Vitality of soldiers on Truong Sa archipelago

No matter whether it’s during peacetime or wartime, coast guards and fishermen have always expressed their love and responsibility for national sovereignty. Truong Sa (Spratly) archipelago is now bursting with vitality of the young soldiers there, who spend their days and nights protecting the country’s seas and islands.

Truong Sa soldiers (Photo credit: Tran Thanh)
Truong Sa soldiers (Photo credit: Tran Thanh)

Hoang Tuyen, a solider from the southern region, is nicknamed as the “painter” of Truong Sa Lon island. During his spare time, Tuyen collects dried leaves and sea shells to practice calligraphy on their surfaces. When he is not on duty, Tuyen is always willing to help his companions.

Hanoi-based soldier Nguyen Trung Hieu is known for being portrayed in a photo entitled ‘Nu Cuoi Chien Si’ (Smile of a soldier), which has been put on display at many exhibitions. After returning from his army service, Hieu has a diversity of jobs such as a postman and cook.

The photographer who took the picture of Nguyen Trung Hieu is engineer Tran Thanh, Head of the Youth Club for Homeland Sea and Islands. The club has implemented many programmes targeting Truong Sa archipelago and the DK1 platform.

Before Tet (lunar New Year) festival came, the club had brought kumquat trees, fresh flowers, and fruit jams to the islands to help soldiers there prepare for Tet.

In spring, their trips to the islands often include packs of vegetables and fruit seeds and trees. The presents turn into sau – a famous fruit originating from Hanoi which is known scientifically as Dracontomelon duperreanum, as well as ‘giang’ leaves from Binh Dinh province, and coconuts during the summer months.

On the occasion of International Children Day (June 1) and Mid-autumn Festival, the club members deliver gifts to children on the islands as well as on the mainland whose fathers are stationed on Truong Sa.

Tran Thanh is also the inventor of a machine which can turn seawater into drinking water. His machines have been effectively in operation across islands on Truong Sa archipelago, contributing to improving the life of both soldiers and islanders.

Engineer Tran Thanh (R) presents gifts to teachers and students on Sinh Ton island (Photo credit: Tran Thanh)

During his voluntary job at the club, Thanh gets caught up in many emotional moments. One of them took place when his club hosted a Mid-autumn celebration for children in Cam Ranh city, Khanh Hoa province, whose fathers are station on Truong Sa and DK1 platform.

Another unforgettable memory of his was recorded when Thanh carried 1,000 star-shaped lanterns to a school in Hanoi, asking for help from the students there to write down 1,000 wishes for their friends who would not be accompanied by their fathers who are soldiers on the first day of the new school year because of their duty on Truong Sa.

His sincerity and kind heart has made Thanh become a companion of Truong Sa officers and soldiers. Many of them have asked for support from Thanh and his club when his relatives were not well or passed away as they can’t manage to get back home during those troubling times.

Tran Thanh is now working with his club members to complete the installation of water purifiers for Truong Sa 12 vessel and An Bang island, where the geographic conditions are so tough that it is difficult to set up and operate mental machines on it.

There are many other people like Tran Thanh who are silently working side by side with soldiers, transporting gifts carrying the hearts and sentiments of mainlanders to the country’s sea and islands. They consider the soldiers as their relatives, and the soldiers call them their companions.