Emotional confessions before departure to Truong Sa

Before departurecome to 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 newspapers, 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 and were loaded onto the ship. Kumquat pots, peach trees, apricot pots with buds, fresh orchids, each package of goods... 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 sentiments, 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 many 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 again 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 learned that he was selected to do the mission in Truong Sa, he was very nervous. Because up to now, he only knew about Truong Sa through stories, photos, and newspapers, and had no idea what Truong Sa was like. Huynh is also very determined to complete the mission in this mission.

Ms. Ngo Thi Hoi, wife of Regiment Commander 292 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 Regiment Commander 292 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 take care of the family, taking 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 very well the difficulties and hardships that the soldiers and people on the island district often face. Participating in the farewell ceremony, Ms. Thao and other members of the "Youth for the Homeland's Sea and Islands" Club wished that the officers and soldiers would always "stand firm, kick softly", and always hold their guns firmly 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 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 nationwide for the sea and islands in general and Truong Sa archipelago in particular.

Members of the 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 many difficulties in ensuring security... However, the officers and soldiers of Naval Region 4 will be determined to overcome all difficulties, unite, and overcome all storms to bring the delegation, reporters, officers and soldiers to Truong Sa Archipelago in absolute safety, and successfully complete the assigned tasks.

To be able to visit Truong Sa once is already 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, pride, and a very noble value of life.

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