Colin Island: Steadfast in the midst of the wind and sun of Truong Sa

(Baonghean.vn)- In the cause of protecting Vietnam's sea and island sovereignty, names such as Gac Ma, Co Lin, Len Dao,... have become immortal with heroic and tragic songs. Following the heroic tradition of previous generations, today, Co Lin Island is becoming a solid foothold at the most frontline of the Fatherland.

Colin Island is a submerged island, located in the Sinh Ton island chain in the Truong Sa archipelago, 9 nautical miles southwest of Sinh Ton island, about 1.9 nautical miles from Gac Ma island, which is being illegally occupied by China. This is a submerged coral reef in the shape of a slightly curved triangle, each side is about 1 nautical mile long. At high tide, the entire reef is submerged, at low tide, some orphaned rocks are visible.

Working groups passing through the Colin Island area all held memorial ceremonies.

In the history of protecting the sovereignty of the sea and islands of the Vietnamese people, the names Co Lin, Gac Ma, Len Dao have truly become immortal, associated with the heroic and tragic song in Truong Sa. Following the directive of the Navy Command on carrying out the mission CQ88, on March 13, 1988, ship HQ 505 commanded by Captain Vu Huy Le arrived at Co Lin island, bringing materials to build the island. On the morning of March 14, 1988, we planted two national flags on Co Lin island. Outside, the enemy used a number of modern warships to continuously threaten, provoke, and prevent the activities of our troops. Despite this, the officers and soldiers on the island and on the ship resolutely restrained themselves, determined not to fall into the enemy's tricks.

Releasing flowers into the sea, remembering the heroic martyrs who heroically sacrificed for the cause of protecting sea and island sovereignty.

However, with the ambition to invade Truong Sa, the enemy blatantly attacked our forces. The heavy artillery on the warships opened fire one after another, attacking the HQ 505 ship, causing the ship's main engine to fail. At this time, Captain Vu Huy Le decided to push the ship onto Co Lin Island, determined to hold the island. The battle was unequal with the enemy having modern weapons, equipped with artillery, machine guns, transport ships, and infantry weapons of our army. However, with the indomitable will, "as long as there are people, there is the island", sacrificing to the last drop of blood to protect the sovereignty of the sea and islands, our army forced the enemy to retreat. We held Co Lin Island firmly after Gac Ma Island was occupied.

Colin Island seen from afar.

In that unequal battle, 64 officers and soldiers of the Vietnam People's Navy fell, their blood dyed the sea and islands of their homeland. The sea area around Co Lin and Gac Ma islands has now become a special cemetery, the navy soldiers still call it the "Red Cemetery". All working groups, military ships and fishermen passing through this area hold memorial ceremonies, release incense and flowers into the sea and sound the horn three times to remember them.

The national flag flies on the roof of a house on Colin Island.

Being a reef, moving in to dig is very difficult, requiring a pilot to guide the way.

With the attention of the Party, the State, the Ministry of National Defense and the Navy, Co Lin Island is changing day by day with a solidly built building and a wind and solar energy system, contributing to improving the quality of life of officers and soldiers on the island. At night, Co Lin is like a giant lighthouse, shimmering magically, full of life in the middle of the Truong Sa sky and water.

The working delegation led by Deputy Minister of Information and Communications Nguyen Thanh Hung visited Co Lin Island.

Although the fresh water source on the island depends entirely on rainwater and water supplies from the mainland, with their ingenuity, courage, and overcoming difficulties, the officers and soldiers on Co Lin Island have been self-sufficient in water using rainwater, making it one of the submerged islands with the largest water reserves in the Truong Sa archipelago. Every year, the output of green vegetables on the island reaches more than 800 kg, fish reaches more than 600 kg, etc.

Nghe An Newspaper reporter talked with the commander of Co Lin island,

Promoting the heroic fighting tradition, uniting to overcome difficulties, and maintaining sovereignty of the heroic Truong Sa Group, generations of cadres and soldiers on Co Lin Island have continued to write heroic history pages. Not only doing a good job of maintaining the sovereignty of the homeland's sea and islands, Co Lin is also a support for Vietnamese fishermen in the Truong Sa fishing ground.

The officers and soldiers on Co Lin Island are always highly focused and ready to fight in any situation to protect the sovereignty of the sea and islands of the motherland. In the photo, Lieutenant Nguyen Huu Thuy, from Thinh Thanh Commune, Yen Thanh District, Nghe An, is on duty on Co Lin Island.

Hau Giang province's art troupe brings singing to officers and soldiers on Co Lin island.

Senior Lieutenant Nguyen Van Ba, political commissar of Co Lin Island, said that with its achievements in training, combat readiness, island protection, and protection of fishermen, Co Lin Island has been honored to receive many noble awards from the Party, the State, and the Navy, deserving to be a solid shield at the most frontline of the Fatherland.

Nguyen Khoa