Early in April 1975, together with the liberation of central and south Trung Bo provinces, our army and people liberated a host of our offshore islands. On 14 April, Military Region V in coordination with the Navy Command liberated the Truong Sa (Spratly) Islands held by the Saigon puppet troops.

The desert storm was riding in its strength; the travellers lay beneath the mastery of the fell simoom.[…]Drifts of yellow vapour, fiery, parching, stinging, filled the air.

… two of the wives buxom and a third even buxomer with child, a patriarch, two brothers-in -law, and a couple of young men who were working toward being brothers-in-law.

...Now I must be off. Whew, it's as cold as the North Pole. Which way is the wind blowing?