Remembering the time when we built the island.

Nearly 46 years have passed, and Dao Dinh Chu's life is as peaceful as that of any other naval soldier returning from Truong Sa, except that he always cherishes the days he spent building the island with his comrades.

Seven days and nights battling rough seas to rescue comrades, attacked by foreign ships, forced to eat live seagulls to survive... This is the story of soldier Dao Dinh Chu and seven other soldiers who narrowly escaped death off the coast of Phan Vinh Island 46 years ago, a symbol of patriotism and courage in defending Truong Sa - the sacred archipelago on the front line of the Fatherland.

Truong Sa - the sacred archipelago at the forefront of the Fatherland. Photo: MAI THANG

Unforgettable memories

I happened to meet Mr. Dao Dinh Chu at the People's Committee of Xuyen Moc commune, Xuyen Moc district, Ba Ria - Vung Tau province, for a medical check-up under the policy for families entitled to preferential treatment, during a community outreach trip there. Seeing me in my navy uniform, Mr. Chu approached me and said, "Are you doing a medical check-up today? I was a naval soldier who served on Phan Vinh island in 1978 in the Truong Sa Islands. I heard that the army was coming to provide free medical check-ups and medicine, so I came here."

Through the story, I learned that he was a former naval veteran who had spent time at sea. I took a piece of paper and wrote down his words as a fellow soldier in the same uniform, differing only in age and length of service.

In the hallway of the Xuyen Moc Commune People's Committee, Mr. Chu recounted the extremely difficult days he and his comrades spent defending Phan Vinh Island. He said: "Nearly 46 years have passed, but I will never forget the days we lived and built the island. That was the most beautiful period of my life. Being able to go to Truong Sa and contribute to Truong Sa during my military service is a source of pride."

In April 1978, from the 146th Brigade of the 4th Naval Region, Mr. Chu and eight comrades boarded ship 680 to march to Phan Vinh Island for a mission. After a three-day and three-night voyage, ship 680 arrived at Phan Vinh Island. "It was around 3 PM. Phan Vinh Island was just a coral reef outcrop rising about 1 meter above the water. We started our new life with dried rations, a little rice, canned meat, and materials for building the island. The weather was extremely hot," Mr. Chu recalled.

One morning in mid-May 1978, while he was cooking for the entire island, he suddenly heard a comrade's desperate cry: "Chữ, save me! Chữ…" He threw down his ladle, rushed to the edge of the island, and jumped out to rescue his comrade being swept away by the waves. Unexpectedly, he was also swept away. At that moment, other soldiers who were building the island also quickly came to his rescue.

A rescue plan was quickly implemented. A rubber boat was securely tied at one end with a rope about 60 meters long to the bunker, and the other end to the boat. The soldiers brought oars and rowed out to rescue their comrades. As soon as the boat left the coral reef, a large wave crashed into it, breaking the rope and sending it drifting away. "I tried to swim to save my comrades, but the more I swam, the further I was pushed from the shore. Then, I grabbed a piece of wood and was rescued by a boat. On the island's slope, the waves often swirl in circles, rolling and carrying us far out to sea. I've known how to swim since I was a child, otherwise I would have died," Mr. Chu recalled.

Mr. Dao Dinh Chu (left) recounts being swept away by the waves. Photo: MAI THANG

We must live to build the island.

Perhaps it was only after 46 years since leaving Phan Vinh Island that Mr. Chu had the opportunity to recount the story of being swept away by the waves. Therefore, there were moments when he was pensive and thoughtful, and at times he raised his hand to his forehead to search his memory. His eyes welled up with tears, and his voice choked with emotion as he remembered his comrades.

He continued, saying that when he was brought back to the boat, he and the other soldiers continued searching for their comrades. The rubber lifeboat was repeatedly tossed away by the waves. How could they paddle back to the island when a storm was about to hit, the waves were getting bigger and bigger, and one comrade was still missing? "That question kept swirling in our heads, making us even more determined. The sea rain came down in torrents, the sky darkened, and we sat on the boat, shivering with hunger and cold, but we never lost hope," Mr. Chu recounted.

After the sudden storm, the sea gradually calmed, and the rubber boat rocked on the waves. After a night battling the waves, hunger, and thirst, the soldiers were exhausted. But the hunger was not as terrible as the scorching sun the next morning. Blisters began to appear on the soldiers' bodies.

The first day ended, and on the second, everyone was starving and parched. "We must survive!" the soldiers said to each other, encouraging each other to stay calm and maintain their resolve while waiting for the rescue ship. Mr. Chu continued: "While we were dozing off waiting for the rescue ship, a seagull suddenly swooped down and landed next to the boat. I grabbed it, plucked its feathers, and tore off its flesh to share with everyone. We ate it even though it was fishy; we ate to survive."

On the fifth day, when their hopes of survival were dwindling, they spotted a nearby ship. Mr. Chu and two other soldiers swam towards the ship and signaled for food. From the ship, three soldiers threw spears at them. Suspecting it was a foreign vessel, they dove underwater to avoid the spears and swam back to the boat. At that moment, everyone thought there was no hope of survival...

By the sixth day, eight soldiers lay unconscious on the boat. All of them had blisters from the sun and salty sea. They were later rescued by a ship from the 4th Naval Region and brought ashore. One soldier slipped and was swept away by the waves to a nearby island and was also rescued by a ship...

After a near-death experience in May 1978 on Phan Vinh Island, Mr. Chu returned to the mainland to recover his health and then continued his service on Truong Sa Lon and Co Lin islands. In 1991, he was discharged from the army, received a lump-sum payment, and returned to Nam Dinh to live. Later, he settled in Xuyen Moc commune, Xuyen Moc district, Ba Ria - Vung Tau province to start a new life.

This year, Mr. Dao Dinh Chu turns 67. His life is as peaceful as that of any other naval soldier returning from Truong Sa. The only difference is that he is always deeply concerned about the days he spent on Phan Vinh Island...

Veteran Dao Dinh Chu said: "Phan Vinh Island is one of the islands with an important position in the national defense belt in the Truong Sa archipelago. The days spent building the island were the most beautiful days. I know it's difficult to make it a reality, but if I could return to Truong Sa, to Phan Vinh Island, I would be very content when I die."

Source: https://nld.com.vn/nho-mot-thoi-xay-dao-196240615181900781.htm