The remains were found in a mass grave at Bien Hoa airport by the provincial Military Command in March thanks to information provided by both Vietnamese and American veterans.
The remains were found in a mass grave at Bien Hoa airport. (Photo: zing.vn).
The Steering Committee on Search and Repatriation of Martyrs’ Remains (known as Steering Committee 1237) in the province, local units and authorities have identified 72 martyrs in the battle, whose hometowns are in 22 provinces and cities across Vietnam. These martyrs were troops of Battalion 1, Regiment 4, Regiment 5 of Infantry Division 5 and Bien Hoa Commando Company.
In the battle at Bien Hoa airbase at dawn on January 31, 1968, scores of troops bravely fought outnumbered enemy troops and sacrificed themselves, in an effort to neutralize the airbase, destroy enemy technical and logistics bases and aircraft, reducing the enemy’s whole strength.
Related agencies are hoped to have more information on the fallen soldiers in the coming time.
On the occasion, Vice President Dang Thi Ngoc Thinh presented gifts, worth VND 2 million each, to 66 family members of the fallen soldiers in the battle at Bien Hoa airport.
Earlier, on July 11 evening, the Dong Nai provincial Military Command organized an exchange themed “Comrades’ sentiment and gratitude”, during which historical witnesses recalled the battle on January 31, 1968, and troops in charge of searching martyrs’ remains told about their work.
These martyrs were troops of Battalion 1, Regiment 4, Regiment 5 of Infantry Division 5 and Bien Hoa Commando Company.(Photo: zing.vn)
Also on July 12, delegations from the Ministry of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs and the General Department of Politics (GDP) of the Vietnam People’s Army, led by member of the Party Central Committee, Minister of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs Dao Ngoc Dung, and Deputy Director of the GDP Lieutenant General Do Can, inquired after and presented gifts to troops of the Ho Chi Minh City Command and K70 Team of the Department of Politics of Military Region 7, who are undertaking the mission of studying, searching and repatriating martyrs’ remains at Tan Son Nhat International Airport.
The two head delegates studied the field and sent encouragement to the troops. They recognized the initial outcomes of the work and highly valued the troops’ high sense of responsibility for the work. They hoped that the troops would surmount difficulties and exert all-out efforts to accomplish their missions.
Translated by Mai Huong