U.S. hands over war keepsakes to Vietnamese owners

At the event, Deputy Head of the Department of Policies – Social Affairs and Director of Military Social Insurance Major General Cao Xuan Thang, a representative from the National Steering Committee 515, and the U.S. Ambassador to Vietnam Marc E. Knapper handed over the war keepsakes, including notebooks, diaries, and letters of five veterans and three soldiers who laid down their lives in wartime, to the veterans and families.

A view of the handover ceremony

All the war keepsakes were delivered to the Department of Policies – Social Affairs and Office of the National Steering Committee 515 by the Ash Center in mid-March 2025. Thanks to the responsibility and efforts of various agencies, units, localities and the cooperation and support from the Ash Center, the information of veterans and families of the fallen related to the items was successfully verified.

War veterans and families of martyrs receiving war keepsakes

Speaking at the event, Major General Cao Xuan Thang emphasized the significance and spiritual value of these wartime keepsakes, which had been lost for many years and have now been returned to the families and loved ones of the martyrs and veterans.

Photos of war keepsakes

General Thang expressed appreciation to the U.S. for its continued support to Vietnam’s settlement of war legacy over the past time, particularly in the search and gathering of martyrs' remains. He thanked the U.S. Embassy, the U.S. Defense Attaché Office, and Harvard University for providing the war keepsakes and helping organize the ceremony. He stressed that this event was a testament to the effective cooperation between the two countries, contributing to deepening Vietnam - U.S. relations, in line with the spirit of “leaving the past behind, looking towards the future,” and the shared understanding of the two nations’ senior leaders.

Maj. Gen. Cao Xuan Thang, Ambassador Marc E. Knapper hands over the war keepsakes to Vietnamese veterans and relatives of fallen soldiers.

At the ceremony

At the event, U.S. Ambassador Marc E. Knapper remarked that for decades, the U.S. and Vietnam have tirelessly worked together to address war legacy, laying the groundwork for the two countries’ comprehensive strategic partnership. He noted that the series of war keepsake handover events have symbolized the growth in bilateral relations and allowed both sides to reflect on the extraordinary journey they have taken together, helping build greater trust between the two nations.

Translated by Song Anh