As long as there are people, there will be offshore platforms.

VHO - For 37 years amidst the vast ocean, the soldiers of DK1 have written an epic saga with their sweat, blood, and vows to protect the sea. From the first soldiers who carried letters to their loved ones in case they didn't return, to today's young generation continuing to guard these "living landmarks" in the East Sea, the spirit of "as long as there are people, there will be platforms" remains as strong as ever.

The DK1 platform stands firm in the middle of the ocean.

On July 5, 2026, officers and soldiers of the DK1 platform celebrated the 37th anniversary of the establishment of the Economic - Scientific - Technical - Service Cluster on the southern continental shelf of the Fatherland.

Thirty-seven years have passed since the first offshore platforms were erected in the middle of the ocean. Countless generations of soldiers have braved the waves and winds; some returned, others remained forever at sea. But one thing has never changed: the oath to protect the sea and the spirit of "as long as there are people, there will be platforms."

A letter sent from the middle of the sea.

Even in retirement, Mr. Nguyen Van Nam still vividly remembers the most special trip of his military career.

In July 1989, when he was a captain, he was assigned to command 13 officers and soldiers to build and maintain the Phuoc Tan offshore platform. His daughter was just over a year old, his wife was very young and ill. "I knew I loved my wife and child very much, but a soldier must go when he receives orders," Mr. Nam recounted.

Back then, DK1 was a foreign concept to many. After the Gac Ma incident in 1988, each voyage to sea felt like stepping into a new battlefront. The open sea, the rough waves, the unpredictable dangers. Before the ships set sail, the unit's leaders would encourage each person and promise a return date. But deep down, no one dared be sure they would ever come back.

Mr. Nam still remembers the letter he wrote on board the HQ-727 after the ship had left the mainland. He instructed his younger brother in Vinh Phu: "If I am killed, go to Vung Tau and bring my wife and children back to our hometown to live..." These weren't just his words; they reflected the shared sentiment of countless soldiers on the DK1 during those difficult early days.

After more than three days and three nights at sea, the ship arrived at Phuoc Tan shoal. The platform was then very rudimentary, less than 7 meters above sea level. Just a few days later, a storm raged, with fierce waves continuously pounding the structure. The freshwater tanks shattered, and other components were severely damaged. Facing the risk of collapse, superiors were forced to order the entire force to withdraw to the mainland. A month later, they returned, carrying barrels of freshwater, kerosene, and a determination to stay at sea. Captain Nguyen Van Nam and his comrades continued to live the days of "Robinson Crusoe in the ocean."

Mr. Nguyen Van Nam (far left) during a trip with his teammates across the waves to the DK1 offshore platform (DK1 archive photo).

Back then, there were no telephones; handwritten letters were the only link between the sea and the land. Newspapers were only available once every two months. Each person was only given about 5 liters of fresh water per day for all their daily needs. Bathwater was used to water vegetables. Each storm was a life-or-death situation. Yet, throughout the 11 months they held out at Phuc Tan, no one thought about leaving. Because they understood that behind those steel pillars in the middle of the sea lay the sacred sovereignty of the Fatherland.

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Those who rest in the sea.

After Captain Nguyen Van Nam's shift ended, the Phuc Tan platform was handed over to Senior Lieutenant Bui Xuan Bong and Lieutenant Nguyen Huu Quang, along with their comrades, to continue the mission of guarding national sovereignty at the forefront of the waves.

When recalling the history of DK1, the soldiers stationed there today still cannot forget the fierce storm that occurred on December 4, 1990 - a painful memory but also a testament to the unwavering will of the soldiers who "stand tall with their heads in the sky and their feet never touching the ground".

That night, the South China Sea raged. The wind howled, tearing through the darkness. Waves dozens of meters high continuously crashed against the platform. Amidst the vast ocean, the structure, already battered by the storm, finally succumbed to the terrifying power of nature. The Phuoc Tan platform collapsed. In that moment of life and death, nine officers and soldiers were swept into the sea. In the pitch-black night, without a single light or support, they could only cling to pieces of buoyancy, barrels, or anything else floating on the water's surface to fight for their lives.

The sea that night was bitterly cold. Fierce waves repeatedly submerged and then lifted them amidst howling winds. Each minute felt endless. In that dire situation, camaraderie shone brighter than ever. Lieutenant Nguyen Huu Quang gave his last ration to his exhausted comrade. On the fragile boundary between life and death, he still thought of others before himself. Then a huge wave crashed in. The young officer was forever lost to the sea.

Lieutenant Bui Xuan Bong was fortunate enough to cling to a plastic container. Soldiers Ho The Cong and Nguyen Van Quynh clung tightly to a barrel adrift at sea for 15 hours before being found and rescued by a ship. But not everyone had the chance to return. Three officers and soldiers perished at sea: Lieutenant Nguyen Huu Quang, medic Tran Van La, and soldier Ho Van Hien. They became the first martyrs of the DK1 platform.

Those three soldiers sacrificed their youth amidst the vast ocean, becoming one with the waves of the southern continental shelf of our homeland. Their sacrifice is not only recorded in the history of DK1 with solemn inscriptions, but also lives on in the memories of many generations of officers and soldiers stationed on the platform. Every time the storm of that year is mentioned, the soldiers of DK1 fall silent. Because behind the peace of the platforms today lies the sweat, tears, and even blood of those who fell.

These men used their own lives to write the first tragic chapter of DK1's history, affirming a simple yet sacred truth: the sovereignty of the nation's seas and islands has never been something that comes naturally, but is always earned through the sacrifice of the country's most outstanding sons and daughters.

Amidst the vast ocean and sky, their names live on with the waves, the wind, and the towering offshore platforms at the forefront of the waves. These are the soldiers who have rested with the sea, but their spirit and will continue to inspire today's generations to steadfastly guard the nation's seas and skies.

And 36 years have passed since that fateful storm, new, more solid offshore platforms have sprung up, but every soldier on the Phuoc Tan platform knows that beneath the waves that crash against the base of that structure day and night lies the place where their comrades have become immortal...

Continue writing the epic saga amidst the vast ocean.

Thirty-seven years after its establishment, DK1 has changed dramatically. The new platforms are more robust and modern, communication is more convenient, and living conditions are better than before. But the sea remains the same. Storms still rage every year, and the months spent far from the mainland remain a challenge for any soldier.

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The enthusiastic young officers set off for DK1 to perform their duties.

Lieutenant Colonel Nguyen Trung Duc, Political Officer of DK1, shared that every officer and soldier always remembers the sacrifices of previous generations. “For the soldiers of DK1, the platform is our homeland, our comrades, our country, and also a promise to the people. The platform is a symbol of honor and unwavering determination of the naval soldiers.”

Captain Tran Van Luc (political officer of the DK1/10 offshore platform), representing today's young generation of officers, said that stories about their predecessors are always recounted during each mission. "We never forget those who came before us. The hardships and sacrifices of the past are the foundation for today's generation to continue clinging to the sea, safeguarding each offshore platform and each part of the sacred sovereignty of our Fatherland."

Amidst the vast expanse of the sea, the DK1 offshore platforms stand tall as living landmarks on the southern continental shelf. For the past 37 years, countless soldiers have dedicated their youth to the sea there. Some have returned to their beloved homes, others have become one with the waves, but all share a simple yet sacred vow: "As long as there are people, there will be offshore platforms."

Source: https://baovanhoa.vn/chinh-polit/con-nguoi-con-nha-gian-241392.html