Celebrating the Lunar New Year at the DK1 offshore platforms.

As is customary, every year during the Lunar New Year season, the 2nd Naval Region organizes a delegation to visit and extend New Year greetings to officers and soldiers serving on the DK1 offshore platforms and to the military and civilians of Con Dao district, Ba Ria-Vung Tau province. This year is no different; ships carrying the sentiments of the military and people nationwide from the mainland continue to deliver goods and essential supplies for the 2024 Lunar New Year to the soldiers on the DK1 offshore platforms.

Officers and soldiers of the DK1 Battalion, Naval Region 2, transfer Tet gifts to the ships for the officers and soldiers at the DK1 offshore platform.

This year, Tet gifts for the DK1 offshore platforms were meticulously prepared by officers and soldiers of the DK1 Battalion, Region 2 of the Navy, before the ships departed. This year's Tet gifts included a variety of items such as tea, jam, sticky rice, banana leaves, mung beans, noodles, vermicelli, gourds, pumpkins, onions, garlic, candies, toothpaste, shampoo... In particular, kumquat trees, symbolizing the Tet spirit, were also brought onto the ship's deck to be delivered to the officers and soldiers at the DK1 platforms. Everything was carefully packaged and loaded onto the two ships, Truong Sa 04 and Truong Sa 16, belonging to Brigade 125, Region 2 of the Navy, for transport to the platforms. Lieutenant Colonel Trinh Van Nghi, Deputy Political Officer of the DK1 Battalion, said: "The battalion used sacks, cardboard boxes, and plastic bags to carefully wrap and package all the goods and gifts." Simultaneously, the unit organized a coordinated force of officers and soldiers on the two ships, Truong Sa 04 and Truong Sa 16, to load and unload goods neatly and safely; inspection and verification were carried out strictly and in accordance with the Regional Command's directives. On each voyage, the unit assigned personnel to participate in the working group to assist in transferring gifts and supplies, avoiding any confusion or omissions in the soldiers' entitlements. The two ships, Truong Sa 04 and Truong Sa 16, sounded their horns as they left the port and set sail, carrying Tet gifts and the sentiments of the mainland to the officers and soldiers at the forefront of the waves. After nearly two days and nights battling rough seas, the DK1 platforms on the southern continental shelf of the Fatherland gradually appeared before their eyes. Due to sea conditions exceeding level 6, for more than half of the journey, the Truong Sa 04 ship only transferred gifts to the platforms using ropes, and representatives of the working group extended Tet greetings to the soldiers via radio. With years of experience operating at sea, the officers and soldiers on the Truong Sa 04 commanded the ship to approach the offshore platforms. Once the ship was in a favorable position, coordination between the ship and the platforms ensured the rapid transfer of gifts to the platforms. Speaking about the experience of bringing delegations to visit and work at the DK1 platform, Major Tran Van Hai, Captain of the Truong Sa 04, shared: To ensure the safe approach of the platform, in addition to good coordination between the various departments on board, the ship's commander must quickly handle situations such as securing the ship with ropes, navigating currents to prevent the ship from shaking, drifting, or colliding with the platform; and continuously observing to command the forces to seize opportunities to quickly transfer goods to the platform. After each gift transfer, Colonel Tran Hong Hai, Deputy Political Commissar of Region 2, would be present in the ship's command room to extend New Year greetings via radio. “Every year when Tet (Lunar New Year) arrives, the delegation from the Command of Naval Region 2 visits and delivers gifts to the officers and soldiers of the unit. Due to rough seas and strong winds, the delegation could not reach the offshore platforms, so they had to send New Year greetings via radio,” Colonel Hong Hai said. Amidst the vast ocean and fierce waves, Colonel Tran Hong Hai's voice trembled with emotion: “Comrades, please uphold the spirit of courage and selfless dedication and sacrifice for the Fatherland to excellently fulfill your duties. I wish you a happy new year without forgetting your duty to firmly protect the sacred sovereignty of Vietnam's seas and islands…” In response to the New Year greetings from the Head of the delegation, the commanders of the offshore platforms all pledged to celebrate the New Year with absolute safety and high combat readiness to firmly protect the sovereignty of the seas and islands. Due to rough seas, high waves, and strong winds, the Trường Sa 04 ship could only deliver Tet gifts to four offshore platforms: 1/15, 1/11, 1/14, and 1/12 using a rope; only at the DK1/10 platform could the delegation board, much to the joy of both guests and hosts. The delegation listened to reports from the platforms on the results of their tasks during the year and, especially, on the work they have been doing to prepare for the upcoming Tet celebrations. Upon receiving gifts from the mainland, the officers and soldiers of the DK1/10 platform quickly divided into groups to decorate for Tet according to local customs. Everyone smiled brightly and busied themselves with the work to complete everything in time for the early Tet celebration with the delegation. While working, I chatted with Corporal Nguyễn Tấn Giàu, a soldier at the DK1/10 platform. Giàu confided: "This is the first time I've celebrated Tet away from my family." Having just disembarked from the ship, I feel empty and miss my parents and family. But celebrating the Lunar New Year with my comrades here makes me feel honored and very responsible! My parents just called to encourage me and said they are very proud of me. I promise myself that I will strive to complete all tasks well so as not to disappoint my parents and family, and to live up to the heroic tradition of the DK1 unit. The atmosphere of celebrating the Lunar New Year early became more lively with activities such as making banh chung (traditional Vietnamese rice cakes) and cultural exchanges organized between the working group and the officers and soldiers on the offshore platforms. The officers and soldiers had the opportunity to showcase their culinary talents. Major Bui Van Tho, a professional military medical officer at the DK1/10 offshore platform, shared while making banh chung: "Every year I participate in making banh chung, both at home and at the unit. But perhaps making banh chung on the offshore platform leaves me with the most emotions. In the midst of material shortages, there is the warmth of camaraderie and fellowship." Each of us comes from a different place, but we are like one family, sharing love and joy to celebrate Tet and enjoy the Spring to the fullest. This will be an immense motivation and the most meaningful gift for us this New Year. We promise to celebrate the Spring safely, and be ready to fight to excellently complete our Tet duty at the frontline islands and seas. Farewell to DK1/10 platform, Truong Sa 04 ship and the working group have completed the mission of delivering Tet gifts to five platforms as planned and are making the journey back to the mainland, carrying with them the heavy hearts and countless memories of each member of the working group. We have faith in the courage, fighting spirit, and optimism of the officers and soldiers of DK1 platform. A new spring with many new victories will come to our homeland's islands and seas, and each DK1 platform will be a solid steel fortress to protect the sacred sovereignty of our nation's seas and islands.

Text and photos: Quang Tien

Nhandan.vn

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