"Just focus on your work, complete your mission, and come back. Your parents and I are always proud of you and eagerly awaiting your return."
Nguyen Tan Giau and Le Thi Quynh Nhu - Photo: M. THANG
Le Thi Quynh Nhu spoke with her boyfriend, Corporal Nguyen Tan Giau, before the ship departed from the 129th Naval Squadron's port for the continental shelf. Overwhelmed with emotion, Nhu wrapped a checkered scarf around her boyfriend's neck, held his hand tightly, and tearfully promised to wait for him to return. Giau felt reassured and happy, understanding her feelings and the soldiers' shared duty at the offshore platform, knowing they would be separated for so long. "I will complete my mission and return, wait for me," Giau told Nhu, then quickly boarded the Truong Sa 04 ship, turning back to wave goodbye to everyone. Giau lives in Thang Nhi ward, Vung Tau city (Ba Ria - Vung Tau province). His parents are fishermen. Giau volunteered to join the DK1 Battalion, Region 2 of the Navy, hoping to contribute to the defense of the nation's waters alongside his comrades, even in peacetime. The love between this 21-year-old man and the girl from the coastal region has lasted four years. Knowing the ship was going to deliver Tet gifts to the DK1 platform, where her husband was stationed, Ms. Tran Thi Thanh Thao and her daughter arrived early to send Tet gifts to her husband. A mix of personal and shared feelings stirred within the young teacher, knowing that this Tet holiday, she and her daughter would be celebrating alone. Hiding her tears, Ms. Thao explained that her husband had been stationed at the DK1 platform for six months, and she and her daughter wanted to send some Tet gifts to warm his heart and reassure him in his work. She added, "I only hope you stay healthy and focus on your work; I'll take care of things at home." Her husband is Captain Le Minh Tam, political officer of the DK1/16 platform. They met during their student years and married 14 years ago, only to have a four-year-old daughter. She understands that marrying a soldier stationed on an platform means sacrifices, sometimes spending the whole year raising a child alone, with few opportunities to see each other. But she says she is happy because even though the young couple will be separated, they must learn to sacrifice and accept it. "Out at sea, he misses us both. Once, when he called home and heard his daughter call out 'Dad,' he felt like crying," Thao recounted, her eyes reddening. Sharing the same sentiment, Nguyen Thi Minh Thuong, wife of Captain Tran Huy Than (at the DK1/20 offshore platform), also teared up when her young son pointed towards the ship and asked, "Mom, when will Dad Than come home?" Reassuring her son, she gently pointed to the small ship and said, "This ship will bring Dad Than home to you." During the nine months her husband was away on duty at the offshore platform, sometimes when he called home, she could clearly hear the sound of the waves. The mother and son often called and sent pictures to their father. She said that being apart was sad, but she always wished him and his comrades good health and peace of mind in their work. "I can handle all the household chores and childcare on the mainland. We're apart today for a happier tomorrow," Thuong shared. Tuoitre.vn
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