The green-uniformed soldier has a "steel" courage against drug criminals

The "green" dream

Returning from a patrol at the edge of the forest, Captain Vu Van Cuong still warmly tells about the fate that brought him to this difficult, but also very proud job.

Growing up in a farming family with a rich revolutionary tradition in a rural area in Thanh Hoa province, the stories of working as a civilian laborer on the front line, transporting rice to soldiers during the Dien Bien Phu campaign, told by his grandparents, were the material that nurtured Cuong's soul during his childhood.

Since then, the desire to become a soldier of Uncle Ho has grown and become the driving force that helps Vu Van Cuong carry that “green dream” to study, make efforts and pass the Border Guard Academy. Now, he has nearly 10 years of professional work in the PCMT&TP force, carrying out the task of protecting the borders and fences of the Fatherland.

Having held many positions, directly participating in and advising on many major drug cases, Captain Vu Van Cuong is trusted by the people and colleagues, calling him "the nemesis of criminals". "Not only me, but any officer or soldier, when shouldering the responsibility for the country, no matter how dangerous the situation is, must be ready to fight, defeat criminals, and maintain peace for the people", Captain Cuong confided.

Captain Vu Van Cuong (middle) with his teammates during a border crime raid.

Photo: NVCC

Nearly 10 years with hundreds of large and small drug cases, each time he went to fight a case left him with many special emotions. He said: "I still remember, when participating in the fight against the DB223 case, I was assigned to command the main capture team and directly worked with the undercover team to arrest 3 subjects illegally transporting drugs across the border from Laos to Vietnam, through the border area managed by the unit, to be transported to other provinces for consumption."

"To carry out the project, my teammates and I conducted an ambush for many days in rugged mountainous terrain. At that time, it was pouring rain, with lots of mosquitoes and leeches, but we still encouraged each other to try our best. Sometimes, we were so focused that we didn't feel tired anymore. Then, at dawn on February 25, 2023, at landmark 106, we saw 3 drug traffickers entering the ambush formation, so we approached to arrest them. When we realized we were being surrounded and captured, a leader recklessly pointed a flintlock gun at me and my teammates. Fortunately, thanks to my combat experience and decisive actions, I quickly neutralized the gun, controlled the subjects, and ensured the safety of the force," said Captain Cuong.

“The operation was successful, arresting all 3 suspects in the ring, seizing 7 heroin bricks, 1 kg of crystal meth and 1 gun. At that time, I didn’t think much, but now thinking back, if I had been just a split second slower than the suspects or if I hadn’t been lucky, I might not have been able to return,” Captain Cuong smiled shyly.

DB223 was just one of many times this young soldier had to face the guns and knives of drug traffickers and illegal transporters. His strong political will, efforts and dedication in improving his expertise and skills helped Captain Vu Van Cuong firmly believe in and determined to defeat the evil enemy. The motto: "The station is home, the border is homeland, the people of all ethnic groups are blood brothers" is also the luggage he carries with him every time he performs his duties.

Captain Cuong's "green dream" is also fueled and motivated by the solid rear in his hometown, with his wife, a teacher, and two well-behaved and adorable children. The eyes of Uncle Ho's soldier suddenly lit up with pride when talking about his small family: "I have a beautiful love for my hometown friend and, above all, a family that always supports me in my journey to pursue my dream and career of protecting the border," Captain Cuong shared.

But he still has not been able to calm down the worry and guilt in his heart, because his wife alone shouldered all the work at home. “Both times my wife gave birth, because of my duty, I could not return to take care of her and witness the birth of the children. Every time I came home on leave, seeing me carrying my backpack back to the unit, my 4-year-old son would chirp, although still a bit lisping, “be careful on your way to work, Dad.” Or like the hand-holding “Dad, you’ve been to Dien Bien a lot, stay home with me” also made me unable to hold back my tears,” Captain Cuong was moved.

Responsibility and desire to contribute

While Captain Vu Van Cuong is tough and serious on the battlefield, when he returns to normal life, when he is “sticking together” with the people, he exudes a gentleness, kindness, mixed with a bit of shyness. Not only fighting and preventing crime, he also spends a lot of time with his teammates helping the people in the border areas managed by the unit to develop socio-economic development, to stabilize their lives.

Captain Vu Van Cuong often visits and encourages families in the area.

Photo: NVCC

He often takes advantage of his free time to research and learn more about agriculture, so that he can advise and help people choose crops and livestock suitable for the local climate and soil conditions. When the rice harvest season comes, the golden fields are bustling with the laughter of the people and green soldiers like Mr. Cuong.

These days, Captain Vu Van Cuong is busier, but he still cannot hide his happiness and pride when he was honored as one of the 10 outstanding young faces nationwide in 2023. Previously, he was also one of the 67 outstanding examples nationwide in studying and following Ho Chi Minh's ideology, morality and style in 2023, and was awarded the Uncle Ho Badge by the Party and State leaders at Ba Dinh Square on the morning of November 2, 2023.

Captain Vu Van Cuong (left) was awarded the Uncle Ho badge for being a typical example nationwide in 2023. Photo: NVCC

As a young officer, he and his teammates have promoted their enthusiasm, creativity and dynamism in applying scientific and technological achievements in performing tasks, aiming to improve the efficiency and quality of work of officers and soldiers in the unit. Along with that, after visiting and helping families in difficult circumstances in the border areas, witnessing the happy smiles of the people, Captain Vu Van Cuong has further understood his responsibility to society and the community.