(Dan Tri) - It was raining heavily, Lieutenant Colonel Chu Ba Phuong held an umbrella for Ms. Harris while the US Vice President laid flowers at the memorial statue of the late Senator John McCain at Truc Bach Lake (Hanoi).
In late August 2021, US Vice President Kamala Harris paid an official visit to Vietnam at the invitation of Vice President Vo Thi Anh Xuan. At that time, Ms. Harris was the first US Vice President to officially visit Vietnam, as well as the highest-ranking official of US President Joe Biden's administration to visit Southeast Asia.
"The picture is beautiful. Thank you very much"
Kamala Harris's three-day visit included many activities, including the US Vice President taking time to visit the memorial bas-relief of the late Senator John McCain at Truc Bach Lake (Hanoi) to lay a wreath, on the occasion of the third anniversary of his death.
At that time, Ms. Harris, dressed in black, stepped out of the car with a bouquet of blue flowers. She lowered herself and placed the flowers in front of the relief, and a guard held an umbrella over the pouring rain. The impressive moment was recorded by foreign reporters and journalists accompanying Ms. Harris.
The person holding an umbrella for Ms. Harris in the photo is Lieutenant Colonel Chu Ba Phuong (Deputy Captain of the International Guest Protection Team, Department of Protection of Important Special Events and International Guests, Guard Command).
The photo of Lieutenant Colonel Phuong holding an umbrella for US Vice President Kamala Harris was taken by security personnel from the neighboring country (Photo: Hai Duong).
Sharing with reporters, during Ms. Harris's visit to Vietnam, Lieutenant Colonel Phuong said he was assigned to protect the Vice President.
During his mission, he learned that after the State reception at the Presidential Palace, Ms. Harris would lay flowers at the memorial statue of the late Senator John McCain at Truc Bach Lake.
This was an unexpected schedule, with very urgent preparation time. Lieutenant Colonel Chu Ba Phuong immediately reported to the Guard Commander for instructions on coordinating with professional units to ensure security for the above activity.
In the shortest possible time, the Vietnamese security forces completed the inspection and security control of the area around the relief. Right at the time the US Vice President arrived, it was pouring rain.
Determining that the leader's activities could not be delayed, Lieutenant Colonel Phuong, while performing his security duties, quickly used an umbrella to cover the Vice President so she could go down and place flowers at the memorial statue.
The photo capturing the moment was later sent to Ms. Harris by the security of the neighboring country.
"The photo is so beautiful, I will keep it as a souvenir. Thank you very much," US Vice President Kamala Harris told Colonel Chu Ba Phuong.
Memories
In 2018, Lieutenant Colonel Phuong was twice assigned the responsibility of protecting especially important politicians, namely South Korean President Moon Jae-in and Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev.
Sharing about the visit of the President of the Republic of Korea and his wife, Lieutenant Colonel Phuong said that he and the security teams of the neighboring country's security forces coordinated perfectly, agreed on a protection plan, and ensured the creation of a "closed circle" in the protection work. The visit of the President of the Republic of Korea and his wife was a great success.
However, Colonel Phuong's memories related to the above visit took place a year later. At that time, he went to Korea for training. The Vietnamese guard was warmly welcomed by the Korean security agency, with special affection and favor.
Lieutenant Colonel Chu Ba Phuong carried out the task of protecting the President of South Korea and his wife during their visit to Vietnam in 2018 (Photo: Hai Duong).
Meanwhile, with the visit of Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev, Lieutenant Colonel Phuong said, the task of protecting access to this politician "requires extreme strictness and rigor".
To ensure the security and safety of the then Russian Prime Minister, Lieutenant Colonel Phuong worked many times with the security forces of the neighboring country, setting out situations that might arise during the protection process to agree on the most optimal plan, ensuring smooth coordination between the approaching officers, the Vietnamese Guard force and the Russian security forces.
The visit ended successfully and in absolute safety. According to Lieutenant Colonel Chu Ba Phuong, Russian security officers highly appreciated the professionalism, meticulousness, sense of responsibility... of Vietnamese security officers.
family tradition
Sharing about his family, Lieutenant Colonel Chu Ba Phuong said that his father - Lieutenant Colonel Chu Ba Bo (former officer of the International Guest Protection Team of the Department of Protection of Rally, Conferences and International Guests, now the Department of Protection of Special Importance and International Guests) - is also the "senior" in the profession of the security officer.
As a child, Mr. Phuong was often taken to the office by his father, to meet and listen to stories about the "security profession" from his father's colleagues. Since then, the image of his father and the security officers in elegant suits, always following important politicians, in the protection missions, has become the goal and motivation for the young Chu Ba Phuong to strive, nurturing the dream of becoming a security officer.
In October 1995, Mr. Phuong volunteered to join the People's Police force, then he was promoted to professional, becoming a security guard.
Lieutenant Colonel Chu Ba Phuong (Photo: Hai Duong).
After graduating from the People's Security Training Course I with excellent academic results, Mr. Phuong was assigned to undertake many security tasks in many units such as Company 3, Regiment 375 (a unit that performs the duties of guarding the honor guard, driving motorbikes as escorts, patrolling and guarding targets and performing tasks according to State ceremonies), the Central Party Headquarters Security Team under the Department of Protection of rallies, conferences and international guests.
In 2006, after passing a rigorous test of skills such as: Shooting, swimming, martial arts to select security officers, Mr. Phuong was officially assigned to "join" the International Guest Protection Team of the Department of Special Event and International Guest Protection - a unit whose main function and task is to ensure absolute safety for heads of state visiting and working in Vietnam, and especially important events organized by the Party and State.
At the unit, Mr. Phuong and his teammates must ensure absolute safety for the guard subjects during their visit and work in Vietnam.
To complete his mission well, Mr. Phuong always follows the working principle of not creating barriers between the guard and the people around, but still ensuring the highest safety for the guard.
During the performance of his duties, he always had a proper, gentle, proactive and flexible attitude in handling situations, considered himself a "living shield", and was ready to accept sacrifices to protect important people.
For each country and each individual subject of protection, Lieutenant Colonel Phuong said they have their own customs, habits, interests and requirements for security protection work. Therefore, in addition to ensuring the standards and special skills of an approach officer, Lieutenant Colonel Phuong always has to research and learn to equip himself with a broad and deep enough cultural background to meet the requirements of the mission.
In 2021, Mr. Phuong was trusted and appointed by the unit commander as Deputy Captain of the International Guest Protection Team.
Sharing more, Mr. Phuong also revealed that his younger brother is also a security officer, a close colleague with whom he can discuss and exchange work before each period and protection mission. In the rear, Lieutenant Colonel Phuong has a small family, with his wife and children sympathizing, sharing, and accompanying him so that he can work with peace of mind and complete his assigned tasks.
Content: Hai Duong - Hai Nam
Photo: Hai Duong
Vnexpress.net
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