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Troops of Division 4, Military Region 9 on a forest protection patrol |
Laying a strong foundation
After completing its international missions in Cambodia, Division 4 was stationed in Hon Dat and Giang Thanh districts of Kien Giang province and tasked with upgrading the bare land into a border corridor for socio-economic development, defense and security protection, and eco-environment development.
They made a fairy tale in a short time: Creating possible things from impossible ones. They built roads, canals, greened fields, created potential, laying a strong foundation for the current fertile land.
Safe for green lungs
The Year of the Dragon 2024 is the second year in a row First Lieutenant Truong Vu Phuong, Officer Commanding of Company 1, Battalion 1, Regiment 2 has not reunited with his family on the New Year's Eve.
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A fire-fighting practice of troops from Division 4 |
When families gathered to celebrate the special moments of the New Year, his comrades and Phuong were quietly taking on duties in the deserted forest, surrounded only by the rustling sound of forest leaves.
There are only four members in Battalion 1. However, it is assigned to taking care of hundreds of hectares of melaleuca forest. Tet is the time that drought gets the highest level; thus, for young officer Phuong, absence from the unit for an hour is extremely dangerous.
For Private First-class Doan Ngoc Quy, this is the first year he celebrated Tet far from home. He said he was a little bit nostalgic when welcoming the New Year far from home. However, the care from his superiors and comrades made him feel at ease. He was proud of his current noble mission.
Battalion 1 troops then welcomed Tet in the comradeship. They had Banh chung (square glutinous rice cakes) made by themselves and Banh tet (cylindrical glutinous rice cakes) - a present from local people for Tet, as well.
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Preparing for Tet celebrations |
According to Major Cao Van Sang Em, Political Commissar of Battalion 1, in the past the nearer Tet came the more worried the troops felt since it was scorching and local people often went to forest finding bee honey, easily causing forest fires. Luckily, thanks to good dissemination, local people are now more aware of firefighting. In addition, local organizations, units and people usually visit checkpoints and present Tet gifts, so Tet celebrations of troops are cozier.
Senior Colonel Bui Van Minh, Political Commissar of Division 4, said that high danger of forest fire is posed during the dry season which starts in January and lasts until early July. With the motto of prevention is the first, the division builds plans to plant, manage, take care of and protect the forest, boosts information dissemination among troops to heighten their vigilance in forest fire prevention and control and encourage local people to join hands in forest protection.
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Troops of Division 4 contribute to keeping forests green. |
The unit has also bought high-capacity pumps, mobile fire-fighting vehicles, reinforced personnel and vehicles for checkpoints, rehearsed scenarios, organized patrols and guard shifts, and placed warning signs, dredged canals to create a safe distance between melaleuca forests and local people’s farming areas...
Thanks to their active preparation, no forest fires have occurred in recent years. These forest guard officers are trying their best to keep the nature pure, the green lungs safe, and border people’s life peaceful.
Translated by Mai Huong