Driven by responsibility and gratitude toward those who sacrificed for national independence and international obligations, six search and collection teams under Military Region 4 continue their mission across remote areas in Laos during the 2025-2026 dry season.
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The search and collection team of the Thanh Hoa Provincial Military Command recovers martyrs’ remains. |
Tracking these teams through dense forests reveals the intensity of their special mission. In Nammen village, Xiangkhouang province, the search team from the Nghe An Provincial Military Command navigated rugged trails to San Luong mountain. After days of excavation in difficult terrain, they discovered a martyr’s grave containing relatively intact remains and personal items like buttons and hammock fragments. Non-commissioned Major Nguyen Van Thang shared, “It is not just a mission, it is a meeting of comrades from hai different generations.”
Success requires immense physical effort. Laos’ terrain consists of high mountains and untouched forests, often requiring four to five hours of trekking without existing paths. Colonel Le Xuan The noted that despite these hardships, the teams never give up. Each mission lasts months under harsh weather, facing risks from illness and injury. Second Lieutenant Nguyen Duc Tung and Non-commissioned Major Trieu Duyen Hoang emphasized that the bond between comrades and the duty to those still lying in the forest keep them from faltering.
Finding remains is a sacred moment. Colonel Nguyen Van Tuan, head of the search and collection team under the Thanh Hoa Provincial Military Command, affirmed, “As long as one grave remains unfound, we will not stop.” Operating across 10 provinces in central Laos, the teams receive strong support from local authorities. Major General Nek Vikhachan, Political Commissar of Laos’ Houaphanh Provincial Military Command, noted that Laos facilitates these efforts to honor the tradition of solidarity between the two countries.
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The search and collection team of the Thanh Hoa Provincial Military Command transports the martyrs’ remains. |
In the first six months of the 2025-2026 dry season, the teams recovered 117 sets of martyrs’ remains. Major General Le Van Trung, Deputy Political Commissar of Military Region 4 and Head of Steering Committee 515 of Military Region 4, emphasized that this work reflects the tradition of “When drinking water, remember its sources.” The journey remains challenging, but these soldiers continue to traverse mountains and forests to bring their comrades home, fulfilling a profound promise of the heart.
Translated by Trung Thanh