Bringing Spring to DK1 Platform

In the farthest part of the Fatherland, officers and soldiers with "heads in the sky but feet on the ground" celebrated the Year of the Cat in the midst of chaos.

The warmth of the mainland carries the ship through the waves

Following the 4 ships carrying Tet gifts for the military and people of Truong Sa island district, at exactly 9:00 a.m. on December 26, 2022, at the Military Port of Brigade 171, the Naval Region 2 Command organized a farewell ceremony for 2 ships.Truong Sa10 and Truong Sa 21 departed for DK1 platform. Before the two fleets sailed out to sea, hundreds of cadres, officers, and soldiers of the 159AE anti-submarine ship brigade and the 2nd Region Command saw off 58 reporters from central and local newspapers and radio stations reporting on this special voyage. The 171st Brigade's naval port was as crowded as a festival.

Bringing Spring to DK1 platform. Photo: Mai Thang

After the ceremony of the head of the working delegation saluting and reporting the voyage, on behalf of the Party Committee of the Naval Region 2 Command, Colonel Dang Manh Hung - Deputy Political Commissar of the Region Command assigned the task: "This is a ship bringing the warmth of Spring and the affection of the mainland to the officers and soldiers who are on duty day and night to protect the sovereignty of the sea, islands and the southern continental shelf of the Fatherland. This special voyage will encounter many difficulties and hardships, but by all means, we must bring Tet gifts to the officers and soldiers. 15DK1 platform, patrol ships at sea and Radar Station 590 Con Dao".

The Tet kumquat trees were transferred to the ship by young soldiers and neatly arranged in the hold. Photo: Mai Thang

Captain Cao Van Duong - officer in charge of Tet gifts of the Naval Region 2 Command said that this Spring, in addition to military supplies according to military standards, officers and soldiers of DK1 platform also received tons of gifts from people across the country such as sticky rice, bamboo shoots, vermicelli, wood ear mushrooms, dong leaves... The most attractive were more than 20 kumquat bonsai pots from the army and people of Hung Yen province sent to soldiers of the platform. Nguoi Lao Dong newspaper also sent DK1 soldiers 10,000 national flags in the program "Pride of the National Flag".

“The gifts from the army and people of the whole country to the soldiers of the DK1 platform are not only of material value but also of spiritual value. They are the encouragement and sharing of the people with the officers and soldiers on duty at the forefront of the Spring of Quy Mao. The soldiers of the DK1 platform will feel warmer and hold their guns firmly to guard the sovereignty of the Fatherland during the coming Tet and Spring. The gifts from the army and people of the whole country to the soldiers of the DK1 platform also demonstrate the joint efforts to protect the sovereignty of the sea, islands and southern continental shelf of the Fatherland,” Captain Cao Van Duong shared.

Tet goods are carefully wrapped to prevent moisture before being loaded onto the train to DK1. Photo: Mai Thang

Asked about the plan to deliver Tet gifts to the DK1 platform in complex weather conditions, the Political Commissar of the Truong Sa 10 ship - Lieutenant Colonel Le Ba Tung said: "Currently, the weather at sea at DK1 is having big waves and strong winds. There will be 3 plans to deliver Tet gifts to the platforms. If there are moderate big waves and strong winds, the Tet gifts will be transferred to a boat, the boat will run close to the base of the platform so that soldiers on the platform can pull them up with ropes. If the waves are calm, the goods will be transferred to the platform normally. In case of waves too big to be transported by crane, the Tet gifts will be dropped into the sea for soldiers on the platform to pull them up. Of course, the gifts have been carefully wrapped to prevent moisture in protective bags. No matter what the plan is, the Tet gifts must reach the hands of officers and soldiers. The 26 sailors of the Truong Sa 10 ship are ready to deliver gifts to soldiers on the platform in any weather conditions."

Two sons of Nghe An - First Lieutenant Nguyen Van Tien Dung (right) and Captain Cao Van Duong shook hands determined to complete the task of delivering gifts to DK1 platform before the ship set sail. Photo: Mai Thang

Truong Sa 10 ship led by Colonel Nguyen Viet Anh - Deputy Chief of Staff of Command Region 2 will deliver Spring gifts to officers and soldiers of the Northern platforms; Colonel Pham Quyet Tien - Deputy Commander of the Region, as head of Tet greeting delegation No. 2, will deliver gifts to the Southern DK1 platforms, ships on duty at sea and soldiers of Radar Station 590 Con Dao. This is a special voyage, bringing the joy of the new Spring to officers and soldiers who are on duty day and night at the forefront. This voyage is expected to last 20 days, returning to the mainland before the day "the Kitchen God ascends to heaven".

Nghe soldiers in Truong Sa

Among the many officers and soldiers serving the delegation wishing a Happy New Year to the DK1 platform and directly going to the DK1 platform to perform their duties during the Spring of Quy Mao 2023, there are 2 young officers originally from Nghe An. They left for their duty of guarding the sky and sea in the middle of the new Spring with joy and excitement and a deep nostalgia for the mainland.

Spring flowers for him before leaving. Photo: Mai Thang

Senior Lieutenant Nguyen Van Tien Dung, from Linh Son commune, Anh Son district, has been on the ships sailing through storms to the DK1 platform for nearly 10 years, but this is the most emotional voyage for him. Dung's eyes filled with tears as he watched the ship prepare to leave the dock when I asked him: "How many times has Dung said goodbye to the mainland to go on duty when Spring is rushing back?"

It was very touching to hear that Dung had to say goodbye to his young wife less than 2 months after the wedding to go to sea with his teammates. Dung said: “I just returned from working at the DK1/12, DK1/14, DK1/19 platforms. This sea trip will be full of hardships, but I will definitely complete the mission excellently. My wife is at home with my parents. I just called home to encourage her. My wife cried and said: “You go and complete your mission, come home for Tet! My parents are farmers who work hard. After this sea trip, I will return home to celebrate Tet with my wife and parents.” - Dung shared.

Mrs. Cam Ngoc Anh said goodbye to her son Le Dinh Ngoc Tan emotionally before the ship left port to set sail. Photo: Mai Thang

Sharing the same sentiment as Senior Lieutenant Nguyen Van Tien Dung, Captain Cao Van Duong - a son of Nghe An province - could not help but feel excited when saying goodbye to the mainland to go to the continental shelf. With mixed emotions and joy, Captain Duong shared: "I have been to sea many times, but this is a memorable voyage for me. After this voyage, I will return home to celebrate Tet with my family."

Early in the morning, Ms. Nguyen Thanh Thuy from Nghe An went to Vung Tau to see off her youngest brother - soldier Nguyen The Huynh - to the Truong Sa ship to the oil rig to perform his duty. "My feelings at this moment are hard to describe. I hope he will always be confident, hold his gun firmly at the forefront of the wind and waves, and complete his duty excellently. The family will always be watching over him every day." - Ms. Thuy emotionally shared.

Lieutenant Colonel, Political Commissar of Battalion DK1 Nghiem Xuan Thai (second from left) receives Spring gifts from the people of Ba Ria - Vung Tau province. Photo: Mai Thang

21 years old, 1 year in the army, for the first time, soldier Le Dinh Ngoc Tan said goodbye to his mother to go to DK19 platform to perform his duty. Before the moment of parting, Tan was so emotional that he could not speak. Only when Tan's mother (Mrs. Cam Ngoc Anh) hugged and kissed her son on the cheek, did Tan choke up and say: "You will complete your mission excellently when you return". Mrs. Cam Ngoc Anh encouraged her son with a warm hug. She spoke in front of many reporters with pride and confidence: "My family has 2 children who are both in the army. Dedicating their youth to the Fatherland is the responsibility and duty of young people. With the family tradition, my son will certainly complete his mission excellently".

Spring gifts from the army and people nationwide to soldiers on DK1 platform. Photo: Mai Thang

Saying goodbye to his beloved mother, soldier Do Ngoc Hieu's eyes were red before the ship left the port. He shook his mother's hand and said, "I will complete my mission and return." Mrs. Bui Thi Thu Van choked up and told us, "I miss you so much. But as a soldier, you can go anywhere and do anything when the Fatherland needs you. This spring, we will say goodbye so that next spring, the whole family can be reunited."

Steel spirit in the middle of the ocean

DK1 platform is considered a “steel fortress” guarding the sea in the middle of the ocean. On that “fortress” are young soldiers in their 18s and 20s from many rural areas across the country. There are officers who have not celebrated Tet on the mainland for 8 springs. There are private soldiers who are leaving the mainland for the first time and stepping onto a ship to go to sea. We can feel the emotion and excitement from their moods.

Right after the Truong Sa 21 and Truong Sa 10 ships turned out to sea, I called the political commissar of the DK1/19 platform. I could clearly hear the roaring waves on the phone. From the sea, Major Le Dinh Tien - Political commissar of DK1/19 said: “We have received the schedule of the New Year greetings from the delegation. All week, the officers and soldiers have been anxiously waiting. Spring has arrived at the DK1 platform, brother. The sea is rough, the waves are big and the wind is strong, but we are still mentally secure, firmly holding our guns to protect the sovereignty of the Fatherland. Our joy will only be complete when the DK1 seas are peaceful so that the people of the whole country can welcome a happy Spring.”

Scene of the farewell ceremony for the two ships Truong Sa 10 and Truong Sa 21 going to sea. Photo: Mai Thang

DK1/10 - the platform is considered to be stationed on the "horizon of the Fatherland" because it is the farthest from the mainland compared to the other 14 platforms. From the "steel fortress" DK1/10, Commander - Captain Tran Huu Xuan said that officers and soldiers are ready to welcome the New Year greetings delegation. "We have made wall newspapers, decorated the altar of the Fatherland and are ready to welcome the New Year greetings delegation. Upon receiving New Year gifts from the mainland, we immediately organized Chung cake wrapping and slaughtered pigs to celebrate the New Year with the working group. Officers and soldiers of DK1/10 platform are determined to complete their tasks excellently, firmly protecting the sovereignty of the assigned sea area." - Captain Xuan confided.

Ship Truong Sa 21 and ship Truong Sa 10 bid farewell to the mainland in the midst of countless storms. The voyage to bring spring to the DK1 platform will encounter many hardships, but that is the honor and responsibility of soldiers in peacetime. Although they are several hundred kilometers away from the mainland, this Spring of Quy Mao, the soldiers "head in the sky, feet on the waves" still have enough sweet jams, banh chung, vermicelli, bamboo shoots, apricots, peaches sent from the mainland, and ship Truong Sa 21 and ship Truong Sa 10 cross the ocean waves to bring Tet gifts to the hands of the soldiers at the forefront of the wind and waves in the vast open sea.

"The gifts sent from the mainland will be a great motivation for officers and soldiers of DK1 platform to feel secure, steady in their guns, and firmly protect the sovereignty and southern continental shelf of the Fatherland during the coming Tet and Spring" - Colonel Pham Quyet Tien, Deputy Commander of Naval Region 2 said./.