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Troops of Regiment 143 building a flood-resistant house for the family of Le Hung Nhut |
Proud to take part in the campaign, young soldiers on construction sites are united and competing with time, determined to reach the finish line early and contribute practical achievements toward the 81st anniversary of the Vietnam People’s Army and 36th Whole-People’s Defense Festive Day.
Among the beneficiaries is 78-year-old Ta Ngoc Ky from My Hoa hamlet, Hoa Thinh commune, Dak Lak province. Despite age and frailty, he and his wife had long relied on selling lottery tickets to make a living. On November 20, while accompanying his wife to a medical checkup in Khanh Hoa, Ky was shocked to learn that their house had been swept away by floods. The next morning, soldiers transported the couple home by military canoe. Confronted with the devastation, they collapsed in despair.
In early December, upon learning that the State would provide funding and the military would contribute labor to build a flood-resistant house, Ky informed his son and daughter-in-law so they could return from Ho Chi Minh City to support and expedite construction. Standing beside the newly-formed structure, he expressed relief as soldiers had already completed more than 40% of the work within two weeks.
To ensure safety, the Defensive Area Command Region 5 - Dray Bhang raised the foundation nearly 50cm above the peak of the recent historic flood and added a 45m² attic to provide shelter during future emergencies. Officers emphasized the significance of this support for elderly residents and families facing hardship.
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Regiment 143 soldiers working urgently at the “flood epicenter” of Hoa Thinh commune |
According to Lieutenant Colonel Nguyen Duc Thai, Deputy Political Head of the Defensive Area Command Region 5 - Dray Bhang, floods severely damaged inter-hamlet and inter-commune roads, forcing the unit to mobilize maximum manpower to repair access routes so trucks could transport materials. For remote households, soldiers had to use handcarts and wheelbarrows or directly carry roofing sheets, steel, bricks, stones, and cement to construction sites. Despite the challenges of digging foundations and erecting pillars on unstable soil, the unit completed foundations for two houses within a short time and proceeded with wall construction and roofing.
Across multiple hamlets, including My Dien and Phu Huu of Hoa Thinh commune, Binh Hoa, Phu My, Ngan Son, Phong Thang of Tuy An Bac commune, and Hoi Tin, Diem Dien of Tuy An Dong commune, forces from Division 2, Division 315, Armored Brigade 574, Signal Brigade 575, Artillery Brigade 368, Coffee Company 15, Defense–Economic Unit 737, Commando Brigade 198, and Coastal Missile Brigade 682 have laid foundations and begun construction of hundreds of new houses. Their work, marked by youthful energy and resilience, has been going on day and night.
Upholding the principle “Leave no one behind,” these units have dedicated tens of thousands of workdays to help policy beneficiaries, poor households, elderly people living alone, and vulnerable residents repair storm-damaged houses with torn roofs, cracked walls, or collapsed structures. Soldiers and civilians alike have contributed labor and materials to help flood-affected families prepare to welcome the Lunar New Year in new, safe, and solid houses.
On December 11, representative of Regiment 143 inspected the house of Le Hung Nhut in My Diem hamlet before moving on to Tay Hoa commune and Dong Hoa ward to guide units from Da Nang city and Dak Lak province in operating new welding and cutting machinery rotated among work teams.
Sergeant Pham Tuan Kiet, a skilled mason and head of a squad of Regiment 143, felt honored to contribute to the campaign. Under his guidance, young soldiers initially assigned to basic tasks soon gained confidence in masonry work and plastering.
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Officers and soldiers of Defensive Area Command Region 2- Krong Buk clearing land and building flood-resistant homes for residents of Hoa Thinh |
Colonel Dao Duy Tam, Second-in-Command of the Dak Lak Provincial Military Command, noted that despite adverse weather, difficult transportation, tight construction deadlines, scarce materials, and rising prices, construction teams surpassed their progress targets thanks to determination and unity. Many units encouraged troops to work through lunchtime and evening hours to accelerate progress.
Inspections showed that all houses met technical standards and aesthetic requirements, and adhered to the “three solid elements,” solid foundation, solid walls, solid roof, ensuring resilience against both storms and floods and meeting the needs of residents in the South Central and Central Highlands regions.
Translated by Tran Hoai