Marines welcome Spring at the rig

New Year greetings and gifts over the phone

After 17 days of sailing on the Southern Continental Shelf, on January 24, the Truong Sa 10 and Truong Sa 19 fleets of Brigade 125, Naval Region 2 docked at the mainland port, ending the gift giving ceremony for the Year of the Tiger to officers and soldiers.DK1 platform.

Before sending the ship off to sea. Photo: Mai Thang

After the arduous voyage with strong winds and waves, what remained in the hearts of all reporters was the sincere, simple feelings and determination to devote their youth to the Fatherland of the DK1 soldiers. “I cannot forget the moment when Major Pham Van Bay, a doctor at the DK1/12 platform, said with tears in his eyes: “Another Spring I celebrate Tet at sea. I have two small children. Every night my son asks his mother to call him via Zalo. He asks why his father doesn’t come home to celebrate Tet with him. At that time, I was choked up and couldn’t say anything” - Female reporter Nhat Anh of Gia Lai Newspaper recounted. But that was not the “core” of the story of wishing Tet to the DK1 platform.

Delivering Tet gifts to DK1 platform. Photo: Mai Thang

The New Year greeting delegation of the Naval Region 2 Command departed from the 171st Brigade's military port early on January 8 on two warships Truong Sa 10 and Truong Sa 19. These are the first two sea voyages of 2022 of Naval Region 2, bringing the affection and flavor of the mainland to the soldiers in addition to 15 DK1 platforms and ships on duty at sea.

After more than 48 hours of non-stop sailing, Truong Sa 10 ship delivered gifts to the northern platforms including: Que Duong, Ba Ke, Huyen Tran, Phuc Tan. Truong Sa 19 ship delivered gifts to the southern platforms including: Phuc Nguyen, Tu Chinh, Ca Mau, Radar Station 590 and civil and political agencies stationed in Con Dao.

Packing goods and Tet gifts to be transported in the ship's hold. Photo: Mai Thang

Leaving in the northeast monsoon, the southern continental shelf was rough, with big waves and strong winds. The Truong Sa ship, with a capacity of more than 500 tons, kept "jumping up and down" in the waves and against the wind. Many experienced sailors could not withstand the waves as big as a roof "standing" upside down, then "sinking" the ship into the waves. As for the reporters, more than 90% were "feeding the fish with sweet soup". Yet when the captain of the Truong Sa 19 ship announced: "We see the rig, comrades", everyone stood up, their eyes fixed on the "small dot" bobbing behind the waves.

The sea was full of stormy waves. It was impossible to deliver Tet gifts to the platform by boat, so the plan of “Spreading New Year wishes through loudspeakers, giving gifts through ropes” was broadcast from the ship’s internal loudspeaker. Despite the bitter waves crashing against the ship’s side, the sailors in life jackets carried each gift wrapped in waterproof plastic bags, tied tightly to ropes, waiting for orders. Meanwhile, on the DK1/11 platform, soldiers standing on the docking deck continuously waved their hands in greeting. In another corner, the red flag with a yellow star fluttered as if signaling the spring atmosphere had arrived at the platform.

Officers and soldiers of DK1/15 Platform line up to welcome the New Year greetings delegation. Photo: Mai Thang

Dozens of sacks and gifts for the Year of the Tiger were thrown into the sea for the rig to pull up. The ship and the rig were less than 100 meters apart but could not shake hands, only able to send their longing and love through each wave.

While the sailors of the Truong Sa ship delivered Tet gifts to the troops on the DK1/11 platform, Deputy Commander of the 2nd Naval Region, Colonel Dinh Van Thang, boarded the ship. Holding the combination device in his hand, he looked up at the platform through the ship's window and emotionally said: "Can you hear me clearly, comrades? Due to the strong winds and waves, the ship could not enter the platform. On behalf of the Party Committee of the 2nd Naval Region Command, I wish you all a Happy New Year. Enjoy the New Year without forgetting your duties, upholding the tradition of the heroic unit, determined to firmly protect the sovereignty of the sea, islands, and southern continental shelf of the Fatherland. The mainland is always by your side and waiting for you to return after completing your duties."

Colonel Dinh Van Thang, Deputy Commander of Naval Region 2, wishes a Happy New Year to DK1/11 platform via walkie-talkie. Photo: Mai Thang

Colonel Thang’s eyes were red. We all could not contain our emotions when the voices of the soldiers on the DK1/11 platform sang in unison over the shortwave I-Com: “The soldiers on the platform, still steadfast in the storm, despite hardships, do not lose heart, dedicating their youth to nothing. The soldiers on the platform, love life and the sea passionately.”

"Son, I won't be home this Tet"

I could not contain my emotions when I heard Major Pham Van Bay, a doctor at DK1/12 platform, tell that story.

In the spring of Nham Dan 2022, Major Bay once again celebrated Tet at the oil rig. In the days leading up to Tet, he missed his wife and children terribly. To ease his longing for his children, he "made an agreement" with his wife to call home every other night via Zalo to see their faces. However, due to the strong winds and waves, the harsh weather, the waves were sometimes up and sometimes down. Sometimes when he saw his child's face, he couldn't hear his voice. Sometimes when he heard his voice calling, "Dad, why aren't you home for Tet today?" "At that time, I couldn't hold back. I missed my children so much that I burned my heart. Although I've celebrated Tet at sea many times, this is the Tet I missed the mainland the most. During the Covid-19 pandemic, I wanted to return to the mainland to visit my family and hold my two children in my arms, but because of my duty, I had to put it aside. I promised my wife and children that next year, I would definitely celebrate Tet on the mainland," Major Bay shared.

Transferring Tet gifts to boats and bringing them to the DK1/12 oil rig. Photo: Mai Thang

According to Major Bay, for more than 20 years in DK1, he spent most of his time celebrating Tet at sea. The two times his wife gave birth, he was on duty at the oil rig. Married for more than 15 years, the time he spent with his wife and children was less than 2 years. Sometimes the unit gave him a month off, but before the leave was over, he had to go to DK1 to replace other teammates who had returned to shore. “Not only me, but many teammates also volunteered to stay and celebrate Tet at sea. All for the peace of DK1,” Major Bay explained.

Celebrating Tet away from his family for the first time, Private Tran Anh Huy, an artillery soldier on DK1/10 platform, felt excited. When receiving Tet gifts from relatives on the mainland, Huy excitedly said: "My whole family is healthy, my parents are healthy, that's all I'm happy about."

Tet gifts are brought to DK1/12 platform by zip line. Photo: Mai Thang

I asked, “What are your feelings about celebrating Tet away from home for the first time?” Huy looked out at the sea and said emotionally, “Everyone misses the mainland during Tet. But I am still young and must contribute. I hope celebrating Tet at sea for the first time will give me many experiences”…

The Year of the Tiger has come to the soldiers of the DK1 platform - considered "the land at the end of the horizon". In the midst of the stormy sea, they welcome the Spring while watching the sea and islands and often face "uninvited" ships. But their joy is only complete when the people of the whole country celebrate the Year of the Tiger in peace and happiness.

The delegation wished a happy new year to the soldiers of DK1/15 platform, wrapping banh chung to celebrate Tet early. Photo: Mai Thang

“The happiest life of a soldier on DK1 platform is to dedicate his youth to the Fatherland. That is not only an ideal in life, but also a responsibility and duty to the people. Who says soldiers in peacetime do not have hardships? But what makes us proud is that our hearts are always turned towards the Fatherland, dedicating and ready to sacrifice for the Fatherland. Our joy is only complete when the whole country welcomes the New Year of the Tiger in peace, and the seas and islands are peaceful.".

Major Pham Van Bay, doctor of DK1/12 platform