70 years of the Vietnam People's Navy: 'Living sovereignty milestone' at sea

Delegation of officials, civil servants and press of Ho Chi Minh City during a visit to Truong Sa island district - Photo: TU TRUNG

Along with soldiers on duty at Truong Sa archipelago , officers and soldiers on those "living sovereignty markers" of Naval Region 2 have been brave and silently sacrificing for many years to fulfill their duty of protecting the sovereignty of the sea and islands, and preserving the territorial integrity of the Fatherland.

Currently, on the southern continental shelf, there are 15 DK1 platforms guarding the coral reefs including Ba Ke, Phuc Tan, Que Duong, Huyen Tran, Phuc Nguyen, Tu Chinh and Ca Mau shoals under the names DK1/1, DK1/2, DK1/8, DK1/10... Each platform is likened to the proud and majestic stance of Vietnam amidst the storms.

In a place where "heads touch the sky and feet do not touch the ground", surrounded on all sides by only vast water, each navy soldier is performing his duty day and night, ready to sacrifice to embellish the tradition of "resilience and bravery, overcoming all difficulties, solidarity and discipline, maintaining sovereignty" as the soldier's oath when going to the platform to perform his duty.

"As long as there are people, there will be rigs" has become an honorable promise for the past 36 years of generations of DK1 officers and soldiers.

There, they sharpened their fighting spirit to stand firm in the face of storms and waves in any circumstances, so that the mainland could have a peaceful life.

Those "wave-winged" soldiers chose to dedicate their youth to the Fatherland with a sacred and noble mission. Because for them, if "everyone chooses the easy job, who will be left with the hard work...".

Thirteen naval officers and soldiers have died while on duty in the DK1 platform area due to unusual natural disasters. Eight of them will forever remain in the middle of the ocean. Their graves are the white-capped waves, the coral reefs under the deep sea, but their names will be remembered forever.

DK1 sovereignty landmark stands tall and proud amidst the stormy sea

Training to be ready to fight and destroy anti-air targets

Ca Mau platform welcomes helicopters for take-off and landing training

Tender farewell before soldiers go to DK1 platform to perform their duty

Letters from home, a precious gift from the mainland, although communication with the platforms is now much more convenient.

Moving goods to DK1 platform during storm season - Photo: MAI THANG

Caring for each green sprout growing in the middle of the ocean waves

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