Editor's note:
Truong Sa, which General Vo Nguyen Giap once compared to “distant lands, wavering on the waves of the East Sea”, is forever a sacred part of the Fatherland. In the midst of the waves and winds, in the vastness of the ocean, every Vietnamese person carries within him or herself a noble mission: to preserve every inch of land, every wave of the homeland.
There are young men in their twenties, still young, who leave the bustling city to go to Da Dong A island, dedicating their youth to their homeland's sea and islands. There are dedicated commanders, who day and night cherish the aspiration of turning Truong Sa into a green oasis in the middle of the vast ocean. There are talented military doctors, devoted to taking care of the health of soldiers and civilians on the island. And there are also brave and resilient captains who protect the sovereignty of the sea and islands, ready to sacrifice themselves to help fishermen in times of trouble.
It was they, those ordinary yet extraordinary people, who contributed to lighting the fire of love, warming distant lands, connecting Truong Sa with the motherland, so that fishermen can confidently stick to the sea, so that the Fatherland can forever be steadfast at the forefront.
VietNamNet respectfully introduces the series of articles “Truong Sa – Steadfast in the ocean”, as a profound gratitude to the simple yet noble people who lived and devoted themselves to the Fatherland.
Sitting quietly looking out at the deep blue sea, the rear admiral with a weather-beaten face stubbed out a half-burnt cigarette. “My wife gave me a lot of advice, and my teammates were also concerned about my health and reminded me many times to quit smoking. I know it’s a bad habit, but it’s hard to quit. My job is closely linked to the sea, and sometimes I need a cigarette as a companion,” said Rear Admiral Nguyen Viet Khanh, Deputy Chief of Staff of the Navy.
“Has anyone ever told you that, at first glance, you look like a musician born and dedicated to writing songs about the ocean?”
“No, I am a soldier like any other soldier. Always have been.”
And it is true, it is difficult to ask any personal stories, about the difficulties and hardships in his military career. But if the question is directed to his comrades, the people, and the Fatherland, the naval general (according to the Law on Officers, a rear admiral is equivalent to a major general) is much more open.
During the journey to Truong Sa and the DK1/7 Huyen Tran platform, I was fortunate to accompany Rear Admiral Nguyen Viet Khanh. This was the first time he had come to Truong Sa as a delegation leader, a delegate to visit and work with the people and soldiers on the island. Throughout his life, he had held many different roles, sometimes as a captain, sometimes as a regional commander... all in the position of the "bowman" protecting the Fatherland's borders.
Truong Sa is like a part of his flesh and blood, a proud attachment. To meet the requirements of protecting the Fatherland and Truong Sa archipelago in the new situation, Brigade 162 (Naval Region 4) was established in January 2002. Rear Admiral Nguyen Viet Khanh was one of the first captains to bring the most modern missile ship to the Brigade.
Naval Region 4 is tasked with protecting the sovereignty of a vast sea area from Cu Lao Xanh Island (Binh Dinh) to Ba Kiem Cape (Binh Thuan) and Truong Sa archipelago (Khanh Hoa). This is a key area, a particularly important strategic position in terms of economy, politics, national defense and security of the country. With the most modern surface combat fleet, Brigade 162 is known as the "iron fist" of the Navy.
Entering the military at the age of 17, he has been in the navy for 40 years. During those 40 years, the time he spent with his family was less than the time he spent on duty at sea…
Mr. Khanh said that for a navy soldier, the three things to keep in mind when stepping onto a ship are: “The Fatherland, the ship, and the captain”. The pride of a captain always goes hand in hand with the ability to endure hardship, the responsibility of commanding the ship, and making decisions that, if not calm and clear-headed, can lead to provocation and conflict.
Brave, resourceful, determined to protect sovereignty, but also gentle and decisive when fighting independently on the battlefield is the mindset forged from the field of naval soldiers when guarding the sacred sea and sky. For soldiers, contributing to protecting the homeland is a responsibility to the Fatherland, and also a pride in living a dignified and meaningful life. Perhaps that is why, when asked about himself, the naval general just smiled gently and waved his hand, "I am like any other naval soldier, nothing special."
"Sir, if someone asks you, what is your Fatherland?"
“To me, the Fatherland is the tolerant Motherland, protecting and nurturing generations of soldiers. The Fatherland in me is the eyes, faces, and figures of fishermen who were rescued in the middle of the rough sea. The Fatherland in me is the eyes of officers and soldiers who looked at me with worry, but steadfastly and bravely rushed into the rough waves to save their compatriots.
You know, for our fishermen in the midst of the dangerous waves of the open sea, the military force is the image of the Fatherland, the support thousands of nautical miles from the mainland. It will always be like that,” the Rear Admiral confided.
Recalling memories of participating in the rescue of fishermen at sea with his teammates, Rear Admiral Nguyen Viet Khanh mentioned storm number 5 in 1997 - storm Linda, the most severe storm to hit the South in 100 years, causing more than 3,000 deaths and missing people.
For him, those were unforgettable days.
Comment (0)