Spring Letter from a Small Island

(Baonghean) - Dear students of Le Mao Primary School! Only a few days left until the traditional New Year, we have just written a few lines of letter to you, even though your letter has been on the boat to Mat Island for many days now. Please don't be angry!

Hon Mat, the days near Tet!

Dear children!

I am sure none of you have been to the island yet. You are all busy studying and trying to get good grades to show off to your parents, right? Perhaps, to help you get to know more about this small island far away from home, before you grow up and visit it yourself, let’s take a journey to the island through storytelling!

If we board the island boat with the proud national flag flying early in the morning, we will see the dark blue Mat Island gradually appear when the sun begins to rise. Coming closer, we will see a straight line of soldiers waiting for us. Each soldier is radiant and strong in his solemn uniform. On each of his lips is a big smile to welcome us. And then, hand in hand, the soldiers will lead everyone to the beloved Mat Island.

Send Tet goods to the island.

Our Mat Island is located about 30km from Cua Lo beach, if we go by boat it will take us about 2 hours.

Letters from 4B class (Le Mao Primary School) sent to soldiers on Mat Island.

Because our small island has such proud achievements, all the young soldiers who come to the island for the first time immediately love the island. They often say, "When I'm on the island, I miss home, when I'm away from home, I miss the island...". There are people like Lieutenant Colonel Pham Dinh Hanh, the Military Doctor, who has worked on the island for more than 23 years and the island has become a part of his flesh and blood. So much so that when his superiors wanted to transfer Mr. Hanh to the rear, he firmly... refused, because "When I'm away from the island, I can't get used to it...".

Out here, there are many strange and interesting things. As soldiers, don't think that we are only familiar with guns and huge cannons like you see on TV. Out here, we raise many dogs as friends. Many of them are very smart, like the dog Nich. Every time the island commander goes on a night inspection, Nich wakes up and trots ahead to lead the way. We also raise pigs, fat pigs like ripe blackberries, plump and leading their young ones around the island to find food. We also raise chickens and ducks in pens in each squad. And many times, we ourselves are real "farmers" when we grow many lush vegetable gardens around the island. Out here, there is little space for gardening, so we have to carry buckets of soil and pile them on the rocks, then water them every day, taking care of each vegetable plant in the middle of the ocean.

However, your main task is still to protect our homeland's sea and sky, and keep the peace for you to study. Therefore, every day you have to practice hard to sharpen your eyes, strengthen your legs, and be nimble with your hands so that you can fight at any time. If you come here, it will be difficult for you to climb to the 218 peak, the highest point of the island. But thanks to practice, we can climb back up the high stone steps every day to reach the "roof" of the island without feeling tired at all. Out here, there are many hardships, many of us are not used to it, so at first we feel very tired. However, after many days of practice, everyone is much stronger and more skillful.

Dear children!

The letters from the children, the uncles have read over and over again. On the artillery tray facing the sea during break time or on the 12.7mm battlefield still drenched in sweat after training. The uncles in other squads, too far away to read, are very upset, always blaming Uncle Lam, Uncle Thao, Uncle Thanh for commanding. When they finished reading the children's letters, the uncles were very emotional. Uncle Quang in the 12.7mm Air Defense Platoon, whose daughter is the same age as the children, was silent for a long time. He said: "I miss my baby so much, when I called, my little Thu said, 'Today we have two cats, Dad, but they meow and argue all day long. As for me, I've been able to light the stove, Mom compliments me a lot. But I just want Dad to come home and cook fish for me to eat'."

All 14 letters from the children, the soldiers of Mat Island passed them around to read very carefully, some even memorized them like Uncle Binh in the information department. All of them were moved when reading the letters because of the feelings the children sent to them through the small letters. In her letter, the homeroom teacher Minh Hue wrote to the soldiers and said, "I am very happy that in the class there are many children whose fathers are soldiers... I boldly send you the letters and innocent confidences of the children." Isn't it happy, children, because in our 4B class there are also many children whose fathers are soldiers. The soldiers still remember many of the letters that you sent.

As Trinh Phuong Uyen's letter touched everyone who read it: "Are you guys doing well out there? Do you miss home on the island surrounded by the sea? The waves are very high, the wind is very strong, are you guys standing guard there okay? On the mainland we get to eat well, dress well, but you guys on the island lack vegetables and fresh water...". Sincere thanks to Phuong Uyen, out here we also have a hard time, but as long as you guys can study and play in peace, we are at ease. Le Chi confided that "On the days when the teacher lectures about the soldiers, the whole class is more bustling than usual. The students compete in collecting pictures, singing and dancing to songs about the soldiers. At that time, I miss you guys even more". Thank you Le Chi and your friends for remembering the faraway island, where the guys always remember the mainland and always hope for peace and happiness.

Thuy Dung was very specific in her concern, "I always check the weather forecast and know that it's very cold on the island. Remember to wear lots of clothes to stay healthy. I'm trying to get good grades to give you so you'll have more joy on the cold days on the island..." That's great, Thuy Dung. With the gift of good grades from you, no matter how cold it is out here, we're still happy because we've helped you study well and be good.

Nguyen Thi Anh Thu's letter is very "adult" when she writes: "Today, living in peace, we understand better than anyone that "A country in hardship has never been peaceful", so day and night you must still hold your guns firmly to firmly protect the sovereignty of the sea and islands. You are the ones who protect the country...". Thank you, Anh Thu. That's right, you are the ones who protect the country, but in the future, following in your footsteps when you grow up, you will also be the ones who protect the country. So, remember to be good and study well. Dang Nguyen Anh Thu said: "Our teacher said we need to learn the quickness and courage of you." That's right, in studying, you also need to have the courage to solve difficult math problems and write good essays, Thu.

And out here, everyone was very happy when Dang Le Minh wrote, "I promise to fulfill my responsibilities as a student, to be a good child and good student so that in the future I will become a true citizen, and to use all my strength to protect and build the Fatherland when I grow up to be more and more beautiful."

There are many, many more confidences from the children. The letters sent from the children of class 4B, Le Mao Primary School made us very happy. When we went to the training ground, we also took the time to reread the letters that the children wrote. Some uncles burst out laughing because of the funny stories. Some uncles quietly shed tears when they remembered their children the same age as the children who were back home. Some uncles even suggested binding the letters into a small notebook to pass around the platoons to read together. In all the letters, besides the feelings full of love, each child showed concern for our health. Therefore, we are determined to train harder to be strong and not hesitate to face any assigned task.

Dear children!

This Tet, many of us cannot go home because we have to stay on guard on the small island. Of course, every time Tet comes, everyone misses home. But because of our duty as soldiers, we are all confident and firmly determined to stay at the forefront. For you to enjoy Tet with your family and friends, and for you to study in peace, we still have many tasks. Therefore, the letters from the small 4B class that crossed the ocean to join us in the days leading up to the Year of the Horse are the joy of Mat Island. Your love is the source of encouragement for us to confidently hold our guns to guard the sea and sky for you. I wish you all to always be good students, good children, to pick many flowers with 10 points and always bring smiles to the lips of grandparents, parents and teachers.

The soldiers of Mat Island kiss all the beloved students of class 4B. Wishing you a wonderful new year with your grandparents, parents and teachers. Wishing you a whole spring on the small island. See you soon at beloved Mat Island.

The soldiers of Mat Island