The rig stands tall in the middle of the ocean

During the 16-day voyage at sea, the delegation only stopped to pay their New Year's greetings directly at DKI/9 and DKI/21 platforms. The ship stopped, everyone was taken to a boat and "rode the waves" to the foot of the platform. After a thrilling rope swing on the sea, we took our first steps onto the platform - how emotional and proud we were: the platform stood tall and proud in the middle of the vast ocean and sky, a "copper citadel" firmly protecting the sovereignty of the Fatherland's maritime borders!

Although the time spent at the platform was not long, the members of the working group had time to send gifts, both material and spiritual, from the mainland and the rear to the officers and soldiers at the frontier. In the warm atmosphere of comradeship, military-civilian love, everyone gathered to wrap banh chung, singing songs about love for the homeland's sea and islands, and soldiers at the platform...

Directly wishing a happy new year at the platforms, Lieutenant Colonel Trieu Thanh Tung, Head of the Truong Sa 21 ship delegation, acknowledged that the platforms had completed their tasks well in all aspects, ensuring work - especially combat readiness; ensuring strict maintenance of combat readiness, not missing or missing targets. At the same time, he advised and proposed to agencies at all levels and defense forces to complete their tasks well.

Entering the new year of At Ty 2025, on behalf of the working delegation, Lieutenant Colonel Trieu Thanh Tung sent his best wishes to DK1/21 Platform for a warm Spring, solidarity and unity with the slogan "Happy Spring without forgetting the mission", "as long as there are people, there is home, there is sovereignty"; carry out the mission, do not be passive or surprised from the sea.

Although the working delegation only directly visited and wished a happy new year to 2/10 platforms, all goods were delivered to the platforms in sufficient quantity, ensuring that officers and soldiers on the platforms could celebrate the New Year and enjoy Spring as fully as in their hometowns...

Lieutenant Colonel Trieu Thanh Tung shared that when receiving the mission, the working group wanted to directly deliver goods and Tet gifts to officers and soldiers on the rig to encourage their team spirit. However, due to difficult weather conditions, the New Year greetings and delivery of goods had to be flexible to ensure the time for soldiers to receive the goods and welcome the New Year.

"New Year greetings through the speaker, gifts through the wire"

This is a familiar saying to officers and soldiers when carrying out the task of delivering goods and Tet gifts because the weather at the end of the year is often unfavorable, the influence of the northeast monsoon causes big waves and strong winds, Tet greetings must be done via walkie-talkie and gifts are transferred over the wire.

At the platforms, via walkie-talkie, Lieutenant Colonel Trieu Thanh Tung inquired about the preparations for Tet and the Spring atmosphere on the platforms; at the same time, he conveyed the mainland's wishes to the platform officers and soldiers to be happy and united to complete their tasks.

Although he could not meet the working delegation, when he heard the warm New Year greetings from the mainland via walkie-talkie, Lieutenant Colonel Nguyen Van Trung, Commander of DKI/20 Platform, was still extremely moved and excited: "The New Year greetings show the special concern and affection of the head of the Naval Region 2 Command, the heads of agencies and units in the entire region and the comrades in the working delegation. This is a great source of encouragement for all officers and soldiers of the platform to work with peace of mind, determine their tasks well, and be ready to fight."

Lieutenant Colonel Nguyen Van Trung also said that during the Lunar New Year, the platform organized many activities such as picking democratic flowers, weightlifting, and throwing bottle rings... to help officers and soldiers happily welcome the Spring.

Extend the love

On the train carrying Spring from the mainland to the oil rig, along with necessities and gifts with the flavor of Tet from home, there are also gifts filled with love from the rear sent to relatives who are on duty guarding the sea of ​​the Fatherland.

Present at the wharf on the day the ship departed, Ms. Nguyen Thi Quynh Chi, Nghi Xuan, Ha Tinh asked the working group to send her husband some Tet food and especially a phone so he could contact home. Her husband has been working at the rig for 2 years and rarely comes home for Tet.

"During Tet, seeing couples decorating their houses, I feel a little sad, but when you marry a soldier, you have to be determined and support your husband so he can work with peace of mind. I hope he and his comrades can complete their mission with peace of mind, and that the home front always looks to him" - Ms. Quynh Chi said.

Together with her two young sons, Ms. Duong Thien Huong asked the working group to send her husband, Mr. Dao Van Diep - an information officer of the DKI/16 platform, a letter written neatly by her second-grade son. "In the letter, I asked about your health and wished you good health and success at work. I hope you have a happy Tet and that the three of us will be healthy at home" - standing next to his mother, Ms. Thien Huong's son revealed the content of the letter.

The gifts and affection from the mainland were handed directly to the soldiers on the oil rig by the delegation. From there, the distance was shortened, the affection between the rear and the frontline was extended; between the mainland and the frontier where waves and winds blow.

Welcoming the delegation, Senior Lieutenant Le Xuan Quy, Political Commissar of DKI/21 Platform, showed his joy: "Hearing the news that the delegation came to wish everyone a Happy New Year, all week long, the brothers on the platform have been excited like children, looking forward to it and waiting every day.

When the ship appeared, all the brothers on the platform were filled with happiness. Everyone was worried when witnessing the members of the working group having to climb up the rope ladder to the platform, but in their hearts, everyone was looking forward to welcoming the leader and the working group to join in the joy and celebrate Tet early with the officers and soldiers" - Senior Lieutenant Le Xuan Quy confided.

Receiving gifts from the mainland, Captain Pham Tien Dong, DKI/9 Platform said, "The platform brothers feel the warmth of the mainland, the affection from the mainland. Here, everything is carefully prepared, with full of banh chung, gio, heo, cakes, candies, jams... Thank you for the attention of leaders at all levels and people across the country. Wishing everyone a peaceful and happy Tet and rest assured that the platform soldiers will still ensure their duties."

(To be continued)