Keep the homeland sea

(Baonghean) - Like many coastal areas on the S-shaped strip of land, throughout history, the homeland's sea has experienced many storms but is still very majestic. The victories at sea have become the eternal pride of the people of Nghe An. That pride has given strength to the army and people of Nghe An to maintain the will to protect the sovereignty of the homeland's sea and islands in the new situation.

Nghe An Border Guards encourage fishermen before going to sea. Photo: Tran Hai

The waves of Cua Hoi welcomed the mainland delegation to visit the officers and soldiers of Mat Island and Ngu Island on a peaceful day. The boats went out to sea, clinging to the sea, returning on the moon full of fish and shrimp, the happy smiles on the faces of the fishermen darkened by the sun and wind... Here, in 1285, the people of Nghe An under the direct leadership of Sat Hai Dai Vuong Hoang Ta Thon blocked the attack from the South to the North of the Yuan Mongol invaders; the kings of the Tran and Le dynasties many times rode dragon boats across this sea to punish the invading Champa army...

Mat Island appears with 3 vertical cliffs, waves crashing in continuous battles. For generations, Mat Island and Ngu Island have been the wall protecting Nghe An from storms. The golden history of the nation records: During the anti-American period, Mat Island fought 297 aircraft, 64 battles with warships, burned 10 destroyers, 2 cruisers, 1 commando ship, rescued 3,210 boats, and rescued 172 victims"... At noon on the high point, the soldiers standing guard here felt more clearly than anyone the harshness of the frosty winter and the lack of fresh water in the summer. Looking to the West, they clearly felt the changes in their homeland to steady their guns. Captain Nguyen Thanh Thuy, Battalion Commander, Mat Island Mixed Battalion, expressed his determination: "During the war, Mat Island was a heroic unit, an impregnable steel fortress, where the enemy had to fear both in the sky and on the sea. Today, officers and soldiers on the island continue to hold their guns firmly, ready to fight, absolutely not being passive in any situation of the enemy, absolutely protecting the safety of the airspace and sea of ​​the homeland and becoming a solid support for fishermen in the midst of storms at sea, worthy of the task assigned by the Party and the people.

At the heroic Ngu Island, we met Senior Lieutenant Tran To Ut, from Vinh City, who wrote a volunteer application to go to the island during the days when China moved the Haiyang 981 drilling rig into Vietnam's Hoang Sa waters. Ngu Island today is full of youthful energy.… The history of the country's development is closely linked to the protection of seas and islands. The sea is rich in resources, but our sea is also salty with the blood and tears of our ancestors. When the East Sea "rises", the role of Hon Mat and Hon Ngu in Nghe An becomes even more strategic. Colonel Ha Tan Tien - Commander of the Provincial Military Command said: Mat Island and Ngu Island are important forward bases in the coastal defense operations of Nghe An province. The soldiers here always uphold their determination to hold their guns firmly, perform well in combat readiness, conduct additional training, overcome storms and floods, and maintain peace for the sea and islands of the Fatherland.

In Block 4, Nghi Tan Ward (Cua Lo Town), visit the person known as the "living radar" Mr. Nguyen Thanh Trinh - Former commander of Nghi Tan combat team, listen to him tell the story of protecting the homeland's sea. Nearly 50 years ago, at 12 noon on February 6, 1966, on Lo mountain, peak 100, the anti-aircraft squad of Nghi Tan self-defense platoon commanded by Mr. Trinh shot down an F4-H. Mr. Trinh said: During the period of fighting against the US to save the country, in the midst of the rain of bombs, Nghi Tan people, regardless of age, gender, whoever still had strength, went to sea, got on boats to get rice, transported weapons to convoys, established a boat transport team to transport food and weapons to support the South. During the period of fighting against Chinese expansionists, Nghi Tan people, both Catholic and Catholic, united in making thousands of spikes to prevent the enemy from landing by sea. Continuing the tradition, every year the locality has 10-15 young volunteers joining the army, many of whom join the navy, guarding the sea and islands...

Soldiers of Ngu Island practice combat readiness. Photo: Phan Toan

Protecting the homeland's sea is not only the responsibility of our ancestors and the regular armed forces. Currently, localities in the province have many practical ways to do so. For example, the coastal communes of Quynh Luu have continuously opened training courses on communication at sea for captains and chief engineers in the area; the Military Command of coastal communes of Nghe An has coordinated with border posts to build a maritime militia platoon; Nghi Loc, Dien Chau, Quynh Luu districts and Hoang Mai town have mobilized and created conditions for fishermen to develop offshore fishing vessels, mobilized fishermen to establish many groups of vessels to safely go offshore, fish offshore... At Lach Quen wharf, we met Party Committee and People's Committee officials of Quynh Long commune to encourage and give gifts to the ships preparing to set sail and wish them good luck. Mr. Vu Ngoc Luong, Secretary of the Quynh Long Commune Party Committee, said: “The gifts are just a national flag, a crate of beer or instant noodles and 100,000 VND, but they contain sentiments and are a source of encouragement for fishermen to stay at sea. Each fisherman at sea is a living marker affirming sovereignty.”

The owner of the NA 93040 TS ship, Mr. Dau Ngoc Thang, was moved to receive the gifts of affection from the Quynh Long government. The old fisherman Dau Ngoc Thang's face was dark and strong, the color of the wind and waves. He pondered: "Our ancestors and forefathers are closely linked to the sea, and even if they die, they must protect the sea. And more than anyone else, we understand that the determination to stick to the sea and exploit marine resources in the country's sovereign waters is an act that demonstrates patriotism and awareness of preserving the sacred sovereignty of the sea and islands of the Fatherland." Mr. Thang was impressed by the emphasis of Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung at the 8th session of the 13th National Assembly on the principle of acting for the national interest, and the motto "Both cooperation and struggle" of Vietnam... His ship and many other ships of Quynh Luu fishermen have encountered Chinese ships many times, but they are absolutely not shaken by the opponent's arrogant actions.

On Lach Quen Port Bridge, we met border guards who came to encourage and visit fishermen. Over the years, Nghe An Border Guard has always been a support for fishermen to stay at sea and go offshore. At this time, Quynh Thuan Border Guard Station is carrying out a campaign to disseminate legal policies to students in coastal communes of Quynh Luu. Senior Lieutenant Nguyen Tien Luong, a teacher in charge of the class, said: This campaign started from September 26 to the end of November, for more than 3,600 students from 10 schools in 9 coastal communes of Quynh Luu. In each campaign, the lecturers imparted to the students general knowledge about the sea and islands such as territorial waters, the International Convention on the Law of the Sea, and the current situation of the sea and islands. After the campaign for students, Quynh Thuan Border Guard Station will open a new campaign for fishermen...

Leaving the coastal land, we will always remember the verses that Senior Lieutenant Luong read to the students: “History teaches us that the islands and waves of the East Sea/ Are the flesh and blood of the Fatherland/ Are half of the sacred soul of the land and water/ Cannot be given away or sold carelessly!/ We understand that life is not a dream/ So the pages of books must lean against the gun rack”.

Thanh Chung