Galaxy, Be strong!

"He's just missing, right...?"

""Yeah, yeah, just missing, right?" - Ha's question on the afternoon of October 13th left me confused, not knowing how to answer, because at the same time, the first photos and videos of the scene were being transmitted to my phone...." - Nguyen Duc Trung, a K63 student majoring in Political Science at the University of Social Sciences and Humanities, Vietnam National University, Hanoi, shared on his personal Facebook page the moment his younger brother - his classmate - received the devastating news about the landslide that buried 13 soldiers and officers from Military Region 4 who were on rescue mission at Rao Trang 3.

Duc Trung recalled that after discussing work with Thien Ha, he was browsing Facebook, and his news feed was full of images of the floods in Central Vietnam. He blurted out:The flood situation this year is very serious. I just read the news that 13 people in a high-level delegation from Hue have gone missing.".

Rescue forces at the Forest Protection Management Station Area, Sub-district 67 (photo from People's Army Newspaper)

Thien Ha's usual smile vanished, her face turned tense, she fumbled with her phone, muttering softly:My dad would definitely go with the high-ranking delegation from Hue, but we haven't been able to contact him since yesterday afternoon."After a few phone calls, Thien Ha burst into tears when she confirmed that her father was among the 21 people who went to Phong Dien. At this point, Trung tried to remain calm to help his friend, while simultaneously using all his connections to gather information. Then, the first images and videos of the scene arrived, and Trung silently prayed that Thien Ha's father was one of the eight people who managed to escape."

That evening, Trung volunteered to join the Central Youth Union's working group and flew to Hue with Thien Ha. While on the plane, Trung overheard his friend confide:The day before yesterday (October 12th), my dad called and asked me to top up his phone credit. I guessed it was so he could send pictures to the news agency where he works to update them on the situation.That night, neither of them slept, just waiting for news and praying for a miracle to happen.

The next morning, the two brothers met at the airport, but they didn't say much to each other because they both understood the situation. Trung's phone lit up:Among the 13 people, there was one journalist."And in the group, there were only three reporters... Arriving directly at the scene, Trung felt a heavy heart seeing the horrific landscape of vast stretches of mud. Engineering teams worked in shifts, hoping to find the missing soldiers and officers as soon as possible."

The rescue team is searching for 13 missing officials in the Forest Protection Management Station area of ​​sub-district 67 (photo from People's Army Newspaper).

"From that moment on, I stayed in contact with her because she said she could only trust me. Around 5 PM on October 15th, I received news from the front lines that 12 out of 13 people had been found, including one who matched her father's description. She messaged me asking if I could come see her, because she didn't know who else to rely on. When she saw me, she burst into tears, as if she had been holding back for the past 30 hours...." - these words shared on Facebook by Duc Trung touched the hearts of his teachers and friends.

Extend your support so that she doesn't give up.

News of Thien Ha spread like wildfire across the USSH community's Facebook page. Thousands shared messages of support and encouragement for the young woman on the official USSH page, on the Facebook pages of the faculty members of the Institute of Journalism and Communication Training, and among Thien Ha's friends, whether close or not. Everyone felt heartbroken for the young girl who had to endure such immense pain and now faced the risk of being left alone with no one to rely on. A worrying concern emerged: Thien Ha might have to stop her studies after this shock and return to her younger sister, who is currently in 12th grade, to take care of her. Her education and future could be jeopardized!

But it is her teachers and friends at the Institute of Journalism and Communication Training, at USSH, who more than anyone else, want to give Thien Ha the warmest hugs, sincere encouragement, and loving support; extending their arms and hearts to help her not feel alone or give up during this difficult time.

Images from the funeral of journalist and martyr Pham Van Huong this morning (October 19, 2020). Photos taken by the school's staff.

Associate Professor Dr. Nguyen Thanh Huyen - Head of the PR-Advertising Department, Institute of Journalism and Communication Training, wrote these words of sympathy and encouragement on her personal Facebook page:Galaxy, the Faculty of Humanities is your HOME, always by your side!"In her melancholy mood, she seemed to miss even more the face of her little schoolgirl with her intelligent, bright eyes and optimistic, radiant smile."Watching your growth, I clearly see in you the qualities of dedication, self-sacrifice for the collective, and a harmonious spirit, just like your heroic father. You always take the lead in tasks called for by the group, always play the role of group leader guiding group assignments, take on the most challenging roles, and never hesitate to do anything assigned by the teachers."Participating in the delegation of staff and students attending a seminar on Media and Information Literacy in Yangon (Myanmar), she gave a fluent and engaging presentation in English while wearing a traditional ao dai dress, and also presented a song to her international friends."Hello VietnamThis left many people in awe, and the Vietnamese delegation was extremely proud.Thien Ha, I hope you stay healthy and strong in the face of this painful loss, and continue to rise up as you always have! My deepest condolences to you and your family. I am always proud of you and have faith in you. The Faculty of Humanities, SJC, and the PR Alumni Association of USSH are always with you. Keep going, Thien Ha!!”.

Ms. Nguyen Hoang Anh, the homeroom teacher of Thien Ha class, shared the story:Teacher, I would like to ask your permission to temporarily skip writing my graduation thesis this semester.""What's wrong, Thien Ha?" I asked, surprised. Just a few days ago, I had arranged to meet her to discuss our research topic. I had high hopes that, with Thien Ha's outstanding abilities, she would graduate early, after only three and a half years of study at the university, with honors. The story about her father and the information about the police approaching the scene shocked me; my ears buzzed amidst the chatter of the students below during my class. I understand that she's usually so strong, but in that moment, she seemed to fall silent, tears welling up in her eyes, perhaps tears she was trying to hold back. Thien Ha, your teachers and fellow students from the Faculty of Humanities are always by your side, ready to help you whenever you need it. I wish you all the best.!”.

BE STRONG, GALAXY! The love and pride for your brave father, along with the affection and respect from your school, teachers, and friends, will be your strength to rise above your pain. May the best things come your way!