The concerns of the 'green beret' colonel and good news from Africa

In response to Colonel Mac Duc Trong's concerns about the civilian protection area and the roofless classroom in Abyei (South Sudan), the Captain of the 2nd Engineering Team announced the good news that a 1-hectare area had been built to support the people and a plan to repair the classroom was made.

In the last days of December of the year of the Cat, from all peacekeeping missions: the Central African Republic (CAR), the Republic of South Sudan (Africa) to the United Nations Mission in New York (USA) - hundreds of soldiers and officers of the People's Army (QĐND) and the People's Police (CAND) of Vietnam are still diligently carrying out the noble mission of peacekeeping (GGHB). The year 2024 marks the 10th anniversary of Vietnam deploying its forces to participate in the GGHB mission, which is also 10 years of celebrating Tet away from home for Vietnamese officers and soldiers. There is no drizzle, no north wind, no kumquat trees, no peach blossoms from the North or yellow apricot blossoms from the South, but the blue beret soldiers have together created a warm Vietnamese Tet. Vietnamese Engineer soldiers prepare for Tet in Abyei. Although each family's circumstances are different, the blue beret officers when far from home and the Fatherland all have the same thoughts. That is the nostalgia for home and loved ones, but when you are a soldier, you "have to know how to live far from your family". Understanding the mood of the officers and soldiers, on the afternoon of the 26th of Tet, the Ministry of National Defense organized a special meeting, connecting online Vietnamese officers, employees and soldiers in missions with their families, comrades and colleagues. At the Abyei area (South Sudan) bridge, through the LED screen, relatives were moved to tears when they saw their fathers, brothers and children smiling and sending many wishes. The Vietnamese Tet space stood out in the middle of the meeting room from far away Africa. On the field altar covered with military tarpaulin, fruits and cakes were displayed with a portrait of President Ho Chi Minh and the red flag with a yellow star of Vietnam and the blue flag of the United Nations. On both sides are two peach and apricot blossoms made from African forest branches by the hands of Vietnamese "green beret" soldiers.

MORE THAN THE MISSION

Colonel Mac Duc Trong, Deputy Director of the Vietnam Peacekeeping Department, is one of the first two Vietnamese peacekeepers, along with Colonel Tran Nam Ngan, to go to South Sudan to carry out their duties as Liaison Officers in 2014.

Colonel Mac Duc Trong in his first term as peacekeeper.

In the funny stories of the GGHB brothers, Colonel Mac Duc Trong is still jokingly called "Mr. First time", meaning the man of the first times. Not only is he one of the first two Vietnamese GGHB officers, he is also the first Captain of the first GGHB Engineering Team of Vietnam - Engineering Team No. 1. Sitting from the Vietnam bridge, he recalls his two terms of GGHB implementation in different positions. "If I could briefly summarize my term of work, I would choose "opening the way to victory". This is exactly what the leaders of the Party, State and Army entrusted to Engineering Team No. 1 when the Team was first deployed in early 2022", Colonel Mac Duc Trong confided. Although it was the first unit of Vietnam deployed in a new area, the whole team strived to overcome all difficulties, excellently completing the mission, "exceeding expectations". Colonel Trong also said that when the team completed its mission and returned home, the local authorities really wanted the Engineering Team to deploy for another 10 years to help them. The team has completed many projects such as 11 classrooms, libraries; building and renovating key roads in Abyei... In October 2022, when the team organized well drilling to get water for the people, it was also the occasion when Senior Lieutenant General Hoang Xuan Chien, Deputy Minister of National Defense, had a working trip here. The Senior Lieutenant General directed to immediately give the people a generator. From this generator, a high school in Abyei turned on the lights for the first time, and then for the first time, the students here had access to a personal computer donated by the team.

Connect online with the UNISFA mission in Abyei.

Currently, the 2nd Engineering Team is continuing the mission of the 1st Engineering Team. Colonel Mac Duc Trong is concerned: “There are still many unfinished tasks because the people there really need them. That is building a civilian protection area - this is the cherished goal of the 1st Engineering Team but has not been implemented due to land issues. Next, 2 classrooms lost their roofs due to the impact of armed conflicts, but the Team could not implement it because of the lack of roofing sheets”. Listening to the concerns of Colonel Trong, from the Abyei bridge, Colonel Nguyen Viet Hung, Team Leader of the 2nd Engineering Team, announced the good news that the Team has established a civilian protection area of ​​more than 1 hectare, capable of supporting 200-300 people in emergency cases. Regarding the classroom roof, the Team has come up with a plan to find materials and will try to implement it soon. Teacher Satino, Principal of Abyei High School - which received a lot of help from the Vietnamese engineering unit, happily announced that the electricity and water systems that the Engineering Team No. 1 helped the school with are still working well.

Blue berets and Abyei officials attend the online bridge.

The local government presented the Vietnam Engineering Corps with a goat as a gift on the occasion of the traditional New Year.

Abyei Regional Education Minister Nyinkwany Aguer Bol stressed that the Vietnamese peacekeeping forces in the Abyei region not only performed their peacekeeping duties but also "went beyond their assigned mission", making concrete contributions to helping support the local people. "Vietnamese soldiers have actively supported us in building classrooms, libraries and supporting the local hospital in medical missions. We appreciate the work you have done for Abyei and would like to thank the Vietnamese Engineering Team," he said.

The rear is always a solid support

The closer it gets to Tet, Ms. Thieu Thi Kim Cuc (wife of Captain Bui Duc Vinh - Engineering Team No. 2) and her two sons Hai Phong and Trung Hieu miss their husband and father more and more. Having been married for 14 years, this is the first time Vinh has been on a long and farthest business trip. His wife's eyes are red, understanding the duty of "Uncle Ho's soldier" so she always appears steadfast. I remember this day last year in Vietnam, he and his wife were picking peach blossoms and kumquats, visiting both sides of the family to wish them a happy new year.

Ms. Thieu Thi Kim Cuc with her two sons.

From the UNISFA mission (Abyei), Captain Bui Duc Vinh raised his hand to greet his wife and two young sons through the big screen. Ms. Cuc said that she talked to her husband online almost every day, but today she was choked up because his words of encouragement were made in front of his teammates and on the eve of Tet. Mr. Vinh had been on duty for 5 months, and on the day he left, she was worried because her two children were growing up, especially her eldest son who was in puberty and needed a father to support him and be a role model for him.

Captain Bui Duc Vinh had emotional moments when interacting online with his family.

Since Vinh's father left, the lives of the three mother and children have gradually stabilized. Listening to her husband, Cuc encouraged him and his teammates to take care of their health and strive to complete their mission. "Don't worry because at home, the three of us and our families are still healthy," she said. The eldest son Hai Phong ended the conversation with a message to his father far away: "I always think of you. Dad, please be confident and secure in your work in Africa. I will always be a good student, and together with my mother and younger brother, I will be a strong support so that you can work with peace of mind."

From 2014 to now, 792 blue beret soldiers of the Vietnam People's Army and Public Security have gone to perform UN peacekeeping missions, which have been highly appreciated by international friends and supported by domestic and international public opinion. Participating in peacekeeping operations contributes to increasing Vietnam's position and prestige in the world. The enhanced position and prestige will help Vietnam have a greater voice in protecting national and ethnic interests; contributing to serving the task of protecting the Fatherland from afar by peaceful means.

vietnamnet.vn

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