Hanoi (VNA) - Officers and soldiers stationed on Len Dao island in Truong Sa remain steadfast with determination, an unwavering spirit, and perseverance to firmly safeguard the sea and island sovereignty in all situations.
The March 14, 1988 event on Gac Ma island is "The tragic and heroic song." Sixty-four officers and soldiers along with three ships were lost at sea, forever in the minds of every Vietnamese person today, and in future generations.
Deserving Uncle Ho's soldiers
In the middle of the vast sea, a solid, towering house emerges on Len Dao Island, right next to Gac Ma island illegally occupied by China.
Len Dao island is 313 nautical miles from Cam Ranh peninsula, 6.5 nautical miles southeast of Sinh Ton island, 6.4 nautical miles east of Co Lin island and 5.5 nautical miles northeast of Gac Ma island.
Officers and soldiers stationed on Len Dao island in Truong Sa always affirm their steadfast determination, unwavering spirit, and perseverance to firmly safeguard the national sea and island sovereignty in all situations.
Senior Lieutenant Nguyen Minh Duc, Commander of Len Dao island, said that in 2024, the situation in the waters of Truong Sa is complicated, with many unpredictable factors. Despite being stationed far from the mainland, officers and soldiers grasp the Party's resolutions and directives, strengthen internal solidarity, and overcome difficulties, thus fulfilling assigned political tasks.
“In addition, officers and soldiers on the island are always ready to help and rescue fishermen, and step up the studying and following of President Ho Chi Minh's ideology, morality, and style, deserving the title of Uncle Ho’s soldiers and a naval soldier of the new era,” he affirmed.
In addition, they stand firm amid the harsh weather conditions and the scarcity of fresh water, he added.
Love and appreciation
The soldiers said that the island was formed on a round, relatively flat floating coral reef which is about 1.7 nautical miles in diameter. At low tide, the coral beach rises about 0.5m and at high tide, it is about 1.8m under water. The ground here is mainly sand and coral rock.
The special thing is that the coral sandbank takes a permanent house as its centre and rotates around it in a year. The officers and soldiers on the island shared that in March and April, when the Northeast monsoon comes, the sandbank will move to the southwest of the island. At high tide, there is a time when the sandbar forms a map of Vietnam. During the Southwest monsoon season, the sandbank moves to the northeast of the island.
A sturdy house was built on the island in early 1988. At that time, the situation on Truong Sa became increasingly complicated, and the need to protect Len Dao island was more and more urgent. Implementing the direction of the Navy Command, Colonel Le Van Thu, Commander of Naval Region 4, directly commanded the forces to build houses on the island. On July 9, 1988, the house was completed and handed over to Len Dao officers and soldiers for protection.
Nguyen Cong Son, 24, who lives in the Republic of Korea, said he was very moved when setting foot on the island, meeting the young soldiers and especially joining their activities.
“Looking at their simple items, I admire them very much. I was filled with emotion when I witnessed the determination and iron spirit of the naval soldiers on the island," Son said.
Son said that as a Vietnamese citizen have taken the island trip, he wants to contribute more to his society and homeland. “I will participate more in activities of Vietnamese people in the RoK, promote information, images, and the lives of officers and soldiers on islands to young people and international friends,” he said.
“Coming to the island, I met very young, extremely innocent soldiers aged 19 and 20. But, they carry with them a huge responsibility. They must firmly hold guns to protect a sacred sea and island of the Fatherland,” said Tran Diem Bao Chau, an overseas Vietnamese working for Google Singapore.
“The Vietnamese people, including the OV communities around the world, have sent their love and material support to Truong Sa," she added./.
