It is his closeness and understanding that have helped him win the hearts of local people, especially those facing difficulties in life.
Kind heart for children, elderly, and those in need
When darkness falls, people in mountainous villages of A Luoi district sit together to have simple meal with their family members. That’s when Captain Pham Thai Son goes from house to house to carry out his missions.
We met Captain Son on zigzagging Pe Ke Pass, connecting Hong Van and Hong Thuy communes, while he, in border guard uniform, was on the way to his unit from Hong Thuy commune. Through conversations with him, we knew that he had met with Principal of Hong Thuy Primary - Secondary School to discuss ways to call for donations for the construction of two more classrooms in Par Ay hamlet. According to him, the school in the hamlet has only three classrooms for first, second, and third graders. Those in grades 4 and 5 have to travel 6km to reach the main school for studying. In rainy season, students face many dangers since they have to cross three barrages. Sometimes they could not go to school due to floodwater.
Sympathizing with students’ situations, the school’s teachers want to build two more classrooms for them. Thanks to the assistance from Captain Tran Ngoc Tan, who used to work at the border post, a businessman in Thua Thien Hue has agreed to conduct a field survey in preparation for the construction of the classrooms.
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Captain Pham Thai Son presenting chicks to people in A Deeng - Par lieng 2 hamlet, Trung Son commune |
Through local people’s stories, we understand more about the young officer’s kind heart for them, especially children. People still remember the time when Captain Son hosted a mid-autumn festival for local children. That time when Son heard that children in Hong Thuy wished to watch a real lion dance, not on TV, he contacted his friends and comrades to make the children’s dream come true. With the sponsorship from benefactors, the Border Post of Hong Thuy Border Gate, in collaboration with the Women’s Association of the provincial Border Guard Command and Hong Thuy Primary - Secondary School, organized a memorable festival with Cuoi and Hang Nga (the two fairy-tale characters who are believed to live on the Moon) and lion dance for local children whose playground are gravel roads. At the event, 386 gift packages, including candies and necessities, 200 mooncakes, 150 lanterns, 600 notebooks, clothes, sandals, and raincoats were presented to local children.
The young officer said that the happy eyes and bright smiles of local children that night urged him to try his best to help as many disadvantaged children as possible.
In his handbook, Captain Son wrote, “The house of mother Can Nghe in Ca Nu 1 hamlet, Hong Van commune needs reroofing. The electrical system should be urgently repaired.” “Father Quynh Xang needs help to deliver brooms to…” “Remember to visit and inquire after mother Can Tria.” He underlined the work that needs getting done first.
Quynh Xang is an 80-year old man in Ta Lo A Ho hamlet. He and his wife are selling brooms for living. Due to old age, it takes them more time to finish a product, and they are not able to deliver it to customers. Since Captain Son undertook missions at the border post, Old Xang’s worries have been eased. Every day, the young officer spends his free time helping Old Xang deliver brooms to customers. He rides his motorbike from one village to another, crossing zigzagging Pe Ke Pass.
Captain Son said that he took photos of the brooms and posted them on his Facebook page. Sympathizing with the couple’s situations, people usually place orders instead of going to market. “I feel released when seeing their happiness,” said Son. Old Xang and his wife have long considered Son their child who is a caring and thoughtful person.
Desire to improve people’s living standards
Captain Son lost his mother when he was a little boy. His father went away to make a living, remarried and settled down there. Son and his sister were raised and loved by their grandparents. Growing up in a difficult situation and being raised with grandparents’ love, the young man understands and sympathizes with those in difficult situations. When becoming a border guard soldier, he turns the understanding about the life of needy people in the mountainous area into actions.
Major Nguyen Tien Dung, seconded Deputy Secretary of the Party Committee of Trung Son commune, A Luoi district, is the person who knows very well about Captain Son’s deeds. He recalled that after learning about the project on building A Lin Stream community tourism site in Trung Son commune, the young officer said that they should do something to boost locals’ incomes. Son’s idea was supported by Major Dung and other border guard officers in the locality. They used their own money to build a “military-civilian” hut (one in five huts of the locality’s collective) for tourists to rent when visiting the community tourist area. The hut was then handed over to the collective for management. Half of the proceeds are being used for the border guard’s activities for the poor.
Gifts bought with money raised from the hut’s operation have reached many needy households and students in the locality. Thanks to its effective operation, the Youth Union Organization of the Border Post of Hong Van Border Gate has expanded the size of the hut to host more tourists, thus raising more money for the poor.
Captain Son’s deeds are praised and highly appreciated by the Thua Thien Hue provincial Border Command’s leaders. Senior Colonel Dang Ngoc Hieu, Deputy Political Commissar of the provincial Border Guard Command, evaluated that officers like Son have captured border people’s love for and trust in the border guard force. Sincerity “unlocks” locals’ heart, encouraging them to strictly observe the Party’s guidelines and State’s policies and contribute to protecting security in border areas.
Captain Pham Thai Son is one of the ten young officers honored by the Vietnam Border Guard Command in 2021. Last May, the young officer received the title “Youth follows Uncle Ho’s teaching,” launched by the province’s Youth Union Organization.
Translated by Tran Hoai