9X couple 'get along well' together to keep peace in Africa

Arriving in faraway Africa to carry out their international duties, Vietnamese peacekeepers have a strong support base to overcome challenges and difficulties to complete their missions. At the airport of Division 371 (Air Defense - Air Force) in September, the wind is blowing and the golden sunlight is spreading evenly on the runway, hundreds of blue beret soldiers are busy preparing their luggage to set off to carry out the mission they have been waiting for a long time. The C1-17 super transport of the Australian Air Force is making final preparations to take Vietnamese peacekeepers to the "black continent" - thousands of kilometers away from Vietnam. This is the largest troop transfer of the year for the Vietnamese peacekeeping force.

Farewell ceremony for Vietnamese blue beret soldiers on September 24

Level 2 Field Hospital No. 6 with 63 members will replace Level 2 Field Hospital No. 5 at the UNMISS Mission, South Sudan. Meanwhile, the 3rd Engineer Team with 184 members, including 18 female soldiers, will replace the 2nd Engineer Team at the UNISFA Mission, Abyei Region. Tears quickly wiped away, sweet hugs at the farewell, red flags in luggage... created an unusually warm atmosphere. Many Vietnamese blue beret officers sent their children to their grandparents or asked their wives and husbands to "take on the role of both father and mother to take care of their children" before going on duty. Among the officers and soldiers who left for international missions this year, there was a young couple, Captain Hoang Huu Cong Thanh (born in 1994) and Senior Lieutenant Nguyen Thi Nguyet Ha (born in 1996), both from Hai Duong, in the 3rd Engineer Team. This is a very special couple in this working group because they are still quite young. While their comrades were tearfully saying goodbye to their families, Captain Hoang Huu Cong Thanh and Senior Lieutenant Nguyen Thi Nguyet Ha held each other's hands tightly, smiling happily. Many people jokingly said that besides military equipment and essential items, the biggest luggage they brought to Africa was their "other half".

Captain Hoang Huu Cong Thanh and his wife Senior Lieutenant Nguyen Thi Nguyet Ha.

Married for nearly a year, this newlywed couple always accompany each other in work and training. Senior Lieutenant Thanh shared that in 2022-2023, he had performed a peacekeeping mission as a Military Observer in South Sudan. The couple set a goal when they were still young and before having children, they were determined to carry out this sacred and meaningful mission together. The opportunity came this year when Senior Lieutenant Ha was selected to participate in United Nations peacekeeping. While Senior Lieutenant Thanh had just completed his mission away from the Fatherland more than a year ago, when his wife "pulled" him, he volunteered to continue on the road, accompanying her. "With his field experience, my husband has imparted to me a lot of experience from survival skills and military knowledge," Senior Lieutenant Ha said. This time, Senior Lieutenant Thanh took on the position of Civilian Military Coordination Officer while Senior Lieutenant Ha did administrative work. Working in the military at the Vietnam Peacekeeping Department, Senior Lieutenant Nguyen Thi Nguyet Ha witnesses her teammates departing and returning with many inspiring stories every year. "Every year, my determination grows stronger, I really want to participate to understand more about the peacekeeping mission, understand more about the policy work with the blue beret soldiers so that when I return to the unit, I can help with the work," Senior Lieutenant Ha confided. Luckily for the young couple, both families wholeheartedly supported and encouraged them to set out.

Vice President Vo Thi Anh Xuan and leaders of the Ministry of National Defense saw off Vietnamese officers on their mission.

Standing not far away, Major Mai Thi Hang reluctantly said goodbye to her family and comrades. For her, this was a special business trip because the Airport of Division 371 where the farewell ceremony took place was also the unit she worked for before being assigned as a Logistics Officer of the 3rd Engineer Team. Major Mai Thi Hang said that she had cherished the dream of joining the United Nations peacekeeping force for a long time. And that dream was more clearly shaped when her unit had the first comrades who completed their mission and returned. After more than 20 years in the army, for her, each mission not only challenged herself but also served the Fatherland, continuing the military tradition of her family. Major Hang proudly said: "My eldest uncle is a Hero of the People's Armed Forces, and my family also has martyrs. My whole family is proud of that tradition. Before leaving, he also entrusted me to continue writing the golden history of the family."

Major Mai Thi Hang's family

Before leaving, Major Hang set many expectations and wishes for herself. Above all, she would fulfill the expectations of her family and trusted agency and complete the assigned tasks well, leaving a good impression in the hearts of international friends, colleagues and local people about a peaceful and humane Vietnam. "My son is in 10th grade and my daughter is 5 years old, both are at the age of psychological development. There are many worries but also a lot of peace of mind when my husband is in the same industry. He becomes a solid "rear", the family is always the support for me to feel secure on the journey", Major Hang said emotionally. Before the departure day, Major Hang and her little daughter both cut their hair short, "she is young but very understanding, she is the one who encourages me in return". Major Hang and her teammates underwent nearly a year of training from foreign experts, without discrimination between men and women. From learning English, knowledge and regulations of the United Nations to survival skills, coping with situations, learning about the political culture of the host country... In addition to the necessary luggage, this time going to Africa, through learning about the soil and climate, Ms. Hang also brought two wallflowers, a type of flower that is likened to "summer peach blossoms" to help her miss her homeland and family less. It is the love from the family that becomes the bond, creating an invisible strength that helps Major Mai Thi Hang or the couple Captain Hoang Huu Cong Thanh, Senior Lieutenant Nguyen Thi Nguyet Ha and their teammates feel secure to set off to participate in United Nations peacekeeping activities.

Vietnamnet.vn

Source: https://vietnamnet.vn/cap-doi-9x-thuan-vo-thuan-chong-cung-di-gin-giu-hoa-binh-o-chau-phi-2325549.html