Bring Spring to the 'sea fortress'

The Spring of Nham Dan 2022 has begun to stir in the hearts of officers and soldiers of DK1 platform - those considered "sovereignty markers" living on "steel fortresses" guarding Spring so that people across the country can celebrate Tet peacefully.

Warmth of the mainland, warm hearts of soldiers

At 8:00 a.m. on January 8, 2022, unlike the silence of the previous days, the naval port of Brigade 171, Navy Region 2, was filled with the joyful laughter of many young soldiers. They transported goods, apricot blossoms, peach blossoms, and kumquat trees to the Truong Sa 19 ship andTruong Sa10 to transport 15 DK1 platforms to the southern continental shelf of the Fatherland.

Unlike previous sea trips before the Covid-19 pandemic, which were seen off by relatives, wives and children, this time only the unit commanders and their comrades, who are active soldiers, were present. All were strictly quarantined for 14 days according to Covid-19 prevention regulations. The number of reporters attending New Year's greetings this time was also very limited to avoid spreading the disease.

Transferring Tet gifts to train DK1. Photo: Mai Thang

Before the ship formation set sail from the port, the farewell ceremony took place solemnly, warmly and emotionally. On behalf of the Party Committee of the Naval Region 2 Command, Colonel Le Ba Quan - Deputy Commander, Chief of Staff of the Naval Region 2 Command assigned tasks to the officers and sailors of the two ships, emphasizing: This is a ship trip that brings the warmth of Spring and the love 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, Tet gifts will reach the hands of the officers and soldiers of DK1.

Kumquat trees, apricot blossoms, and peach blossoms were wrapped in waterproof plastic bags and were neatly packed in the ship's hold by the soldiers. Military supplies, necessities, bamboo shoots, vermicelli, wood ear mushrooms, sticky rice, dong leaves, etc. were carefully packed. Captain of the Truong Sa 19 ship, Captain Cao Anh Le Phuong, said that the ship's formation would be on the journey for 15-20 days. The two ships would be divided into two groups to wish a happy new year and deliver spring gifts to 10 platforms in the North, and 5 platforms in the South. If the sea is calm, the New Year's greeting group will deliver gifts and goods by transport boat; if the sea is strong and the waves are strong, they will be transported by tow rope. It is expected that there will be an organization to wrap banh chung, celebrate Tet early with the soldiers in each platform cluster, and a memorial service for the DK1 martyrs who died at sea.

Leaders of Naval Region 2 shook hands warmly with officers before getting off the ship to wish the soldiers on the rig a Happy New Year.Photo: Mai Thang

Colonel Dang Manh Hung - Deputy Political Commissar of Naval Region 2 said that every time Tet comes, Naval Region 2 organizes a fleet of ships to wish officers and soldiers outside of 15 DK1 platforms, duty ships, Radar Station 590 and civil and party agencies, armed forces stationed in Con Dao district. This is a regular activity every time Tet comes, Spring comes, showing the concern of the Party, State, Army, Service, Naval Region 2 and the affection of the people nationwide for officers and soldiers on duty in the seas and islands of the Fatherland. Thereby, promptly motivating and encouraging officers and soldiers to overcome difficulties, work with peace of mind, excellently complete all assigned tasks, firmly protect the sovereignty of the seas and islands so that people nationwide can have a peaceful Tet.

Spring has come to the hearts of young soldiers

When the Truong Sa 19 and Truong Sa 10 fleets of the Naval Region 2 Command received gifts from the Party's civil agencies and the people, it was also the time when Spring was kindled in the hearts of the officers and soldiers of the DK1 platform. Unlike the Truong Sa soldiers stationed on the island, the DK1 soldiers were stationed on the water. Therefore, the nostalgia for the mainland was more intense, the feeling of Spring was more sensitive and they expected more Tet gifts from the mainland.

30 years in the military, 26 years in DK1, Spring of the Year of the Tiger 2022 Lieutenant Colonel Nguyen Van Suot - Commander of Que Duong platform, celebrated Tet at sea once again. When he learned that Truong Sa 19 and Truong Sa 10 ships were leaving port, Suot called his family and told his wife to buy more fruit and sent a photo of his daughter. “Last year, I also celebrated Tet at the platform. This year, I volunteered to stay behind so that other comrades could return to shore. As an officer, I think that every time Tet comes, young officers have more need to return to the mainland than I do. During Tet, everyone misses the mainland, their families, but because of my duty, I asked to stay. Now, the platform also has full facilities, so celebrating Tet at the platform is almost the same as celebrating Tet on the mainland. If there is any difference, it is not being able to gather with family and relatives” - Lieutenant Colonel Suot shared over the phone.

Young soldiers carry apricot and peach blossoms onto the ship to DK1 platform.Photo: Mai Thang

Celebrating Tet in the middle of the ocean for the first time, Gunner Corporal Nguyen Duc Thuan shared from the DK1/14 platform. “I miss the mainland so much, but I feel so proud. Young soldiers like us feel so far away from our families during Tet, we miss the mainland, but we are also very proud. Celebrating Tet at sea without our parents, siblings, but with our comrades and commanders. We all love each other like a family in the middle of the ocean” - Nguyen Duc Thuan confided.

After successfully completing his mission at DK1/11 platform, Sergeant Nguyen Anh Tai said goodbye to the "fortress" and returned to the mainland with emotion. Tai shared: "After more than a year of living and working with my teammates outside the platform, I have matured and become stronger, no longer the naive soldier I once was. Thank you to the Navy Region 2 Command and DK1 Battalion for giving me the opportunity to grow up. DK1 platform will forever remain in me. The affection of my teammates and comrades will always be the luggage for me to continue to strive after leaving the army."

Spring train crosses the waves to go out to sea

By the time this article reaches readers, the Truong Sa 19 and Truong Sa 10 ships of the Navy Command have completed more than half of their journey to bring Tet gifts to the officers and soldiers of DK1 platform, fishing boats, and the military, civilians, and political party of Con Dao district, Ba Ria - Vung Tau province.

Truong Sa 19 ship prepares to weigh anchor and set sail.Photo: Mai Thang

In addition to the warm and meaningful Spring gifts from the people of the whole country and the military supplies provided, the Truong Sa 19 and Truong Sa 10 fleets also brought the trust and affection of the Party, the army and the people of the whole country to the officers and soldiers. That affection and warmth from the mainland is the internal strength for the officers and soldiers of DK1 to overcome hardships and difficulties, firmly holding their guns to guard the sea and the sky so that the people of the whole country can celebrate Tet in peace.

The officers and soldiers are firmly holding their guns to guard the sea and sky of the Southern Continental Shelf of the Fatherland, that is the dedication of their youth and the silent sacrifice of their lives for the Fatherland. Their joy is only complete when the people of the whole country celebrate the Year of the Tiger peacefully under the new normal conditions.