Keep the island at the forefront

Dozens of nautical miles from Mong Cai mainland, Vinh Thuc island rises amidst the vast waves of the Northeast of the Fatherland. Completely isolated from the mainland, this place not only has strategic significance, but is also a test for the steadfastness of the soldiers who are defending the island day and night.

Many officers and soldiers of Vinh Thuc Island Company, Defense Command of Area 1 - Quang Ha ( Quang Ninh Provincial Military Command) have been attached to the island for decades, familiar with every wind and wave, considering this place as their second home. Besides, there are also many soldiers who have just joined the army, for the first time going to a remote island, still bewildered by the murmuring waves all day and night and the shifts of guarding in the strong sea breeze. The biggest difficulty for them is not only the lack of living conditions, but also the courage to overcome the distance with family and homeland.

Officers and soldiers of Vinh Thuc Island Company regularly train to improve their skills and combat readiness.

Among the officers and soldiers of Vinh Thuc Island Company, Major Ngo Quang Diep is probably the one who has been attached to the unit and the island the longest. After nearly ten years of working on the island, for the son of the fourth war zone Dong Trieu, Vinh Thuc has soon become a part of his flesh and blood. The longing for his wife and children is always there, family meals without his father are still a concern, but it has never made him waver. Major Ngo Quang Diep confided: "There are nights on guard duty, looking out at the dark sea, my heart aches with longing for my family. But then I think of the national flag flying on the island, I feel proud and tell myself to be more steadfast."  

Quang Ninh province armed forces participate in fighting forest fires in the area.

Corporal Do Tien Van, a soldier of Battery 1, Artillery Platoon, shared: “The first days I set foot on the island, I still felt very unsteady. At night, I lay listening to the waves, hoping to quickly get used to the new rhythm of life. But thanks to the seniors who were always there to encourage and guide me in every little thing, I gradually felt everything became closer, and considered the island as my second home.”

Overcoming these difficulties, officers and soldiers of Vinh Thuc Island Company still persevered in training, maintained regularity and discipline; strictly maintained training activities, combat readiness to ensure excellent completion of all assigned tasks. Thanks to careful preparation, the company left a clear mark in the Training Preparation Competition of the Provincial Military Command, and was highly appreciated for its scientific and safe nature. Up to now, the company has successfully completed training and combat readiness tasks for many consecutive years, and has been recognized and rewarded by the Provincial Military Command.

Along with the training mission, Vinh Thuc Island Company also focuses on self-sufficiency in logistics. The concentrated farming area with more than 1,200m² grows dozens of types of vegetables, harvesting 7,500kg of green vegetables/year; raising over 200 poultry, 7 cows, 1 fish pond... providing local food sources, contributing to improving the quality of soldiers' meals.

Captain Dinh Trong Nam, Captain of Vinh Thuc Island Company, checks the unit's officers and soldiers' readiness to respond to storm No. 11.

Captain Dinh Trong Nam, Captain of Vinh Thuc Island Company, shared: “We always consider difficulties as a test to hone the mettle of island soldiers. The important thing is that officers and soldiers are never alone. Over the past time, we have always received special attention from all levels. Especially the reconstruction of spacious and solid barracks, with full functional housing areas, has added strength for each soldier to feel secure in their long-term commitment and excellently complete their assigned tasks.”

The solid support of the soldier

Not only in Vinh Thuc, but also throughout the border and island areas of Quang Ninh province, soldiers still stick to the land and sea day and night, protecting every inch of the sacred land of the Fatherland. There are still many difficulties, but they always have a strong support behind them, which is the rear. The care and sharing from the Party Committee, the government, from comrades and the whole social community has become a great source of encouragement, helping soldiers to hold their guns firmly and feel secure in their long-term attachment to the border and island areas.

Private La Van Long, a soldier of Vinh Thuc Island Company, and his teammates increase production and take care of the unit's vegetable garden.

Private La Van Long, a soldier of Vinh Thuc Island Company, a Mong ethnic man from Cao Bang is a proof. Enlisting in the army in early 2024, La Van Long had not yet gotten used to military life when his small house in his poor hometown suddenly burned down due to an electrical short circuit. His parents were farmers, and life was already difficult, now even more exhausted. Faced with that situation, the unit commander reported to his superiors and launched a fundraising campaign throughout the unit. Not only his teammates, many agencies, businesses, and localities also joined hands to support funding, helping La Van Long's family rebuild a new house. "Without that help, my family would not know how to manage. I understand more clearly the camaraderie and the care of the rear, so that I can work with peace of mind and complete my mission" - Private La Van Long shared.

Not only young soldiers like La Van Long, but also long-time officers also received timely care. Major Ngo Anh Cuong, an officer of the PTKV 1 Command Board - Quang Ha, has nearly 24 years of service in the military, his hair is gray, his family situation is difficult, his wife does not have a stable job, his 2 children are often sick, the older child had to have his gallbladder removed, the younger child has congenital anemia. The level 4 house is seriously degraded, leaking and windy. In 2020, from the contribution of officers and soldiers of the Hai Ha district (old), his family received 80 million VND in support to build a new house. Recalling the story, Major Ngo Anh Cuong was moved: “The house not only helps my wife and children have a decent place to live, but is also a priceless spiritual gift. I feel the camaraderie, the care of the commander and the whole province for my family. With that support, I am more determined to stick with it and strive to complete the task, even though the work in the remote area is still very difficult.”

These specific stories are just a small slice of how Quang Ninh implements its military rear policy in a practical, timely and humane manner. Not only does the province support particularly difficult cases, it also devotes large resources to taking care of the armed forces in general.

Quang Ninh province's armed forces help people prevent storm No. 11 in 2025.

Over the past 5 years, on each occasion of Lunar New Year, the province has spent tens of billions of VND to support officers and soldiers; families with special difficulties; visit and give gifts on holidays, New Year, traditional days, as well as at meetings with retired military officers. Along with that, health care work, implementation of special regimes and policies are also focused on. Health examination and consultation programs, free medicine for policy beneficiaries and meritorious people are organized periodically, spreading the spirit of gratitude and deep humanity in the community.

Colonel Hoang Van Thuyet, Standing Deputy Secretary of the Party Committee and Political Commissar of the Provincial Military Command, affirmed: “In the coming time, the Party Committee of the Provincial Military Command will continue to focus on leading and directing the good work of staff, synchronously and promptly implementing policies for the army and the army's rear. At the same time, promoting the combined strength of the political system, the coordination of agencies, localities, businesses and people to create a solid foundation for officers and soldiers to work with peace of mind and have a long-term attachment to remote, isolated, border and island areas”.

At the remote border, or on the outpost island, every patrol step, every guard shift of the soldiers in Quang Ninh has the shadow of the rear watching and supporting. It is that concern that helps them stand firm in the face of storms, turn hardships into will, turn the distance into a second homeland. And from that attachment, the soldiers' faith becomes even stronger, so that every inch of land and every inch of sea of ​​the Fatherland is forever preserved in peace.

Article and photos: VAN DAM

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    Source: https://www.qdnd.vn/quoc-phong-an-ninh/xay-dung-quan-doi/can-bo-chien-si-llvt-tinh-quang-ninh-giu-vung-bien-dao-dong-bac-cua-to-quoc-850322