Celebrate Tet on the waves, mountain tops

Warm Tet on a remote island

On the first day of the Lunar New Year, the sea wind blew strongly and was cold, but young soldier Pham Quyet Thang and his comrades of Brigade 170 were still ready to fight on a ship in the middle of the ocean.

Thang is from Cam Pha City, Quang Ninh Province. After finishing high school, while his friends were taking university and college entrance exams or going abroad to work, Thang volunteered to join the army. After completing his rookie training, Thang was assigned to a ship unit of Brigade 170.

The crew of the 169th Patrol and Amphibious Brigade is always in the highest state of combat readiness during the Tet holiday.

"In the days leading up to Tet, at first, we young soldiers also felt homesick and missed our loved ones. But thanks to the unit commander's concern and care for us both physically and mentally, the nostalgia gradually faded, turning into joy and pride in celebrating Tet at sea, contributing to keeping the sea and islands peaceful so our homeland could celebrate Tet peacefully," Thang confided.

Thang said that on New Year's Eve, the officers and soldiers of the unit participated in a cultural and artistic festival and then gathered to listen to the President's New Year's greetings. The soldiers on the waves also had plenty of Chung cakes, candies, peaches and kumquats for Tet...

Speaking to Giao Thong Newspaper, Lieutenant Colonel Le Dinh Du, Deputy Brigade Commander, Chief of Staff of Brigade 170 under the Naval Region 1 Command, shared: The unit is responsible for coordinating patrols to protect the northern sea area of ​​the Fatherland. Due to its special structure, the unit has many young officers and soldiers.

Therefore, taking care of the troops with the spirit of "Enjoying the New Year without forgetting the mission" is always of special concern to the Party Committee and the Brigade commander. In addition to the prescribed regime, the unit also arranges additional sources to supplement the troops' food rations during the Tet holidays.

"In particular, taking care of the soldiers' spirit is emphasized. On New Year's Eve, in addition to the teams on duty ready for combat, the unit organized cultural and artistic exchanges, picked democratic flowers and gathered to listen to the President's New Year greetings. Thereby, creating a cozy atmosphere for the soldiers to ease their homesickness and missing their loved ones," said Lieutenant Colonel Du.

Young soldiers of the 170th Naval Brigade gathered to listen to President Vo Van Thuong's New Year greetings on the eve of the year of the Dragon.

The 169th Naval Patrol and Landing Brigade, also under the Naval Region 1 Command, stationed at Van Hoa Military Port in Van Don District, was as happy as a festival during the Tet holiday. The entire unit was covered with flags and flowers. On the ship formations, each battery was ready to fight with the highest spirit.

At a battery of Ship HQ 202, young soldier Tran Dinh The (19 years old, from Hung Ha district, Thai Binh province) is enthusiastically practicing with his teammates on the artillery tray.

The 169th Patrol and Landing Brigade still fully prepares peach, kumquat, and fruit trays on the altar of the Fatherland.

Soldier Tran Dinh The said he is the second child in a farming family. This is the first year The celebrates Tet away from home, so he cannot help but miss his family and hometown.

"But Tet in the army is very fun. My brother and I are all in different places. When Tet comes, we gather to sing to each other, and share Tet wishes from our parents and girlfriends. Perhaps Tet in the army is the most beautiful memory of our youth!", The bragged.

Keep the "magic eye" always bright on the sea and islands

On the Tien Nu mountain, which is covered in clouds all year round, located on Tra Ban island, Ban Sen commune, Van Don district, Quang Ninh province, there are also naval radar soldiers who are diligently performing their duty of observing the entire northeastern sea area of ​​the Fatherland.

This unit is considered a "divine eye" serving other units, ready to mobilize forces to protect the sovereignty of the sea and islands at the headland of the Fatherland.

On this mountain, naval radar soldiers are on duty, isolated from residential areas. Due to difficult transportation, to prepare for Tet, officers and soldiers here have to travel nearly ten kilometers of forest roads to carry food, peach blossoms, kumquat trees, etc. back to their units.

Despite the difficulties, this Tet, the soldiers here are still fully provided.

Despite the harsh weather on the Tien Nu peak during the Tet holiday, the naval radar station still ensures its "magic eye" closely monitors the movements of vehicles in the Northeast sea.

Captain Pham Van Duong, Political Commissar of the Naval Radar Station on Ban Sen Island, Van Don District, said: "We have a clear mindset, strictly follow the instructions and orders to be ready for combat with the determination of "Not letting the Fatherland be surprised from the sea". Although far from residential areas and the roads are difficult to travel, at the Radar Station, the unit still prepares trays of five fruits, peaches, kumquats, and Tet-flavored meals to help our brothers ease their homesickness."

The naval radar station in Ban Sen island commune organized the wrapping of banh chung for soldiers to celebrate Tet.

Sharing about the unit's mission during the Giap Thin Tet holiday, Rear Admiral Vu Van Nam, Commander of Naval Region 1, said: All units have deployed troops to be ready for combat according to the instructions of superiors. The combat and border protection squadrons are always in the highest state of mobility to be ready to carry out the mission.

Along with that, the units also closely coordinate with local authorities and participating units to be ready to participate in fire prevention and fighting, ensuring security and order in the area so that people can enjoy Tet and welcome spring safely.

"Sharing with the Navy soldiers, on the occasion of the Giap Thin New Year, local authorities, organizations and businesses have come to give gifts and support cash to add to the soldiers' food rations. In response to those sentiments, all officers and soldiers vow to be steadfast and complete well the task of protecting the sovereignty of the sacred sea and islands in the northern region of the Fatherland," Mr. Nam shared.

Source: https://www.baogiaothong.vn/don-tet-tren-canh-song-dinh-son-192240210161144458.htm