The boatman at the forefront of the Truong Sa Islands

To transport thousands of delegates, goods, and gifts from the mainland to the islands and reefs in the Truong Sa archipelago and the DK1 platform, in addition to professional skills and experience, the soldiers operating the boats must navigate through the wind and waves and ensure absolute safety. For them, the boat is their home, and the sea is their homeland. Year after year, they live with the waves and winds, sharing joys and sorrows with the sea, silently dedicating their youth to this frontline location.

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Silent sacrifices

With 13 years of military service, 7 of which were spent on the CQ boat, Lieutenant Tran Trung Kien, boat commander of Ship 561, Region 4 of the Navy, has carried out hundreds of missions to transport people and goods from ships to islands. This job may seem simple, but it hides countless difficulties, challenges, and silent sacrifices.

First Lieutenant Tran Trung Kien.

He confided: “Transporting passengers, goods, and gifts to the islands in Truong Sa or the DK1 platform is a strenuous task, but it's also a job I love and am proud of . In the vast ocean, unexpected storms can occur at any time. To ensure everyone's safety, the boat driver must be well-prepared, possess strong character, extensive experience, and always be ready to make sacrifices to complete the mission.”

Of the hundreds of times he's driven tourists to the islands, the trip that took the delegation from Ho Chi Minh City to visit Da Tay Island is the most memorable for Lieutenant Kien. That day, the waves weren't too big, but the wind was strong and it was drizzling. The HPBD 561 ship was anchored about 2 nautical miles from the island. To keep to the schedule, the delegation decided to dock anyway. Hundreds of delegates and their gifts were transported in four CQ boats. The first few trips were safe, but on the fifth trip, when the boat was about 160 meters from the edge of the island, it suddenly ran aground due to the low tide. Without a moment's hesitation, Lieutenant Kien plunged into the sea, exerting all his strength to push the boat away from the coral reef, then continued to steer the boat safely to the island. That jump caused his leg to be torn by the sharp coral, but in return, the entire delegation set foot on the island amidst overwhelming emotion. "Seeing the delegates meet and interact with the officers and soldiers on the island, we felt relieved and happy because we had completed our mission," he recounted.

That afternoon, a sudden storm hit, with fierce waves and strong winds. Despite the torrential rain, the boat crew had to bring the group of tourists back to the ship according to the planned itinerary. “The boat crew considers facing big waves and strong winds as a daily routine. Just one slip-up and both the boat and the passengers could be in danger. Those experiences have honed our courage and provided us with invaluable experience. When the ship docked at the mainland port, I took advantage of the opportunity to visit my wife and children for three days before boarding the ship again to head to the island,” Lieutenant Kien shared.

Major Hoang Hai Ly, a professional military officer.

In nearly 30 years of military service, Major Hoang Hai Ly, a professional soldier, has spent 26 years steering a boat at sea. He confided: “Driving a boat amidst strong waves and winds requires not only physical strength and courage, but also extensive experience. Reaching the island is difficult, but docking at the DK1 platform is many times more challenging. If the steering isn't steady, the boat could be sucked into the platform's base by the waves, with unimaginable consequences in an instant. I've spent almost my entire life as a soldier 'steering' at sea. The mission is quite arduous and dangerous, but also very honorable, and my heart is always filled with joy.”

Complete responsibility and love for the homeland.

In 2025, the Navy organized 26 voyages, transporting over 1,500 delegates from across the country and overseas Vietnamese to visit officers and soldiers in Truong Sa and the DK1 platform. These ships, filled with solidarity, carried not only thousands of tons of military supplies and gifts, but also the affection and trust of the people sent to those stationed at the forefront of the waves.

The voyages usually depart from the naval ports of Cam Ranh (Khanh Hoa), Cat Lai (Ho Chi Minh City), or Brigade 171 (Vung Tau). After two days and two nights battling the waves, the ship stops at the designated coordinates to transfer personnel and supplies to the island. Delegates, wearing life jackets, are guided by the ship's sailors onto the CQ boats. The small boats speed along amidst the waves and wind. When only a few dozen meters from the island, a mooring rope is thrown ashore, and the soldiers on the island tie it securely to a mooring post. Eager footsteps take them onto the frontier island, filled with pride and emotion at being able to touch this sacred part of the Fatherland in the middle of the ocean. Meanwhile, the soldiers on the boats breathe a sigh of relief and rejoice: "Another safe and successful trip."

For these soldiers, each boat trip is not just a journey of transport, but also a bridge connecting the mainland with distant islands, conveying the feelings of millions of hearts towards the homeland's seas and islands, igniting faith and love for the Fatherland in every Vietnamese citizen.

“The delegation from the mainland brings to the island feelings and love for their homeland; when they return, they bring back the faith and trust of the soldiers on the front lines of the Fatherland. Therefore, our task of piloting the boats is like building bridges connecting two distant shores: carrying feelings to the island, and carrying faith from the island back to the mainland,” Lieutenant Tran Trung Kien shared emotionally.

The life of a soldier navigating the open sea is filled with sweat, hardship, and silent sacrifices. On each trip, each time they take the wheel amidst fierce waves, they place their full responsibility, love for their country, and faith in their hands. For these missions, the greatest reward for the soldier is the radiant smiles and emotional eyes of the delegation, the safety of each person, and the safe delivery of goods from the mainland to the distant islands.

Returning after five voyages to 55 islands, submerged reefs, and five DK1 platforms, Lieutenant Tran Huu Thang, a professional soldier and crew member of the CQ boat on ship 571, had a tanned face from the sun and wind. He proudly expressed: "The greatest happiness for our boat crew is contributing to bringing Truong Sa and DK1 closer to the hearts of the people of the whole country."

The CQ boat, piloted by Lieutenant Tran Huu Thang, transported people from the ship to the DK1 platform.

Despite the challenging conditions and the need to set aside personal matters, the sailors always wear a smile, for their greatest happiness lies in dedicating their youth to protecting the homeland's seas and islands. At the forefront of the waves, their pride is written in sweat, blood, and an undying love for their country.

Mai Thang

Source: https://baocamau.vn/nguoi-lai-do-noi-dau-song-truong-sa-a124087.html