On this journey of gratitude, the Thanh Hoa provincial Steering Committee 515 is mobilizing the whole political system, with the provincial Military Command playing a core role, to bring fallen heroes back to their homeland.
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The search and collection team of the Thanh Hoa provincial Military Command resting by a stream in Upper Laos |
Silent footsteps in Laos
Amidst foggy, dense forests of Muang Hiam district, Houaphanh province, Laos, officers and soldiers from the search and collection team under the Thanh Hoa provincial Military Command tirelessly excavated the soil. After eight months of trekking through forests and wading across streams in 10 districts, surveying 714 villages, and digging at 55 sites, the team successfully recovered the remains of 19 Vietnamese volunteer soldiers and advisors.
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During the 2025-2026 dry season, the Thanh Hoa provincial Military Command’s search and collection team successfully recovers the remains of 19 martyrs. |
Sharing the challenges, Non-commissioned Major Trieu Duyen Hoang, a team member, noted that despite rugged terrain, severe water shortages, and blistered feet from long marches, all exhaustion dissipated upon finding their comrades.
The team also served as “ambassadors” of friendship by conducting effective mass mobilization, providing free medical check-ups and medicines to about 1,800 locals, donating necessities, and assisting in village repairs. Luteng Chuemaiteng, Principal of Houaphanh provincial Ethnic Boarding School, expressed deep gratitude for the warm affection the Vietnamese troops brought to Lao people.
This trust yielded invaluable information. For instance, Lienvi Laykham, head of Sam Phan Thoong village, accurately guided the team to the spot where soldiers had fallen. Furthermore, Senior Colonel Le Huu Tuan, the team leader, persistently gathered information from former adversaries, securing precise coordinates that helped the collection efficiency exceed targets by 18%.
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Military medics from the Thanh Hoa provincial Military Command’s collection team provide medical check-ups and health consultations for residents in Houaphanh province (Laos). |
Journey to reclaim names for martyrs
Once the remains are repatriated to the Dong Tam International War Cemetery, the journey of identification begins. Senior Colonel Nguyen Xuan Toan, Deputy Political Commissar of the Thanh Hoa provincial Military Command, affirmed that the 500-day campaign closely integrates search, collection, and identification efforts to erase the “unidentified” inscription on tombstones.
The urgency of the campaign was evident at Trieu Son commune war cemetery on July 1, where biological sampling was conducted meticulously. Hoang Thi Thiep, the sister of a martyr, expressed profound emotion and sorrow while witnessing the unidentified graves, hoping to finally find her brother after over half a century of waiting.
At Trieu Son war cemetery, relevant forces extracted biological samples from 92 out of 486 unidentified graves for data digitization. Lieutenant Colonel Tran Trung Thanh, Head of the Board of Political Affairs under the Thanh Hoa provincial Military Command, reported that by early July, DNA samples had been taken from over 200 graves across the province.
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General Nguyen Trong Nghia, Chief of the General Department of Political Affairs, attends the memorial and burial service for 19 martyrs at Dong Tam International War Cemetery in Thanh Hoa province in May 2026. |
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DNA sampling operations at war cemeteries across Thanh Hoa province |
With 3,544 unidentified graves out of approximately 56,000 martyrs statewide, the Thanh Hoa provincial Steering Committee 515 has set a breakthrough goal: to collect 45 sets of remains (12 domestically, 33 in Laos) and complete 100% DNA sampling of unidentified graves by the first quarter of 2027. Under the direction of the Head of the provincial Steering Committee 515, the campaign mobilizes the combined strength of military, police, medical forces, and local mass organizations, establishing a scientific and comprehensive process.
In conclusion
Whether deep in the rugged Upper Laos jungles or back home where altars hold only death certificates, the burning desire to bring soldiers home fully identified persists. The 500-day campaign in Thanh Hoa province is not merely about statistical targets; it represents an honorable oath taken by the political system and the officers and soldiers of the provincial Military Command. This sacred mission will only conclude when no grave lacks information, entirely fulfilling the heartfelt mandate of today’s generation.
Translated by Minh Anh