Vitality of Truong Sa

The painful and heroic past has passed, countless generations of cadres, soldiers, soldiers and people of Truong Sa have devoted their blood and sweat to reclaim the island, turning the barren rocky islands of the past into Truong Sa today, lush and green, like an ecological park in the middle of the East Sea. Trees grow and flourish, miniature "cities" full of vitality rise strongly in the vast sea and sky. Truong Sa has gradually transformed itself, becoming the economic, cultural and social center at sea of the whole country, a solid fortress, protecting the sovereignty of the sea and islands of the Fatherland.

Flag-raising ceremony on Truong Sa island.

50 years after Liberation Day, with the attention and investment of the Party, the State, the Ministry of National Defense , the joint efforts of the central and local departments, ministries, branches, the people of the whole country and our overseas Vietnamese; together with the determination, creativity, and enthusiastic working spirit of the army and people on the island, the appearance of Truong Sa island today changes every day, becoming more spacious and beautiful. The proof of that change is the 150m long wharf like a strong, sturdy bare arm reaching out to welcome ships from the motherland overcoming thousands of storms to reach the beloved island.

The construction of defense works combined with civilian services such as airports, docks, television and satellite telephone stations, hydrometeorological stations, lighthouses, cultural works, medical centers, etc. has improved the lives of soldiers and people on the islands, contributing to the successful implementation of the Party and State's socio -economic development program on the seas and islands.

Lieutenant Colonel Can Ngoc Son, Commander of Truong Sa Island and Chairman of Truong Sa Town People's Committee, told me that April in Truong Sa is a very special time and is considered by everyone here as a "festival month", when the army and people on the island welcome many working delegations from the mainland to visit, inspect and exchange with the people on the island. Perhaps the most unforgettable image for Lieutenant Colonel Can Ngoc Son, who has been attached to Truong Sa for many years, is when the delegations set foot on the islands, the eyes, smiles and handshakes of the working delegation members with the army and people on the island are very affectionate, full of humanity, full of military-civilian solidarity. That image demonstrates the spirit of patriotism and unanimity in protecting sovereignty on Truong Sa.

Soldiers patrol on Truong Sa island.

Coming to Truong Sa, you will see the guest house projects sponsored by the Party Committee, government and people of Hanoi Capital, the football field donated by the Party Committee, government and people of Hoa Binh province, the Uncle Ho memorial house built by Nghe An province, the monument to heroic martyrs, Truong Sa pagoda, the traditional room, the school, which is a place for cultural exchange activities and traditional education for the army and people of Truong Sa town. "Currently, the cultural and spiritual life of the army and people on the island is quite well guaranteed. 100% of households and military units are equipped with televisions, satellite signal reception systems; modern digital karaoke systems are equipped to combat clusters. On the island, there is a reading room with nearly 4,800 books and 28 newspapers of all kinds, and a legal bookcase" - Lieutenant Colonel Can Ngoc Son said.

As someone who regularly works long hours at sea, Lieutenant Colonel Nguyen Khanh Hai, Captain of Ship 015-Tran Hung Dao, Brigade 162, Naval Region 4, confided very honestly, he spoke to me with overflowing emotions: “Protecting the sovereignty of the sea and islands is the responsibility and passion of every Vietnamese citizen, for me and my teammates as well. This is the motivation for us to overcome all difficulties and obstacles in our work, strive to complete our tasks well, and be a support for fishermen to go offshore and stick to the sea.”

Love in the middle of the ocean

On Truong Sa island district, there are currently many investment in medical centers, military and civilian medical clinics with many modern medical equipment by medical staff and doctors from hospitals in the Army. This is a good condition that plays an important role in the work of regular and timely health care and protection, creating more trust and motivation for officers, soldiers and people to feel secure to stay on the island and the sea, contributing practically to maintaining the sacred sovereignty of the sea and islands of the Fatherland.

Military-civilian relations in Truong Sa.

At Song Tu Tay Island Infirmary, Major, Doctor Nguyen Xuan Tung, Head of the Infirmary, said: The military medical team on the island is made up of medical staff from the 108 Military Central Hospital, with doctors, nurses, and nurses specializing in internal medicine and surgery. The mission is to ensure the health, examine, and treat officers, soldiers, people, forces on duty on the island, and fishermen who go to the Truong Sa sea area to fish. In 2024 and the first 3 months of 2025, Song Tu Tay Island military medical staff examined and treated 177 fishermen, providing medical support worth nearly 112 million VND.

The work of the military medical team seems simple over time, but there are cases that if not admitted, diagnosed, and treated promptly will affect the patient's life. Doctor Tung recalled: "On May 5, 2024, Song Tu Tay Island Infirmary simultaneously admitted two fishermen, La Thanh Loi and Tran Minh Hai, for emergency treatment. Patient La Thanh Loi, born in 1983, from Binh Dinh, was transferred to the Infirmary with a diagnosis of peritonitis due to ruptured appendicitis. Immediately after receiving the patient, the team of doctors and nurses on the island urgently prepared and performed appendectomy surgery, washed and drained the abdominal cavity. The timely surgery helped the patient escape the critical condition. After surgery, the patient was stable, alert, and was resuscitated, monitored, and cared for at the Infirmary."

Meet Truong Sa.

Fisherman La Thanh Loi shared: “We often go to Truong Sa sea to catch seafood. The Navy not only takes care of our health, examines and treats illnesses, but also helps fishermen to safely take shelter from storms, promptly repairs damage, and supplies food, fuel, ice... at the same price as on the mainland, which is very convenient for fishermen to stay at sea for a long time. We feel very secure when going out to sea to catch seafood in this sea area.”

April is also a favorable time for the whole country to turn to Truong Sa with the most sincere feelings. From the hastily written letters of students from all over the country to the soldiers of Truong Sa. Then the gift packages that mothers and wives hurriedly go shopping for and ask their comrades to deliver to their children and husbands. The gifts are simple but carry the whole sky of longing from the mainland to the distant island... All of these things have created a very unique and special feature for Truong Sa, blending with the waves of Truong Sa filled with the warmth from all over the country.

Article and photos: DUY KHANH

    Source: https://www.qdnd.vn/quoc-phong-an-ninh/xay-dung-quan-doi/vung-vang-va-nghia-tinh-giua-trung-khoi-to-quoc-824604