Where "floods pile up on floods", Uncle Ho's soldiers are the pioneers

Storm No. 10 has just passed, prolonged heavy rains due to storm circulation, combined with water flowing from upstream, caused many rivers in Thanh Hoa such as Cau Chay, Buoi River, and Hoat River to rise, exceeding the historical level of 2007.

The unpredictable and fierce "flood on flood" situation has pushed tens of thousands of people into the open, facing the risk of landslides, isolation and separation.

To cope with the storm and flood, minimizing damage to the property and lives of the state and people, the Thanh Hoa Provincial Military has urgently mobilized more than 5,000 officers and soldiers along with nearly 4,000 militia and self-defense forces with the highest priority task of ensuring people's lives. In just a short time, the forces organized the evacuation of nearly 4,500 households with more than 17,000 people living in the danger zone to safety. The timely presence of the soldiers turned the evacuation points into warm shelters, promptly transferring to boats and distributing more than 5 tons of essential necessities such as instant noodles, dry food, drinking water, and life jackets to each household.

Soldiers crossed the flood to bring patient Tran Thi Quy back to her family in Kim Tan commune, Thanh Hoa province.

In the flooded area of ​​Kim Tan commune, more than 40 officers and employees of the Defense Command (KVPT) of Region 2 - Ha Trung struggled with the fierce flood for 4 consecutive days. Amid the raging water, more than 500 elderly people, children, and sick people were taken by boat to the evacuation centers. The most touching image was the moment when the staff crossed the flood to bring Mrs. Tran Thi Quy (born in 1940), a patient with gallbladder cancer, back to her family safely.

Dike guards in the stormy night.

On the key dikes, officers and soldiers stayed up all night to protect the dikes. The alarm signal from Regiment 762 resounded loudly when 300m of the level 1 dike of the Ma River through Quang Phu ward was at risk of landslide, threatening nearly 10,000 households inside the dike. In the dark, with the rain pouring down in gusts and the wind howling, the incident handling activities were still taking place hurriedly and non-stop. The spirit of determination "where there is water, there are people" successfully protected the key dikes.

"Take care of the country first, think about family later"

Amidst countless difficulties and challenges, the qualities of Uncle Ho's soldiers are further cultivated and shine through silent sacrifices. In a letter of encouragement and gratitude to the provincial armed forces, the Political Commissar of the Thanh Hoa Provincial Military Command, Colonel Pham Van Sam, especially emphasized the 28 soldiers whose families were deeply flooded, whose relatives were still fighting the flood but still put aside their personal matters to stay at the unit, directly diving at "hot spots" to rescue people.

That action clearly demonstrated the spirit of responsibility towards the people and the community. The letter affirmed: “That is a vivid manifestation of the qualities of Uncle Ho’s soldiers in peacetime - “taking care of national affairs first, thinking about family affairs later, putting the interests of the people and community safety above all else”.

Timely supply of relief goods to isolated people in Nong Cong commune.

That sacrifice is not only in numbers but also in sincere, simple words. Major Trinh Van Nam, a boat driver, one of the people who continuously participated in rescue operations at the Regional Disaster Response Department 2 - Ha Trung, shared: "It has not been a month but I have already carried out missions here twice. Flood after flood, before we could overcome one storm, another storm came... People lost their houses, properties, livestock, crops... Witnessing that scene, we could not hesitate, we could only rush in to help the people with all our ability". It was these actions and oaths of "sacrificing ourselves for the people" that strengthened the people's firm belief in our Army in peacetime.

When the floodwaters receded, the Thanh Hoa Armed Forces were the pioneers in overcoming the consequences, rebuilding people's lives, and helping people quickly stabilize their lives. Units deployed in many directions, organizing to overcome the consequences of the tornado in Hoang Giang commune and helping people in flooded areas in Kim Tan commune.

Soldiers repaired a house for Ms. Nguyen Thi Mai in Hoang Giang commune damaged by a tornado.

In Vinh Gia 1 village, Hoang Giang commune, the tornado in the early morning of September 29 caused heavy damage, with nearly 160 houses having their roofs blown off or collapsed. The story of Mrs. Nguyen Thi Mai, nearly 90 years old this year, lives alone in a level 4 house with all its tiles blown away by the storm, waiting to collapse. Thanks to the soldiers who came to help repair and re-tile it, she was moved to tears and said: "For the past few days, I had to stay at a neighbor's house, the soldiers came back to repair the rafters, re-tile it... Tonight I can go home, I am grateful to you, without you soldiers I would not know where to hold on..." That simple word of gratitude is the most precious reward for the soldiers of Thanh Hoa People's Armed Forces today.

In addition to helping policy beneficiaries and especially disadvantaged households, the units also prioritized repairs at school sites. At Yen Nhan 1 Primary School (due to flash floods after storm No. 5) and schools in Van Thien, Minh Tho, Nong Cong commune (after storm No. 10), soldiers worked tirelessly, day and night, cleaning and rearranging desks, chairs, and teaching aids. Hundreds of cubic meters of earth, rocks, trees, and garbage were cleared...

Help teachers and students in Yen Nhan flood area quickly enter the new school year.

With that timely support, teachers and students of schools in flood-affected areas were able to return to school immediately after many days of interruption due to storms and floods. Teacher Tran Thi Lan, Principal of Van Thien Secondary School in Nong Cong Commune, emotionally expressed: “Thanks to the help of the army, after only two days, the school was clean and spacious… They are truly the people's support during natural disasters and floods.”

Environmental sanitation and water source disinfection are also given special attention to ensure hygiene in residential areas and schools. Affirming the sentiments and sacred responsibilities of peacetime soldiers towards the people, Lieutenant Colonel Do Tuan Anh, Deputy Commander, Chief of Staff of the Defense Command of Region 5 - Tinh Gia, said: "We will only withdraw our troops when we have ensured the real safety of the people."

In the harshness of natural disasters and floods, courageous actions, sharing and companionship, not only timely help people overcome difficulties but also foster deep military-civilian ties, create trust, and multiply motivation for people in Thanh Hoa flood-affected areas to overcome and rebuild their lives.

Soldiers cut through the forest to carry goods to people isolated by flash floods in Yen Nhan commune.

The image of soldiers wading through the stormy night to save the dike, staying up all night to evacuate people to safe places, carrying relief goods over mountains and forests to isolated areas, they put aside their family worries to take care of the people first, steadfastly rebuilding roofs, cleaning each classroom, taking care of each meal and water source is the most vivid proof of the spirit of "forgetting oneself for the people" of Uncle Ho's soldiers in the new era. That love between the army and the people has created great solidarity, the source that helps Thanh land in particular and the whole country in general firmly overcome all challenges of natural disasters, building a new life of prosperity and happiness.

Article and photos: HOANG KHANH TRINH

    Source: https://www.qdnd.vn/nuoi-duong-van-hoa-bo-doi-cu-ho/thanh-hoa-tinh-quan-dan-trong-bao-lu-849072