His homecoming not only brought to an end a 54-year search by his loved ones but also stood as a vivid testament to Vietnam's tradition of remembering those who sacrificed their lives for the nation's independence and freedom.
Some searches last for more than half a century. Some promises are kept for a lifetime. Some tears can only truly be dried when the fallen are finally reunited with their families.
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After DNA identification confirms his brother's identity, Nguyen Trong Bay becomes emotional beside the remains of martyr Nguyen Trong Cat following a search that lasted more than half a century. |
At Nga Bay - Phung Hiep war cemetery in Can Tho city, the ceremony to hand over the remains of martyr Nguyen Trong Cat to his family was recently held in a solemn and emotional atmosphere. Amidst rows of white headstones, the heartfelt calls of his younger brother, Nguyen Trong Bay, moved many in attendance. After 54 years of searching through hope and despair, he was finally able to fulfill his parents' final wish of bringing his brother to rest in his hometown in Thanh Hoa province.
Nguyen Trong Bay recalled that before their parents passed away, they repeatedly urged their children to find their eldest son, who had fallen on the battlefield. Over the years, Bay traveled to the South many times, following every lead, meeting his brother’s comrades, and visiting war cemeteries in the hope of finding his brother. Although many of those journeys ended in disappointment, he never gave up and even asked his children to continue the search if he could no longer do so. His wish was finally fulfilled when DNA testing confirmed that his brother's grave was at Nga Bay - Phung Hiep war cemetery.
Martyr Nguyen Trong Cat was born in 1952 in Minh Dan commune, Trieu Son district, Thanh Hoa province (now Trieu Son commune, Thanh Hoa province). Serving as the deputy head of a platoon under Regiment 1, Military Region 9, he was killed in action on October 20, 1972, during the battle at Kinh Long Phung outpost in Long Thanh commune, Phung Hiep district (present Thanh Hoa commune, Can Tho city).
His comrades still remember him as a brave young cadre who always took the lead in the front. Dang Hoai Thong of the Regiment 1 U Minh Veterans' Liaison Committee said Nguyen Trong Cat and he came from the same hometown, enlisted on the same day, and marched together along the Truong Son Trail to the Southern battlefield. During fierce battles, particularly ones in the summer of 1972, the unit endured relentless bombing. Nguyen Trong Cat sacrificed his life heroically during the battle at Kinh Long Phung.
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Family members, comrades, and local authorities carry the martyr's remains to the central memorial at Nga Bay - Phung Hiep war cemetery. |
After national reunification, many of his comrades continued international service in Cambodia and were unable to return immediately to search for the remains of fallen comrades. By the time they returned, graves had been relocated and records lost, making the search extremely difficult. Nevertheless, driven by comradeship and responsibility, veterans of Regiment 1 spent years gathering information, contacting witnesses, and working with local authorities and the martyr's family to continue the search.
According to Phan Thanh My, Deputy Head of the Vietnam Fatherland Front Committee of Nga Bay ward and head of the ward's Veterans' Association, identifying fallen soldiers requires close coordination among functional agencies, socio-political organizations, veterans' liaison committees, and martyrs’ families. Every successful identification is the result of years of collecting records, verifying information, and applying scientific and technological advancements..
The identification of martyr Nguyen Trong Cat is one of the achievements of the ongoing 500-day campaign to accelerate the search for, collection, and identification of martyrs' remains. Beyond a scientific success, it reflects the strong commitment of the Party, the State, the military, and relevant agencies to locating and identifying fallen soldiers, helping ease the pain of war and fulfill the wishes of their families and the people.
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A portrait of martyr Nguyen Trong Cat, sketched from memory of his comrades, is presented to his family. |
Martyr Nguyen Trong Cat’s return, as the nation commemorates the 79th anniversary of War Invalids and Martyrs' Day, gives even greater meaning to Vietnam's tradition of gratitude. It marks not only the reunion of one family after more than half a century of waiting but also a powerful reminder of the responsibility of today's generations toward the nation's fallen soldiers.
Although the war ended decades ago, the mission of restoring the names and bringing fallen soldiers home continues. Every reunion is an act of remembrance that strengthens patriotism, reinforces public confidence in the Party and the State's policies, and reminds today and future generations that the nation's independence and peace were won through the sacrifice of countless sons and daughters of Vietnam.
Translated by Mai Huong