In mid-November, the 125th Brigade’s KN 290 ship departed, bringing a delegation of officials, soldiers, and civilians from the Navy and Ho Chi Minh City to the southwestern sea of the Fatherland. Throughout the more than 1,000 nautical miles of the journey, the weather challenges and lifestyle changes did not dampen the group's enthusiasm. Instead, they were eager and excited. This was the spirit of those visiting the island for the first time, setting foot on the DK1 platforms in the middle of the vast sea of their homeland.
Increasing love for the Homeland’s islands
After more than a day of enduring heavy rains and rough seas, the journey of over 200 delegates brought warmth and deep gratitude from the mainland to Hon Khoai Island. The Hon Khoai archipelago is located in Tan An Commune, Ngoc Hien District, Ca Mau Province, about 14 km from the mainland. The island is home to four groups performing tasks: Radar Station 595, Border Guard Station, Lighthouse Station, and Forestry Station.
Captain Bui Ngoc Dinh, the political officer of Radar Station 595, shared that despite the island’s difficulties, the young soldiers here are determined to overcome hardships, guarding the sea day and night to complete their mission of protecting the sovereignty of the islands and contributing to maintaining security in the southwestern waters.
On behalf of the delegation, Nguyen Phuoc Loc, Deputy Secretary of the Ho Chi Minh City Party Committee and Chairman of the Ho Chi Minh City Fatherland Front Committee, and other members of the delegation presented practical gifts, including machinery, equipment, living necessities, water filtration systems, and a Ho Chi Minh cultural space, as well as first-aid procedures and specialised medicine to the military doctors at Radar Station 595.
The DK1/10 platform was likely the most emotional stop for the delegates during their trip. That morning, as the KN 290 ship anchored near the platform, the waiting time for the transfer boat to the platform created a unique feeling for everyone.
The weather was unfavourable, with strong waves hitting the platform’s base, causing multiple attempts to approach the ladder. It took over an hour to complete the process of delivering people and gifts to the platform. The image of the young soldiers bravely staying on the platform amidst the vast sea left a deep impression on each delegation member. Their silent sacrifices and courageous spirit served as inspiration, motivating those visiting for the first time.
At 20 years old, soldier Nguyen Tan Giau, a native of Ho Chi Minh City, had spent two years stationed on this platform. Overcoming homesickness and loneliness in the beginning, with the love and shared experiences from his comrades and the discipline of the unit, Giau had matured far beyond who he was two years ago. “I am proud to carry out my mission in the sea and sky of the Fatherland. Working here gives me experiences and lessons that are hard to gain in normal circumstances,” Giau said.
Despite only having an hour together, the soldiers could not hide their special emotions when meeting the representatives from the mainland. In addition to the gifts and the affection sent from the mainland, everyone gathered together, singing for one another. The cramped space did not affect the strong connections as they sang together under the sky of the Fatherland. As they said their goodbyes at the base of the platform’s ladder, many tears fell. The heartfelt hugs were an especially meaningful gesture of thanks and gratitude for the soldiers who had stayed strong on this remote platform.
A journey of connection and love
The delegation continued their journey to Tho Chu Island, located farthest from the mainland in the southwestern part of Kien Giang Province. Many members were moved by the changes on the island. The living conditions of the people had improved, with many new cultural buildings and infrastructure projects, some of which were funded by the youth and people of Ho Chi Minh City. The delegation then visited and encouraged the soldiers and civilians on Hon Chuoi Island, Nam Du Island, Hon Doc Island, Phu Quoc Island, and Con Dao Island.
For Con Dao, where many delegates had been before, every visit evoked special emotions, not only because it was a sacred land with historical significance but also because it was the “revolutionary school” where generations of communist soldiers were trained. In the face of numerous hardships, those revolutionary soldiers turned the prison into a place for cultivating revolutionary ideals and building resilience.
The journey to the southwestern islands concluded, but the images of the naval soldiers enduring on the platforms to protect the sovereignty of the Fatherland’s sea, the innocent smiles of children on the distant islands, the warm handshakes, and the heartfelt greetings of the people left deep impressions in everyone’s minds. The trip was not only a journey to connect love and share but also ignited a flame of national pride, fostering a sense of responsibility toward the country’s islands.
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Leaders of the Ho Chi Minh City Navy visit officers and soldiers working on Hon Chuoi Island. |
One highlight of this trip was the effort to connect the city’s frontline medical units to organise training, provide medical materials, first-aid procedures, and cultural products for the soldiers on the islands, as well as provide educational materials for the schools and plant trees on the islands.
Nguyen Phuoc Loc noted that in recent years, Ho Chi Minh City has implemented many programmes such as 'For beloved islands, for the frontline of the Fatherland', 'Together we light up the DK1/10 platform', 'Together with fishermen to light the lamps at sea', and 'Contribute stones to build Truong Sa’. Through these initiatives, the people of the city hope to provide better conditions for the soldiers, civilians, and people on the islands, ensuring they can confidently complete their tasks of protecting the sovereignty of the Fatherland’s sacred sea and islands.
