Overcoming rough waves, visiting soldiers on An Bang island

An Bang - the southernmost island of the Truong Sa archipelago, is famous for its fierce waves. The journey to An Bang island can be dangerous if you are careless and lack concentration, but once you overcome the challenge, everyone will always remember the gentle and friendly An Bang.

An Bang Island officers and soldiers wave goodbye to delegates. Photo: MINH ANH

Overcoming the waves to visit An Bang The waves lifted the 571 ship up and down. I could feel each wave hitting the side of the ship. I couldn't remember how many days today the 13th Working Group had been through the waves and wind to visit Truong Sa, but I knew that tomorrow we would visit An Bang Island. At 5am, the alarm clock woke up the whole room D2. I tried to stay in bed because I couldn't sleep last night, but then I was pulled up by excitement. "I can't miss the visit to An Bang Island because of seasickness" - I thought to myself. The weather changed, the waves were big and it was raining, so the delegation limited their movement to the island. The 571 ship was anchored about 1 nautical mile from An Bang Island. Quickly putting on a raincoat, I followed the corridor down to the boat that was moored close to the side of the ship. The boat was as small as a leaf, approaching the ship in the pounding waves. The waves rose up, then pressed down, as if wanting to push the boat into the sea. On the boat in a state of constant rocking, the soldiers had to concentrate, both to maintain balance and quickly assist people getting on and off and transporting goods. The shouts of caution drowned out the sound of the engine and the waves crashing against the ship's side: "Pay attention to your steps... hold my hand. Get off now...". "Don't put your hands out...". The weather was not favorable and didn't wait for anyone, so everyone was busy and urgent. As soon as I settled down, I looked around and realized that many people's faces were dark with seasickness. To get to An Bang Island, the boat transporting the working group had to be towed by another motorboat. When getting off the boat, when it got close to the sandbank, it would suddenly turn so that the transport boat would rush to the shore by inertia. This was a feature that only An Bang had because the pier here was broken, the only way up was the sandbank. In the midst of seasickness, I vaguely heard a comrade shout: "Everyone hold on tight, there have been cases where the transport boat capsized when approaching the shore". The island was right in front of us, but the boat of the working group had not reached the shore. A big wave rolled up and stood right in front of us, challenging our boat to rush forward. With one hand holding my friend tightly, the other holding my camera tightly, I gritted my teeth, my feet pinned to the floor in a stance, mentally preparing to respond to the challenge. Then the boat rushed forward, cutting through the waves, rising high and then immediately sinking down. After 2-3 waves, I thought I could not stand it anymore. "I'm going to throw up" - I said through gritted teeth. An Bang is an island with the characteristics, climate and hydrology of the Truong Sa archipelago. The weather here is harsh, with a lot of hot sun but also many days of big storms. From afar, our group saw a platoon waiting to welcome us, I was happy, just waiting for the moment to set foot on the island. As soon as the boat approached the sandbank, a sailor threw a rope towards the island. The soldiers on the island rushed forward, grabbed the rope tightly and tried to pull it towards the shore. The soldiers helped people and goods get into the boat very urgently. After more than half an hour to reach the island, overcoming the challenge, I felt relieved when I saw the welcoming smiles of the soldiers on the island.

Due to the difficult terrain, the island mobilized a large force of officers and soldiers to pull the boat to shore when the working group visited. Officers and soldiers of An Bang island supported the working group to reach the shore. Photo: Minh Anh

Author Minh Anh on the voyage to Truong Sa.

An Bang rises from the sea, golden in the sun and wind

After seasickness and a series of challenges, An Bang in me suddenly became strangely gentle. The smell of the ocean, the smell of grass and trees, and the smell of the rooms immersed me in a series of emotions. Both familiar and extremely impressive.

Despite having to endure the disadvantages of nature with storms and hurricanes, but amidst the blue of the ocean, the clouds and sky, An Bang is still gently beautiful with the lush green of the square banyan and many types of plants grown on the island. In addition, at the foot of the island there is also a coral sandbank that moves seasonally around the island. A soldier quickly introduced to me that when the sandbank runs all the way around, it will be exactly a year...

Seeing the working group was completely wet, a comrade approached and invited us to have hot tea, and arranged an electric fan to help us dry our clothes. When asked, we learned that An Bang lacked everything, the current running through the small fan was also the source of electricity that the officers and soldiers on the island had saved. Because of the hospitality and respect for the working group's feelings, the officers and soldiers all gave us the best treatment.

Although their material life is lacking, the mindset of the officers and soldiers on An Bang island is always determined to be ready for the task of fighting and protecting the sacred sovereignty of the Fatherland. Talking about the work of taking care of the lives of officers and soldiers on the island, Captain Phan Van Anh - Political Commissar of An Bang island said that in addition to receiving monthly and quarterly supplies from all levels, officers and soldiers on An Bang island also grow vegetables to create food for their daily lives. The varieties of plants grown on the island also come from seeds that working groups give to officers and soldiers on the island.

We only stayed on the island for an hour. After saying goodbye to the soldiers, we followed the small concrete road back to the sandbank to wait for the transport boat to return.

A comrade saw my face drooping and asked kindly: "Why are you so sad? Are you still seasick?". I smiled and replied: "No, I love An Bang island so much that I want to stay with you guys longer." Through the conversation, the soldiers enthusiastically made an appointment to meet us again one day, and one soldier joked that I could stay forever. Indeed, it is very difficult to forget the bright smiles of the young and strong men at sea.

Getting on the boat, we headed back to ship HQ 571, the waves were still as fierce...

Amidst the blue of the ocean and the sky, An Bang is gently beautiful with the lush green of the banyan tree and many other plants grown on the island. Although their material life is lacking, the ideology of the cadres and soldiers of An Bang island is always determined to be ready for the task of fighting to protect the sacred sovereignty of the Fatherland.

Laodong.vn

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