Just returning after seeing off Lieutenant Colonel Tran Van Tung (born in 1987, Battalion Commander of Battalion 3, Infantry Regiment 568, Hung Yen Provincial Military Command) back to his motherland, Mr. Doan Van Tien (born in 1984, residing in Tran Hung Dao ward, Hung Yen province) still remembers vividly the moment when the soldier took off his uniform and jumped into the Tra Ly River to save people. Mr. Tien was one of the people who directly appeared at Bo bridge on the morning of September 12, along with Lieutenant Colonel Tran Van Tung to advise the young man who intended to jump off the bridge.
Mr. Tien recounted that at about 9:40 am on September 12th, he had just gone to work across Bo bridge when he saw the two mothers and children wrestling. At that time, he saw Lieutenant Colonel Tran Van Tung turn his car around. After that, Mr. Tien also turned his car around to approach the two mothers and children.
“We talked, advised, and encouraged each other and learned that the young man suffered from a serious illness and did not want to continue living because he was afraid of becoming a burden to his family. After that, the young man agreed to return. But for some reason, when we turned around to get the motorbike, the young man suddenly jumped into the Tra Ly River,” Mr. Tien recalled.
At that time, everything happened too quickly. Without hesitation, Lieutenant Colonel Tran Van Tung immediately took off his uniform and rushed into the river in the downstream direction by the bridge to welcome the young man who had just jumped into the water.
At that time, I was the one who hugged Comrade Tung's uniform and ran towards the motorbike, moving quickly down to the dike with the thought of welcoming Comrade Tung and the person who jumped off the bridge. However, as soon as I got down, I heard people announce that Lieutenant Colonel Tung was exhausted and was swept away by the strong current," Mr. Tien said.
The bad news made Mr. Tien speechless. In a moment of not knowing what to do, he turned back to his motorbike, opened the bag and belongings of Lieutenant Colonel Tran Van Tung, and only saw a letter sent to the comrade's daughter who achieved excellent academic achievements.
After that, Mr. Tien handed over all the belongings of Lieutenant Colonel Tran Van Tung to the functional agency and then returned home.
In the days that followed, whenever I had time, I would take the opportunity to run across Bo bridge. I still hoped for a miracle to happen to comrade Tung. I still thought, at that time, if there was a lifebuoy on the bridge, perhaps things would be different...", Mr. Tien choked up.
To this day, after seeing off Lieutenant Colonel Tran Van Tung to his motherland with everyone, Mr. Tien still cannot forget those last moments. Especially the moment Lieutenant Colonel Tran Van Tung took off his uniform, without hesitation, jumped into the water to save a stranger.
