Steadfast youth on southwestern sea

On the frontier islands of the southwest of the nation, the image of young officers and soldiers, many barely in their twenties, steadfastly fulfilling their duties to defend the nation’s maritime sovereignty has left lasting impressions on us. Their youth, devoted to the open seas, glows with the pride of bearing such a sacred responsibility in the skies and waters of their homeland.

Over time, each island has become a second home for these young soldiers, a home built upon the love and camaraderie of their comrades and the support of the people. Challenges that once seemed overwhelming, from the harsh working environment to difficult living conditions, have been met with resilience and adaptation.

From strangers to family

Now in his second year stationed at DK1/10 Platform, Sergeant Nguyen Van Giau is the youngest soldier in his unit, having just turned 21. Remembering his early days at this offshore platform, Giau recalls his homesickness and the profound sense of separation from his family.

It was his first time living so far from home for so long. Thanks to the support of his comrades, Giau quickly focused on mastering his professional duties to ensure he could fulfil all assigned tasks.

Today, Giau appears much more mature than when he first arrived. Impressively, he chose to enlist voluntarily while still a second-year student at a university in Ho Chi Minh City.

"The dream of experiencing military life drove me to volunteer for service while still studying. And so far, I have never once regretted that decision," Giau shared.

Every day, besides his official duties, Giau finds joy in joining his comrades in growing vegetables, reading, and participating in common activities of the unit.

“When I first set foot on this platform, I knew life here would be far tougher than on the mainland. But I don’t see it as a hardship, rather this place has given me invaluable lessons, helping me grow stronger and more mature,” he said.

Officials and people from Ho Chi Minh City exchange with officers and soldiers at DK1/10 Platform. (Photo: NDO)

At DK1/10 Platform, most of the officers and soldiers are very young such as Captain Nguyen Dinh Duc (born in 1990 in Ha Tinh), Commander; Major Le Dinh Tien (born in 1987), Political Commissar; and Captain Nguyen Cong Hieu (born in 1996 in Nam Dinh), Deputy Commander and Secretary of the Ho Chi Minh Communist Youth Union.

Despite being young, they have amassed considerable experience living and working at sea. Major Le Dinh Tien shared that in the military environment, everyone is fully aware of the hardships and dangers they must face, which fosters unity and an unwavering resolve to overcome challenges, remain stationed, and be ready to fight and sacrifice to defend the nation’s maritime sovereignty and continental shelf.

Similarly, new recruits such as Nguyen Trong Phu, stationed at Hon Khoai Island, have made tremendous efforts to adapt and excel after receiving tasks on the island.

Phu told us of his early difficulties. At home, he had never done tasks such as growing vegetables, cleaning, or cooking. Everything was strange and challenging for him at first. However, after training and living with his comrades, Phu has now mastered many of these skills.

New recruit Nguyen Trong Phu (left) and his comrade take care of the medicinal herb garden on Hon Khoai Island. (Photo: NDO)

Neatly aligned vegetable plots and a thriving medicinal herb garden, all nurtured by the young soldiers themselves, show their mature and resilience, despite the persistent hardships of life conditions on the island.

Captain Bui Ngoc Dinh, Political Commissar of Radar Station 595, said that Hon Khoai Island cluster, located in Tan An Commune, Ngoc Hien District, Ca Mau Province, often experiences harsh weather, thunderstorms, and lightning, which often directly hit the station area, posing a potential security risk. However, the officers and soldiers here have remained united and proactive in overcoming all difficulties.

Over the years, the unit has implemented effective measures to build strong political and ideological foundations, with 100% of officers and soldiers maintaining high morale and a clear sense of mission, particularly among the younger soldiers.

Understanding to further love the homeland’s seas and islands

Each island stop has brought profound emotions and moving images of the bond between soldiers and people. The image of young soldiers in their late teens and early twenties, full of vitality, left us with special emotions.

Tran Thu Ha, Deputy Secretary of the Ho Chi Minh City Youth Union, emphasised that each young person who visits these frontier islands and DK Platforms in the south of the nation gains the firsthand experience of the hardships and sacrifices of the soldiers stationed there.

Apart from their military duties, soldiers on Tho Chu Island actively engage in farming to improve their unit’s meals.

In recent years, Ho Chi Minh City's youths have launched numerous activities to raise awareness about sovereignty of the sea and islands among youths, students, and people of all walks of life.

“The young soldiers on duty on the island are deeply aware of the great contributions of previous generations, thus, they strive to better promote their roles and responsibilities in the current period. This is one of the valuable qualities of Uncle Ho's soldiers.”

Rear Admiral Le Ba Quan, Commander of the Naval Region 2

On his first trip to the frontier islands, Nguyen Nhat Bang, Permanent Deputy Secretary of the Youth Union at the University of Information Technology in Ho Chi Minh City, shared that witnessing the hardships and enduring spirit of the soldiers and islanders offered him invaluable lessons in courage and resilience.

These experiences inspired him to spread good values to the community and foster love for the homeland, the sea and islands, while reinforcing his sense of responsibility in daily life when returning the mainland.

With enthusiasm and admiration for young examples on the islands, in recent times, Nhat Bang has organised numerous activities and programmes at his university to promote patriotism and love for the sea, islands and the homeland among students.

The fruits of young soldiers' efforts on Hon Chuoi Island after patiently taking care of the bottle gourd trellis. (Photo: NDO)

Such efforts have significantly boosted the strength of the city's youth union movements, attracting increasing numbers of young people to participate in the "For Homeland Seas and Islands" and “For the frontline of the Fatherland” programmes of Ho Chi Minh City.

Rear Admiral Le Ba Quan praised the young officers and soldiers: "Despite their youth, they have shown remarkable bravery and steadfastness in the face of hardship, successfully completing every assigned task."

This affirms that today’s young generation on duties on the islands deeply understands and honours the sacrifices of their forefathers, thus making their best efforts to better promote their roles and responsibilities in the current period. That is one of the valuable qualities of Uncle Ho's soldiers.