Emotional confidences before departure to Truong Sa

Before departureto Truong Sa, officers and soldiers of the Navy and units have moved onto 4 ships of Naval Region 4. On these ships, in addition to officers and soldiers on duty, there are also reporters from central and local news agencies and press, and members of the "Youth for the Homeland's Sea and Islands" Club.

Before that, many trucks carrying necessities and Tet gifts from agencies, organizations, localities and people from all over the country gathered at the wharf were also loaded onto the ship. Kumquat pots, peach trees, apricot pots with buds, fresh orchid pots, each package... were carefully transferred onto the ship by naval officers and soldiers.

Pots of kumquat trees with heavy branches are gifts from the mainland to Truong Sa. Photo: Tien Dong

According to the schedule, the ship will leave Cam Ranh military port to set sail for the sacred Truong Sa island district of the Fatherland. This is a special trip, bringing with it feelings, beliefs, simple gifts and the breath of spring from the mainland to the officers, soldiers and people on Truong Sa archipelago.

Before departure, the delegation was honored to receive the affection, handshakes, and kind words of advice from the Chief of Naval Region 4 Command, leaders of Khanh Hoa Provincial People's Committee and a large number of people present at the farewell ceremony. In that solemn but emotional atmosphere, the young soldiers wearing navy uniforms, going to Truong Sa for the first time, could not hide their emotions.

Boarding the train to Truong Sa. Photo: Quang An

Young soldier Dinh The Anh, from Giao Huong commune, Giao Thuy district (Nam Dinh), is training at the 131st Naval Engineering Brigade. This is the first time The Anh has come to Truong Sa. Before leaving, he was trained and equipped with the necessary knowledge and health to be able to complete the mission on the remote island. However, The Anh is also very emotional. For him, this is a special mission that may not happen a second time in his life. Therefore, he is determined to complete the mission well to be worthy of the tradition of the navy uniform he wears.

Officers and soldiers say goodbye to the mainland to go to Truong Sa. Photo: Tien Dong

Soldier Nguyen Van Huynh, from Thinh Long town, Hai Hau district, Nam Dinh, said that when he was chosen to go on duty in Truong Sa, he was very nervous. Because up to now, he had only known Truong Sa through stories, photos, and newspapers, and had no idea what Truong Sa was like. Huynh was also very determined to complete his mission during this working trip.

Ms. Ngo Thi Hoi, wife of the 292nd Regiment Commander Luong The Tuyen, went to the pier to see the delegation off. Photo: Quang An

At the pier, before the group's departure, many wives of officers and soldiers, and members of the "Youth for the Homeland's Sea and Islands" Club traveled from Hanoi to say goodbye to the group. Ms. Ngo Thi Hoi, wife of the 292nd Regiment Commander Luong The Tuyen, was very emotional when seeing the group off. As the wife of an island soldier, she had to be away from her husband many times during long business trips. Sometimes the couple could not see each other for a whole year. Sharing her husband's duties, Ms. Hoi always tried to manage the family, take care of the children's meals and education so that her husband could work with peace of mind.

Ms. Hoang Thi Thao, a member of the "Youth for the Homeland's Sea and Islands" Club, also traveled from Hanoi to say goodbye to the delegation. Having had the honor of going to Truong Sa, Ms. Thao understands the difficulties and hardships that the soldiers and people on the island district often face. Participating in the farewell ceremony, Ms. Thao and the members of the "Youth for the Homeland's Sea and Islands" Club hope that the officers and soldiers will always "keep their feet strong and their hands soft", always keep their guns steady to protect the sacred archipelago of the Fatherland.

Ms. Hoang Thi Thao, a member of the "Youth for the Homeland's Sea and Islands" Club, traveled from Hanoi to see off the working delegation. Photo: Tien Dong

At the farewell ceremony, Colonel Nguyen Van Bach, Standing Member of the Party Committee, Deputy Commander, Chief of Staff of Naval Region 4 shared: Truong Sa archipelago is a sacred land, the incense of our ancestors for hundreds of years; we have full historical evidence and legal basis to affirm the sacred and inviolable sovereignty over the two beloved archipelagos of Truong Sa and Hoang Sa. The fact that the Naval Region 4 Command received many gifts from agencies, units and localities sent to transport to Truong Sa shows the great concern of the Party, State, Ministry of National Defense and people of the whole country for the sea and islands in general and Truong Sa archipelago in particular.

Members of the working delegation waved goodbye to the mainland before leaving the port. Photo: Tien Dong

According to Colonel Nguyen Van Bach, although this mission was carried out in unfavorable weather conditions, with a large number of troops, long hours at sea, and difficult security work... However, the officers and soldiers of Naval Region 4 will be determined to overcome all difficulties, unite, and overcome all storms to bring the working group, reporters, officers and soldiers to Truong Sa archipelago in absolute safety, and excellently complete the assigned tasks.

To be able to visit Truong Sa once is already very precious. To be able to devote one's strength and enthusiasm to Truong Sa, to represent more than 90 million Vietnamese people, to shoulder the mission of building and preserving the sovereignty of Truong Sa archipelago, is an extremely great honor and pride, an extremely noble value of life.

Colonel Nguyen Van Bach, Standing Member of the Party Committee, Deputy Commander, Chief of Staff of Naval Region 4