Choking farewell to 4 commune police officers and soldiers who died on duty

"He'll be back with you and the kids after his shift!"

At dawn on June 13th, the small alley leading to the home of Major and Martyr Hoang Trung in residential area 5, Tan Hoa ward, Buon Ma Thuot city, Dak Lak province, was already crowded with people, comrades, and relatives who had come to bid him farewell on his final journey before returning to his motherland.

In the small house where the funeral was taking place, the sight of Ms. Tran Thi Sen (Major Trung's wife) hugging her husband's mementos and weeping uncontrollably brought tears to everyone's eyes. For her, even today, she still cannot accept the tragic news that after a night shift, her husband has passed away forever.

Comrades and local people came to light incense sticks to bid farewell to Major, Martyr Hoang Trung on the morning of June 13th.

Mr. Trung and Ms. Sen were formerly officers and staff members of the Ministry of Public Security's Cultural School No. 3. After the unit was streamlined, Ms. Sen was transferred to work as a staff member at the Dak Lak Provincial Police Guest House, while Major Trung was transferred to work as a police officer in Ea Ktur commune.

His unit is located tens of kilometers away from his home, and he often has to work night shifts to ensure security and order in the area under his responsibility. For his family, he is also the main breadwinner, supporting his elderly mother, his sick wife, and two young children who are still in school.

General Luong Tam Quang, Member of the Central Committee of the Party and Deputy Minister of Public Security, offered condolences and shared the grief with the family of Captain and Martyr Ha Anh Tuan.

According to family members, Ms. Sen has suffered from stage 4 kidney failure for many years but still tries to work to earn money for medication. Mr. Trung single-handedly supports his two young children, in grades 9 and 11, and his elderly mother, who is 69 years old.

“My husband and I worked hard to build this house, and we borrowed the land from my maternal grandparents. Yesterday, before going on duty, he told me he would come home to us after work. I never imagined he would be gone forever,” Ms. Sen said, her voice choked with emotion.

Still unable to believe her husband is gone forever, Pham Thi Nhu Phuong, the wife of fallen soldier Captain Ha Tuan Anh (a police officer in Ea Tieu commune), has been fainting from grief for the past few days whenever colleagues and relatives come to pay their respects. Family members say that Phuong and Tuan Anh met in 2012 and married in 2019. Their first daughter, over 3 years old, is the family's only comfort.

Comrades, relatives, and local people came to bid farewell to the fallen police officers.

Phuong works as a teacher near her home so she can easily take care of her husband's parents because Tuan Anh often works far away. "At the end of 2022, he was transferred to work at the Ea Tieu Commune Police Station. The work there is demanding, so he often leaves early and comes home late. Being a workaholic, he still helps his parents with farming and housework whenever he has free time," Phuong said tearfully.

Continuing her story, Ms. Phuong said that for more than a week, her husband had been on continuous night duty at the request of his superiors. “On the night of June 10th, our daughter fell ill, so he came home to cook dinner, feed her, and give her medicine. Before leaving, he even told us that after his night shift at the office, he would come home to take her for a follow-up check-up and finish tending the garden that her grandparents had given us to increase our income. And yet, he left us,” Ms. Phuong sobbed.

Ms. Phuong, the wife of Captain and Martyr Ha Anh Tuan, stands beside her husband's coffin.

Sharing the same grief, for the past few days, the mother of Major and Martyr Tran Quoc Thang seems to have run out of tears to mourn her son. Beside the coffin, she sits silently, gazing at her son's portrait surrounded by incense smoke, a sight that tugs at the heartstrings of everyone who sees it.

For many years, Thang worked far from home. Since he was transferred to the Ea Tieu Commune Police Station, Thang had promised to save up his salary to repair his family's dilapidated house for his mother. "On the evening of June 10th, after dinner, he said he would save enough money to repair the house for me in a few months. Before leaving, he told me to go to bed early, and that he would come home when he finished his work. But that departure, I never saw him again," Thang's mother said, her voice choked with emotion.

The mother of Major Tran Quoc Thang, a fallen soldier, was devastated upon hearing the news that her son had passed away forever.

Comrades stand shoulder to shoulder, the people stand together.

The incident in which four police officers from the commune police force sacrificed their lives while on duty has left immense pain for their families and loved ones, and immeasurable grief for their colleagues and the people. However, amidst this sorrow and grief, in recent days, the families of the fallen officers have also received warmth from the support of their comrades and the solidarity of the people. After the incident occurred, leaders from the central to local levels, especially their colleagues and police officers from various units, have been constantly present to provide assistance and encouragement.

Comrades stand by and share the grief with the families of the fallen officers and soldiers.

A long-time friend of the family of Major, Martyr Hoang Trung, who has been staying with the family for the past few days to help with funeral arrangements, said that Trung and his wife had very difficult circumstances, with his wife suffering from illness, but they were very affectionate and close. “Knowing of Trung’s sudden passing when the burden of his family was not yet fulfilled, we are extremely saddened. We feel sorry for Trung, his elderly mother, and his young children, and we will try our best to help the family in any way we can,” said the friend of Major, Martyr Trung.

Sharing in the grief and loss, Mr. Nguyen Tien Hai (a resident of Ea Ktur commune) said that the sacrifice of the police officers is a great loss not only for the police force but also for the people. “Since the regular police officers were assigned to the commune, the security and order situation in the locality has improved significantly. There are no longer as many instances of young people getting drunk and fighting as before, and petty theft has decreased considerably… As a citizen, I respectfully offer my condolences to the families of these officers as well as to the police force,” Mr. Hai shared.

Lieutenant General Luong Tam Quang, Deputy Minister of Public Security, offered condolences, visited, and shared the grief with the family of Major Tran Quoc Thang, a fallen soldier.

Visiting the families of the four fallen officers to offer incense in remembrance and pay respects, Lieutenant General Luong Tam Quang, Member of the Central Committee of the Party and Deputy Minister of Public Security, acknowledged the sacrifice of the officers while performing their duties for the peace and security of the people. He shared in their immense loss and expressed his hope that the families would strive to overcome their grief and stabilize their lives.

“The Party, the State, and the Ministry of Public Security have always paid attention to and implemented policies and regulations for police officers who sacrificed their lives, sharing the grief so that their families can overcome this great loss. I request that the Provincial Party Committee, the Provincial People's Committee, and the Dak Lak Provincial Police Department pay attention to and create conditions to help the families of the fallen officers overcome difficulties, stabilize their lives, and implement appropriate and timely policies for those who have rendered meritorious service,” Deputy Minister Luong Tam Quang emphasized.

Source