Leather wallet bearing numbers and the signature “Trọng Thanh” found in unidentified war martyr's grave

A leather wallet bearing the number sequence “20.3.70” and the handwritten name “Trọng Thanh” has been found with unidentified war remains in Quảng Ngãi.

The discovery came as Team 5 collected DNA samples at Ba Tơ Martyrs' Cemetery. Officials found the wallet in grave No. 10, row 8, section B, during work to identify the remains.

The object had suffered extensive damage, peeling and corrosion after decades underground. The writing inside, however, remained relatively clear. Authorities initially believe the signature may be the name of the fallen soldier, while the numbers above it may represent the day, month and year of enlistment.

The Quảng Ngãi provincial military command said such personal effects could provide important clues in the search for soldiers whose identities remain unknown. They may help relatives compare information and support identification through DNA testing and other records, with the aim of returning the soldiers' names to their families and hometowns.

On Sept. 1 and 2, the same sampling team found other items during excavation at the cemetery, including a small album containing a woman's portrait and a leather wallet bearing the name “Đinh Xuân Mễ.” In another grave, officials found handwritten text reading either “Nguyễn Văn Thuận” or “Nguyễn Văn Tuấn,” along with the sequence “748903 TA 90” and a woman's portrait.