Formerly a soldier at the DK1/15 platform (DK1 Battalion, Region 2 of the Navy), Lieutenant Dinh Van Manh has participated in parades and marches from 2024 to the present in various positions including squad member, platoon leader, and instructor for the naval officer training group. In each mission, Lieutenant Dinh Van Manh has strived, worked hard, and united with his comrades to overcome difficulties and successfully complete his tasks.

Growing up on the waves

At dawn on the naval port of the 2nd Naval Region, ships proudly sounded their horns, preparing to carry officers and soldiers across the waves to carry out their mission on the southern continental shelf of the Fatherland. More than 10 years have passed, but Lieutenant Dinh Van Manh still remembers the emotions of that day. Excitement and anxiety, determination and anticipation, longing – these feelings intertwined in the mind of the young soldier. It was the first time Lieutenant Manh had been away from home for an extended period, to a place he only knew through books, newspapers, and stories told by previous generations of naval officers and soldiers. The mission ahead was a great honor and a source of pride; Lieutenant Manh eagerly wanted to contribute his youthful energy to protecting the sacred sovereignty of the Fatherland. But the mission was also very difficult, challenging both his will, spirit, and physical strength. So many worries and anxieties accompanied Lieutenant Manh as he braved the waves to leave his beloved mainland.

That day, the sea "greeted" Lieutenant Dinh Van Manh with fierce waves, causing the ship to rock and tilt. However, that was not the greatest challenge for Lieutenant Manh. After many days of getting used to the rough seas, he arrived at the DK1/15 platform just as Typhoon Haiyan entered Vietnamese waters.

Lieutenant Dinh Van Manh is leading the training of the naval officer training group.

The super typhoon brought torrential rain to DK1/15, with waves crashing against the platform. As night fell, the wind grew stronger, and the platform swayed like a hammock in the fierce storm. In the middle of the ocean, Comrade Mạnh, along with the officers, staff, and soldiers, battled nature, determined to hold their ground.

After the storm passed, Mạnh and the officers, staff, and soldiers of the DK 1/15 offshore platform remained steadfast and proud amidst the vast ocean. The lives of these young men, then eighteen or twenty years old, revolved around guard duty and reporting back to the command center on the mainland. In their free time, they watched television or talked about family matters. In the afternoons, they often gazed at the sunset, the sun setting over the mainland. The sea was calm as a sheet of paper. The storm and its fierce waves could not break the will and determination of Comrade Mạnh and the officers, staff, and soldiers in the unit. Experiencing the fragile boundary between life and death further forged Lieutenant Đinh Văn Mạnh's courage and resilience.

Having completed his mission on the offshore platform, on his journey back to his hometown in Quang Yen ward, Quang Ninh province, Lieutenant Dinh Van Manh received news that his father had been involved in an accident while working, and his prognosis was poor. He only managed to return when his father was about to take his last breath, only to witness his father's death in the hospital bed. Facing such an immense loss, the young man felt overwhelmed with grief.

Despite his overwhelming grief, Comrade Mạnh, with his honed resilience, continued to strive, study, and work hard to become a naval officer, eventually being assigned to work at Brigade 147.

Efforts made for the parade and march.

When Comrade Mạnh joined Brigade 147, the unit was selecting participants for the parade and march during the 70th anniversary celebration of the Dien Bien Phu Victory (May 7, 1954 / May 7, 2024). With his handsome face, good physique, and health, Lieutenant Dinh Van Mạnh was honored to be selected for the naval officer corps.

Parade training was always serious and rigorous; Lieutenant Manh fell ill many times, sometimes with a fever as high as 40 degrees Celsius. But with high determination, Lieutenant Dinh Van Manh persevered in training. He understood that if even one person missed a training session, it would greatly affect the training of the entire unit and the coordinated techniques within the unit. With a spirit of overcoming the sun and rain, and demonstrating a strong sense of responsibility, Lieutenant Manh and his comrades successfully completed the parade and march in Dien Bien.

Lieutenant Dinh Van Manh with children from Hanoi.

Trusted by his superiors, when establishing the management and training framework for the naval officer corps during the 50th anniversary of the Liberation of Southern Vietnam and National Reunification (April 30, 1975 / April 30, 2025), Lieutenant Dinh Van Manh was assigned the task of platoon leader. In his new position, Manh always understood and shared the difficulties of the platoon members, having experienced them himself. Throughout the journey from North to South, Manh and his comrades consistently earned the goodwill of the local people, contributing to the success of the anniversary celebration.

Continuing his participation in parade and march rehearsals for the 80th anniversary of the August Revolution and National Day on September 2nd, the naval officer was assigned the task of being a training instructor for the marching contingent. Regardless of the assignment, Mạnh always gave his all, sharing his experience and guiding the contingent members to successfully complete their tasks.

The nation's momentous celebration has concluded successfully. Lieutenant Dinh Van Manh and his comrades played a significant role in this impressive success. With their honed skills, this naval officer and his colleagues will continue to build upon their achievements, strive to fulfill their assigned duties, reach new heights, and contribute to building a strong and comprehensive unit.

Text and photos : TRAN DO THANH HUONG

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    Source: https://www.qdnd.vn/nuoi-duong-van-hoa-bo-doi-cu-ho/tu-chien-si-nha-gian-den-thay-giao-dieu-binh-dieu-hanh-844385