Truong Sa in the hearts of Nghe An soldiers

Truong Sa - the farthest motherland of the Fatherland, far away in the ocean, but also very close in the hearts of millions of Vietnamese people.Vietnam’s Truong Sa archipelago was once called the “stormy archipelago” because every year many storms passed through or formed right on this sea and island area. It was also called “The Fatherland at the forefront of the waves” because of the sacredness of every inch of the island and wave, and the people who were silently sacrificing to protect the sovereignty there, including the children of Nghe An.

The place I come to is my dear comrades

Ship 571 of Naval Region 4 blew three long whistles and slowly left Cam Ranh International Port. Hundreds of sailors of Ship 571 and the working group waved goodbye to the mainland. We all began to feel the arduous but extremely proud journey.Truong Sadear

Saying goodbye to the mainland, ship 571 visited officers and soldiers of Truong Sa, DK1. Photo: Mai Thang

Vice President of the Vietnam National Oil and Gas Group Veterans Association, President of the Vietnam-Russia Joint Venture Veterans Association Vietsovpetro - Dr. Dang Dinh Cong said: "The first time I went to Truong Sa, I felt very emotional. I also experienced the life of a soldier, so the feeling of visiting Truong Sa was like coming to the common home of the Fatherland. Coming to my dear comrades and relatives at the forefront of the storm", when I asked "How did you feel the first time you went to Truong Sa"?

Sharing the same feelings as Dr. Dang Dinh Cong, Mr. Pham Van Ung from Binh Son Oil Refinery (Quang Ngai) came to Truong Sa for the first time and saw the large navy ship proudly cutting through the ocean waves in the middle of the vast sea. Mr. Ung shared: “When I received the notice to go to Truong Sa, I couldn't sleep for several nights. The feeling of anxiety and anticipation when my feet set foot on the island was joyful and emotional. I have been to many regions of the country, but never have I been as emotional as this time. In life, being able to come to the land of the flesh and blood of the Fatherland, where the waves and winds are at the forefront, is very satisfying. For me, this is the most memorable memory of my life.”

Artists and soldiers of Sinh Ton Dong island sing the song "Truong Sa Military Song". Photo: Mai Thang

Meanwhile, Ms. Nguyen Quach Minh Hong from the Foreign Exchange Department, State Bank of Vietnam, with tears in her eyes and mixed with pride, said: “I am the child of a martyr. My father died when I was only 2 years old. My whole life I have only wished to visit Truong Sa once. Wherever there is Vietnamese territorial waters, even islands far from the Fatherland, there is a connection between the hearts of Vietnamese people to work together to protect the sovereignty of the sea and islands of the homeland.”

Two young girls, Nguyet and Nhung from the State Bank of Vietnam, could not hide their emotions: “A few nights ago, when I arrived in Cam Ranh to board the train to Truong Sa, I was so nervous that I could not sleep well. Just thinking about setting foot on the farthest land of the Fatherland made my heart pound in my chest. Perhaps this is the most memorable trip of my life.”

Nghe people in Truong Sa

Hundreds of officers and soldiers are day and night firmly holding their guns to firmly protect the sovereignty of the sea, islands, and sacred continental shelf of the Fatherland, including young soldiers of eighteen or twenty years old from Nghe An. They all share the same ideal of dedicating their youth to the peace of the sovereignty of the sea and islands and living up to the title of Nghe An people of love and affection.

Watching the sovereignty milestone. Photo: Mai Thang

After struggling with the wind and the scorching sun, we arrived at Toc Tan C Island - one of 10 destinations on the voyage to visit and give gifts to the soldiers and people of Truong Sa and DK1/20 Platform. When our feet touched the steps of the boat on the island, we could not help but be moved when we saw a soldier holding a gun standing guard in front of the sovereignty marker under the scorching sun. That soldier was Sergeant Vo Trong Hai, born in 2002, from Dien Chau.

Behind the blue mask are determined eyes: "I've been on the island for 8 months. The sun and wind of Toc Tan C island have made me strong."

Truong Sa green. Photo: Mai Thang

Hai shared that his hometown is Dien Chau district. When he first came to the island, he was filled with nostalgia for his homeland and family. There was no Internet or Zalo on the island, only Viettel phone network. If he completed his mission excellently, the island commander would allow him to call his parents on the weekend (the phone number had been registered in advance). After 2 weeks on the island, Hai was allowed to call home. Hearing his son's voice on the phone, Mrs. Vo Thi Sen cried. She told her son to take care of his health and strive to complete his assigned mission. Hai is the second child in a family of two brothers. Hai's parents are farmers, so the family's economic life is still difficult. "I dream of becoming a party member and serving the army for a long time. On this island, there are 3 brothers from Nghe An. We are united and promise each other that despite difficulties and hardships, we will persevere to complete our tasks, worthy of the trust of our family and our homeland Nghe An" - Hai said through his mask while the wind from Truong Sa blew hard on his face.

Sharing the same ideal of dedicating youth to Truong Sa, Corporal Dao Xuan Dung, from Hoang Mai town on Len Dao island, shared: “The most beautiful youth is to dedicate one’s strength to the Fatherland. Len Dao is an island with quite harsh weather conditions. 34 years ago, the “Gac Ma naval battle” took place here. The more attached to the island, the more one loves one’s Fatherland.”

Sergeant Vo Trong Hai stands guard at Toc Tan C Island. Photo: Mai Thang

Meanwhile, professional Lieutenant Tran Quang Hoa on Truong Sa Dong Island, currently a technical assistant (from Do Luong), said that as a soldier on Truong Sa Island, no matter how difficult or arduous, one must try to overcome and complete the task, to be worthy of the homeland and family tradition. “I have a wife and children in Hai Phong. Every time I go to the mainland, I visit my hometown. On the island, officers and soldiers from Nghe An love each other like brothers in a family, train together and are determined to complete all tasks excellently,” Hoa shared.

Lieutenant Nguyen Van Dung has been attached to Sinh Ton Dong Island since before the Lunar New Year of Nham Dan 2022. The sun and wind on this island have darkened the skin of this young man from Anh Son district. However, that has made this lieutenant even more resilient. Dung said that being a soldier protecting Truong Sa is not only a duty and responsibility, but also a source of pride. “I am a son of Nghe An province on duty on Sinh Ton Dong Island, I want to devote my youth and strength to Truong Sa. For me, being on duty on Truong Sa is a great joy. It is not a waste of time and youth if I can contribute to Truong Sa. Truong Sa is far away but always dear and close” - Dung confided.

Toc Tan C Island - where soldier Hai holds his gun firmly. Photo: Mai Thang

As the commander of Sinh Ton Dong Island, Major and Political Commissar Nguyen Ky Hop said that he had been on duty on this island for 6 months, his wife and children were in Da Nang. Every year when he took a leave, he returned to the island immediately to help his comrades return to shore. “Only by being attached to the island can we understand how sacred and wonderful the Fatherland is. Despite the harsh climate and weather, officers and soldiers still ensure continuous training and are determined to excellently complete all assigned tasks. During the day they train, at night they patrol and guard to invite “uninvited ships” out of the sea area.

In April, Truong Sa is as hot as fire. The salty sea air makes the soldiers' shirts even more sweaty. Yet the young Nghe An soldiers still "soak" themselves in that scorching sun with the movements of "rolling and crawling" in trenches and fortifications and practicing unarmed team command on the runway...

Reviewing the team in Truong Sa town. Photo: Mai Thang

Visiting and giving gifts to the soldiers and people of Truong Sa, DK1, each person had a different range of emotions, but they all shared a common feeling: Truong Sa and the mainland are not really far away. Truong Sa is in the hearts of millions of Vietnamese people. Protecting Truong Sa is the task of the entire Party, the entire people, the entire army, in which, the cadres and soldiers of Truong Sa are the main force.