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| Young soldiers before departing for offshore mission. |
The delegations departed from the military port of its Brigade 171 in Vung Tau city, the southern province of Ba Ria-Vung Tau, on January 14, taking Lunar New Year (Tet) gifts to 15 DK1 platforms and Con Dao district on Vietnam’ southern continental shelf.
Vessels with tons of gifts and essential goods delivered to personnel at offshore economic, scientific, and technical service stations, known as DK1 platforms, and in Con Dao island district.
The gifts include fresh food such as poultry and vegetables, confectionery, as well as glutinous rice, “dong” leaves, and mung beans, for making “chung” cakes - a traditional dish at Tet. Branches of apricot and peach blossom buds, which are symbols of Tet, are also onboard.
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| Sergeant Pham Ngoc Khanh expresses his delight over the upcoming mission. |
Colonel Nguyen Anh Tuan, Commander of the Naval Region 2 offered flowers to heads of the delegations. He emphasized that the gifts represented the Party, State, army and navy’s attention, along with the sentiment of people nationwide towards forces performing their duties on the country’s seas and islands.
The delegation spends a total of 12 hard days between January 14 and January 25 attempting to reach four DK1 platforms. Whilst DK1/15 platform couldn’t be reached due to dangerous conditions, best wishes for the New Year were sent to soldiers through the information system.
“Nervous and proud” were the feelings of Sergeant Pham Ngoc Khanh, a young soldier from Ninh Binh, before departing the mainland for Platform DK1. Khanh said “feeling homesick” was inevitable, however, the mission was the chance for him to devote his youth and enthusiasm.
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| Major Nguyen Van Linh bids farewell to his beloved family. |
Khanh’s father, Pham Van Quang, used to be a soldier serving in Gac Ma island, he added. Khanh, used to be an IT student at Khanh Hoa University, joined the Navy to follow the family’s tradition and to train himself through difficulties.
Major Nguyen Van Linh, a soldier from Nghe An, also joined the delegation. This was the 6th time he bid farewell to his beloved wife and children to depart for the mission on DK1/7 platforms. This time, he still could not hold his tears.
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Separation seems to be a “common sense” with Hang, Linh’s wife. Hang expressed her firm belief that they might be away from each other this Tet but they would be together next year.
Senior Lieutenant Hoang Ngoc Son, who has served in the military for 16 years, said that it is an honor and also a noble responsibility for him to help protect the Fatherland’s sacred sovereignty and continental shelf.
