Silent sacrifices

During the days of heavy rain and floods, many border guards had their families and houses submerged by floodwaters and their properties swept away. However, in the midst of such a dangerous time, the soldiers still put aside their own worries to support the people, because for them, the safety of the people is always the first priority.

The floodwaters suddenly rose, and officers and soldiers at the provincial Border Guard stations were also very worried about their families, especially when their relatives reported that their houses were flooded and their properties were swept away. However, they only had time to hear their relatives' voices through intermittent phone calls before they hurriedly set off to rescue, provide supplies, and bring people to safety.

The situation of professional soldier Captain Le Minh Dai, a reporter at the General Staff Department ( Dak Lak Border Guard Command) is one such story. Dai's family rented a space to do business in Hoa Thinh commune. On the morning of November 18, the family had just imported 27 tons of palm seeds from Indonesia, but by the afternoon, the floodwaters suddenly came, sweeping away 17 tons of goods, leaving 10 tons submerged in mud, and all machinery and equipment were severely damaged. More than 750 million VND, the family's savings of many years, was swept away by the floodwaters in an instant.

Putting aside family worries, Captain Le Minh Dai and his teammates focused on supporting people in flooded areas.

At home, his wife struggled in vain, the floodwaters rose higher and higher, luckily a neighbor took her to shelter in time. Information about the family only reached Mr. Dai through a few intermittent phone calls. He was worried but did not know what to do, so he had to let his family manage on their own with the support of the villagers because right from the first reinforcement, he was present in Hoa Hiep ward to help evacuate people, transport relief goods, rebuild collapsed walls, and bring each package of noodles and can of water to each isolated household. The work was so much that he and his teammates did not have a moment to rest. Only when the people were temporarily stable, Mr. Dai rushed home and could only look at the devastation before returning to the unit.

The story of the family of Senior Lieutenant Nguyen Van Tu, Head of the Staff - Administration Team (Hoa Hiep Nam Border Guard Station) also made his comrades feel sorry. His family lives with his parents in Hoa Xuan commune. The recent flood, the water came too quickly, in just a moment it rose to the roof, sweeping away almost all of their property, rice, livestock, farming tools, machinery - almost nothing left.

Communication with his family was almost completely cut off at that time. The signal was weak, the phone was sometimes available, sometimes not. In the pouring rain, Mr. Tu stood in the yard of the unit, his eyes red every time the phone said he could not contact him. Only when the neighbors informed him that his wife, children and parents had been taken to a safe shelter, he breathed a sigh of relief. But the house - the result of many years of savings - had disappeared in the floodwaters.

As soon as the water receded, the unit commander allowed Tu to return home. He stood silently in front of the house that was only the skeleton of the house; the mud was knee-deep, and his belongings were scattered among the thick layer of dirt. Tu only had time to help his family clean up a bit before returning to his unit. “People still need me, there are neighbors at home to support me…” - he said before getting in the car, his voice choked but determined.

Colonel Nguyen Cong Tuan, Deputy Commander of the Provincial Border Guard Command, encouraged and presented gifts to support comrade Dai's family.

The stories of loss are not just about one individual but span across many units, stations, and work teams. More than 30 military families suffered heavy losses, many cases that have not yet been counted. But what touched the comrades was that no matter how worried they were, they remained steadfast on the front line, no one asked to withdraw, no one asked for a temporary leave.

Because of understanding those feelings, in the past few days, along with visiting and encouraging the people in the flooded areas, the unit commander also took the time to visit some families of soldiers who suffered losses. In each house still covered with mud, in the eyes still filled with tears after many days of hard work, the tight handshakes, the sincere inquiries for each family have given the families strength to overcome this difficult period, so that their husbands, children, and brothers can continue to carry out their duties with peace of mind.

Immediately after the flood victims gradually stabilized, the Dak Lak Border Guard Command resolved the leave, enlisted soldiers whose families suffered losses to support their families, and deployed forces to help soldiers and their families clean up their houses, collect remaining assets, and support the rebuilding of temporary shelters. In many neighborhoods, the image of border guards cleaning mud in their comrades' houses and then turning to support their neighbors has become a familiar, beautiful, and warm image in difficult days.

Source: https://baodaklak.vn/xa-hoi/202511/nhung-hy-sinh-tham-lang-0f71e6c/