Lesson 3: Standing firm amidst the waves and winds
Overcoming difficulties and shortages
It was with great difficulty that we had the opportunity to go up to an offshore platform. It was the DK1/9 platform. The sea waves were less fierce that day. Lieutenant Colonel Le Dinh Viet, the deputy head of the delegation, said: "Today, we will take you reporters up to the platform to wish the officers and soldiers there a Happy New Year. You will witness firsthand the difficult and deprived living conditions of the soldiers on the platform." After carefully wrapping our equipment in plastic bags, we were taken down to the boat and headed towards the platform. Excited and nervous, our dream of visiting an offshore platform had finally come true!
As we approached the offshore platform, we were greeted by warm waves from the officers and soldiers. Looking up from below, the platform appeared massive and sturdy, supported by four steel piles driven deep into the coral reef. The distance from the sea surface to where the men live and work is approximately 30 meters. Each person was pulled up one by one using a rope designed like a pulley. Firm handshakes and warm embraces followed, like long-lost relatives reuniting. Their skin was tanned dark by the sun and wind, but their smiles were remarkably bright. Amidst the ferocity of the sea, they displayed a calm, witty, and cheerful spirit. Before anyone spoke, all communication was conveyed through their eyes and smiles. Yet, absolutely no one felt any distance between them…
To get onto the offshore platform, you have to use ropes to pull yourself up.
Lieutenant Nguyen Ngoc Bang, Commander of the DK1/9 Platform, introduced the members of the "house" to the reporter. Although the platform has very few people, they come from all ages and regions. The furthest are from Thanh Hoa, then Nghe An, Ha Tinh, Ben Tre… But no matter where they come from, they all share one common homeland: the sea. The entire building is about 100 square meters, hexagonal in shape. The surrounding area serves as both a workspace and a sleeping area. In the middle is a large table, where the crew holds meetings and chats after their shifts. Despite the small space, it is arranged very neatly and tidily.
The weather here is divided into two distinct seasons. The calm season lasts from April to October, and the stormy season from November to March of the following year. Each year, 15-20 typhoons and tropical depressions "visit." Due to the harsh climate and living in the middle of the ocean, fresh vegetables and water are extremely scarce. To grow vegetables, the soldiers brought soil, seeds, and fertilizer from the mainland. In the beginning, due to lack of experience, the seedlings didn't sprout. Dao Dinh Phu said: "Learning from experience, we sowed the seeds in wooden troughs. Because we are surrounded by waves and strong winds all year round, to prevent the vegetables from being damaged by storms, we used old sacks patched together to make large tarpaulins, enclosing the vegetable beds in a corner of the house. The soldiers eat these self-sufficient vegetables very sparingly, mainly chopping them up and cooking them in soup for lunch."
Vegetables grown on the DK offshore platforms.
Fresh water is "more precious than gold" for the soldiers stationed on the offshore platforms, mostly brought from the mainland, with a small amount collected from rainwater. To ensure enough water for the whole year, each platform must plan its water usage carefully. During the rainy season, they bathe once every two days; during the dry season, they bathe twice a week. The soldiers sit in a large basin, and after each bath, they use the water to wash their clothes and may even reuse it to water vegetables. Not only that, the soldiers on the offshore platforms also thirst for many other things, such as entertainment and the warmth of the mainland.
As long as there are people, there will be an offshore platform.
In the vast ocean of our homeland, if asked who is the most cheerful person, the answer would be the soldiers of the DK1 offshore platform. Meeting them, the most noticeable thing is the constant smile on their faces. That smile normalizes the hardships and deprivations of everyday life. It also brings closer those we meet for the first time, instilling in us confidence in the image of soldiers who, amidst countless storms, remain steadfast in their duty to guard the skies and protect the seas.
Over the years, thanks to the attention of the Party, the State, organizations, and individuals, the DK1 offshore platform system has been invested in and upgraded more fully. Currently, 100% of the platforms are equipped with solar panels and wind power systems, providing sufficient electricity for lighting, cooking, and other uses. Viettel's network coverage has been extended to all 15 platforms, allowing soldiers to call home to check on their families and loved ones outside of duty. Lieutenant Huynh Chi Cuong, Political Officer of DK1/9 Offshore Platform, said: "Now, whenever we miss home, we just need to make a phone call and the mainland feels right next door. Moreover, the internet has been installed, so the soldiers on the platforms can go online to read news and communicate with their relatives. Therefore, the soldiers feel more secure in their assigned tasks."
This is the 23rd year that Đoàn Đình Phú, a cryptography officer, has been stationed at the DK1 offshore platform. Phú's hometown is Ngọc Sơn commune, Thanh Chương district (Nghệ An province). Despite spending many years at sea and celebrating Tet (Lunar New Year) on the platform, Phú has never felt lonely, because he always has the timely support of his comrades, and he knows that the home front is always watching and standing behind them. When asked about the difficulties, Phú said: "We here have already accepted the challenges, so these difficulties are just tests for us to overcome. Although naval soldiers face more difficulties and shortages than other soldiers, our loyalty to the Fatherland, our readiness to fight and win in all circumstances, is the same. The officers and soldiers on the platform all share a common aspiration: The Party, the State, and the people should rest assured and trust in the naval soldiers. Even if it means sacrificing ourselves, we are determined to protect and maintain the territorial integrity of the Fatherland."
Although Tet (Lunar New Year) is still nearly a month away, the atmosphere on the DK1/9 platform is already bustling. Tet gifts, both those provided by the government and those sent from the mainland, have all been delivered. While tending to a yellow apricot blossom tree, artillery soldier Ngo Thanh Luan shared: "The apricot blossoms have bloomed, proving that spring has arrived. I'm very excited to celebrate Tet on the platform and see how it differs from the mainland." Luan is from Ben Tre and has been on the platform for three months. "Initially, I missed home terribly. But after more than a month, I've gotten used to it. Moreover, I always have my superiors and colleagues encouraging and supporting me, so this feels like my second home. I will try my best to complete all assigned tasks excellently," Luan said.
We haven't had the chance to meet all the officers and soldiers living and serving on the 15 DK1 offshore platforms, but we believe that they all possess the qualities and virtues of a soldier of Uncle Ho. Difficulties and hardships always exist, but it is precisely in such challenging circumstances that they have resolutely overcome obstacles to successfully complete their assigned tasks and safeguard the sacred territorial sovereignty of the Fatherland.
(To be continued)
Pham Bang (Email from DK1)
