Truong Sa - lighthouse in the heart

“This sea is mine, this island is mine”

The song was so strange because I had to go to Song Tu Tay Island to hear it. It was about the Fatherland, but the innocent, pure voice of a child moved people's hearts. At that moment, my heart was filled with tears.

A feeling of gratitude welled up. Gratitude for the soldiers, and for the children who had accompanied their parents to the remote islands to live and protect the Fatherland.

Song Tu Tay belongs to Song Tu island commune, one of three communes and towns of Truong Sa island district (Khanh Hoa), more than 300 nautical miles from the mainland. It is very far because we had to go through 2 days and nights of strong winds and waves during the Truong Sa archipelago military and civilian visit season in early 2024, making the mainland group of visitors dizzy before they could reach the island. But it is extremely close and warm because the soldiers and civilians on the island welcomed us like family.

Vice Chairman of the island commune People's Committee Cao Van Giap enthusiastically welcomed the guests. "It's been a long time since such a large group from the mainland came to visit, making the whole island bustling," said Mr. Giap. He has worked on the island for over 20 years. People joke that he is "addicted to the island" because his wife and children are on the mainland, but he has no intention of leaving the island. Asked why he loves the island so much? He said: "No. It's something that naturally flows in my blood."

In the middle of the vast sky and sea, surrounded by vast water, with no horizon in sight, how small are humans in the vast ocean. So what is flowing in Giap and the soldiers who are day and night firmly holding their guns to protect the sky and islands here, so that they do not have even a moment of weakness or negligence in their assigned tasks?

Is it because they carry within themselves pride, in all circumstances always maintaining the qualities of Uncle Ho's soldiers, loyal, steadfast and especially always proud to be Truong Sa soldiers - those who come to Truong Sa with only one, most sacred mission: to protect the sovereignty of the sea and islands?

Lieutenant Colonel Nguyen Van Khuong, Political Commissar of Song Tu Tay Island, has been attached to the 5th island after serving on Thuyen Chai, Da Nam, Phan Vinh, and Nam Yet islands. Ever since he was in school, his dream was to pursue a military career and now serving on Truong Sa is not only an honor for him but also a pride for his whole family.

Mr. Khuong likes best when he takes the time to write handwritten letters to his wife, telling her about how dreamy life on the island is, about the innocent children on the island who are the same age as his children, the square banyan trees, the green vegetable beds that he and his teammates take care of themselves... In every letter, he tells his wife to take care of her health, to take care of her parents and children for him. There are many difficulties, hardships, deprivations, and longings of those on duty on the islands, far from family, far from the mainland... he hides them deep down, not adding to the burden on his wife's shoulders.

“For each of us, youth comes only once. Live life to the fullest, dedicate yourself to the Fatherland. Be proud to be a soldier of Truong Sa” - the love of the sea and the Fatherland is conveyed by Lieutenant Colonel Nguyen Van Khuong to the soldiers and students on the island in each collective activity.

Lieutenant Phan Viet Hoang is in his first year of duty on Co Lin Island. Before coming to the island, he understood that life here would be difficult and hard, but he did not mind. “Everyone has a choice and I chose to do the task of protecting the islands. Coming to Truong Sa, I feel that my choice was the right one,” Lieutenant Phan Viet Hoang shared, as if expressing the wishes of millions of young Vietnamese people.

Keep peace in every home

Only those who have lived and worked far from home can understand the deep longing that always flows in each person, especially for the soldiers of Truong Sa - even though the longing is burning, it is not easy to overcome the stormy waves of the ocean to return home as desired. They have silently sacrificed their own personal happiness. Thousands of officers and soldiers stationed across our archipelagos, of different ages, coming from all regions of the country, are silently sacrificing like that, precisely to keep peace for each home.

This mission on Co Lin Island was truly meaningful to Captain Pham Thu Chung’s military career because Co Lin is a small island, with a narrow space and a harsh climate. The island is surrounded by harshness but cannot soften the will of the soldiers stationed on the island. Amidst the storms and winds, the camaraderie and solidarity between comrades truly affirms that “the island is home, the ocean is homeland”.

During breaks, stories about family and homeland are the fire that warms their hearts. Despite the distance, Captain Pham Thu Chung said that thanks to stories about the home front, the officers and soldiers become closer, understand and love each other more. They all remember which officer or soldier’s child is in which grade, what their favorite food is, whose mother or wife cooks what delicious dishes, whose hometown has famous tourist attractions… Although family is far away, it turns out that it is always in the heart of every soldier.

“My parents are the first people I want to hug when I return to the mainland. Thanks to their encouragement, I became a navy soldier,” a young soldier who did not have time to register his name on Sinh Ton Island told me.

Although far away from the mainland, in the peaceful life in Truong Sa archipelago today, I feel like I see the patriotic lighthouse always shining on the hearts of each person, so that people can come together regardless of difficulties, always joining hands to form a strong army to protect the Fatherland.