Gac Ma soldiers – immortal monument in Vietnamese people’s hearts
Rear Admiral Phan Tuan Hung, Deputy Commander of the Naval Force, recently led a delegation to visit soldiers and officers on mission on islands of the Truong Sa archipelago, the central province of Khanh Hoa, and organised a ceremony to commemorate fallen soldiers in battle to defend Co Lin, Gac Ma and Len Dao reefs 33 years ago.
The delegation pays tribute to General Vo Nguyen Giap at his monument on Truong Sa islands. (Photo: VNA)
Khanh Hoa (VNA) – Rear Admiral Phan Tuan Hung, Deputy Commander of theNaval Force, recently led a delegation to visit soldiers and officers onmission on islands of the Truong Sa archipelago, the central province of KhanhHoa, and organised a ceremony to commemorate fallen soldiers in battle todefend Co Lin, Gac Ma and Len Dao reefs 33 years ago.
At the ceremony held on Co Lin, Colonel Le Xuan Phong, deputy head of theinspection committee of the Naval Force’s Party Committee, recalled the March14, 1988 event, in which 64 naval soldiers and officers of Vietnam bravelysacrificed their lives to protect the nation’s sea and island sovereignty.
Rear Admiral Phan Tuan Hung (second from left) meets with soldiers and officers on mission on Truong Sa archipelago. (Photo: VNA)
Vietnam underwent wars with severe losses; however, the Vietnamese people neverforget Gac Ma soldiers’ sacrifice, he said.
Their image has become an immortal monument, contributing to bringing Truong Sacloser in the heart of Vietnamese people, he stressed.
“The Truong Sa archipelago is a sacred territorial part of the Fatherland. Eachcoral reef, grain of sand, branch of trees and blade of grass is imbued withsweat and blood of generations of the Vietnamese people. We respect the soldiers’sacrifice and contribution to the nation’s unity and territorial integrity,” hesaid./.
The delegation pays tribute to the fallen soldiers with incense and flowers. (Photo: VNA)
The Liaison Board of Truong Sa Soldiers for the 1984 – 1988 period held a ceremony in the central city of Da Nang on March 14 to commemorate the Vietnam People’s Navy soldiers who fell down on Gac Ma island, part of Vietnam’s Truong Sa (Spratly) archipelago, in 1988.
Over 500 veterans who joined the battle to defend Vietnam’s Truong Sa (Spratly) archipelago met in a gathering in Tuy Hoa city, the central province of Phu Yen, on March 14 on the occasion of the 31st anniversary of the Gac Ma naval fight.
Whenever March comes, people across Vietnam turn their hearts to Gac Ma Reef of Truong Sa archipelago, a sacred territorial part of the Fatherland, to pay tribute to officers and soldiers who heroically fought until their last breath for the country’s maritime sovereignty.
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The delegation pays tribute to General Vo Nguyen Giap at his monument on Truong Sa islands. (Photo: VNA) 
Rear Admiral Phan Tuan Hung (second from left) meets with soldiers and officers on mission on Truong Sa archipelago. (Photo: VNA) 
The delegation pays tribute to the fallen soldiers with incense and flowers. (Photo: VNA) 
