A severe marine climate can stain and even damage materials and weapons,but cannot erode the spirit of Vietnamese naval soldiers, especiallythose who are defending the nation’s “live” sovereignty marker in thewaters, as evidenced in the marine defence platform DK1.
It isnot easy to visit DK1, one of the seven logistical and technicalservices stations in Vietnamese waters in the East Sea , which isfrequently hit by huge waves and high wind.
In such challengingweather conditions, many vessels to the marine platform have to anchorat a distance, greeting soldiers via walkie-talkie and conveying giftsto them by cable.
Only someone who has set foot on marine defenceplatform DK1 can understand how fierce the difficulties and challengesfaced by soldiers here are.
Regarded as a “live” sovereigntymarker at sea, DK1 is a complex of structures of large steel pipes whichstrike root deep into dry coral reefs.
Covering these steel pipes is a living space for soldiers who guard the marine platform.
Lookingup to DK1 from a canoe, the marine platform looks like a lotus station –the Steel Lotus Station which protects the country’s sovereignty on thecontinental shelf.
Despite living far from themainland, cadres and soldiers on the marine platform still maintain alltraining and daily activities. It is unimaginable that on an area ofover 100 sq.m. and in severe weather conditions, soldiers here stillgrow vegetables and raise livestock like in the mainland.
Major Trang Hai Au, Commander of marine platform DK1/2 on Phuc Tanbeach, the second-longest serving officer on the platform, shared hishappy and sad memories during the 15 years he has lived on the platform,as well as his feelings about leaving here at retirement age.
“I will miss the marine platform very much if I have to leave it,” he confided.
The story of the 50-year-old commander was sometimes interrupted as he recalled the brave sacrifice of platform soldiers.
Themartyrs included Vu Quang Chuong, Commander of marine defence platformDK1/6 on Phuc Nguyen beach, who was ready to sacrifice his life toprotect documents and was the last one to leave the station when it wasfiercely battered by a storm, and Warrant-Officer Le Duc Hong, who heldon to the marine platform until it was demolished by waves with his lasttelegram saying “goodbye to the mainland”.
Over the years, young generations on the platform have firmly followed their seniors.
MajorLe Quang Ninh, Commander of marine defence platform DK1/9 on Ba Kebeach, was born in 1976 but has lived on the platform for 12 years. Notmentioning the difficulties and sacrifices of platform soldiers, theyoung officer revealed his biggest aspiration of continuing study toimprove his knowledge for long-term service in the army.
Rear Admiral Nguyen Cong Hoa, Political Deputy Director of the Navy,wrapped up the records on marine platform soldiers on the Truong Saarchipelago, saying that “weapons and materials can be stained andrusted in the severe conditions of the sea but Vietnamese navalsoldiers’ readiness for fighting and sacrifice will be never eroded”./.
It isnot easy to visit DK1, one of the seven logistical and technicalservices stations in Vietnamese waters in the East Sea , which isfrequently hit by huge waves and high wind.
In such challengingweather conditions, many vessels to the marine platform have to anchorat a distance, greeting soldiers via walkie-talkie and conveying giftsto them by cable.
Only someone who has set foot on marine defenceplatform DK1 can understand how fierce the difficulties and challengesfaced by soldiers here are.
Regarded as a “live” sovereigntymarker at sea, DK1 is a complex of structures of large steel pipes whichstrike root deep into dry coral reefs.
Covering these steel pipes is a living space for soldiers who guard the marine platform.
Lookingup to DK1 from a canoe, the marine platform looks like a lotus station –the Steel Lotus Station which protects the country’s sovereignty on thecontinental shelf.
Despite living far from themainland, cadres and soldiers on the marine platform still maintain alltraining and daily activities. It is unimaginable that on an area ofover 100 sq.m. and in severe weather conditions, soldiers here stillgrow vegetables and raise livestock like in the mainland.
Major Trang Hai Au, Commander of marine platform DK1/2 on Phuc Tanbeach, the second-longest serving officer on the platform, shared hishappy and sad memories during the 15 years he has lived on the platform,as well as his feelings about leaving here at retirement age.
“I will miss the marine platform very much if I have to leave it,” he confided.
The story of the 50-year-old commander was sometimes interrupted as he recalled the brave sacrifice of platform soldiers.
Themartyrs included Vu Quang Chuong, Commander of marine defence platformDK1/6 on Phuc Nguyen beach, who was ready to sacrifice his life toprotect documents and was the last one to leave the station when it wasfiercely battered by a storm, and Warrant-Officer Le Duc Hong, who heldon to the marine platform until it was demolished by waves with his lasttelegram saying “goodbye to the mainland”.
Over the years, young generations on the platform have firmly followed their seniors.
MajorLe Quang Ninh, Commander of marine defence platform DK1/9 on Ba Kebeach, was born in 1976 but has lived on the platform for 12 years. Notmentioning the difficulties and sacrifices of platform soldiers, theyoung officer revealed his biggest aspiration of continuing study toimprove his knowledge for long-term service in the army.
Rear Admiral Nguyen Cong Hoa, Political Deputy Director of the Navy,wrapped up the records on marine platform soldiers on the Truong Saarchipelago, saying that “weapons and materials can be stained andrusted in the severe conditions of the sea but Vietnamese navalsoldiers’ readiness for fighting and sacrifice will be never eroded”./.
