Crossing the ocean to bring Tet to DK1 rig
(Baonghean.vn) - Tet gifts, military supplies, and military uniforms were wrapped in waterproof wraps, tied tightly to ropes, and then dropped into the sea for soldiers on the platform to pull up. The DK1 Phuc Nguyen 2 platform and the Truong Sa 04 ship were only 50 meters apart, but they could not shake hands, only sending their memories and sharing through each wave.
HSpring Festival, gratitude to martyrs
In the last days of the old year, after leaving the port of Naval Division 129, the fleets of Truong Sa 16 and Truong Sa 04 sailed out to sea, bringing nearly 100 tons of goods, necessities, and Tet gifts to officers and soldiers of 15DK1 platform, ships on duty at sea and soldiers, civil and political agencies of Con Dao district, Ba Ria - Vung Tau province.
According to the predetermined route, ship Truong Sa 16 delivered Tet gifts to 10 DK1 platforms in Phuc Tan, Que Duong, Huyen Tran, and Ba Ke clusters; ship Truong Sa 04 delivered Spring gifts to 5 DK1 platforms in Phuc Nguyen, Tu Chinh, and DK1/10 (Ca Mau) clusters and the military and people of Con Dao.
At this time, the DK1 sea area had big waves and strong winds. The waves were as big as mountains crashing into the ship's hull. The Truong Sa 04 ship had a capacity of more than 500 tons, yet it kept "bobbing up and down" in the big waves and headwind. Many reporters were seasick and vomited. The DK1/15 (Phuc Nguyen 2) platform appeared and disappeared behind the misty waves and wind of the ocean.
According to the Navy's tradition, every time a ship arrives at a sea area, it holds a memorial ceremony and releases flowers to pay tribute to heroic martyrs.
From the ship's internal loudspeaker, a marine soldier's voice rang out: "Ship Truong Sa 04 has brought the New Year greetings delegation to Phuc Nguyen 2 platform. The entire ship is preparing to hold a memorial service for the heroic martyrs."
We leaned out to look at the platform through the ship’s window in a state of anxiety. Many reporters felt the pain and tears welled up in their eyes.
The waves were hazy, the Phuc Nguyen 2 platform appeared and disappeared in the waves. After the ceremony to announce the reason, the voice of Colonel Tran Hong Hai - Deputy Political Commissar of the Naval Region 2 Command - Head of the 2nd New Year greeting delegation fell with emotion: "At this moment, the Truong Sa 04 ship of the 4th New Year greeting delegation has arrived at the Phuc Nguyen sea area. According to the custom of seafarers, we held a memorial ceremony and released flowers to pay tribute to the martyrs. 26 years ago, on the night of December 11 and early morning of December 12, 1998, the international storm Fathes swept into the continental shelf, the Phuc Nguyen 2A platform was right in the eye of the storm. In the face of the raging waves, the officers and soldiers of the platform united in one heart, maintaining their fighting spirit. They put aside their youth and many dreams and ambitions to carry out the great task of firmly protecting the sovereignty of the Fatherland on the continental shelf. They fell so that the DK1 platforms would forever remain immortal in the East Sea".
Our whole group stood silently before the altar of the Fatherland, lit incense sticks and prayed for the eternal rest of our heroes in the sea. Dropping white lilies into the sea, we silently told the martyrs: “The DK1 sea area will forever be peaceful. The generation of young soldiers will continue your dreams and ambitions, and will firmly maintain the platforms that you once guarded.”
New Year greetings through the... speaker, gifts through the... wire!
Determining that the strong winds and waves would make it impossible to transport Tet gifts to the rig by motorboat, Colonel Tran Hong Hai ordered the sailors to transport Tet gifts by tow rope and send New Year greetings via walkie-talkie.
Despite the "beating" waves, dozens of sailors of Truong Sa 04 ship urgently carried out the transfer of Tet gifts to the platform. Truong Sa 04 ship and Phuc Nguyen 2A platform were connected by a large pan-shaped rope, more than 100 meters long, floating on the sea surface. Hundreds of Tet gift packages, military supplies, and military uniforms were wrapped in waterproof wraps, tied tightly to the pan-shaped ropes and then dropped into the sea for soldiers on the platform to pull up. DK1 Phuc Nguyen 2 platform and Truong Sa 04 ship were only 50 meters apart, but they could not shake hands, only sending their memories and sharing through each wave.
After completing the task of transferring Tet gifts to the platform by tow rope, Colonel Tran Hong Hai went up to the ship's cabin, held the radio and said loudly: "The ship is calling the platform. Phuc Nguyen 2 hears clearly and responds." The voices of the platform's officers and soldiers rang out over the shortwave I-Com: "The platform hears clearly and receives the order."
“Due to the strong winds and waves, the New Year greetings delegation could not go to the platform. The goods and gifts have been sent to you. On behalf of the Party Committee of the Naval Region 2 Command, I cordially send you my best wishes for good health and a happy and safe New Year in the spirit of “Enjoying the New Year without forgetting your duties, determined to firmly protect the sovereignty of the sea, islands and continental shelf in all situations”, Colonel Hai said, then read the New Year greetings from the Party Committee of the Navy and the Party Committee of the Naval Region 2 Command.
Instead of a meaningful gift for the soldiers of DK1 Phuc Nguyen platform, female reporter Ngoc Thuan - Bac Ninh Newspaper sent the soldiers of the platform the song "Love the platform so much" that she composed while the ship was on its journey through the waves. The touching lyrics "Spring has come, Phuc Nguyen/ the oil rig stands tall in the middle of the vast sea and sky/ my dear, I only have my heart/ to send to the marine soldier who has been waiting for a long time/ today in the middle of the sea and sky/ I would like to sing a few words for you/ hoping you will protect the sea of our homeland/ protect the sea and islands in the peaceful spring".
In response to the New Year greetings from the delegation, officers and soldiers of DK1 Phuc Nguyen platform sang loudly on the shortwave I-Com radio: “The platform in the clouds faces southwest, when the tide rises it is level with the waves. The soldiers on the platform remain steadfast in storms, despite hardships, they do not lose heart, dedicating their youth to nothing.", listen and it penetrates the liver and intestines...
Watching the sea and sky for the Fatherland to welcome Spring
Truong Sa 04 ship continued its journey to 3 platforms in Tu Chinh bank - a reef located entirely within the exclusive economic zone and southern continental shelf of Vietnam. Like Phuc Nguyen, the plan to deliver Tet gifts to platforms DK1/11, DK1/12, DK1/14 was by rope pulling method.
We were truly moved when the Commander of DK1/11 platform - Major Bui Duc Thong shared via shortwave radio: “I have been on duty for more than 6 months, and I miss the mainland so much as Tet is near! Being on the platform is hard and difficult, but we have teammates who are united and love each other like brothers in a family. This Giap Thin Tet, we have all the flavors of Spring. The ship returns to the mainland for officers and soldiers of DK1/11 platform to send New Year greetings. I promise to the mainland, the people and soldiers of the whole country, officers and soldiers of DK1 platform will rest assured to stick to the sea, excellently complete their tasks, firmly guard the sea and sky for the Fatherland to welcome Spring”.
Sharing the joy of staying at sea and protecting the rig, Major Lam Van Hien - Commander of DK1/10 rig said that on normal days, they are ready to fight and guard the sea 24/7. When Tet comes, the soldiers are even more vigilant: "With the spirit of celebrating the New Year and not forgetting their duties, the officers and soldiers of DK1/10 rig are determined to firmly protect the sovereignty of the sea, islands, and continental shelf of the Fatherland so that people across the country can celebrate Tet in peace."
Meanwhile, Major Le The Quyen (DK1/20) said that the sea area managed and protected by DK1/20 platform is often visited by ships and boats, because this is the sea area adjacent to Truong Sa, near the international shipping route.
“In order to avoid being surprised in any situation, officers and soldiers must thoroughly understand the regulations on countermeasures at sea. They must organize continuous observation and watch. When receiving Tet gifts from the mainland, we will organize an early Tet celebration for officers and soldiers and bid farewell to the Tet greeting group as they return to the mainland. Our joy is only complete when the seas and islands of the Fatherland are peaceful and the people of the whole country celebrate Tet in peace and happiness,” Major Quyen shared.
In the middle of the vast sea and islands of our homeland, the soldiers “heads in the sky, feet on the ground” are guarding and protecting Vietnam’s seas day and night. Their joy is only complete when the sovereignty of the sea and islands of the Fatherland is at peace.
