Unable to forget
At the Phu Vang Martyrs' Cemetery, amid the scorching heat and the waves of heat rising from thousands of graves, the soldiers of Search and Recovery Team 192 under the Hue City Military Command - the core force of the campaign - along with militia members, medical personnel, and local officials, continue tirelessly with their mission. Each grave of a martyr whose identity remains unknown is carefully opened to collect biological samples, digitize data, and hand over the samples for DNA testing, in the hope of identifying the fallen and bringing them home to their families and loved ones. Their backs are soaked with sweat and their faces darkened by the sun, yet everyone works urgently, meticulously, and without rest.
Because many cemeteries have been upgraded over the years, the graves have been solidly constructed, with ceramic burial containers holding the remains buried deep beneath the ground. As a result, the process of carefully opening the graves, collecting samples, and restoring everything to its original condition is not easy. The work requires caution, perseverance, and meticulous attention at every stage. At some graves, officers and soldiers have to spend many hours completing the excavation. “When we encounter difficult cases, we work through noon and into the evening until the work at the martyrs' graves is finished before we take a break,” said Major Le Van Thanh, who is in charge of sample collection at Phu Vang Martyrs' Cemetery.
After 11 years of working alongside his comrades to search for, recover, and collect the remains of fallen soldiers, the soldier spoke from the heart: As long as the sons of the nation who sacrificed their lives for the Fatherland remain in forests, by streams, and in the mountains and hills; as long as fallen soldiers have been recovered and placed in cemeteries but their identities have yet to be determined, their families will continue to wait and hope. So many mothers and fathers have passed away without ever being able to see their children come home. That is the reason, the motivation, and also the great responsibility that keeps these soldiers deeply committed to their mission, overcoming every difficulty in their journey to find their fallen comrades and reunite them with their families.
Taking part in the 500-day-and-night campaign means racing against time, harsh weather, and countless challenges, but it is also a source of pride and unforgettable emotions. “When we find the remains of the fallen soldiers, we are so happy and relieved. No matter how tired we are, the fatigue disappears. In many cases, there is nothing left in the grave; the bones have already merged with the earth. The sadness is indescribable,” Major Thanh said in a subdued voice.
He explained: “The samples sent for testing have to be hard, such as teeth or bones. In reality, in many cases the bones are not very solid, but we still have to take samples. I told the medical staff: ‘Even if the bones are not intact, just send the sample. If it can be tested, then we will have fulfilled our duty. If it cannot be tested, then they will remain here with Phu Vang, with Hue City. The people of Phu Vang and the people of Hue City will forever be their relatives and family.’”
The heat is scorching. Sweat soaks through their shirts. The soldiers and other forces continue tirelessly with their work, careful in every movement. “Mr. Thanh, we've brought him up!” a soldier called out emotionally. Major Le Van Thanh immediately joined his comrades in carefully lifting the heavy ceramic burial container and placing it on a stretcher. The national flag was respectfully draped over it by the officers and soldiers, embracing the remains of the fallen soldier before they were taken to the sampling area. In that moment, the atmosphere seemed to fall silent in solemn reverence and gratitude.
Opening the door to hope
After careful and meticulous work, when they reach bones that are sufficiently preserved to provide viable samples, joy lights up the soldiers' faces. These samples may preserve DNA, providing a basis for testing and identifying the fallen soldiers, and opening up new hope of bringing them home to their families. At 42 martyrs' cemeteries across Hue City, every drop of sweat shed by the soldiers and local forces soaks into the scorching summer days and mixes with the rain of thunderstorms, all in the hope of creating more moments of joy like these. As of July 14, nearly 2,000 biological samples from the remains of fallen soldiers had been collected, with 724 samples handed over to the Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology, the organization responsible for receiving the samples and conducting DNA testing, bringing the fallen soldiers one step closer to their ‘journey home’.
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| Searching for the remains of fallen soldiers at Huong Thuy Railway Station |
According to Colonel Le Hong Viet, member of the Hue City Party Committee and Political Commissar of the Hue City Military Command, as well as Standing Deputy Head of the Steering Committee for the Search, Recovery, and Identification of Fallen Soldiers' Remains in Hue City, during the 500-day-and-night campaign to intensify the search, recovery, and identification of fallen soldiers' remains, in the 2025–2026 dry season, Search and Recovery Team 192 under the Hue City Military Command searched for and repatriated the remains of eight fallen soldiers in neighboring Laos. In Vietnam, at A Doon Hill in Pi Ay 2 Village, A Luoi 2 Commune, the team recovered the remains of one fallen soldier who had died during one of the country's various periods of war. This result, too, came from tireless efforts, driven by determination and by the orders of the soldiers' hearts, in a journey of responsible remembrance and gratitude.
Based on information provided by local residents and veterans, the soldiers of Search and Recovery Team 192 continue to stay in the field day and night, making every effort to search for and bring the remains of fallen soldiers home to their comrades, families, and loved ones. At search sites including Gia Hoi High School, Ong Tre Mountain, Phong Thai Ward, Huong Thuy Station, and many other locations throughout Hue City, the soldiers' sweat has soaked into the earth.
When we visited the area around Huong Thuy Station, the sun was scorching, but Lieutenant Colonel Ngo Tri Hung, Commander of Search and Recovery Team 192, Major Nguyen Van Le, and their comrades continued tirelessly, using hoes and shovels to open paths through the soil. This is a location suspected to contain the remains of fallen soldiers. The information was provided by Mr. Le Huu Tong, a former soldier in the Hue City Team's special forces unit, who personally came to the site with the officers and soldiers of Search and Recovery Team 192 to identify the area and conduct the search.
Recalling the battle in which they attacked a U.S. armored base, where nearly 100 comrades were killed, Mr. Tong spoke with emotion: “Many of my comrades died right beside me, and to this day their remains have still not been found. I have never been able to put that sorrow aside. When I learned that the Party and State were launching the 500-day-and-night campaign, I was so happy and moved that I could not sleep. Since the campaign began, I have continuously received phone calls from the families of comrades who live far away, entrusting us with so much hope.”
That hope became reality on July 17, when officers and soldiers of Search and Recovery Team 192 found the remains of a fallen soldier in the area around Huong Thuy Station. For those soldiers whose work is dedicated to recovering the remains of fallen comrades, every set of remains they find is not merely the result of days of persistent searching. It is also another opportunity for a fallen soldier to return to his name and to his family.