The June sun was scorching hot. The sea surface became a giant mirror reflecting the harsh sunlight. The ship glided very quickly on the waves, bringing the delegation of the Trade Union Block 3, the National Defense Trade Union to the construction site of Enterprise 54, Thanh An 96 Construction Joint Stock Company, and Army Corps 11, which were working day and night on the island. The sound of welding machines and cutting machines mixed with the sound of the waves created a bustling atmosphere at the construction site.

Mr. Pham Cong Truong, the project manager, along with officers and engineers, are checking the technical parameters of the items. The concrete pillars have emerged from the sea surface, dozens of workers from Enterprise 54 are trying to install, cut and weld the surface details of the project to prepare for the next concrete pouring.

With a sweaty face, Mr. Truong said: The construction on the island is very complicated, all materials must be transported from the mainland, the weather is harsh, the unit must race against time, taking advantage of the low sea level to focus on construction, driving iron piles tens of meters long below sea level to make pillars, installing concrete pouring pipes. The unit commander must closely follow the project, organize overtime, there are days when the brothers work from night to the next morning. During the construction process, there were times when the progress was urgent, the factory and company supported more equipment and increased the force from the mainland to ensure the work.

Colonel Vu Van Diem, Party Secretary, Deputy Commander of Army Corps 11 and Colonel Nguyen Dinh Duc, Head of the National Defense Trade Union inspected the construction work and visited and encouraged union members and workers at the construction site in Ly Son island district, Quang Ngai province.

Present at the construction site to inspect the unit's production activities, Colonel Vu Van Diem, Party Committee Secretary, Deputy Commander of the 11th Corps, was very happy to witness the enthusiasm and hard-working spirit of the unit's officers and workers. He said that Thanh An 96 Construction Joint Stock Company is an economic-defense unit of the 11th Corps with a very diverse production and business model, mainly constructing civil, industrial, traffic, irrigation, hydroelectric works, dams, ports, industrial park infrastructure, urban areas, etc. For many years, the company has been trusted by the Party Committee and the Corps Command to carry out key projects on the sea, islands, and remote border areas across the country.

Particularly for Ly Son island district, Quang Ngai province, since 2003, the company has participated in the construction of dozens of important projects, of which 7 projects have been completed and put into use, ensuring good quality, on schedule and absolute safety. During the process of organizing labor production, the unit takes good care of the working conditions as well as the lives of cadres, union members and workers, thereby creating positive motivation for everyone to feel secure in building civil works combined with national defense, contributing significantly to the task of building the homeland's sea and islands and creating favorable conditions to help localities develop socio-economically.

Officers and engineers of Factory 54, Thanh An 96 Company check technical parameters of the project in preparation for concrete pouring of items.

Working on the border or on islands far from the mainland, the soldiers of Thanh An 96, Corps 11 always know how to take care of their spiritual and material lives so that everyone can feel secure in their attachment to the project, and have enough health to complete the high-intensity work volume, in harsh weather conditions. That is also the sentiment of Mr. Tran Van Khoan, in charge of Party and political work of the unit on the island. He said that many cadres, engineers, and workers have worked on Ly Son Island for the past 3 to 10 years, they are familiar with the waves of the sea, and know by heart the rising and falling of the sea level here.

Although the project is far from the mainland, the unit always receives attention from the leaders, commanders of the enterprise and the company to effectively carry out Party and political activities. On days when the sea is rough and the waves are big and construction cannot be carried out, it is also the time when the teams and groups organize political study for workers to raise awareness. The unit also promotes the role of mass organizations and trade unions to register to carry out labor emulation movements. Standing on the island, the soldiers and workers of Thanh An 96, Army Corps 11 take care to build a close relationship with the local Party Committee and government.

Along with visiting and giving gifts to families with preferential policies, poor students who are fishermen's children who have overcome difficulties to study well, after the storm, although the work required a very stressful construction schedule, the unit still spent dozens of working days to help the local government and people overcome the consequences and stabilize the lives of fishermen. Thanks to that, the unit always received support from the locality and other units during the working days on the island. Most of the unit's cadres, union members and workers were assured and determined to complete the task.

The delegation of the Trade Union of Block III and the National Defense Trade Union visited and encouraged workers at the construction site.

These days, the whole unit is working hard to complete the final and most difficult items to hand over the project in time for use. The union members and workers of Thanh An 96 are very happy to welcome the delegation of the Trade Union Block 3 and the National Defense Trade Union to the island to visit and encourage them. Not only are there fragrant gifts sent from the mainland, but also firm handshakes, but witnessing the spirit and determination to work on the project, the delegation has shown respect and love for the soldiers and workers. From the wharf to the residential road running around the island like a pair of outstretched hands protecting and sheltering the people, it is the result of thousands of days and nights of labor of Thanh An 96 workers.

Colonel Nguyen Dinh Duc, Head of the National Defense Trade Union, said that the attention of leaders and commanders has created favorable conditions for the unit's trade union to promote its pioneering role in labor production, ensure absolute safety, maintain strict discipline and do a good job of mass mobilization work in the area.

From the high point of Thoi Loi Freshwater Lake, looking out to the sea is an endless green color with the construction works of the soldiers and workers of Thanh An 96 Company, Army Corps 11. How many days of hard work, how much sweat and effort they have poured down have built solid works to firmly protect the peace of the outpost island. Also from Ly Son Island, Quang Ngai today, fishing boats of fishermen point their bows to the sea to catch seafood, bringing a prosperous life to their homeland, together with the whole country to firmly protect the sovereignty of the sacred sea and islands of the Fatherland.  

Article and photos: TRAN THONG