Wallet and photographs found in grave of unidentified war martyr in Da Nang

A wallet and several photographs found in the grave of an unidentified war martyr in Da Nang have opened a potentially valuable path toward restoring the soldier’s name and finding relatives.

Officials discovered the items on September 8 at grave 179, section B, row 11, of Quế Hiệp Martyrs’ Cemetery while excavating and collecting biological samples for DNA testing. They documented and preserved the artifacts, while sealing and transferring the samples to specialists for examination.

The Da Nang Military Command said the photographs and other belongings could provide clues to the martyr’s identity, hometown and surviving family. One photograph clearly shows a woman, which officials said could help identify the soldier’s origins and relatives. Authorities urged anyone who recognizes the people or items to contact the nearest local authority or relevant agency.

Quế Sơn Trung currently manages five martyrs’ cemeteries with 2,472 graves. Of those, 1,646 belong to unidentified martyrs. Authorities have collected samples from more than 1,100 graves and are working to sample the remaining more than 500 before September 15, while weather conditions remain favorable.