VietNamNet Bridge – Amid the spiritual sea and sky of the country, hundreds of soldiers stood in memory of the soldiers who rest in peace forever on the Truong Sa Archipelago (Spratly Islands) in the battle on March 14, 1988, on Gac Ma Island.

Each ride through the Gac Ma Island, naval soldiers do not forget to prepare a wreath in memory of the soldiers who sacrificed to protect the island. In early January 2013, during its journey to ship gifts from the mainland to the Truong Sa Islands, ship HQ 561 stopped in the waters between the island groups of Co Lin – Gac a – Len Dao to prepare for a memorial service.

Senior Lieutenant Colonel Nguyen Van Thu, deputy political commissar of the Brigade 146 read the memorial speech.

Teammates and future generation of naval soldiers always remember the sacrifice of 64 soldiers on Gac Ma Island.

The minute of silence.

Burning incense in memory of teammates.

The wreath is transferred to the ship's side.

For being dropped into the sea.

The wreaths from the mainland bringing warmth and affection of the Vietnamese people for the soldiers who sacrificed to protect the country’s territory.

On 14.03.1988, when Vietnamese transport ships and soldiers were performing their mission of protecting the islands of Co Lin, Gac Ma and Len Dao, Chinese warships used large artilleries to attack the ship HQ-604 near the Gac Ma island, the HQ-605 HQ ship near the Len Dao island and the HQ-505 ship near the Co Lin island and landed on the Gac Ma Island to open fire on Vietnamese soldiers.

Source: VNE