In Vinh Thanh Commune, floodwater stretched across field after field. Rice that had turned golden only days earlier now lays submerged, with only grain-laden rice plant tops visible above the surface. The longer the crop stayed underwater, the more likely it was to sprout, fall over, and lose quality.
After receiving the information, the Tay Ninh Provincial Military Command directed Regiment 738 to mobilize forces to the area and coordinate with the Party Committee, authorities, Military Command, and Police of Vinh Thanh Commune to help locals harvest the rice.
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Officers and soldiers race to harvest rice from submerged fields. |
Following the “four on-the-spot” motto, the units quickly mobilized personnel and vehicles to flooded fields. Water was almost waist-deep in places, making harvesting extremely difficult, but the officers and soldiers worked against the clock. Sheaves of rice were gathered, loaded onto small boats, and taken to the dyke before flood water rose further.
Major Nguyen Van Tri, Commanding Officer of Regiment 738, noted that the troops were fully aware of the need to act with the utmost urgency and were striving to harvest as much rice as possible to minimize local farmers’ losses. He added that the crop was far more than grain to farmers. It represented their investment and months of hard work and provided a source of income for families.
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Rice is bundled and loaded onto boats. |
Working alongside his comrades in the flooded fields, Sergeant Le Quoc Duy, Head of Squad 7 under Platoon 3, Company 9, Regiment 738, shared that local farmers have worked hard for months to produce this crop. Now that the fields are flooded, there is no time to wait. All that matters now is making every hour count and harvesting as much rice as possible to help limit their losses.
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Despite the heavy rain, officers and soldiers work quickly to take the harvested rice to the dyke. |
The timely assistance from the Tay Ninh Provincial armed forces helped local farmers reduce their losses and keep the fruits of months of work. Across the submerged fields, officers and soldiers waded through water, harvesting rice, and transporting bundle after bundle of rice to the gathering location. Their efforts once again demonstrated the responsibility and devotion of Uncle Ho’s soldiers to the people and helped strengthen the military-civilian solidarity.
Translated by Song Anh