The “blue beret” couple together carry out UN peacekeeping missions

On September 24, in Hanoi, the Ministry of National Defense held a ceremony to send off Level 2 Field Hospital No. 6 and Engineering Team No. 3 to carry out a United Nations peacekeeping mission in South Sudan and the Abyei region. On this trip, Captain Hoang Huu Cong Thanh and Senior Lieutenant Nguyen Thi Nguyet Ha are perhaps the most special couple as they set off to carry out the mission on the occasion of their first wedding anniversary.

Lieutenant Colonel Trinh Xuan Hien arrives in Abyei to carry out peacekeeping mission

"Messengers of peace" contribute to shining Vietnam's image

On the day of departure, the Australian Air Force's C1-17 super transport landed at the airport of Division 371 (Air Defense - Air Force) to pick up 247 Vietnamese peacekeepers on their way to the "dark continent" - thousands of kilometers away from Vietnam. This is the largest troop transfer of the year by the Vietnamese peacekeeping force.

Farewell ceremony for Vietnamese blue beret soldiers on September 24. (Photo: Vietnamnet)

Accordingly, Level 2 Field Hospital No. 6 with 63 members will replace Level 2 Field Hospital No. 5 at the UNMISS Mission, South Sudan. Meanwhile, Engineering Team No. 3 with 184 members, including 18 female soldiers, will replace Engineering Team No. 2 at the UNISFA Mission, Abyei region.

Among the officers and soldiers who left for international missions this year were the 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. While their comrades said goodbye to their families with hastily wiped tears, goodbye hugs, or requests for their wives and husbands to "be both fathers and mothers to take care of their children" while they left for their missions, Captain Hoang Huu Cong Thanh and Senior Lieutenant Nguyen Thi Nguyet Ha held each other's hands tightly, smiling happily.

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

The couple said that in September 2023, they will become husband and wife. Captain Thanh had a term (2022-2023) as a Military Observer at the UNMISS Mission in South Sudan, and Senior Lieutenant Ha participated in this special mission for the first time. Both set a goal when they were still young and before having children, they were determined to go on a mission together. The opportunity came this year when Senior Lieutenant Ha was selected to participate in UN peacekeeping. Senior Lieutenant Thanh had just completed a mission away from home more than a year ago, so when his wife "persuaded" him, he volunteered to continue on the journey, accompanying her.

“I joined the army 6 years ago, half the time my husband spent in the army. In Abyei, I will take on the role of administrative-financial officer, while my husband will be the civil-military coordination officer of the 3rd Engineer Team. In addition to the necessary knowledge and skills from pre-deployment training sessions, my husband also "supplemented" me with field experience, especially knowledge of survival in difficult circumstances,” said Senior Lieutenant Ha.

According to Captain Thanh, the couple's plan to go to Abyei together was fully supported and encouraged by both families. Being able to go on an international mission together on the occasion of their first wedding anniversary is a great honor and pride. Both of them determined that this was a valuable experience and an opportunity to contribute their youth to the country and the international community. After completing the mission and returning home, the couple plans to have children to build a happier family.

Lieutenant Do Thi Dieu Huyen.

As for Lieutenant Do Thi Dieu Huyen (born in 2001) of Level 2 Field Hospital No. 6, she is the youngest soldier of the two units in this deployment. Lieutenant Huyen said that the immediate task is to always have strong faith to be ready to carry out all tasks.

"Although my family is not able to see us off today, I am not discouraged. On the contrary, I will try even harder so that my family can see us on our way to duty with a happy and confident attitude. Perhaps my family will also feel more secure and proud of the work we have done, are doing, and will do," said Lieutenant Huyen.

Vice President Vo Thi Anh Xuan presented souvenirs and encouraged the units at the departure ceremony.

Speaking at the Departure Ceremony, Vice President Vo Thi Anh Xuan said that over the past 10 years, Vietnam has sent more than 1,100 officers and professional soldiers, including 13 People's Public Security officers and 124 female officers, to participate in United Nations peacekeeping operations. Thereby, contributing to solving international issues and responding to traditional and non-traditional security challenges in the region and the world.

Ms. Vo Thi Anh Xuan affirmed that the Party and State are always proud of the achievements of Vietnamese forces participating in UN peacekeeping. She believes that the newly deployed units will continue the tradition, promote their bravery and intelligence to complete their tasks, meet the requirements of the United Nations, and be worthy of the title of Uncle Ho's soldiers.

Vietnam has more officers working at the United Nations headquarters.

Lieutenant Colonel Truong Anh Tuan, Deputy Commander of the Training Center (Vietnam Peacekeeping Department, Ministry of National Defense) officially became the fourth officer of the Vietnam People's Army to be selected to work at the United Nations headquarters.

Two more officers assigned to UN peacekeeping mission at UNISFA, Abyei region

On the morning of July 26, the Ministry of National Defense organized a ceremony to present the President's Decision and the Minister of National Defense's Decision to two officers on UN peacekeeping duty at the UNISFA mission in the Abyei region.

Source: https://thoidai.com.vn/cap-vo-chong-mu-noi-xanh-cung-thuc-hien-nhiem-vu-gin-giu-hoa-binh-lien-hop-quoc-205342.html