Visiting Gac Ma veterans

Secretary of the Binh Dinh Provincial Party Committee Ho Quoc Dung visited and encouraged veteran Le Minh Thoa (in Quy Nhon City, Binh Dinh), one of the nine naval soldiers who survived the naval battle to defend Gac Ma in 1988.

On the afternoon of March 13th, Mr. Ho Quoc Dung, Secretary of the Binh Dinh Provincial Party Committee, visited and inquired about the living conditions and health of veteran Le Minh Thoa (residing on Tang Bat Ho Street, Quy Nhon City, Binh Dinh), one of the nine naval soldiers who survived the Gac Ma naval battle in 1988.

Mr. Ho Quoc Dung (far left) chatting with Mr. Le Minh Thoa

THANH QUAN

After listening to Mr. Thoa recount his current life, Mr. Ho Quoc Dung encouraged Mr. Thoa and his family to continue striving in life, demonstrating the unwavering resilience of a veteran. At the same time, on behalf of Binh Dinh province, Mr. Ho Quoc Dung expressed his deep gratitude to Mr. Thoa and his family.

Mr. Ho Quoc Dung looks through the commemorative photos of veteran Le Minh Thoa.

THANH QUAN

Mr. Le Minh Thoa was born in 1968, enlisted in the army in 1985, and was subsequently assigned to work at Squadron 1, Brigade 125 of the Navy, stationed in Ho Chi Minh City.

In early March 1988, Mr. Thoa was transferred to the transport ship HQ 604 of the 125th Brigade, tasked with protecting Vietnam's sovereignty in the Spratly Islands.

Mr. Ho Quoc Dung presents gifts to the family of veteran Le Minh Thoa.

THANH QUAN

On the morning of March 14, 1988, during the naval battle to defend Gac Ma, the transport ship HQ 604 was sunk while anchored, allowing the Engineering Detachment of Regiment 83 to unload construction materials onto the submerged island.

At that time, Mr. Thoa was on duty protecting and repairing the HQ 604 ship when it was hit by gunfire and caught fire. While extinguishing the fire on the HQ 604 ship, Mr. Thoa was injured.

When the ship sank, Mr. Thoa was lucky enough to grab two green pumpkins (food supplies on board) to use as life rafts. After nearly a day adrift at sea, Mr. Thoa was captured by a Chinese ship and taken prisoner.

Mr. Le Minh Thoa's pho restaurant is named Gac Ma - Truong Sa Pho.

THANH QUAN

Veteran Le Minh Thoa was awarded the Third-Class Military Merit Medal, and the Second and Third-Class Glorious Soldier Medals.

Sharing his thoughts on naming his pho restaurant, located in his home on Tang Bat Ho Street, "Gac Ma - Truong Sa," Mr. Thoa said: "The name Gac Ma - Truong Sa reminds me to live resiliently, so as not to bring shame to my fallen comrades. And I want future generations to never forget March 14, 1988, and never forget those who sacrificed themselves to protect the sacred sovereignty of the Fatherland."

Source: https://thanhnien.vn/tham-cuu-binh-gac-ma-185230313173352073.htm