A simple geological engineer who loves his job

Sticking with geology

We returned to Area A, the Geology collective in Tan Quang commune, Van Lam district, Hung Yen province , where the headquarters of the Northern Geological Mapping Federation (now the Northern Marine Mapping and Geology Federation, under the Vietnam Geology and Minerals Department, Ministry of Agriculture and Environment ) was located since the 1960s. This is also the place where comrade Tran Duc Luong held many positions in the geology industry.

Meeting some witnesses who were his colleagues and subordinates, everyone was moved by the passing of an exemplary, approachable leader who was always devoted to the common work. He was also a geologist who made great contributions to the geological map of Vietnam since the early 1980s.

Comrade Tran Duc Luong (2nd, left) reports on the mineral potential of the Northwest region of Vietnam to General Vo Nguyen Giap (4th, left). Photo: Archive

Mr. Phan Van Man, 78 years old, currently living in Area A, Geology collective, was a classmate of comrade Tran Duc Luong in the Exploration Training Class (11th course), University of Mining and Geology. Recalling those years, Mr. Man said: “Comrade Tran Duc Luong was a student from the South who gathered in the North, studied in the elementary geological engineering class, then continued to study at the intermediate level before being sent by the agency to study at the university. He was very diligent, hard-working, and was good at all subjects, always standing out in the group. In the position of Secretary of the School Youth Union, he was always enthusiastic, actively participated in all activities and had a burning passion for geology”.

Student Tran Duc Luong's graduation thesis was evaluated as excellent and he could have continued his studies as a doctoral student, but due to difficult family circumstances and work duties, he put aside his study opportunities to return to his old unit to work and contribute to the geology industry.

President Tran Duc Luong visited the Northern Geological Mapping Federation on the occasion of the 45th anniversary of the Federation's founding, October 2004. Photo: Archive

After graduating, Mr. Man was also assigned to work at the Department of Geological Mapping, becoming a subordinate of comrade Tran Duc Luong. When comrade Tran Duc Luong held the position of Acting Head of the Northern Geological Mapping Federation, then General Director of the General Department of Geology, Mr. Man was a geological technician participating in construction projects. Through many years of studying and working together, Mr. Man increasingly respected his exemplary, responsible, and devoted leader.

In particular, during the time from when he was the Captain of Geological Team 4 to when he held the position of Director General of the General Department of Geology, comrade Tran Duc Luong always maintained a close and meticulous working style, often directly participating in difficult tasks with geological officers and engineers.

Simple, passionate about the job, dedicated to the end

Mr. Phan Van Man said that in the early 1980s, the task of exploring and searching for resources was extremely difficult. Traffic conditions were very difficult, vehicles were scarce, each field trip lasted for months, traveling dozens of kilometers each day, crossing forests, streams, climbing passes regardless of rain, cold or scorching sun. There were journeys where they had to sleep in the forest, on the banks of streams because there were no houses to stay. Those hardships and dangers could not stop the footsteps of geological engineer Tran Duc Luong, who was always ready to take on difficult tasks, sharing each pill, bottle of water, piece of bread with his colleagues.

As a workaholic, there were times when comrade Tran Duc Luong forgot to eat and sleep to monitor and research suspected ore exposures. Even later, when he assumed the position of President, he still clearly remembered each ore exposure and exposure he had visited. Every time he visited his old office, he did not forget to stop by to ask about his colleagues and residents in the apartment complex where his family had lived for many years.

Mr. Phan Van Man (second from right) introduces the ore sample found by comrade Tran Duc Luong and his colleagues in 1974. Photo: HONG SANG

Mr. Phan Van Man (second from right) introduces the set of geological maps of Vietnam and the map of Vietnam's minerals co-edited by comrade Tran Duc Luong and geologist Nguyen Xuan Bao. Photo: HONG SANG

In congratulatory letters or speeches on the occasion of the anniversary of the geological sector, former President Tran Duc Luong always emphasized the key role of the sector. He assessed that: “Specialized research documents on geology and geological hazard areas are increasingly necessary for our Party, State and people in building strategies and response plans. Therefore, each cadre and employee in the sector must make real efforts, try their best, and serve with all their might for the cause of building and developing an increasingly prosperous country.”

Taking us to visit the Traditional Room of the Northern Marine Geology and Cartography Federation, Mr. Phan Van Man introduced many artifacts and images associated with the mark of comrade Tran Duc Luong, including ore samples found by himself and the exploration teams. Stopping for a long time in front of the set of "Geological Map of Vietnam at scale 1:500,000" and "Mineral Map of Vietnam at scale 1:500,000", the work that comrade Tran Duc Luong co-edited with geologist Nguyen Xuan Bao, which was awarded the Ho Chi Minh Prize for Science and Technology in 2005, Mr. Man affirmed: "This is a great scientific work, not only of profound scientific significance but also of important contribution to the planning of socio-economic development, industry, agriculture, transportation, environmental protection and the affirmation of territorial sovereignty through research on marine and island geology".

Referring to former President Tran Duc Luong, Mr. Tran Van Long, Head of Organization and Administration Department, Northern Marine Geology and Cartography Federation, emotionally said: “Every time he had the opportunity to visit his old agency, Mr. Tran Duc Luong was very interested in the development strategy of the industry, new discoveries in geology and minerals of the Federation. Although he was a high-ranking leader of the Party and State, he was still as simple and close as before”.

In deep sorrow, the image of former President Tran Duc Luong, a humble and devoted geological engineer, will forever be engraved in the minds of many generations of Vietnamese geological officials as well as our people.

NGUYEN HONG SANG

* Please visit the Politics section to see related news and articles.

Source: https://baodaknong.vn/nguoi-ky-su-dia-chat-gian-di-yeu-nghe-253485.html