“This is the third time I have traveled to the Southwest Islands” – Journalist Tran Thi Bich Chi (reporter of Vinh Long Radio and Television Station), who was also my roommate during the entire 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, starting 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 things. One box contained new books, which 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 developed today, 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 excited and looked forward to each time a delegation came to visit. Therefore, before this year's trip, I received letters and New Year cards from friends and relatives to wish the officers and soldiers on the remote island, encouraging them. 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 of the ship, 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 has been a long time since I received such an emotional handwritten letter. Although I do not know who wrote the letter, 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 students’ gratitude and love for the steadfast 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 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 in the face of storms and waves."
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 the handwritten letters will somehow 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 sea. 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 sea and islands…”.
