To help build the new houses, officers, lecturers, and 48 senior cadets of the school temporarily set aside their graduation theses to take on a special “project” for flood-hit residents.
A special mission during summer vacation
The previously rocky and weed-filled land in San Bay village has now taken on the appearance of a new residential area with solid and spacious houses. Families have moved their belongings in, starting a new life after a historic flash flood wiped out their houses nearly a month ago. To help residents quickly stabilize their lives, the Military Region 2 Command, the Lai Chau provincial Military Command, the Military Logistics Academy, and local forces urgently constructed 24 resettlement houses in a higher, safer location ahead of the rainy season.
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Cadets of the Military Logistics Academy participate in building houses for residents at the resettlement area in San Bay village, Muong Than commune (Lai Chau province). |
To share the difficulties and support the flood-affected victims, the academy’s chains-of-command mobilized forces to build houses in Lai Chau right during the summer vacation. Although many cadets had returned to their families and were finalizing their graduation theses, upon receiving the command, everyone quickly returned to their unit. They thoroughly prepared for this special mission prioritizing the needs of the flood-affected residents.
Early on the morning of July 24, the 56-member delegation departed from Ha Noi, traveling nearly 400 kilometers across mountain passes to arrive in Muong Than by that afternoon. Upon arrival, the team immediately began site surveys, prepared tools, and arranged their accommodation to avoid inconveniencing the locals. The next morning, the force was divided into four teams, coordinating with the Project Management Board of the Lai Chau provincial Military Command to execute the work.
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Forces from the Military Logistics Academy help residents move their belongings into new homes. |
At the construction site, the academy’s officers, lecturers, and cadets took on technical tasks directly, from treating foundations and assembling steel frames to building walls and finishing joints. Lecturers worked side by side with the cadets, regularly checking progress and making timely adjustments to ensure all technical requirements were met. After the initial phase, the delegation was asked to continue supporting the construction of 20 more houses.
Colonel Vu Duc Viet, Deputy Head of the Construction Engineering Section under the school’s Faculty of Barracks and head of the delegation, said the team kept reminding one another to treat every house as their own. He stressed that despite the tight schedule, technical standards had to be fully met to ensure sturdy, lasting homes for residents who had just lost theirs.
A practical lesson before graduation
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Leaders of the Military Logistics Academy present gifts to encourage the construction force. |
In Muong Than commune, classroom lessons were tested on a real construction site. Rather than working through structural calculations or blueprints on paper, the cadets had to build on newly leveled ground, facing unpredictable weather and tight deadlines. Every measurement and alignment demanded absolute precision. Staff Sergeant Cu Thanh Cong, leader of class S528B, said it was the first time the cadets had applied their specialized training to building homes for families badly hit by natural disasters. Their priority, he said, was not only to meet the deadline, but also to ensure that each house would be sturdy and safe for its future residents.
The unpredictable weather in the Northwestern region, with scorching sun followed by heavy rain, often forced the teams to adjust their work plans. When outdoor work became impossible, they shifted to sheltered areas to prepare components and materials, then returned to the site as soon as the weather improved. To maintain progress, they even worked in the evenings under electric lights.
Senior Colonel Hoang Van Ky, Deputy Commander and Chief of Staff of the Lai Chau provincial Military Command, praised the discipline, professionalism, and working style of the academy’s team. He noted that the cadets not only added much-needed manpower but also applied their specialized training effectively to handle technical tasks, helping speed up the completion of the resettlement area.
The handover ceremony for the 24 houses on August 6 marked the end of two weeks of dedicated work by instructors and cadets of the Military Logistics Academy in Muong Than commune. The cadets then returned to complete their studies. Meanwhile, in San Bay village, the new houses opened their doors to residents deeply touched by the affection and sense of responsibility of Uncle Ho’s soldiers. For these future military engineers, the mission became a lasting memory and a meaningful “project” before graduation.
Translated by Minh Anh