Officers and soldiers of Naval Region 3 increase training and exercises to improve combat readiness.

Ready to complete the tasks assigned by the Fatherland and People

Opening my phone to find the familiar names, saved from the trip with the Naval Region 4 delegation to Truong Sa archipelago to visit and wish the officers, soldiers, and people a happy new year in early 2024, I dialed Major Than Minh Phuc, Commander of Da Dong island. I was afraid that the phone signal on the island would be unstable, but I was glad when the call was connected. The mainland and Truong Sa, far away, became so close, when amidst the sound of the wind and the waves, Major Phuc's voice was deep and firm. He said: In May 2024, I left Da Dong island, went to An Bang island to take up the task as Commander, and it has been exactly a year now.

I was suddenly “startled” when I heard the name of the island located on the coral reef; the coral structure is vertical and surrounded by fierce waves all year round, famous for the danger and difficulty in entering and leaving the island. An Bang is the only island in the Truong Sa archipelago, the boat must approach the sandbank. That year, from the 561st Navy Region 4 ship anchored in the middle of the sea, entering the island by small boat, experiencing countless times of “hearts falling out of the chest” when the boat was pushed down by the waves, everyone burst into joy mixed with admiration, when the island’s “suicide squad” - brave soldiers rushed into the waves, chose the waves, chose the wind to catch the rope (thrown from the boat), joined forces to pull the boat straight up the sandbank.

Officers and soldiers of DK1 platform salute the national flag on the southern continental shelf of the Fatherland.

The conditions are harsh, difficult, and dangerous, but whenever a fisherman gets sick or has an accident and needs to go to the island to be examined, given medicine, given first aid, or provided support, the "suicide squad" is always ready. "At first, when I received the assignment at An Bang, I couldn't help but feel a little worried. But I told myself to be determined, to work with the officers and soldiers of the unit to train into a united, resilient collective, following in the footsteps of previous generations, holding a gun firmly to complete all tasks assigned by the Fatherland and the People, to guard the sea and sky," Major Than Minh Phuc confided.

In my mind appeared a face darkened by salty wind, scorching sun, hardship, but with a warm smile. That navy soldier had been away from his family, from the mainland, from his homeland for ten years, to stand steadfastly and firmly with his comrades at the forefront, protecting the sacred sovereignty of the sea and islands of the Fatherland.

On Da Dong Island, when the night fell, the tide rose, the waves roared, beside the waves, we were able to "follow" Major Than Minh Phuc back ten years to the first time he came to Phan Vinh Island in 2015. Then followed by Sinh Ton Dong, Da Lat, Da Dong..., shoulder to shoulder with his comrades, carrying out missions in Truong Sa Archipelago. The luggage of that naval soldier was filled with stories with many levels of emotions, but no matter what level, it was filled with a deep love for the sea and islands; a great responsibility towards the People and the Fatherland.

That is the story that serves as a support for fishermen to stick to the sea. Every year, hundreds of fishing boats encounter accidents at sea, and are promptly rescued by the navy, "returning" fishermen's lives from the brink of life and death; or fishermen who are sick or have accidents while fishing are wholeheartedly treated. In 2023, Major Than Minh Phuc and his teammates devoted themselves to providing first aid and initial treatment; promptly coordinated to bring fishermen Ta Van Loc and Nguyen Huu Dat (fishermen from a fishing boat in Binh Thuan province, showing signs of severe decompression while diving at night at a depth of 15 meters), from Da Dong Island to Truong Sa Island Medical Center, regaining their lives.

Navy Region 3 ship rescues two fishing boats

Make a heroic journey to protect the sea

Recalling the moment the fishermen were rescued, Major Than Minh Phuc’s eyes sparkled with indescribable happiness. He was also filled with the same emotion when he recalled his time as Commander of Da Lat Island, when he and his teammates planted a green shoot on the rock.

“During their shift, officers and soldiers observed a coconut drifting into the island’s wharf. It could have been a coconut from a cargo ship or a fishing boat. Picking up the coconut, feeling as if they were holding in their hands the breath of the mainland, they decided to nurture, plant, and care for it, demonstrating their determination that despite the coral reefs and harsh weather, the green color and sap still steadfastly grow. Just like a navy soldier, despite the hardships and dangers at the forefront, he still steadfastly overcomes, perseveres, and holds his gun steady to protect the peace of the sea and islands,” Major Phuc expressed.

Da Lat is a coral island. Gathering every bit of soil for planting, at the same time asking teammates to bring soil from the mainland. When the coconut sprouts, it is also the time when the bags of fertile soil, carrying the love of the mainland, follow the working ship, travel hundreds of nautical miles, overcome the wind and waves, to the island. Perhaps being cared for every day with ladles of fresh water after washing the face, with the loving whispers and expectations of the officers and soldiers, the coconut tree grows rapidly, becoming a dear "comrade" on the rocky island.

Naval Region 3 provides technical training for officers and soldiers

Since then, the coconut tree has become a “character” participating in meaningful events, every time the island welcomes a delegation from the mainland; it is a place decorated with lights and flowers, for the delegation to exchange cultural activities with officers and soldiers. In particular, under that coconut tree, officers and soldiers often sit and play guitars, chat intimately after their shift, strengthening their bond, creating solidarity, and completing all tasks excellently.

Lieutenant Colonel Duong Chi Nguyen, Deputy Head of the working delegation (at that time Lieutenant Colonel Nguyen was Deputy Political Commissar of Brigade 146, Naval Region 4) was moved: There are hundreds, thousands of "Than Minh Phuc" like that on Truong Sa islands in particular, Vietnam's islands in general, who have been, are and will continue to be willing to suffer losses in personal happiness, far from family, homeland, steadfast at the forefront. Ten years, twenty years, their entire youth, their entire military life have been attached to, become a part of the sea and islands. In particular, countless naval soldiers, through many generations, have heroically fallen and sacrificed in both wartime and peacetime, so that the Vietnam People's Navy can record countless glorious feats throughout the heroic journey of seventy years of protecting the sea; sowing the vibrant green color on the islands of the Fatherland.

During the trip with the Naval Region 4 delegation to visit and wish a happy new year to the officers, soldiers and people living and performing duties in the Truong Sa archipelago, having the honor of setting foot on the islands whose names have become sacred in the hearts of the Vietnamese people: Truong Sa, An Bang, Da Dong, Da Tay..., the phone has saved dozens of names, commanders or soldiers on each island. And one thing, forever saved in memory, pride and gratitude, is the great sacrifice and contribution of the Vietnam People's Navy, to make the vast sea peaceful with fishing boats, free birds soaring on the waves and the national flag flying heroically over the sea and islands, affirming the sacred sovereignty of Vietnam's sea and islands.
Article and photos: Quynh Anh

Source: https://huengaynay.vn/chinh-tri-xa-hoi/bien-gioi-bien-dao/kien-cuong-giu-bien-153321.html