Photo from mass grave of 4 martyrs: One of the 6 people in the picture identified

Nguyễn Gia Chính, a 76-year-old man from Phú Thọ province, has identified himself as one of the six individuals in a photograph discovered in a mass grave containing the remains of four Vietnamese soldiers in Minh Đức commune. The photograph, found in a tomb with four martyrs, has sparked emotional responses and a renewed hope for families seeking closure.

Mr. Chính confirmed he is the man standing in the middle of the black-and-white photo, which depicts three men and three women. The image was taken on June 1, 1968, approximately three months before Lê Công Duẩn, one of the individuals in the photo and a soldier whose remains are believed to be in the grave, enlisted in the army. At the time the photo was taken, all six individuals were still students. Lê Công Duẩn was the tallest person in the picture.

The photograph was originally taken in Hòa Bình province, now Phú Thọ, and each of the six friends kept a copy as a memento. Mr. Chính learned about the discovery of the photo in the mass grave through media reports and social media. A friend, described as the shortest man in the picture, recognized the image and alerted the others.

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In the photo of 6 people, 5 are still alive, only Duẩn has passed away. When we learned about the photo in the martyrs' mass grave, we were very emotional. I also contacted Duẩn's family and learned that the family is also looking for documents to do DNA testing. We all hope that our friend is in that mass grave, so he can soon return to his family and homeland.

Mr. Chính expressed deep emotion upon learning about the photo's discovery and shared his hope that his friend, Lê Công Duẩn, is among the four martyrs found. He has been in contact with Duẩn's family, who are preparing documents for DNA identification. "We all hope that our friend is in that mass grave, so he can soon return to his family and homeland," Mr. Chính stated.

Đặng Chiến Thắng, the younger half-brother of Lê Công Duẩn, also shared his family's hope. He is working to complete the necessary procedures for DNA testing. "Now we can only hope that my brother is among the four martyrs. We have to wait for verification and DNA testing. If it's true, it would be wonderful because it's been the family's wish for many years. We all hope to find him and bring him back to his homeland, to his siblings and relatives," Mr. Thắng said. He recalled that his brother enlisted without a family and that their mother passed away shortly after. The family received news of Duẩn's death in 1972, with comrades reporting he was killed in a bombing and nothing remained. The photograph offers a tangible connection and a renewed possibility of bringing him home.

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Now we can only hope that my brother is among the four martyrs. We have to wait for verification and DNA testing. If it's true, it would be wonderful because it's been the family's wish for many years. We all hope to find him and bring him back to his homeland, to his siblings and relatives.