpoints 24/7 with countless difficulties and shortages.

To complete the task of joining hands with teammates to prevent the epidemic, Le Dinh Thanh also discussed with his future wife and asked for permission from both families to postpone the wedding to join hands with teammates to prevent the Covid-19 epidemic.

To prevent the complicated developments of the Covid-19 epidemic, border guards must be on duty 24/7 at border checkpoints. Photo: Hai Thuong

Sharing about his decision, Thanh said: At first, he had some difficulties convincing his family and his future wife, but later received sympathy and understanding from both families.

"Both families and we have decided to postpone the wedding. Although I cannot go home to encourage my wife in person at the moment, I have told her over the phone to be understanding and wait until the mission is completed. We will choose the best day to hold the wedding, it is not too late," said Lieutenant Thanh.

Captain Ngo Quang Hieu - Deputy Political Commissar of Nam Can International Border Post said: "Not only completing his professional tasks excellently, Le Dinh Thanh is always ready to take on any task and go anywhere assigned by the organization and unit. Although he is very young in age and military age, he is a shining example for the unit's officers and soldiers to learn from and follow."