Journalist Vu Duy - People's Army Newspaper journeys out to sea

Our delegation arrived at the wharf of the 129th Naval Division (Navy). The warm sunshine stretched across the blue sea. People bustled back and forth. They were Navy officers and soldiers preparing for their voyage to sea. In the lingering moments, there was a warm, firm handshake from my comrades, and a passionate hug from my relatives. I happily walked with the soldiers, joyful and a little nervous about the journey to sea.

Waves lapped the hull of the Truong Sa 04 ship (Flotilla 1, Brigade 125, Naval Region 2). The tugboat blew its whistle three times and then turned the waves, leaving a white foaming wake. After more than 200 nautical miles of hardship, the ship anchored near DK1/15 Phuc Nguyen Platform. The waves rose high and arrogantly as if to challenge. The wind blew as if to tear people into the sea. It must be admitted that working in these conditions was extremely difficult, just standing still was very difficult. Not to mention that on the first leg out to sea, many of my colleagues and I suffered from seasickness. However, because of the mission, everyone tried their best. The working group urgently held a memorial service for the martyrs who remained in the middle of the ocean. Offerings were plentiful, incense smoke filled the air. The ship blew its whistle three times. The national flag and the Navy flag were raised to the solemn sound of the song "Soul of the Martyrs". In his memorial speech, Colonel Tran Hong Hai - Deputy Political Commissar of Naval Region 2 Command remembered and expressed gratitude to the martyrs. Every event, every name is tragically recalled.

Reporters from press agencies took souvenir photos with officers and soldiers of DK1/10 Platform. Photo: Xuan Cuong

How sacred! Just when we thought we could not stand on the ship's cargo hold, the sea suddenly stopped raging when we heard the prayer. The sky also stopped raining. In front of us was the DK1/15 Phuc Nguyen Platform, standing firmly in the middle of the sea. However, more than 16 years ago, here, the DK1/6 Platform had to brace itself against a storm. In the stormy season of 1998, storm No. 8 swept in, bringing with it a tornado. The wind rose high and covered the DK1/6 Platform. All the iron frames and supports were shaken violently. The platform swayed, but the soldiers still persevered and maintained communication. The storm was ferocious and human strength was limited, the platform collapsed. Nine comrades were thrown into the sea. The rescue team did their best but could only save six comrades… After listening to the prayer, I stood on the side of the ship and gently released the yellow daisies into the waves, paying tribute to the previous generation who sacrificed for the Fatherland.

The night drifting at sea brought a strange feeling. I lay awake, tossing and turning. The waves were crashing hard, lying on the deck, my body drifting to the right, then to the left. Looking through the ship’s window was a pitch black color, with no distinction between sky and sea. Only the lights on the ship shone down, shimmering on the waves.

Overnight, the ship arrived at DK1/11 Platform in Tu Chinh area. Major Tran Van Hai - Captain of Truong Sa 04 ordered to drop anchor. The chain winch ran wildly. The anchor was lowered to the depth of the seabed and stuck. The ship was like a war horse harnessed by an experienced commander. Mr. Hai proudly told about the 32-year history of Truong Sa 04 with many important missions. Short trips were ten days of transporting goods, long trips were up to a hundred days when the ship performed the task of guarding and protecting sovereignty, chasing away foreign ships that violated Vietnam's waters.

During rescue missions, the ship still holds on, facing storms. There were times when the waves were so high that it was blinding from the cockpit to the crane's foot, and the sea surface could not be seen. The ship had to use radar combined with mechanical equipment. Major Hai recounted that at the end of 2023, after completing the mission of protecting sovereignty and returning to the mainland, a low pressure area swept into the East Sea. Wind and waves arose, and the ship had to speed up. The ship pushed through the waves and moved forward, while the low pressure area chased after it. The ship won that race to reach shore safely. Only then did we know that the ships on duty were as tense and dangerous as entering a battle.

Downstream to Ca Mau shoal, DK1/10 platform gradually appeared under the dawn light. From afar, I saw the officers and soldiers of the platform standing in a row. Two comrades held the national flag and waved it back and forth enthusiastically. Then, their arms were raised and waved for a long time. Welcoming us in the common room, the whole platform was filled with laughter and chatter. Oh my, it was familiar and close like a family. Although the platform was isolated in the middle of the ocean, the order of construction and discipline was strictly maintained. In addition to the task of standing guard and being ready for combat, the unit organized professional training, studied politics, did a good job of technical logistics, and maintained the platform against the impact of the marine environment.

Reporters from press agencies interviewed soldiers on duty at DK1 Platform. Photo: Xuan Cuong

Just looking at the neat bookshelves, stacks of party member notebooks, activity books carefully recorded, with neat handwriting, is enough to know how meticulous the soldiers are. Through the confidences of Major Pham Van Sinh - Political Commissar of DK1/10 Platform, I learned that the difficulty of the platform is its independence in the middle of the ocean. Therefore, only strict discipline, self-awareness and a spirit of steel can help the soldiers of the platform stand firm in the face of the storm.

How warm it is that even though they are far away, the DK1 Platform soldiers always receive attention from the mainland. Up to now, the platforms on the continental shelf have been upgraded and reinforced more and more firmly. The lives of the officers and soldiers have therefore been greatly improved, which is the basis for the soldiers to work with peace of mind.

Visiting the platforms of Battalion DK1, I felt a mixture of indescribable emotions. How proud I am that amidst the storms and waves, the platforms still stand tall, like steel flowers proudly welcoming the rosy sunlight. During my journey, I recorded many of the work, activities, and feelings of the platform soldiers. The first time I went to sea, I encountered certain difficulties, but they were nothing compared to the hardships of the Navy soldiers working to protect the open sea. Therefore, I dedicate these lines to the soldiers guarding the blue sea of ​​my homeland with a heart of deep gratitude, wishing them to always be steadfast at the forefront of the storms and waves, firmly maintaining the sovereignty of the sacred sea and islands of the Fatherland.

Vu Duy

Source: https://www.congluan.vn/nha-bao-vu-duy-bao-quan-doi-nhan-dan-hanh-trinh-ra-giua-trung-khoi-post299603.html