Spring comes early on the 'horizon' of the Fatherland

Move Tet to the scaffolding

After a voyage of more than 100 nautical miles from DK1/12 platform (Tu Chinh 4), on the morning of January 2, 2023, Truong Sa 21 ship led by Colonel Pham Quyet Tien, Deputy Commander of Naval Region 2, as head of working group No. 1, stopped at Ca Mau Shoal (Ca Mau province) and delivered Tet gifts from the people of the whole country to officers and soldiers of DK1/10 platform. This platform is called on the horizon of the Fatherland because it is the farthest distance from the DK1 platform system from the station of the Naval Region 2 Command.

DK1/10 platform at the horizon of the Fatherland. Photo: Mai Thang

In the days leading up to Tet, unlike a week before, the sea in Ca Mau was calm and quiet. The waves lapped against the hull of the ship. The gentle sea breeze signaled that the Year of the Cat had arrived in the hearts of the young soldiers. With the sea calm and the weather favorable, Colonel Pham Quyet Tien decided: "Transport the gifts to the platform by boat, the working group went to the platform to celebrate Tet early with the officers and soldiers."

“The entire ship lowers the boats to deliver Tet gifts to the rig” - the stern order of the captain of the Truong Sa 21 ship was issued from the command post. The deck captain lowered the boats. Dozens of sailors of the shipTruong Sa21 brought each gift box from the hold to the deck, then transferred it to a motorboat and ran into the rig. Press reporters were given priority to go up first to work.

CQ boat delivers Tet gifts to the oil rig. Photo: Mai Thang

We climbed onto the docking platform with the help of the young soldiers. Corporal Nguyen Minh Duc smiled brightly and quickly said: “Hello, New Year’s greetings. We haven’t been able to sleep for several nights. We’ve been anxiously waiting for your arrival.” Meanwhile, Lieutenant Political Commissar Phan Tien Tung said: “We haven’t been able to sleep for several nights. Our hearts are pounding, we’re always looking out to sea towards the ship. Spring has come to the officers and soldiers of the DK1/10 platform.”

After moving the yellow apricot blossoms, kumquat trees and Tet gifts onto the racks, we sat together in the middle of the club. Colonel Pham Quyet Tien, on behalf of the Party Committee of the Naval Region 2 Command, said: “Overcoming the stormy days, today, the first Tet greeting delegation came to visit, encourage and deliver Tet gifts from the people of the whole country to you comrades. I wish you good health, peace of mind to stick to the sea, and steady hands to maintain the sovereignty of the sea and islands of the Fatherland in all situations. Enjoy the New Year without forgetting your duties.”

Colonel Pham Quyet Tien, Deputy Commander of Command Region 2, wishes a happy new year and assigns tasks to officers and soldiers of DK1/10 platform. Photo: Mai Thang

Receiving the gift, on behalf of the officers and soldiers of the DK1/10 platform, Lieutenant Phan Tien Tung was moved and said: “Even at the end of the Fatherland, we officers and soldiers of the DK1/10 platform still have the same taste of Spring as on the mainland. Thank you to the Party, the State, the Army, the people of the whole country, and the Command of Region 2 for taking care of the lives of officers and soldiers of the platform. We promise to continue to strive to excellently fulfill our tasks, firmly protecting the sovereignty of the sea, islands, and southern continental shelf of the Fatherland in all situations.”

New Year's Eve drink in the middle of stormy sea

After the gift-giving ceremony, we sat around the New Year's Eve dinner table in the midst of the hustle and bustle of the water. Mats were spread out in the middle of the working floor. Regardless of whether we were reporters or soldiers, officers or professional soldiers, we sat together to enjoy the food with the rich flavor of the salty ocean. In addition to meat, chicken, bamboo shoots and vermicelli brought from the mainland, the dishes that the working group liked the most were crispy fried fish and super clean bean sprouts.

Oil rig officers and soldiers receive Tet gifts. Photo: Mai Thang

Colonel Pham Quyet Tien raised his small glass of wine and said emotionally: “This is a New Year's Eve meal to say goodbye to the old year. I wish the officers and soldiers of the DK1/10 platform a peaceful and happy new spring and to complete their mission successfully. I wish the working group many impressive experiences on this journey.” A round of thunderous applause broke out to dispel the emotional moments that filled everyone's hearts.

Lieutenant Phan Tien Tung, political commissar of the rig, said that the daily life of officers and soldiers is quite simple. The main food is sea fish. Although not as abundant as on the mainland, the rig still has green vegetables to cook soup every day. The green vegetables on the rig are mainly water spinach, Malabar spinach, and amaranth. “In the middle of the ocean, having super clean sprouts is like a miracle. Thanks to the attention of leaders at all levels, the lives of officers and soldiers have changed a lot. Of the 15 DK1 rigs, DK1/10 is the rig that can make phone calls to the mainland via the Vinaphone network sponsored by Ca Mau Telecom. The sea area of ​​DK1/10 is quite peaceful. Every day, I see fishing boats of fishermen catching seafood around here. Although far from the mainland, I feel close” - Lieutenant Tung shared.

Spring sea soup. Photo: Mai Thang

Before saying goodbye to the officers and soldiers of the DK1/10 platform to continue the journey to Con Dao to give gifts to the soldiers of Radar Station 590, we held hands and sang loudly about the sea and islands. The soldiers' songs contained a touching emotion. Soldier Tran Nhat Anh Tuan said with red eyes: "I miss the mainland so much. But I am also proud because this spring I can guard the sea so that the mainland can celebrate Tet peacefully. I am 19 years old this year. My hometown is in the West of the river."

That's how soldiers on oil rigs are.

We left the DK1/10 platform as the sun set. From the CQ boat, DK1/10 was like a steel fortress standing steadfastly in the middle of the vast ocean. Hiding her tears behind the lens, reporter Cu Thi Thuan pursed her lips to keep from sobbing, while reporter Nguyen Thang looked up at the platform with red eyes as if saying goodbye. He said emotionally: “I admire the soldiers on the platform. Spring has come to you, I wish you steadfastness in protecting the sea. The mainland is always by your side.”

Goodbye DK1/10. Goodbye young soldiers on the horizon of the Fatherland. Our ship continues its journey bringing Spring to Radar Station 590.Con Dao.

Goodbye to the oil rig. Photo: Mai Thang

Truong Sa 21 blew long whistles, circled the DK1/10 platform three times, then headed straight for Con Dao, overcoming the waves. We leaned out onto the ship’s railing and waved goodbye. The soldiers on the platform held the national flag and waved goodbye. The lyrics of the song “No matter the wind or waves, we soldiers on the platform are there, precarious and precarious, the soldiers on the platform are not afraid of storms. In the middle of the ocean, it is still blue, in the middle of the sea and sky, we still live happily, that is how soldiers on the platform are. Overcoming the storms, protecting the sea and islands of our homeland” mixed in the spring waves./.