They are heroes.

Carefully placing chrysanthemums in front of the monument to the People's Police serving the people on Tran Nhan Tong Street, Hai Ba Trung District, Hanoi , two firefighters and rescue officers from the Hanoi Police Department recounted how, on the afternoon of August 1, 2022, upon receiving a report of a fire at the ISIS karaoke bar (Cau Giay District, Hanoi), Lieutenant Colonel Dang Anh Quan, Team Leader; Senior Lieutenant Do Duc Viet, Corporal Nguyen Dinh Phuc, and their teammates rushed to the scene to extinguish the fire and rescue people.

After guiding eight residents to safety from the fire, the three firefighters continued searching the rooms and floors to ensure no one was trapped. However, when they reached the fourth floor, materials from the ceiling collapsed, blocking the escape route, and the three firefighters bravely sacrificed their lives.

In recognition of the courageous and selfless actions of the three soldiers, the President of Vietnam signed a decision posthumously awarding them the First Class Order of Military Merit; the Prime Minister awarded them the "Homeland's Recognition" certificate; and the Minister of Public Security promoted the three soldiers to a higher rank than usual.

Martyrs Dang Anh Quan, Do Duc Viet, and Nguyen Dinh Phuc (from left to right)

His family is proud of him.

The home of martyr Dang Anh Quan is located deep in a small alley on Chua Lang Street (Dong Da District, Hanoi). For the past year, the house has lost its pillar, a respected son, husband, and father. Before his sacrifice, Lieutenant Colonel Quan was a gentle and dedicated team leader who always cared for his comrades. At home, he was a family man, a role model for his children.

The atmosphere became even more emotional as the 76th anniversary of the Day of War Invalids and Martyrs (July 27, 1947 - July 27, 2023) also coincided with the first anniversary of the deaths of three soldiers.

While preparing a memorial meal for her husband, Nguyen Thu Huyen, the wife of fallen soldier Dang Anh Quan, said that in recent days she has been continuously receiving visits from various agencies, organizations, and her husband's former comrades. This has helped her to alleviate some of the grief she has felt over the past period.

According to Ms. Huyen, in the initial period after her husband's death, her family life was completely disrupted, from daily routines to work and raising children. The pressures were so overwhelming that at times, she felt she could hardly overcome them. However, thanks to the encouragement of relatives, friends, and neighbors, she transformed her grief into motivation to return to a normal life and work.

Hanoi Police Fire and Rescue officers lay flowers to commemorate and pay tribute to their fallen comrades at the monument to traffic police and firefighters.

Standing before her husband's portrait, this wife still believes in her heart that the fallen soldier Quân lives on and watches over her family's every step. "The family and children are always proud of you, rest in peace, my dear," Huyền said emotionally.

For the neighbors, they will always remember the brave and upright firefighter with a gentle smile, who always respected everyone.

The "superman" will live on forever.

Lieutenant Nguyen Hong Duong, a fellow police officer from the Traffic Police Team of Ha Dong District Police (Hanoi), said that martyr Do Duc Viet was not only a comrade but also a close friend and brother to him throughout their time together in high school.

Lieutenant Duong said that since childhood, the fallen soldier Viet had dreamed of becoming a firefighter. "As a boy, I was mischievous and loved watching superhero movies, and superheroes often save people, so I had a dream. When I grew up, I witnessed several fires and saw people being rescued by firefighters. I felt they were like superheroes, so I was determined to nurture my dream and hope to become a firefighter," Lieutenant Duong said, tears welling up in his eyes as he recounted Viet's words.

Firefighters and rescue personnel lay flowers in remembrance of their fallen comrades.

When Viet donned the firefighter's uniform and "transformed into a superhero to save lives," Lieutenant Duong was overjoyed, as if it were his own personal joy. Lieutenant Duong said that Viet is a gentle young man with a kind heart and always a bright smile on his face, but also a young, experienced firefighter who has dedicated his entire life to the profession; everyone who meets him likes him.

"Viet's sacrifice demonstrated courage, determination, and a willingness to face danger and hardship. For Viet, saving people's lives was always his top priority. That quality, that image, and that heart will forever be remembered," Lieutenant Duong said, his voice choked with emotion.

The country will not forget your name.

While receiving a delegation from the Ministry of Public Security who came to pay their respects and offer incense to the fallen soldier Phúc, Mrs. Nguyễn Thị Tuyết Hạnh shared that it took her many months to regain her spirits after her son's sacrifice. Because her family has a long tradition in Buddhism, she has recently been focusing on studying documents and actively participating in charitable work. She has gifted the Quảng Phúc vegetarian restaurant (where she and her son previously lived) to an acquaintance, Ms. Phạm Thị Thu Thủy, to manage and operate.

"Currently, my mind is calm, unlike before. In the beginning, it was fine when I went to work, but when I came home, all the images of my son would flood back. Sometimes, when I light incense for Phuc, I don't dare look at his picture," Mrs. Hanh recounted.

Ms. Hanh believes that overcoming the pain of losing a child is not easy because it "is the greatest pain in the world." However, she always thinks that her son's sacrifice has left a source of pride for the family, and that he is known and remembered by people all over the country, which is the motivation that helps her overcome that loss.

"If we keep living in the past, everything will remain mired in pain and unhappy memories," Ms. Hanh said, adding that for nearly a year, she has been in regular contact with the two remaining families of the fallen soldiers to share their grief, encourage each other, and help each other overcome their difficulties so that they can move forward, live on, and be proud of what the three soldiers have given to society.

Ms. Pham Thi Thu Thuy shared that Phuc's sacrifice was a great loss for the family. However, that sacrifice brought glory and pride, and the whole country will never forget it. "Everyone is born, grows old, and dies. It's the same death, but he brought glory and carried with him the enthusiastic spirit of youth, ready to jump into the fire to save others. The image of his sacrifice has left a great meaning for young people and for society," Ms. Thuy said emotionally.

"They are heroes."

Colonel Nguyen Minh Khuong, Deputy Director of the Fire Prevention and Rescue Police Department (C07) of the Ministry of Public Security, stated that the fight against fire is always a difficult, arduous, and dangerous battle. Firefighters must work in high-temperature environments, exposed to smoke and toxic gases; facing the risk of structural collapse, equipment explosions, and chemical poisoning. However, throughout their duties, the fire prevention and rescue police force always prioritizes saving people and property from fires as quickly as possible, preventing the spread of fire to minimize damage.

According to Mr. Khuong, it is difficult to fully describe the dedication and courage of the soldiers who sacrificed their lives while carrying out their duties. They knew they might be in danger, that they might have to die, but they still performed their duties and always strived to excellently complete the assigned tasks.

Colonel Khuong stated that the three martyrs, Quan, Viet, and Phuc, were all diligent, dedicated officers who devoted themselves wholeheartedly to their work. The sacrifice of these three officers, along with previous generations of the fire and rescue police force, is a noble and courageous act, and they are all heroes. These sacrifices are incredibly meaningful, demonstrating dedication and a willingness to sacrifice oneself to fulfill assigned duties and save the lives and property of the people.

According to Colonel Khuong, C07, as well as the Hanoi City Police, always care for and express gratitude to the families and fallen officers, especially on July 27th. On July 20th, the Hanoi Police held a ceremony to inaugurate and hand over social housing to the families of three martyrs, Quan, Viet, and Phuc.

Specifically, the Hanoi Police provided financial support for purchasing the houses, totaling nearly 3 billion VND for 3 units; at the same time, units within and outside the force donated basic furniture packages worth over 200 million VND per unit to the families, along with many valuable gifts so that the families could use and live in the apartments immediately after receiving them.

Furthermore, to ensure that these soldiers are never forgotten, next week the People's Police Museum will receive memorabilia from the three martyrs, Quân, Việt, and Phúc, for display.

Source link: https://thanhnien.vn/hy-sinh-vi-cuoc-song-binh-yen-ho-la-nhung-nguoi-anh-hung-185230727215608448.htm