Amidst the majestic Hoang Lien mountain range, these devoted sons of the nation, who had remained on the border for many years, were finally brought home and laid to rest with profound gratitude and respect.
From early morning, representatives of the Lao Cai Provincial Party Committee, People’s Council, People’s Committee, Vietnam Fatherland Front Committee, Military Region 2, and local authorities gathered at the ceremony. Along the road leading to the cemetery, local residents stood in silent tribute, awaiting the final farewell to those who had sacrificed their lives for the nation.
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Leaders of Lao Cai province and Military Region 2 stand beside the remains of the fallen soldiers. |
Delivering the eulogy on behalf of the local Party committee, authorities, and people, Chairman of the People’s Committee of Bat Xat commune Nguyen Manh Hung expressed deep gratitude for the sacrifices made by the fallen heroes in the cause of national construction and defense. He affirmed that today’s generation would continue upholding the nation’s proud traditions and contribute to building a prosperous, civilized, and happy country.
Among those attending the ceremony was veteran Hoang Xuan Duc, a former soldier of Company 6, Battalion 2, Regiment 192, Division 355. Having once fought at Hill 350B in the Hoang Lien Son range, he remained deeply concerned about comrades who never returned from the battlefield. After the war, he actively provided information and assisted in tracing battlefield remnants, helping authorities identify locations where soldiers’ remains were believed to be buried. Witnessing his fallen comrades finally laid to rest in a war cemetery brought him a measure of peace after decades of carrying that burden.
According to Giang Quoc Hung, Vice Chairman of the Lao Cai Provincial People’s Committee and Head of the Provincial Steering Committee for the 500-Day and Night Campaign on the search, recovery, and identification of fallen soldiers’ remains (Steering Committee in short), the provincial military command actively advised local authorities in issuing directives and coordinating efforts. The province also proposed the establishment of a dedicated recovery team under the provincial military command.
Since its formation, the team has undergone training and carried out extensive field operations. As of June 20, Lao Cai province had mobilized 2,229 officer and soldier deployments for the mission. Search teams excavated more than 280 hectares of land out of a total search area of 2,050 hectares and removed approximately 4,050 cubic meters of soil and rock, leading to the discovery of the remains of 13 fallen soldiers.
Among them, four identified soldiers have already been recovered, commemorated, and buried in war cemeteries in accordance with regulations and the wishes of their families.
Alongside recovery efforts, the province has collected DNA samples from 931 of the 1,262 graves located in 10 of the 15 war cemeteries included in the first phase of the campaign. Behind these figures lie countless days spent traversing forests and mountains, as well as the dedication and responsibility of those continuing the mission to restore the names and identities of fallen heroes.
According to Senior Colonel Nguyen Duc Cuong, Political Commissar of the Lao Cai Provincial Military Command and Deputy Head of the Provincial Steering Committee, the search for fallen soldiers’ remains faces significant challenges. Rugged terrain, remote locations, difficult transportation routes, and changes to the landscape caused by time, nature, and socio-economic development have erased many traces of former battlefields. Meanwhile, the number of direct witnesses continues to decline, and much of the available information has been passed down through generations, limiting its accuracy.
To overcome these obstacles, the provincial military command has directed recovery forces to verify information, study wartime records, conduct field surveys, clear search areas, remove unexploded ordnance, and carry out excavation and recovery operations in accordance with regulations.
The command will continue advising the provincial Steering Committee on implementing comprehensive measures, expanding information collection efforts, ensuring sufficient funding and equipment, and strengthening coordination with relevant agencies and local authorities to accelerate the search, recovery, and identification of fallen soldiers’ remains.
Although the journey remains challenging, the achievements made in Lao Cai demonstrate an unwavering commitment to honoring those who sacrificed their lives for the nation’s independence and freedom. Through these continued efforts, more fallen heroes will be reunited with the gratitude and remembrance of the Vietnamese people.
Translated by Tran Hoai