Border Guards Work Through Holiday to Find Missing Comrades in Martyrs’ Cemeteries

While Vietnam celebrated its National Day holiday, four Quang Ngai border guard sampling teams remained at martyrs’ cemeteries, working hour by hour to search for and identify the remains of fallen soldiers.

The teams continued excavations, collected biological samples and completed case files at their assigned locations. The work took place in difficult weather and demanded exceptional precision. Senior officers from the provincial border guard command visited the sites during the holiday, bringing gifts and encouragement to the personnel.

At Sa Thay Martyrs’ Cemetery, the teams discovered several artifacts during an excavation. Two paper fragments, each measuring about 5 by 10 centimetres, were found in two graves. Investigators also found an aluminium sheet measuring about 35 by 25 centimetres. It carried the markings “NÔNG THẾ AN”, “8,71”, “HS 24,5,72” and “C5 KC”.

Every clue is recorded, preserved and processed carefully. The remains of biological material recovered after decades are being kept for DNA analysis, which may help verify the identities of the soldiers.

Lieutenant Colonel Vu Manh Hien, deputy political officer of the Ro Koi Border Guard Station and leader of Sampling Team No. 9, said the personnel viewed the assignment as special and were using every day and hour to accelerate the work. “We have determined that this is a special mission, so we are making use of every day and every hour. Even during the holiday, the officers and soldiers encourage one another to overcome difficulties and carry out the mission with the highest sense of responsibility,” he said.

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We have determined that this is a special mission, so we are making use of every day and every hour. Even during the holiday, the officers and soldiers encourage one another to overcome difficulties and carry out the mission with the highest sense of responsibility.