It is difficult to fully describe the feelings when I was lucky enough to come to Truong Sa, but in general, it was love, immense pride. And it was this homeland in the middle of the vast ocean that helped me to understand more deeply the saying: Those who go to Truong Sa and return will love their Fatherland much more by General Phan Van Giang, Politburo member, Deputy Secretary of the Central Military Commission, Minister of National Defense .

Officers, soldiers and people of Sinh Ton Island welcomed the working delegation.

On the 7-day and 7-night sea route, despite having to cross hundreds of nautical miles and countless waves, Ship 571 never stopped singing and playing music. We “sang to drown out the sound of the waves”, sang to make the journey to beloved Truong Sa closer.

Soldiers of Son Ca Island solemnly stand next to the sovereignty marker.

According to the original plan, Working Group No. 3 would come to study, research, visit and work at 7 islands and DK1/2 Platform. The first days of departure, the weather was calm and the sea was calm. Looking out from the deck of Ship 571, I could only see a jade-green color. I saw the sea and sky of my homeland so beautiful, as if I could only see it in a dream. At times, the seagulls flew high up and then hovered close to the white waves, giving me a feeling of peace.

From Sinh Ton, Nam Yet, Son Ca, Da Nam, Co Lin to Truong Sa Dong, the working delegation was warmly welcomed by the officers and soldiers, imbued with comradeship and team spirit. Looking at the square banyan trees and maple trees spreading their leaves; the system of barracks, billboards, and regular slogans; the bright, green, and clean landscape; the lush green vegetable gardens... made everyone feel warm and close. The only difference was that here there was no sound of the city, no sound of vehicles, no bustling laughter like on the mainland, but it seemed that there was only the sound of waves lapping against the rocks, sometimes gentle, sometimes roaring.

Lush green garden in Truong Sa.

Although they had to live far from home and relatives, and the training, living and working conditions were difficult and lacking, everyone was excited and confident in carrying out their tasks. Although the hardships were not expressed in words, they were imprinted on the sun-tanned faces of the officers and soldiers.

It was thought that the mission of Group 3 would go smoothly. However, in the vast ocean, the weather changed very quickly and complicatedly. Ship 571 had just weighed anchor to say goodbye to Co Lin when the wind blew strongly. The rolling waves raced against the side of the ship, making everything shake violently. The loudspeaker of the Assault Art Team kept drifting back and forth as if there was an invisible force pushing it. The hardest thing was the female soldiers, the bigger the waves, the more seasick they got, many of them couldn't even eat anything, only daring to drink small sips of water to ease their hunger from the waves. However, when the Group Commander asked: "Do you have enough strength to visit the Platform?", they all shouted in unison: "Yes".

Lieutenant Colonel Le Thi Thu Hien sings for officers and soldiers of DK1/2 Platform via walkie-talkie.

Early in the morning of May 27, 2025, Ship 571 anchored in front of DK1/2 Platform. Before that, the Delegation had not been able to get to Dong C Rock Island due to bad weather conditions, which made everyone regretful. Perhaps because of the anxious wait, before the command: "Wake up ship, wake up ship" was sounded, many comrades were dressed neatly, including the seasick sisters who were very eager to get to the Platform. I opened the glass door to look towards the Platform, listening to the howling wind and the crashing waves, feeling restless and worried.

At around 8am, the weather seemed to improve, and the advance force was ordered to depart. Looking at the small CQ boat bobbing with each wave, I felt the overwhelming, majestic feeling of the vast ocean. About half an hour later, the advance force returned. After listening to the report, to ensure the safety of people and vehicles, the commander of the group decided not to organize a visit and work at the Platform. The group would encourage and sing for the officers and soldiers via walkie-talkie. The feeling of emptiness that arose in the chest was hard to describe, the clear eyes suddenly became sad and looked towards the national flag fluttering right in front of them as if wanting to say something but could not put it into words.

Sergeant Pham Minh Hieu performs the song "Firmly Stepping on Truong Sa" over the radio.

After listening to the Commander of the Delegation's encouraging speech and the response from the leaders and commanders of the Platform, Lieutenant Colonel Le Thi Thu Hien, an employee of the Propaganda Department, Political Department, Military Medical Academy, was assigned by the Assault Art Team to sing for the officers and soldiers. The atmosphere suddenly became quiet. Her eyes were filled with tears, sparkling tears rolled down her cheeks, the song "Gan so Truong Sa" by musician Hinh Phuoc Long was sung through a clear, soulful voice: "Not far away, Truong Sa/Still close to you because Truong Sa is always with me/Still close to you because Truong Sa is always with me". The lyrics, each sentence, each word, carried countless emotions, settling into everyone's heart. The more the ocean waves surge, the more the heart waves surge.

In response to that deep affection, the officers and soldiers of DK1/2 Platform sang together for the delegation the song “Spring of DK” by musician Thap Nhat: “Despite the storms/We Platform soldiers are there/Despite the precariousness/The Platform soldiers are not afraid of storms”. The song is also the voice of the people, it is the steadfastness, the steely courage of Uncle Ho’s soldiers; the optimistic spirit, love of life, not afraid of difficulties, hardships, ready to sacrifice to protect the sacred sovereignty of the sea and islands of the Fatherland.

Although there was no majestic stage or dazzling lights, why was the performance in the cockpit, which was less than 15 square meters, so good and emotional? The music blended with the applause, the sound of waves and the wind, all weaving a beautiful picture. This was both a profound practical lesson for each member of the working group and a priceless spiritual gift that the mainland sent to the front line of the Fatherland.

. Those are the fresh lyrics in the song “Firmly Stepping on Truong Sa”, which was conceived and created by Sergeant Nguyen Minh Hieu, a student of Battalion 8, Political Officer School, on the voyage to Truong Sa and DK1 Platform, and was sung as a farewell from the working group to the officers and soldiers at the forefront of the storm.

Smile sent back to Truong Sa.

Ship 571 ran 3 laps around the Platform, when the 3 long whistles ended, the arms waving to each other gradually moved further and further away. Even though there were still many things to say and the heart was still very reluctant, all could only be sent back with the sound of the waves.

In contrast to the spirit of the days when the ship sailed across the sea, on the journey back to the mainland, the atmosphere seemed to stand still, everyone was quiet and thoughtful. The island and the platform had disappeared behind, but the hearts of the people still remained. The memories of a majestic Truong Sa; of the heroic, resilient, and indomitable officers and soldiers of the Vietnam People's Navy; of the DK1 platform standing firm against storms and tempests... will forever be engraved in the hearts and minds of each member of the working group.

The program summarizing the Truong Sa - DK1 working trip took place in a very special way, not in the hall as usual but right in the middle of the vast sea and sky. Among them, I was extremely moved and impressed by the poem "Truong Sa - Love our Fatherland more" by Sergeant Do Thanh Phat, a student of Battalion 12, Political Officer School - a typical work in the writing contest about Truong Sa and DK1 Platform organized by the working delegation, especially the last two lines of the work: "Whoever comes to Truong Sa and then returns/Will love the Fatherland much more".

The most valuable baggage we have after this business trip is patriotism, love for our homeland's sea and islands; deep gratitude for generations of fathers and brothers who sacrificed to protect the sacred sovereignty of the Fatherland; respect and affection for the cadres, soldiers and people who are silently, quietly, united, attached, together successfully implementing the advice of the great President Ho Chi Minh: "In the past, we only had night and forest. Today, we have day, sky, and sea. Our coastline is long and beautiful, we must know how to preserve it!".

Just like thousands of waves rushing to the shore and then chasing each other towards the distant horizon. Millions of Vietnamese hearts are always directed towards that place - where there are people who have sacrificed their youth to firmly protect every inch of land and sea of ​​the Fatherland.

VU VAN QUOC

    Source: https://www.qdnd.vn/phong-su-dieu-tra/phong-su/gui-theo-tieng-song-842355