The story of soldiers who stayed at Truong Sa

During the days away from home, the lack of material things could not stop him from dreaming of becoming a soldier of the Truong Sa navy.

To protect the sovereignty of the sea and islands of the Fatherland, there are still soldiers who have stayed for decades on remote islands. For them, the days away from home, the lack of material and spiritual things cannot stop the dream of holding a gun at the forefront of the wind and waves, to become a soldier of the Truong Sa Navy.

More than a decade on the island

Arriving at Sinh Ton Dong Island on a scorching hot afternoon, many new soldiers were on the island for the first time, receiving their mission with a feeling of bewilderment and unfamiliarity. Everyone was nervous but also honored and proud to fulfill their responsibility and duty to protect the sacred sea and islands.

Senior Lieutenant Nguyen Nhu Truc is cleaning the information and energy station equipment on Sinh Ton Dong Island. (Photo: Do ​​Hung/Vietnam+)

On the other hand, some people return to the mainland, some go to work elsewhere, but there are still island soldiers who stay day and night from one island to another with their heads held high with the ideal of continuing to contribute to the Fatherland when called, contributing their small efforts for the common mission.

Receiving us in a room filled with machines running loudly and making ear-piercing noises, First Lieutenant Nguyen Nhu Truc from Quynh Luu, Nghe An, an officer of the power source of Sinh Ton Dong island, Brigade 146, Command of Naval Region 4, was diligently repairing and cleaning information and energy equipment.

Like all other island soldiers, the dream of joining the navy had been burning in him since his school days through the images and stories he learned. Then, when he had the opportunity, he immediately signed up to join the navy to fulfill his wandering ambition.

After finishing high school, he joined the army and studied to become an officer in the telecommunications industry, then went to Hai Phong to work. His chance came when the Navy Region 4 Command mobilized and transferred him to work in Truong Sa in 2000.

Since then, he has lived away from home for more than 11 years. For him, the island is home, the ocean is his second homeland, where he shares the hardships of work, misses his family, and his closest friend is the sound of the waves crashing on the sand all day long.

With a voice hoarse from exposure to the sea, Mr. Truc recounted his journey to the islands in Truong Sa to carry out his duties.

In 2003, he got married for only 17 days and then went to work on an island for two years before returning to his wife. Three months later, he continued his work trip to Truong Sa island and the number of times he returned to visit his family could be counted on one hand.

During that long time, at first he did not call once, only received a letter from his wife every 6 months, but she still kept her faith, encouraged and shared, and was a strong spiritual support for island soldiers like him at the forefront of the storm.

“Once my wife misunderstood and thought I had left to marry someone else because the letters sent to the mainland took 6 months to reach her and were already piled up in thick stacks. Only when we are far away can we feel the preciousness and happiness of love,” Truc humorously said.

When his wife gave birth, he was not at home and only knew when his grandfather called to the island. Speaking slowly, Mr. Truc said: “The biggest disadvantage for a soldier’s wife on the island is not having her husband by her side during pregnancy and childbirth. To compensate for that, I named my son Nguyen Huy Hoang with the thought that my time with my wife would be short, so when I went to Truong Sa, the most expected and glorious thing was to have a child so that my wife would have a place to take care of her and have faith to comfort her in times of joy and sadness.”

[Human love on the waves of Truong Sa]

Last April, his wife was able to visit the soldiers and he was happy again when she became pregnant with their second child. They both agreed to name their child Truong Sa because it was formed and originated from this archipelago.

To fill the sadness, he encouraged himself by completing the job of ensuring that the signal towers always worked well to act as a bridge of information between the soldiers and the mainland, understanding the sympathy and sharing with everyone.

“The smiles after each phone call home asking about their health, listening to the babbling voices of children, comforting and encouraging the wives of all the soldiers on the island is an endless happiness for us information workers,” Mr. Truc happily said.

Footprints on every island

Like Mr. Truc, Lieutenant Vu Duy Liem, Tan Son commune, Quynh Luu, Nghe An, has 14 years of seniority on the oldest islands in Truong Sa.

From floating islands to submerged islands, every place bears his footprints. Humbly talking about himself, Mr. Liem shared: “The happiest thing for island soldiers working in Truong Sa is to set foot on every island to feel the breath of the ocean waves, the vitality of the army and people, and the sincere affection in the army.”

Talking about his days working on the island, Mr. Liem clearly remembers the time when the ocean almost "swallowed" him and turned him into the water god.

During a training session, a large wave hit the side of the boat, causing the target to break its anchor and drift away. Without thinking, he instinctively jumped into the sea and pulled the target to shore.

Struggling with the stele weighing more than 200kg took more than 1.5 hours, having to dive, hold on tight and flapping arms and legs wildly in the vast ocean water to push the stele so it couldn't float away with all my strength fighting against the roaring waves that seemed to want to drown everything.

“When he reached the shore, he fainted from exhaustion. Everyone said I was crazy, but I had to pull the stele up so as not to affect the unit’s achievements after all the sweat and tears of my teammates, so I did it,” Mr. Liem emotionally shared.

For him, being away from home has become a habit, and it seems that his wife also understands and sympathizes with the hardship but also the pride that he is carrying.

“I can stay on the island for a long time because just one sentence from my wife that I can work with peace of mind, she will take care of everything at home makes me emotional and silently thank life for bringing us together,” Mr. Liem shared.

And then, until now, Mr. Liem told us with an excited voice: "I still do not feel regretful about the path I have chosen, I am even proud and honored to be standing in Truong Sa, feeling that I must fulfill the responsibility that the Party and people have entrusted to firmly protect sovereignty."

Our ship began a new journey, saying goodbye at the pier, the two men told us reporters that next year, when they had the chance to go to Truong Sa, they would meet us again in this archipelago. A feeling of pride and admiration filled our hearts. I wondered how many people would dare to sacrifice their personal happiness, love their job enough, dispel the cold tears and longing of their loved ones on the mainland to stay on the islands for that long?/.

According to (Vietnam+)