Becoming a soldier's child

Sung Thi Gio (born in 2004) is the third girl in a family of 5 Mong ethnic minority sisters, orphaned in Ea Kiet commune, Cu M'gar, Dak Lak , adopted by soldiers of Regiment 720 in 2014.

Upon arriving here, the soldiers leveled the land for the 5 Sung Thi Gio sisters, built a house, contacted the local authorities to register their household, and took all 5 sisters to school. Every day, the unit's officers and employees took turns taking care of them, guiding them step by step to do their own daily activities, guiding them to increase production, intercropping, and gradually getting used to the living conditions in their new place.

Officers of the Political Department of Corps 16, Regiment 720 and local authorities took photos with Gio - Do on their wedding day.

Lieutenant Colonel Doan Manh Nghia, Party Secretary and Political Commissar of Regiment 720, said: “The five Sung Thi Gio sisters receive special attention from the unit’s cadres, employees, and mass organizations. Over the years, in addition to monitoring and caring for the children, the unit has also provided guidance so that when they grow up, they can determine their own careers based on their interests and become useful citizens to society.”

Going to school, in the loving care of the soldiers of Regiment 720, all 5 sisters gradually grew up. The eldest sister, Sung Thi Dinh (born in 2000), was raised and educated by the unit. In 2018, the unit organized a wedding ceremony and arranged for her to work as a worker of the unit. She is now working at the Regiment's kindergarten.

The older brother, Sung A Giang (born in 2002), is being supported by his unit and is studying at Tay Nguyen University with the dream of becoming a teacher to bring knowledge back to the village. Sung Thi Sung (born in 2007) is studying at Dak Nong Community College and Sung Thi Nu (born in 2009) is studying at Le Huu Trac Middle School and High School.

Unlike her elder sister Sung Thi Dinh and her brother Sung A Giang, Sung Thi Gio has a passion for gardening. During her days with the army and on the roads to school, Gio loved the green color growing on the hillsides of lush coffee, pepper, and rubber gardens. The eye-catching avocados and durians, each season, give off a fragrant aroma that is purchased by traders.

Lieutenant Colonel Vu Van Dinh - Deputy Chief of Politics of Army Corps 16 (far left) and Lieutenant Colonel Doan Manh Nghia - Political Commissar of Regiment 720 happily with Gio - Do on their wedding day.

Like a wild flower growing in the middle of the forest, the news of the girl who was adopted by the army reached the ears of the young man Lau Mi Do in Dak Ha commune, Dak Glong district, Dak Nong province. Do sought out Gio. Do was passionate about gardening, which was also Gio's passion. The young couple vowed to build a home together, with the determination to take care of the 2-hectare coffee garden with Do's family.

Joy on the wedding day

Having met Lau Mi Do, Gio spoke to his “fathers and mothers” who were soldiers of Regiment 720 to ask for permission to get married and have a small wedding. The Party Committee and the unit’s commander discussed and assigned officers and employees to be in charge of all aspects of the work to ensure Gio’s wedding was safe, economical, in accordance with local laws and customs.

Lieutenant Colonel Doan Manh Nghia (holding microphone) sings for Gio - Do on their wedding day.

The yard of the commander of Team 6, Regiment 720 on the wedding day of Gio, when the sun had just risen and touched the top of the cashew tree, the unit's cadres, staff, village elders, village chiefs and people of Giang Chau village, Dak Ngo commune, Tuy Duc district, Dak Nong province were bustling. Also attending were Lieutenant Colonel Vu Van Dinh - Deputy Chief of Political Affairs of the 16th Corps, cadres of the Mass Mobilization Committee - Political Department of the Corps and Mr. Luu Dang Tuan, Chairman of the People's Committee of Dak Ngo commune. Some arranged tables, others served soft drinks. The youth union plugged in the loudspeakers to sing the songs "Meo people thank the Party", "We are Uncle Ho's soldiers"... The women's union arranged flower vases and decorated the backdrop and curtains. The union members and the logistics team prepared the meal... Everyone looked happy because today was the big day of a "member" in the family.

Mr. Ly Van So, who lives in Giang Chau village, still keeps two pink invitations from the 720th Regiment to attend the wedding and shows them off to everyone: “This is the second time in my life that I have received a pink wedding invitation with the red seal of the 720th Regiment. The invitation clearly states: Respectfully invite you to the wedding of the “daughter of the Regiment”. The first time was Dinh’s wedding, this time is Gio’s. How happy for the children to have such thoughtful “fathers”.

The wedding was simple but everyone was happy. Gio and Do went to each table to say hello, thank them and promise to be faithful and determined to do well economically. The wedding was guaranteed by the "parents" for the two children with a sum of nearly 20 million VND. Also on the wedding day, the head of the 16th Corps Command gave the "children" 5 million VND, the 720th Regiment gave the children a savings book worth 4 million VND, the officers, employees, and mass organizations in the unit all gave the "children" very meaningful gifts. The art troupe composed of members of the Regiment dedicated to Gio's happy day the song "Forgetting Yourself for the People"...

The bride and groom took pictures with representatives of the unit's mass organizations.

Attending the wedding, Mr. Tran Van Trien, Chairman of the Elderly Association of Dak Ngo Commune, shook hands with Lieutenant Colonel Tran Van Son - Commander of Regiment 720, smiled brightly, the wrinkles on his forehead seemed to relax, he confided: "I have turned 70 years old, but I have never attended such a happy and special wedding before. I am happy because at this wedding, everyone determined their responsibility to help the children as if it were their own family's work. Especially, all local guests and seniors like us received invitations from the Regiment with a red stamp".

The sun passed overhead, gradually moving towards the end of the village. The red-plate car took Sung Thi Gio back to her husband's house, to the person she loved, so that Gio - Do could do the job of taking care of the garden according to her hobby. The handshakes and loving wishes from the officers and employees of Regiment 720 wished her a happy life, creating fruit-laden gardens, contributing much to building the homeland where she came to be a daughter-in-law. Wishing her to always be proud of being the daughter of Uncle Ho's soldiers, no matter what difficulties she will overcome.

LE QUANG SANG

    Source: https://www.qdnd.vn/phong-su-dieu-tra/phong-su/thiep-hong-dong-dau-do-824420