Silent warriors and affection from both river banks

On a late summer afternoon, standing on the head of the PMP bridge, I silently watched the long stream of vehicles slowly crossing the bridge. From afar, the bridge looked like a green silk strip stretching across the Red River. Few people could imagine that to have that peaceful silk strip, the officers and soldiers of Brigade 249, Engineer Corps had to spend countless sleepless days and nights sweating on each joint and cable.

"This bend of the Red River is not simple," Lieutenant Colonel Nguyen Van Tu, Deputy Brigade Commander of Brigade 249, said in a low voice. "Just a small change in water flow can cause the entire structure to be dismantled. The PMP pontoon bridge was designed for Russian rivers, not this ferocious river," Tu said, bending down to point out each link and anchor rope hidden under the water.

A performance at the Art Program "Bridge connecting happy shores".

For nearly a year, numbers such as: 700m of frame girders, 865m of woven panels, 581m of approach roads, 500m³ of compacted soil; an average of 6,000 people and vehicles passing through each day... seem dry but contain the sweat and efforts of the officers and soldiers of Brigade 249. Since September 2024 until now, regardless of cold foggy nights or hot summer afternoons, officers and soldiers of the Brigade have been diligently and tirelessly assembling ferries, launching boats, stretching ropes, and driving stakes. There are shifts that last all night in the middle of the flowing river just to detect and remove trash, or promptly submerge a tree trunk that is rushing down the river. It seems like a simple task, but just a small mistake can cause a safety hazard for the entire bridge.

Only when we returned to Phong Chau did we understand the saying, “Wherever the people need us, there are soldiers.” When the soldiers arrived, the military base was just a row of abandoned houses used to keep livestock. However, after only a few days, with the skillful hands of the soldiers, that place became a spacious, clean forward command post, with cement floors, shutters, a water tower and even shiny showers. The government and people of Phu Tho province even built a 300m² corrugated iron house and gave the village cultural house to the soldiers to rest.

Mr. Bui Quang Bich (83 years old), in zone 5, Tam Nong commune, confided: "Our people love the soldiers so much! From oranges, bunches of vegetables to trucks carrying dozens of sacks of squash, people all brought them to give to the soldiers. Seeing them eating quickly in the rain, taking turns on duty day and night, everyone felt sorry for them." Perhaps, thanks to that close and warm affection, when the unit started construction of the road leading to the ferry terminal, in just 3 days, nearly 10 households were ready to hand over the land to widen the road to the terminal.

One night, when the entire unit was preparing to pour concrete for the new wharf, an ambulance suddenly rushed in. Lieutenant Colonel Nguyen Van Tu, the commander directly in charge of the construction that day, immediately ordered the construction to stop and all motorbikes to move to make way. “At that time, I just thought, human life is above all. If the concrete is poured a few hours late, it can still be fixed, but if the rescue is delayed... it cannot be fixed,” said Tu.

On the ambulance that day was HNH (18 months old), with a high fever, life-threatening. Thanks to the decisive action of Lieutenant Colonel Nguyen Van Tu, the child was given timely emergency care. When the child returned home healthy, Ha Van Chang, the child's father, choked up: "Thanks to the soldiers, my child was given timely emergency care."

When the song of the army and people still resonates...

The Red River is flowing rapidly this season. Over the past few days, the officers and soldiers of Brigade 249 have just finished building a bridge, but have received orders to cut it down. Right next to the pontoon bridge, the new Phong Chau bridge, built by Corps 12, is gradually being completed. In just a few months, the mission of the PMP pontoon bridge will end, but the bridge of love will last forever.

To express gratitude for the kind support of the local Party Committee and authorities of Tam Nong and Phung Nguyen communes, Brigade 249 coordinated with the Army Cheo Theater and the locality to organize an art program with the theme "Bridge connecting the banks of joy". Songs filled with emotions such as: "Sending you at the end of the Red River", "Love song of the Lo River", "Bridge connecting the banks of joy"... were performed by the "artists" of Brigade 249 and the locality, along with the artists of the Army Cheo Theater, stirring up pride and emotion in every citizen.

Under the stage lights, when the lyrics “Anh noi nho thuong bang nhung nhip cau…” resounded, I observed many people in the hall quietly singing along. Each performance, each song resounded like a message, a sentiment that the officers and soldiers of Brigade 249 and the local people sent to each other. At the end of the program, the people reluctantly saw the soldiers back to the command post with tearful eyes and handshakes expressing their affection.

Comrade Cao Thi Thu Phuong, Vice Chairwoman of Tam Nong Commune People's Committee, emotionally shared: "During the time the officers and soldiers of Brigade 249 were stationed on duty in the locality, we truly felt the soldiers' spirit of wholehearted devotion to the people. The officers and soldiers not only contributed to ensuring traffic but also spread the beautiful image of Uncle Ho's soldiers in the hearts of local people."

I left Phong Chau at night, on the way back my heart was filled with many emotions! The Phong Chau pontoon bridge will eventually give way to a solid concrete bridge. The engineers of Brigade 249 will return to their barracks and take on new missions. But there is one thing I and many others believe for sure: Although time passes and the scenery may change, the pontoon bridge at Phong Chau wharf will forever be a "military-civilian bridge" that will never be broken.

Article and photos: LE THANH

    Source: https://www.qdnd.vn/nuoi-duong-van-hoa-bo-doi-cu-ho/nhip-cau-quan-dan-o-phong-chau-839157