The Fatherland will forever remember you - The soldiers of Gac Ma
(Baonghean) - With the determination "Protecting the sea and islands of the Fatherland is a sacred and noble duty, a soldier's heartfelt command", the Navy forces, officers and soldiers on ship HQ 505, have been intelligent and brave, becoming a sovereignty landmark to protect Co Lin.
Determined to die to protect sea and island sovereignty
At exactly 13:00 on April 11, 2018, the sea areas of Co Lin, Len Dao and Gac Ma islands welcomed us with firm handshakes from the officers and soldiers guarding the islands. “Green cemetery” is the phrase that the officers and soldiers here often mention when talking about the fact that the remains of most of the soldiers of the Vietnam People’s Army are still deep under the sea…
That was on March 14, 1988, at exactly 6:00 a.m., China brazenly, regardless of justice and reason, suddenly launched a military attack on Gac Ma Island and then moved in to seize our flag. To protect the flag, our army fought back fiercely. At 7:30 a.m., the enemy used artillery to sink and burn 3 transport ships HQ 505, HQ 604, HQ 605 belonging to Brigade 125, Region 2; belonging to officers and soldiers of Brigade 146, Region 4 and occupied a number of our reefs.
With the determination that "Protecting the sea and islands of the Fatherland is a sacred and noble duty, a soldier's heartfelt command", the Navy forces, officers and soldiers on ship HQ 505, have been intelligent and brave, becoming a sovereignty landmark to protect Co Lin.
At exactly 8:15 a.m. the same day, the sailors deployed forces to put out the fire, save the ship, protect the island, and sent boats to rescue officers and soldiers on the sunken ship HQ 604.
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| Transporting mainland gifts from ship KN-491 to island points in Truong Sa. Photo: Dai Nghia |
That is enough to show the cruelty of war and the great pain and loss that we have to bear. The enthusiastic and youthful soldiers have forever remained in the deep sea, but their indomitable will has become an immortal monument of revolutionary heroism, continuing the tradition of indomitable struggle to defend the country of the Vietnamese people. Their blood has mixed with the deep sea, reminding future generations of the spirit of sacrifice to protect the sovereignty of the Fatherland. It is their sacrifice that has brought happiness to the nation, "Making the country blossom with independence, bearing the fruit of freedom", "They died for the Fatherland to live forever"!
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Your image still shines forever
At this sacred moment in the ceremony, the hearts of the members present on the deck seemed to tighten; they were filled with gratitude and sorrow for the heroes and martyrs who had fallen so that Truong Sa in particular, and the sacred territory and sea of the Fatherland, would last forever. After a moment of silence and incense, everyone on board dropped wreaths into the sea to commemorate them.
The body may be finite but the spirit is invisible. Although you are still lying in the deep sea, in the minds of millions of Vietnamese people, your image still lives forever. At that moment, comrade Nguyen Viet Hong, Deputy General Director of the State Treasury, choked up, "We are not allowed to forget. With the most sincere respect and gratitude, from the bottom of our hearts, the entire Working Group No. 05 vows to forever follow in the footsteps of the previous generation; determined to devote all our efforts to the cause of building and firmly protecting the sovereignty of the sea and islands of the Fatherland."
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| Comrade Ho Phuc Hop - Head of the Nghe An province delegation offered incense to pay tribute to the heroic martyrs at the memorial ceremony. Photo: Sy Thanh |
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| Releasing wreaths with the Vietnamese flag on the sea to commemorate. Photo: Vnexpress |
Many years have passed, but their remains still lie somewhere under the ocean. That is the pain, the anxiety, the concern of the Party, the State and the people of the whole country because the ocean is vast and deep, while human strength is limited. That pain, that longing still haunts us day and night, unable to be filled.
...The candles burned brightly like "lighthouses", like "Bach Dang stakes" in the middle of the ocean waves, like the souls of the soldiers had returned here to gather with everyone. We followed the "lighthouses" before our eyes, the film footage appeared clearly. Each candle was a story told by each naval soldier: "The situation out here is very serious. China sent many ships and troops to occupy the island... Tonight or tomorrow night I will continue. For me, the mission of going to protect the Fatherland, even if I have to sacrifice, I am not afraid..." (excerpt from a letter from a martyr in Gac Ma to his mother before he sacrificed - PV).The memorial service has ended, but it seems like everyone is reluctant to leave. It seems like everyone has a feeling of gradually touching the sacredness of this small island. For us, 10 days and nights in Truong Sa with corals, whirlwinds, hot sand, salty sea, and witnessing the memorial service for the soldiers of Gac Ma, are stories about the wonderful spirit of sacrifice of many generations to protect the sacred sky and sea of the Fatherland.
And most deeply, the infinite love is the faces, eyes, smiles, and feelings of the soldiers and people of Truong Sa... When returning, writing about Gac Ma - Truong Sa, I still feel moved and aching for a sacred part of the head of the waves and winds of the Fatherland.