Courage in adversity

Recently, having the opportunity to meet Lieutenant Colonel Nguyen Van Tu, our first impression was his bright eyes, tanned skin, quick and decisive gait, typical of an engineer soldier. In the story, he recounted that on September 9, 2024, when Phong Chau bridge collapsed, his superiors ordered Brigade 249 to urgently build a pontoon bridge to replace it, ensuring safe passage and serving the people. "We understand that this is not just an order from superiors, but a real "battle" in peacetime, a call from the people," said Lieutenant Colonel Nguyen Van Tu.

Lieutenant Colonel Nguyen Van Tu, commander of the 60-ton PMP ferry test load before ensuring traffic. Photo provided by the character

After only a few hours, 198 officers and soldiers along with 78 vehicles and equipment of Brigade 249 set out to carry out the mission in the pouring rain. The road to the wharf was narrow, and the wharf and bridge reinforcement were carried out in extremely harsh conditions. The Thao River water was red, the current was strong, the soil was soft, and landslides were occurring every hour. The falling rocks were continuously washed away by the water. At the construction site, the commander walked along each position on both sides of the wharf, holding a walkie-talkie in his hand, his eyes following every movement of the soldiers. With great determination, overcoming all difficulties, in just a few days, the engineering troops leveled more than 10,000m3 of earth and rock, dredged 15,000m3 of mud, reinforced both ends of the wharf, and installed buoys.

During the construction of the wharf, there was a situation that the engineering soldiers still remember. The night in Tam Nong was as thick as the humidity of the river. The construction lights shone on the faces darkened by the wind and dust, sweat ran down the cheeks of the officers and engineering soldiers. They were in the rush hour, preparing to pour concrete for the tray base at the pontoon wharf, an important item in the construction of the wharf. In just a few minutes, the first concrete blocks would cover the floor as scheduled. Suddenly, the sound of an ambulance siren tore through the night. From the head of the bridge, flashing red lights rushed over. A pregnant woman was in severe labor and had to cross the river urgently. If the concrete pouring continued, the entire passage would be blocked for at least half an hour, a period of time that could endanger the pregnant woman's life.

Amidst the noise of the machine, the wind, the waves and the pressure of progress, the commander resolutely shouted: “Recall the pump! The mixer truck pulls over! Make way for the ambulance!”. No one asked again, everyone followed the order quickly and precisely. The ambulance sped past, disappearing into the night. When the siren faded away, everyone returned to work. At nearly 1 a.m., the concrete pouring shift ended. Everyone was exhausted, their backs drenched in sweat. Suddenly, they received a phone call: “The mother has given birth safely!”. The whole construction site was silent for a few seconds, then burst into laughter of relief.

Hearing the story, Lieutenant Colonel Nguyen Van Tu just smiled gently: "Slowing down a beat, but keeping the heartbeats. For us, that is the greatest success." In the life of an engineer soldier, there are orders that are carried out by the mind, but there are also orders that come from the heart. That is the limit where the commander's reason and heart meet, a fragile boundary, but it creates the noble qualities of Uncle Ho's soldiers. "Anh Tu is always decisive, but he has never let reason separate from humanity," shared Major Nguyen Van Tien, Deputy Head of Logistics and Engineering of Brigade 249.

On September 30, 2024, the Phong Chau pontoon bridge, more than 200m long, officially opened to traffic. When the first vehicle rolled across the bridge, people on both banks clapped and cheered, tears mixed with smiles. Amidst the sound of rain, engine noise and cheers, Lieutenant Colonel Nguyen Van Tu quietly said a simple sentence: "Building the bridge was difficult, but maintaining the bridge, ensuring the safety of people, vehicles and equipment in the future is even more difficult and arduous." The completion of the pontoon bridge not only helps people travel conveniently but is also a testament to the will and heart of the engineering soldiers. From then until the completion of the mission, the pontoon bridge has helped nearly 5 million people and vehicles cross the bridge in absolute safety. That also affirms the sense of responsibility to serve day and night regardless of sun or rain of the officers and soldiers of Brigade 249.

Colonel Do Huu Tiem, Political Commissar of Brigade 249, recalled: “In the most difficult times, comrade Nguyen Van Tu was always the spiritual support of the collective. He was always calm, attentive, had a firm grasp of his expertise, and especially knew how to arouse the soldiers' sense of responsibility and self-awareness. There were times when the water rose and the wind blew strongly, but he was always present in difficult and dangerous places, directly commanding, his eyes never leaving the water.” Since then, his comrades have called it “The Bridge of Trust”.

Keep the pontoon bridge with steel - keep the people's hearts with love

After the Phong Chau pontoon bridge was put into operation with the joy of people on both sides of the Thao River, the work of ensuring the safety of the bridge began again. "Keeping the bridge means keeping the people's hearts," said Lieutenant Colonel Nguyen Van Tu. Since then, for nearly a year, he and the officers and soldiers of Brigade 249 have been on duty 24/7 by the bridge. Twice a day, they measure the flow velocity, check the technical condition of the pontoon segments, anchors, cables, joints, and collect trash on the river. When the water level rises more than 2m/s, he orders the "bridge to be cut" to ensure the safety of the pontoon bridge, for people and vehicles to pass through. There are nights when the sky is filled with rain, the river water is rolling red, flowing rapidly, rising very quickly, he still goes with the soldiers with flashlights, checking each bridge span, each cable lock, each anchor position...

Lieutenant Colonel Nguyen Van Tu (far right) received a certificate of merit from the Minister of National Defense . Photo provided by the character

Not only performing the task of ensuring traffic by pontoon bridge, Lieutenant Colonel Nguyen Van Tu also directed and organized the construction and renovation of the roads leading to the two ends of the wharf so that it would not be muddy during the rainy season and people would not have difficulty traveling. More than 500m of asphalt road for people was constructed by officers and soldiers of the Brigade in just 18 days, 2 days ahead of the assigned task. The road was completed, becoming a clean, beautiful and convenient traffic route for the people. That road brought the relationship between the army and the people even further. During the process of building pontoon bridges, connecting ferries, building river wharfs, building embankments to prevent landslides, and constructing and renovating roads, people brought drinking water, fruits, green tea... to the construction site to invite soldiers. Many households voluntarily donated land to open roads without receiving compensation. Lieutenant Colonel Nguyen Van Tu shared: "When people trust, that is the greatest reward".

Although strict in his work, Lieutenant Colonel Nguyen Van Tu is a commander full of affection for his officers and soldiers. One day, in the middle of a construction peak, comrade Dang Ngoc Ha, the unit's excavator driver, received news that his wife had a miscarriage and was at risk of premature birth. After hearing the report, without hesitation, he decided to let comrade Ha go home that night. The combination of iron discipline and deep comradeship is one of the reasons that helped the officers and soldiers of the unit feel secure in their work, and Brigade 249 successfully completed its mission.

Colonel Do Huu Tiem commented: “Comrade Nguyen Van Tu is a commanding officer with good expertise, exemplary ethics, responsibility and kindness. He not only commanded the construction of bridges for people to cross, but also built trust for the people.” On February 21, 2025, Lieutenant Colonel Nguyen Van Tu was awarded a certificate of merit by the Minister of National Defense for “his outstanding achievements in performing tasks during the Lunar New Year 2025, contributing to the cause of building the Army, strengthening national defense and protecting the Fatherland.” The People's Committee of Phu Tho province also awarded a certificate of merit to Lieutenant Colonel Nguyen Van Tu.

Now, the pontoon bridge has completed its mission and has been replaced by a reinforced concrete bridge. The river has changed course but there is one constant flow, which is the flow of the people's hearts, and the image of commander Nguyen Van Tu and the engineering soldiers will remain forever in the minds of the people of the homeland.

    Source: https://www.qdnd.vn/phong-su-dieu-tra/cuoc-thi-nhung-tam-guong-binh-di-ma-cao-quy-lan-thu-17/nguoi-giu-nhip-cau-cua-long-dan-1011131