In the last days of the year, when everyone is busy returning home to celebrate Tet, officers and soldiers of Coast Guard Vessel 8005, Naval Flotilla 42, Coast Guard Region 4 Command begin their journey to protect the sea.
The simple images in the trip are Tet gift packages, bags of rice, food and even apricot and peach branches carefully fixed.
When 3 long whistles rang, on the command deck, the order also rang loudly and decisively from Captain Nguyen Van Cong, Captain of the ship: "The entire ship is on combat alert, preparing to go to sea...". Standing along the side of the ship according to the harbor salute ceremony, sun-dried faces stood solemnly facing the beloved mainland.
New Year's Eve is approaching, the Tet atmosphere is busier than ever. Navy soldiers are used to holding guns and steering, but when preparing for Tet, they are surprisingly skillful.
At the Ho Chi Minh Room, the decoration of the "Spring Room" was prepared early with kumquat pots and apricot blossom branches brought from the mainland. Because there were no long-term fresh flowers, the brothers cut and glued apricot blossoms and peach blossoms together, meticulously attached to dry branches brought from the mainland.
In the living compartment, officers and soldiers gathered to wrap banh chung. The brothers had to take advantage of the calm sea time to wrap banh chung together. Although they spread mats right in the middle of the ship's compartment, leaning on the door frame to maintain balance, the banh chung were still square and beautiful.
Also carrying the task of Tet duty at sea, Coast Guard ship 2001 is sticking to the sea, patrolling, controlling, protecting sovereignty, maintaining security, order, and safety in the Southwest sea area of the Fatherland. Facing harsh weather conditions, they temporarily put aside personal matters and family, to keep peace for the people to enjoy Spring and celebrate Tet safely.
Along with that, technical and logistics inspection work is carried out strictly, machinery and equipment are carefully prepared to be ready to go on Tet duty. Each bag of food, foodstuffs, and necessities is carefully transported down to the ship, ensuring living conditions for officers and soldiers on long-term duty at sea.
Captain Nguyen Manh Cuong - Captain of Coast Guard Vessel 2001, Naval Flotilla 401 said: "We clearly identify Tet duty as a key political task, especially, not subjective or negligent, organize close command and maintain strict command duty and observation duty to ensure no passivity or surprise. Ensure good logistics and technical direction to comprehensively inspect the condition of weapons and machinery on the ship to ensure fuel and food in the process of performing tasks at sea".
During the Tet holidays, many officers and soldiers put aside their private joys, away from their families to perform their duties, some people celebrate Tet away from home for the first time with many emotional feelings. Overcoming personal feelings, each officer and soldier clearly defines the task as an order from their heart and responsibility to the Fatherland. In particular, the timely care and encouragement of the unit leader has added faith, helping officers and soldiers feel secure in their work, maintaining peace for the sea and sky in the spring days.
Senior Sergeant Tran Thanh Luan - Gunner of CSB 2001 ship, Naval Flotilla 401 shared: "This is the first time celebrating Tet away from my family, my emotions are quite emotional. However, I realize the responsibility and it is also an honor to perform this sacred task with the unit.
Senior Lieutenant Vu Viet The Oanh - Political Commissar of Coast Guard Vessel 2001, Naval Flotilla 401 said: "For young officers and soldiers who are performing missions at sea for the first time, we orient their thoughts, promptly encourage and share. So that officers and soldiers understand that this is a sacred mission, protecting peace for the people. On the ship, activities are also organized to celebrate Spring and welcome Tet so that officers and soldiers can ease their homesickness and feel more secure in doing their duties well.
Lieutenant Colonel Dao Ba Hung - Deputy Political Commissar of Naval Flotilla 401 said that when on duty throughout Tet, political and ideological work is valued even more to maintain political bravery, will and sense of responsibility for officers and soldiers.
In the open sea, ships silently split the waves to reach out to sea, continuing to write beautiful journeys about peacetime sea soldiers, to keep the whole spring for the Fatherland's sea and sky.
