Immortal monument of love for the Fatherland

36 years ago, on March 14, 1988, in an unequal battle, 64 Vietnamese Navy soldiers lay down their lives in the deep sea to protect the country's sovereignty at Gac Ma, Co Lin and Len Dao reefs in Vietnam's Truong Sa archipelago.

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March 14, 2024 marks the 36th anniversary of the Gac Ma incident, when 64 Vietnamese People's Navy soldiers heroically sacrificed their lives to protect the sovereignty of the Fatherland in the Truong Sa archipelago.

36 years have passed, the waves can erase all traces but cannot erase the tragic memories of the Vietnamese people about the brave people whose sacrifices have been built into immortal monuments of love for the Fatherland.

Your fighting spirit is a bright spot in the nation's history that today's and future generations must remember.

The epic echoes forever in history

36 years ago, on March 14, 1988, in an unequal battle, 64 Vietnamese Navy soldiers lay down their lives in the deep sea to protect the country's sovereignty at Gac Ma, Co Lin and Len Dao reefs in Vietnam's Truong Sa archipelago.

The image of Vietnamese Navy soldiers standing in a circle to protect the national flag on Gac Ma Island, forming an "Immortal Circle" forever engraved in history books, writing a heroic epic that will forever echo in the history of building and defending the country of our ancestors, reminding descendants to resolutely defend every inch of land, territory, and sea border that our ancestors sacrificed their blood and bones to protect.

Ship HQ-505, the only ship that did not sink because Captain Vu Huy Le decided to 'land' the ship on Co Lin Island after being set on fire by enemy ships, became a living sovereignty landmark of Vietnam. Co Lin Island has thus been preserved to this day. With its heroic feat, ship HQ-505 was honored by the State as a Hero of the People's Armed Forces. (Photo: Document/VNA)

National sovereignty is supreme and inviolable. Generations of Vietnamese people have devoted countless efforts and blood to establish sovereignty and preserve the sacred territory, seas and islands of the Fatherland.

Hundreds of years ago, the best sons of Vietnam overcame countless difficulties and hardships, sacrificing themselves in the vast ocean for the country's sovereignty. The folk songs that are still passed down to this day, such as: "Hoang Sa, will you return? - The king ordered us to go with all our heart" are the most concrete evidence of their courage and the miracles they accomplished.

How admirable and touching it was to know that before the boat set sail, each person would prepare a pair of mats, seven rattan ropes, and seven bamboo poles so that if they died, their comrades would tie them up, attach a bamboo tag with their name and hometown, and then throw them into the sea, praying that if their bodies were lucky enough to wash ashore, people on the mainland would know who they were!

Because "Hoang Sa has many islands and sandbanks - A mat wrapped in a few rattan strings" many centuries ago, the royal court posthumously awarded some Hoang Sa captains who also managed Truong Sa the title of "Superior Gods" and Hoang Sa soldiers who also managed Truong Sa the title of "Hoang Sa Heroes."

Soldiers on Chim Island (Truong Sa archipelago) guard and protect the island. (Photo: VNA)

The brave spirit, limitless determination, and extraordinary courage of the previous generation were continued by the next generation. On March 14, 1988, 64 soldiers defending Gac Ma Island, in an unequal battle, were forever laid down under the rain of bullets.

The battle to protect the sovereignty of the Fatherland on Gac Ma, Co Lin, Len Dao reefs on March 14, 1988 was an unequal battle. At the forefront of the waves and winds, with limited weapons and equipment, and no land or fortifications to protect themselves, but with love for the country and determination to protect the sacred sovereignty of the Fatherland, officers and soldiers of the forces on the three ships HQ 604, HQ 605 and HQ 505 and the forces protecting Gac Ma, Co Lin, Len Dao islands showed their steadfast will, bravery, and determination to the end to protect the sovereignty of the sea and islands of the Fatherland.

Ship HQ-604 left the mainland for Truong Sa to carry out its mission, just 3 days before the battle to protect sovereignty and was sunk by enemy ships at Gac Ma, March 14, 1988. (Photo: Document/VNA)

Faced with the attack using overwhelming military force to intimidate the spirit, our officers and soldiers were very brave, resilient, courageous, and determined to stick to the ship and the island to protect the flag and protect the island.

After threatening but failing to shake the morale of our officers and soldiers, the enemy warships used guns and cannons to fire directly at our ship, causing the HQ 604 to catch fire and sink very quickly.

At Gac Ma Island, officers and soldiers held hands tightly to form a circle to protect the national flag, determined to defend the island with their bodies.

"Do not retreat. Let your blood color the national flag and the glorious tradition of the Army" - the words of the heroic martyr, Lieutenant Tran Van Phuong, Deputy Commander of Gac Ma Island at that time not only showed heroic spirit, but also the stance of a true master of the sea and islands in any circumstance.

Navy officers and soldiers fought to their last breath to protect the sacred sovereignty of the Fatherland's sea and islands.

A wreath is dropped into the sea at Truong Sa archipelago to commemorate the soldiers who have forever remained in the middle of the ocean. (Photo: Thuy Giang/VNA)

“The 64 soldiers protecting Gac Ma Island put aside their dreams and ambitions and devoted their youth to protecting the outposts. Their blood mixed with the blue sea, their bones soaked into the island, their names will be remembered forever by today's and future generations."

No one is forgotten and no one should be forgotten...

The historical event of Gac Ma has fully and clearly demonstrated the qualities of steadfast revolutionary soldiers, the excellent sons of the country, ready to sacrifice themselves, not retreating, determined to use their blood to protect the sacred islands of the Fatherland.

The 64 soldiers who protected Gac Ma Island put aside their dreams and ambitions and devoted their youth to protecting the outposts. Their blood mixed with the blue sea, their bones soaked into the island, their names will be remembered forever by today's and future generations.

"No one is forgotten and no one is allowed to forget." That is what the Gac Ma veterans have always reminded themselves and their comrades over the years.

The delegation of the Naval Region 4 Command and the Central Youth Union offered incense at the memorial for soldiers who died on Gac Ma Island. (Photo: VNA)

Now, every ship going to Truong Sa performs the flower-dropping ceremony to commemorate the martyrs who fell in the battle on March 14, 1988.

From silver hair to green hair; from those who fought and died in two resistance wars to young people who have never worn a soldier's uniform; from those who survived the sea and islands to those who came here for the first time, all could not hold back their tears when burning incense to commemorate the martyrs.

The memorial ceremony contained both sadness and pride. But wrapped up in it all was a gesture of gratitude, an affirmation that no one would forget the epic Gac Ma incident, no one would forget the soldiers who steadfastly protected a sacred part of the Fatherland’s territory in the East Sea.

Gac Ma soldiers memorial site in Cam Hai Dong commune, Cam Lam district, Khanh Hoa province. (Photo: VNA)

Overcoming losses and sacrifices... the next generation follows their fathers, ready to accept the mission of going to Truong Sa to protect the country's sea and islands, as in the poem "Spring Song" by poet To Huu: "The previous generation, the next generation/Have become comrades in the same march." The succession never stops...

36 years have passed, 64 brave Navy officers and soldiers still lie under the sea of ​​the Fatherland. After many years, the Gac Ma Soldiers Memorial was built in Cam Hai Dong Commune, Cam Lam District, Khanh Hoa Province to forever engrave and remember the soldiers who fell here.

The project started construction in March 2015 and was completed in July 2017, with a total cost of more than 130 billion VND from contributions from union members and people nationwide.

Here is the "Gac Ma Soldiers" monument, over 15 meters high, with the theme "Those who lie on the horizon," inspired by the image of 64 soldiers holding hands determined to protect the national flag, affirming Vietnam's sovereignty at Gac Ma island on March 14, 1988...

Panoramic view of Gac Ma Memorial Area, Cam Lam District, Khanh Hoa Province - a red address to pay tribute and commemorate 64 Gac Ma soldiers who sacrificed their lives to protect the sacred sovereignty of the sea and islands. (Photo: VNA)

During these days of March, the Gac Ma memorial site has been continuously visited by groups of visitors, students, and relatives of Gac Ma martyrs offering incense. On average, each month there are about 4,000-5,000 visitors and pilgrims; the peak months of March, July, and December increase to 6,000-7,000 visitors/month.

From the memorial site looking out to sea, the children of Vietnam silently send their gratitude to the brave soldiers, the children who heroically sacrificed their youth and lives for the sacred sovereignty of the sea and islands of the Fatherland. This is also a red address to educate the revolutionary tradition to today's young generation.

According to VNA

Source: https://baothanhhoa.vn/thoi-su/36-nam-su-kien-gac-ma-tuong-dai-bat-tu-ve-tinh-yeu-to-quoc/208990.htm