“This is my third trip to the Southwest Islands” – Journalist Tran Thi Bich Chi (reporter for Vinh Long Radio and Television Station), who was also my roommate throughout the cruise, shared.
“Each journey has very different emotions. But I know for sure that on each trip I will bring something from the mainland to give to the island soldiers,” she whispered to her roommates when the 528 ship had just weighed anchor and started its journey to the Southwest island route.
On this trip, in addition to the equipment and tools she brought along for work, she also brought two boxes of stuff. One box contained new books that she gave to Major Tran Binh Phuc’s charity class on Hon Chuoi Island. The other box was filled with letters, New Year cards, and gifts from the mainland sent to soldiers on remote islands.
“Although technology is developing nowadays, everything is available on smartphones, but for me, handwritten letters still have a very special meaning. And in previous business trips, when meeting and talking with the island soldiers, they were very eager and looked forward to each time a delegation came to visit. Therefore, before this year's trip, my friends and relatives sent me letters and New Year cards, encouraging the officers and soldiers on the remote island. It felt like I was a loving intermediary…”, journalist Bich Chi shared.
As one of the first people to receive letters from the mainland, Major Pham Van Truong - Chief Engineer of Ship 528 (Squadron 512, Brigade 127, Naval Region 5) could not hide his happy smile. On the deck, in the middle of the vast ocean, flipping through the pages of a letter from a stranger, the naval soldier could not hide his emotions: "It's been a long time since I received such an emotional handwritten letter. Although I don't know who the writer is, what his face looks like, what his voice sounds like, but it is certainly a soul full of love...".
– “I hope you will stop missing home, because we are all living under the same roof, and I am proud that you are working together to maintain the peace, prosperity, and happiness of that roof…”.
– “Hope this small letter will be a bridge between people who have never met…”.
– “Always grateful to you guys…”.
These are handwritten letters conveying feelings from the mainland to the island soldiers. Behind those letters are the gratitude and affectionate love of the students, sent to the loyal soldiers at the forefront.
Soldier Nguyen Thanh Len (born in 2004, radar operator of Radar Station 595) has just started working on Hon Khoai Island (in Tan An Commune, Ngoc Hien District, Ca Mau Province) for more than 2 months now. This is the first year that the soldier who just turned 20 years old celebrates Tet on the island. Receiving letters from the mainland, Nguyen Thanh Len has an indescribable feeling: "This is the first time I have received handwritten letters like this, this will be the motivation for me to overcome my homesickness, work with peace of mind, and complete the assigned tasks. Reading the letters, I feel even more proud of the work I do, which encourages and urges me to be steadfast at the forefront of the storm."
At each island cluster, journalist Bich Chi sent handwritten letters to each officer and soldier. But perhaps the moment of handing over letters on Hon Khoai Island was the most emotional, because the island, located in the southeast of Ca Mau Cape, is currently uninhabited and has no means of transportation. Therefore, letters from the mainland are rarely delivered to each officer and soldier working on the island.
Journalist Bich Chi could not hide her emotions: “When I sent letters to the officers and soldiers, and received the joy and smiles in their eyes, I felt very happy and deeply moved. I hope that in some way the handwritten letters will bring the warmth from the mainland to the officers and soldiers on the remote islands. I hope that they will have more confidence in the stormy seas. I hope that the letters will connect the sea to the shore, so that everyone can join hands and unite with the goal of protecting the sovereignty of the homeland's seas and islands…”.
