The June sun was scorching. The sea became a giant mirror reflecting the intense sunlight. The ship sped across the waves, carrying the delegation from the Trade Union of Block 3, National Defense Trade Union, to the construction site of Enterprise 54, Thanh An 96 Construction Joint Stock Company, 11th Army Corps, which was working day and night on the island. The sounds of welding and cutting machines mingled with the sound of the waves, creating a bustling atmosphere at the construction site.

Mr. Pham Cong Truong, the project commander, along with other officials and engineers, are checking the technical specifications of the various components. Concrete pillars have emerged from the sea, and dozens of workers from Enterprise 54 are diligently installing, cutting, and welding surface details of the structure in preparation for the next concrete pouring.

With sweat dripping from his face, Mr. Truong said: "Construction on the island is very complex. All materials have to be transported from the mainland. The weather is harsh, and the unit has to race against time, taking advantage of low tides to focus on construction, driving iron piles tens of meters long underwater to serve as foundations, and installing the concrete pouring system. The unit commander has to closely monitor the construction, organize overtime, and on some days, the workers work from night until the next morning. During the construction process, there were times when the deadline was tight, and the factory and company provided additional equipment and reinforced the workforce from the mainland to ensure the work was completed."

Colonel Vu Van Diem, Secretary of the Party Committee and Deputy Commander of the 11th Army Corps, and Colonel Nguyen Dinh Duc, Head of the National Defense Trade Union Committee, inspected the construction work and visited and encouraged union members and workers at the construction site in Ly Son island district, Quang Ngai province.

Present at the construction site to inspect the unit's production activities, Colonel Vu Van Diem, Party Secretary and Deputy Commander of the 11th Army Corps, was very pleased to witness the enthusiastic spirit and dedication of the unit's officers and workers. He stated that Thanh An 96 Construction Joint Stock Company is a defense -economic unit under the 11th Army Corps with a very diverse business model, mainly focusing on the construction of civil, industrial, transportation, irrigation, hydroelectric, dike, dam, port, industrial park infrastructure, and urban areas. For many years, the company has been entrusted by the Party Committee and the Command of the Army Corps with the task of constructing key projects on the coastal and island routes, border areas, and remote regions throughout the country.

Specifically for Ly Son island district, Quang Ngai province, since 2003, the company has participated in the construction of dozens of important projects, including 7 projects that have been completed and handed over for use, ensuring good quality, on schedule, and with absolute safety. Throughout the production process, the unit has taken good care of the working conditions and lives of its staff, union members, and workers, thereby creating positive motivation for everyone to feel secure and committed to building civil and defense projects, making a significant contribution to the task of building the homeland's islands and creating favorable conditions for the socio-economic development of the localities.

Officers and engineers from Enterprise 54, Thanh An 96 Company, inspect the technical parameters of the construction project in preparation for concrete pouring for various items.

Serving on the border or in remote islands far from the mainland, the soldiers of Thanh An 96, Brigade 11, always know how to take care of the spiritual and material well-being of their comrades, ensuring they can focus on the project and maintain good health to complete the high-intensity workload under harsh weather conditions. This is also the sentiment of Mr. Tran Van Khoan, in charge of Party and political work for the unit on the island. He said that many officers, engineers, and workers have been working on Ly Son Island for the past 3 to 10 years; they are accustomed to the rough seas and know the tides by heart.

Despite the project being far from the mainland, the unit always receives attention from the enterprise and company leaders and commanders to effectively implement Party and political work activities. Even on days when the sea is rough and construction is impossible, the teams organize political education sessions for workers to raise their awareness. The unit also promotes the role of mass organizations and trade unions in registering and participating in labor emulation movements. Stationed on the island, the soldiers and workers of Thanh An 96, Brigade 11, diligently cultivate close relationships with the local Party committee and government.

In addition to visiting and giving gifts to families receiving preferential treatment and poor students from fishing families who have overcome difficulties and excelled in their studies, even during the days following the sea storms, despite the extremely tight construction schedule, the unit still dedicated dozens of man-days to helping the local government and people overcome the consequences and stabilize the lives of the fishermen. Thanks to this, the unit always received support from the local authorities and other units during its work on the island. Most of the unit's officers, union members, and workers felt secure and highly determined to complete their tasks.

The delegation from the Trade Union of Block III, National Defense Trade Union, visited and encouraged workers at the construction site.

These days, the entire unit is focusing its efforts on completing the final and most difficult items to ensure the project is ready for handover and commissioning. The officers, union members, and workers of Thanh An 96 are delighted to welcome the delegation from the Block 3 Trade Union and the National Defense Trade Union to the island for a visit and encouragement. Beyond the thoughtful gifts from the mainland and the warm handshakes, witnessing the spirit and determination of the workers on the project, the delegation felt admiration and affection for the soldier-workers. From the harbor and pier to the community roads encircling the island, like outstretched hands protecting and sheltering the people, these are the fruits of thousands of days and nights of labor by the workers of Thanh An 96.

Colonel Nguyen Dinh Duc, Head of the National Defense Trade Union Committee, said that the attention of leaders and commanders has created favorable conditions for the unit's trade union to play a pioneering role in labor and production, ensuring absolute safety, maintaining strict discipline, and doing a good job of mass mobilization in the area.

From the high point of Thoi Loi Freshwater Lake, a panoramic view of the sea unfolds, revealing an endless expanse of blue, along with the construction projects of the soldier-workers of Thanh An 96 Company, 11th Army Corps. Countless days of hard labor, countless hours of sweat and effort have been poured into building these sturdy structures, firmly protecting the peace and security of this frontier island. From Ly Son Island, Quang Ngai today, fishing boats head out to sea, catching seafood to bring prosperity to their homeland, and together with the rest of the country, firmly protecting the sacred sovereignty of the nation's seas and islands.  

Text and photos: TRAN THONG