Put aside personal feelings and put the safety and well-being of the people above all else.

Le Hao

During the recent historic floods, like other frontline forces, police officers and soldiers braved the dangers, plunging into the raging waters to assist and bring people to safety. Despite their worries for their loved ones and families, they set aside personal concerns, prioritizing their duty and placing the safety of the people above all else.

Suppressing the grief of losing his mother, he rescued people amidst the raging floodwaters.

Major Le Van Sum (born in 1986), Deputy Team Leader of the Investigation Team, Office of the Provincial Police Investigation Agency, is one such exemplary figure.

On November 19th, when the floodwaters rose rapidly in Hoa Thinh commune, he and his rescue team were deployed to assist in evacuating residents. The water was flowing fiercely, the waves were high, and vehicles could only reach nearby areas, while more distant places were completely isolated. Among the families trapped were his own parents from Dao hamlet, Phu Phong village.

Comrade Cao Thi Hoa An, Standing Deputy Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee and Chairwoman of the Provincial People's Council, could not hide her emotion when she heard the family recount the circumstances surrounding the death of Mrs. Huynh Thi Chien, the mother of Major Sum.

“Knowing the water was rising, but my house was in a remote area and the roads were cut off, I couldn't go home yet. At that time, I just hoped my parents could hold on. Meanwhile, my teammates and I continued to wade through the rain and floodwaters, racing against time to try to reach and rescue three households with seven people nearby, including a mother and a two-month-old baby,” Sum recalled.

From the night of November 19th to the end of November 20th, Mr. Le Xuan Nam (born in 1946) and Mrs. Huynh Thi Chien (born in 1951) - the parents of Major Sum - were isolated amidst a sea of ​​water. The water flooded their house so quickly that the elderly couple only had time to take temporary shelter on the roof beam, but the flood still reached the beam. Submerged in cold water, suffering from hunger and thirst, and with their advanced age, frail health, and underlying health conditions, Mrs. Huynh Thi Chien did not survive.

By the morning of November 21st, when the floodwaters receded, Major Sum and his younger brother were finally able to use a small boat to reach their home. Hearing their sons' calls, Mr. Nam weakly responded. The two sons quickly handed their father a packet of instant noodles and a bottle of water to eat and drink to sustain him, then helped him into the boat and continued going around the neighborhood to distribute instant noodles and water and provide assistance to households still trapped.

“Knowing my mother is gone, but the people are waiting for me. My family's loss is immense, but it's not the only one amidst this historic flood. Therefore, I'm trying to suppress my grief to fulfill my responsibilities as a People's Police officer,” Major Sum shared emotionally.

Deputy Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee Cao Thi Hoa An encouraged Major Le Van Sum and his son to try to overcome their loss and grief.

Born into a family with a revolutionary tradition, his father being a retired military officer, Sum was instilled with discipline and a people-oriented spirit from a young age. He passed the entrance exam to the People's Security Academy and has worked in the police force from 2005 to the present. In his 20 years of service, having experienced numerous storms and floods and participated in many rescue operations, Sum had never seen floodwaters rise as large and rapidly as this one.

"No matter the situation, we always prioritize rescuing people nearby first, then expanding to more distant areas. We know our families and loved ones are there, but the mission must still come first," Major Sum said.

On the afternoon of December 4th, Ms. Cao Thi Hoa An, Standing Deputy Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee and Chairwoman of the Provincial People's Council, visited and offered condolences to the family of Major Le Van Sum.

Acknowledging the sense of responsibility and silent sacrifice of Major Sum in particular, and the entire police force in general, during the recent natural disaster, Comrade Cao Thi Hoa An emphasized that these sacrifices deserve to be recognized, appreciated, and widely publicized. “You comrades have overcome your personal pain to save hundreds of other lives. This not only demonstrates responsibility but also the proud quality of a People's Police officer: selflessly serving the people,” the Standing Deputy Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee said.

Upholding the oath of "serving the people"

Not only Major Le Van Sum, but also Captain Nguyen Minh Khuong (born in 1992), an officer of the Professional Animal Management Team, Mobile Police Department of the Provincial Police, put aside his personal concerns and prioritized rescuing people in distress during the days of rising water and raging floods.

On November 19th, Captain Khuong and his team received orders to go and assist people isolated in Son Thanh commune. “Those were days when we hardly had a moment's rest. The water rushed in, flooding many houses up to their roofs. Cries for help echoed constantly from all directions, leaving us with no choice but to rush forward, driven by the instincts of a People's Police officer,” he recalled.

While he and his teammates were on duty during the devastating floods, on the afternoon of November 21st, after rescuing a group of villagers from a deeply flooded area, Captain Khuong received devastating news: his father-in-law, Mr. Le Van Hai (born in 1968, residing in Thach Tuan 2 village, Hoa Xuan commune), had been swept away by the floodwaters. Unable to move to safety in time, he was trapped in his own house as the water engulfed it. By the time neighbors reached him, it was too late.

Representatives from the Provincial Police Department present gifts of support to the family of Captain Nguyen Minh Khuong. Photo: Provided by the Police Department.

“When I heard the news, my heart sank, everything around me seemed to spin. But seeing dozens of people waiting to be taken to safety, I had to stand firm,” Captain Khuong said, his voice choked with emotion.

Captain Khuong recounted that throughout his mission, he hoped his father-in-law could manage to climb onto the roof in time to escape the flood. But this year's flood was too fast, too fierce. The water rose in an instant and flowed much more rapidly than anything the locals had ever witnessed. "My father-in-law – who always urged me to complete my mission, who always proudly told everyone that his son-in-law was going to rescue people – didn't make it in time," Captain Khuong said in a somber tone.

After the floodwaters receded, one side of Mr. Hai's house had collapsed, and all his belongings were swept away. The scene of devastation caused immense grief among his relatives and neighbors. Amidst the chaos lay the pain of a family, and the anguish of his son-in-law – a police officer who couldn't be with his loved one in their final moments.

For police officers like Major Sum and Captain Khuong, loss and grief are challenges they must overcome to maintain the spirit of a soldier. "I couldn't save my loved ones, but I will try my best to ensure no other family has to suffer the same pain as mine," Captain Khuong shared.

Major Le Van Sum and Captain Nguyen Minh Khuong are just two of many who experienced similar agonizing moments. During the tense days of the historic flood, thousands of police officers and soldiers had to put aside their personal worries – flooded homes, elderly parents living alone, relatives in distress… – to rush to critical areas and rescue people who were gradually falling into despair.

These silent sacrifices are clear evidence of the noble qualities of the People's Public Security officers: daring to face danger and making the peace and security of the people their purpose in life.

Source: https://baodaklak.vn/xa-hoi/202512/gac-lai-niem-rieng-dat-an-nguy-cua-nhan-dan-len-tren-het-07c1c31/