The "warm hearts" of the soldiers of the 270th Engineer Brigade clearing the way through the flood to reach the people

Heavy rains for many days have submerged the mountainous areas west of Da Nang City in mud and floodwaters. Highway 40B was cut off, many highland communes such as Tra My, Tra Leng, Tra Giac were completely isolated. When the call for help rang out in the night, convoys bearing the words “Engineer Brigade 270 – Military Region 5” immediately set off.

In the pouring rain and the rumbling sound of excavators, the engineer soldier still quietly moves forward in the cold rain, carrying a "warm heart", overcoming the danger of landslides to reach the people in time, helping them overcome isolation and hardship.

Marching in the flood, opening the way to the people

On the night of October 26 and early morning of October 27, when heavy rain continuously poured down on Da Nang, the Military Region 5 Command decided to establish a Forward Command Committee in Tra My commune, commanded by Colonel Nguyen Van Hoa - Deputy Chief of Staff of Military Region 5. Thousands of officers and soldiers along with dozens of motorized and special vehicles were mobilized to approach and support the people of Tra My, Tra Leng, and Tra Tan communes.

Colonel Luong Dinh Chung - Party Secretary and Political Commissar of Military Region 5 held an urgent meeting to direct the establishment of Forward Command Committees. (Photo: PV/Vietnam+)

At that time, the main road to this area was seriously eroded; four villages in Tra Leng with more than 2,000 people were isolated; more than 70 large and small landslides completely cut off three communes, and mud continuously poured down, threatening the lives of hundreds of households.

“Try to open the road as quickly as possible” – that was the order and determination of the Military Region 5 Command assigned to Brigade 270. Engineer soldiers with extensive experience through many floods were urgently mobilized.

In the early morning of October 27, following orders, the 270th Engineer Brigade set out with the spirit of "Wherever the people need, the troops will be present". Lieutenant Colonel Ton That Tuong, Deputy Brigade Commander and Chief of Staff, and Lieutenant Colonel Pham Thanh Hai, Deputy Political Commissar of the Brigade, directly commanded the special convoy to quickly overcome the fierce flood and head towards Tra My, Tra Leng, and Tra Tan, where thousands of people were isolated.

Special vehicles of the 270th Justice Brigade urgently crossed the flood to clear the road. (Photo: PV/Vietnam+)

“The road was severely cut off, with some sections of the asphalt surface sinking more than two meters deep. We had to level and rebuild the slopes as we went, even standing right under the collapsed mountainside to survey and open the road,” said Lieutenant Colonel Tran Phan Nguyen, Deputy Brigade Commander, who was in direct command at the scene.

For more than 16 consecutive hours, from morning to night, the soldiers marched and helped people, promptly clearing landslides and bringing vehicles and necessities to the isolated area.

Colonel Nguyen Van Hoa - Deputy Chief of Staff of Military Region 5, while opening a bag of dry food to distribute to the soldiers, encouraged: "The people in the highlands are waiting for us every minute, every second. Comrades, uphold your sense of responsibility, each person works as two, determined to reach the people as soon as possible."

Marching through the night to promptly open the way to the people. (Photo: PV/Vietnam+)

"Hot heart" in the flood area

During the march in the rain and floods, the water level in Xuan Phu commune rose rapidly, threatening the lives of the people. Brigade 270 immediately dispatched forces to coordinate with local authorities to evacuate people from the danger zone.

Lieutenant Colonel Tran Phan Nguyen - Deputy Brigade Commander was present at the scene, directly commanding officers and soldiers to help people reinforce houses, move livestock and property, and support the evacuation of people and property from deep flooded and dangerous landslide areas.

At the same time, another team of the 270th Brigade moved deeper into the Tra Leng and Tra Giac areas. Tens of thousands of cubic meters of earth and rock fell onto the road, heavy rain increased the risk of landslides. But the soldiers remained steadfast, "walking and clearing the road at the same time", keeping to the motto "Fastest - most effective - safest".

Left photo: The command team directly inspects and studies the road opening plan - Right photo: Lieutenant Colonel Ton That Tuong (far left) - Deputy Brigade Commander and Chief of Staff and Lieutenant Colonel Pham Thanh Hai (second left) - Deputy Political Commissar of the Brigade. (Photo: PV/Vietnam+)

When the house of comrade Ho Van Linh - Commander of the Military Command of Tra Leng commune was completely eroded and collapsed while he was rescuing people, Brigade 270 quickly arrived to fix the landslide, clear the route, support the evacuation, and help people stabilize their homes safely.

Colonel Nguyen Van Hoa directly visited the scene and encouraged: "Material loss can be overcome, but the spirit of serving the people is a strength that cannot be buried."

Not only did they set out with the goal of opening the road as quickly as possible, the 270th Engineer Corps also spread out in many directions to support the people: helping two families in Xuan Phu commune to bring their loved ones' coffins out of the flooded area; overcoming floods to bring people from Dai Cuong and Dai Loc communes to timely emergency care; and working with local forces to support the people, clear the flow, and ensure the safety of residential areas.

The bravery of the soldier who opened the way

Under the order of the Military Region 5 Command, the Forward Command was established in Tra My, along with dozens of vehicles, equipment and thousands of officers and soldiers. In less than 24 hours, the 270th Engineer soldiers opened the way to the People.

Overcoming all difficulties, Brigade 270 approached the western mountainous region with thousands of people, while maintaining forces on standby, and dividing into many groups to support the people. (Photo: PV/Vietnam+)

Immediately after that, the engineering force continued to coordinate with the Defense Command of Region 3 - Tra My, quickly rushing to the landslide hotspot. Lieutenant Colonel Vo Tien Manh - Deputy Commander of the Defense Command of Region 3 said: "As soon as we received news that Phong Tranh village was flooded, the engineering force and militia mobilized to repair the road, evacuate people from the dangerous area, with the spirit of protecting people's lives above all, first and foremost."

The opened route not only helps tons of necessities reach the people but also creates conditions for the 575th Communications Brigade to restore the communication system. On the morning of October 29, the Brigade's field transmitting and receiving station was set up high, restoring communication to the isolated area. "With the signal back, command and rescue work is much more convenient. The people are very grateful," said Mr. Chau Minh Nghia - Chairman of the People's Committee of Tra Leng commune.

In the midst of the dark flood, the image of the 270th Engineer soldiers still shines brightly - like "hot hearts" quietly clearing the way, devotedly in the midst of the raging water, continuing to affirm the spirit of "Where the People need, there are the 270th Engineer Soldiers", further enhancing the noble quality of "Forgetting oneself for the People" of Uncle Ho's Soldiers./.