At about 9:40 am on September 12, on the way back to the unit, Major Tran Van T - Battalion Commander of Battalion 3, Infantry Regiment 568, Hung Yen Provincial Military Command - discovered a person intending to commit suicide on Bo bridge.
He turned the car around, got out to intervene and encourage. When this person suddenly jumped into the Tra Ly River, Major T immediately took off his uniform, left his personal belongings and rushed down to rescue them. The fast-flowing water swept both of them away. Until the morning of September 13, functional forces were still searching for the 2 people.
A few days ago, the story of teacher Hoang Thi Hien in Nghe An also moved many people.
When she saw a 2-year-old boy suddenly running out onto the road just as the truck was coming, Ms. Hien rushed after him, hugged him and took him to a safe place.
The child escaped, and she was run over both legs by the car, suffering particularly serious injuries and then had her right calf amputated.
Two stories, two different circumstances, two different fates of people but sharing a very human choice is that when others are in danger, they do not hesitate, do not turn away but act immediately, in the true sense of "for the people forgetting themselves, for the people sacrificing themselves...".
These moments not only make us love and be proud of the soldiers - the "Uncle Ho's soldiers" in particular but also of Vietnamese people in general.
In situations that only last a few seconds, it is very difficult to have enough time to consider the pros and cons. The soldier's first reflex is to save someone struggling in the water. The teacher's first reflex is to pull the child off the truck.
That choice creates the special value of courage. Those are commands that come from unconditional kind hearts.
Because in life, what is scary is sometimes not only accidents or dangers, but also the indifference of people's hearts.
We have witnessed countless times a person in trouble in a crowd but no one helps; a child in danger but people around just stand and watch...
We need more stories and courageous actions to unconditionally save people like that to jointly nurture and build a community that knows how to react positively, not being indifferent and insensitive to the dangers of others.
Of course, honoring courage does not mean encouraging recklessness to save people, especially in cases where the rescuer does not have skills.
Finally, after the words of admiration, society has another responsibility with those and relatives of those who have paid too high a price, too harsh and painful for their kindness.
Teacher Hoang Thi Hien will have to go through a long journey of treatment, recovery and adapting to life after injury.
Visits and support at this time are very necessary, but long-term care for her health, work and life is even more important.
For Major Tran Van T, when the search is still ongoing, what everyone is most looking forward to at this time is a miracle...
