VietNamNet Bridge - The Region 4 navy soldiers will never forget the New Year Eve party they left unfinished as they had to respond to an emergency on Sinh Ton Dong Island of Truong Sa Archipelago when the 2014 Lunar New Year, the Year of the Horse, neared.

 


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                                           Colonel Nguyen Cong Son

On that day, when soldiers clustered in a New Year Eve party, they heard that tens of foreign fishing boats protected by battleships infringed Vietnamese territorial waters.

Putting down the bowls of rice, they immediately prepared to deal with the invading ships. A combat alert was released on the island.

“We reported the situation to the superiors and began the force deployment,” Colonel Nguyen Cong Son recalled the day.

Though the soldiers were in the state of getting ready for a battle, they were asked to try every possible propaganda measure to drive away the foreign ships from Vietnamese territorial waters.

The foreign ships proved to be challenging and provocative. However, with strongly determined attitude, the navy soldiers of Region 4 saw them move out of territorial waters.

This was just one of several difficult situations the Vietnamese soldiers met. Though the New Year’ Eve party was left unfinished, the soldiers all felt happy because they fulfilled the task.

The story was told by Nguyen Cong Son, deputy Political Commissar of the Navy Region 4 before thousands of delegates at the National Patriotic Emulation Congress on December 7.

The hall resounded with strong applause.

“When I recover fully, I will go to the open sea again”

Assisting fishermen on the open sea is also an important task for navy soldiers.

Colonel Cong Son said that 20,000 fishing boats were supported when going to the sea, while 220 boats and 4,700 people have been rescued in the last five years.

Typhoon No 14 in 2013 is one of the memorable events for navy soldiers on Song Tu Tay Island. Amid big waves, strong winds and the darkness, the soldiers successfully drove 64 fishing boats and brought 800 fishermen into safe shelters, provided them with medicine, clothes and food.

Since 2013, army medical teams on the islands have given emergency help to 250 people and provided health examination to 1,000 fishermen. Many of them were carried ashore for medical treatment, while others were treated right on the island.

 

 

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Most recently, they saved 11 fishermen from a coracle which sank on the Da Lon Island area after nearly 24 hours of drifting on the sea.

Vo Van Thanh, a fisherman, who suffered severe burns, impaired hearing and vision, was one of those saved by the army medical team.

When regaining his senses, Thanh said: “When I get fully recovered, I will once again head for the open sea, because there are navy soldiers”.

Stationed on an island with key strategic position, where there are Truong Sa Archipelago and Cam Ranh military base, naval soldiers are always ready to protect territorial waters, not minding pouring rain or scorching sun, ordinary days or holidays.

“The officers and soldiers of the Region 4 Navy are always steady, though they have to face danger and loss. Everyone wants to take on difficult duties. Everyone wants to go to the sea. They do not want to stay ashore, including those who are sick or injured,” Colonel Son said.

The Captain of Truong Sa 22, Major Le Minh Phuc, during a mission had eight wounds on his body and lost blood. But he still stayed as the commander, and encouraged his soldiers to struggle with the invaders.

Maj Le Minh Phuc during a mission was seriously wounded, lost a lot of blood, but still maintained the position of commander.

Region 4’s soldiers are happy that Cam Ranh Peninsula, with severe conditions, has changed its face with new urban areas and modern military bases.

 

C.Hoang - H.Nhi - X.Quy - H.Phuc - N.Chung