The story of a veteran searching for relatives of a fallen soldier.

(Baonghean) - He said that as a soldier, having witnessed life and death on the battlefield, the human connection, the camaraderie, and the bond between comrades are incredibly strong.

Moreover, back home, there are countless mothers longing for their sons, wives waiting for their husbands; even a single piece of news about a loved one is a source of joy for the rest of their lives. Therefore, his "journey" has continued and will continue...

Mr. Dang Quang Huynh presented photographs documenting his meeting with the relatives of fallen soldiers.

Two journeys and 700 photos

In the house of Mr. Dang Quang Huynh (born in 1958) in Hamlet 4, Dien Tho Commune (Dien Chau District), there is an altar in the corner of the room, not for worshipping ancestors or close relatives. He said, when we curiously asked him: “This is a place I set aside to worship the soldiers from Nghe An who fell in the ‘fire land’ of Quang Tri. On the 15th day of the lunar month, holidays, and Tet (Lunar New Year), I always offer incense to the souls of those soldiers who never had the chance to return to their families and hometowns.”

Our story then began with those bygone years, when Dang Quang Huynh, a young man from Dien Tho, joined the army in early 1975. On the day of the great victory, Dang Quang Huynh and his unit were ordered to go to the South to hunt down remnants of the enemy and rebuild the base. This helped Mr. Huynh to feel, to some extent, the ferocity of the war and the losses suffered by our soldiers and people. Among those who fell was his maternal uncle, whose grave had not yet been found. In 1993, after leaving the army, he saved up money and decided to go to Quang Tri to find his uncle's grave, fulfilling the wish of his maternal grandparents when they were still alive.

With a backpack on his shoulder containing a few changes of clothes, some packets of instant noodles, and a camera, Mr. Huynh had visited Quang Tri twice during the scorching summer days. He went from one cemetery to another, probably 25 locations in total, but still couldn't find a single headstone bearing his uncle's name.

From Truong Son, Cam Lo, Highway 9 to Hai Lang, Vinh Linh, then Khe Sanh, Hai Truong... it's impossible to recount all the hardships, difficulties, and toil on that journey, facing hunger and thirst, having to walk for kilometers on treacherous mountain passes. Everywhere he went, he saw the names of fallen soldiers from Nghe An province, and he began to have the idea of ​​photographing those tombstones so that when he returned home, he could find the families of those buried there. Thus, he has about 700 photos after two journeys, while the graves of his loved ones remain undiscovered.

Mr. Dang Quang Huynh stands beside the photographs and letters from the relatives of fallen soldiers that he is preserving.

Returning home, Dang Quang Huynh printed all the photos he had taken. The cost of film and developing 700 photos was a considerable sum for the family of a wounded soldier. “But as a soldier, you must always put loyalty and friendship first; you can’t be calculating or petty, because those who fell sacrificed themselves so that you could live.” With that thought in mind, Mr. Huynh decided to follow the addresses inscribed on the tombstones to find the relatives of the fallen soldiers, informing them of the resting places of their loved ones. He began a new journey, no less arduous and tiring, through: Do Luong, Thanh Chuong, Nghi Loc…

If he was busy or too far away, he would write letters and send them to the address on the tombstone. He faced countless difficulties and hardships on that journey, but he refused to give up. He believed that even though he was tired, bringing joy and alleviating the longing and anxiety of a family was his happiness. Thinking this way, he silently and persistently continued his work, even though his disability pension was meager and he had to scrimp and save to raise five children who were growing up. There were times his wife complained, but he patiently persuaded her, speaking of humanity, compassion, and selflessness. She understood and wholeheartedly supported him.

Bridge of Gratitude

“...We are extremely grateful to Mr. Dang Quang Huynh, a kind-hearted veteran who helped our family with all selflessness. And I know that many families have received help from Mr. Huynh like ours. If there were more role models like Mr. Huynh, it would help many families find their loved ones quickly. Before my father passed away, his only wish was to find the remains of my brother Thu. Now, I'm sure my father can rest in peace. We are deeply grateful for his kindness!” These are the heartfelt words of Mr. Nguyen Van Quang from Quynh Xuan (Quynh Luu), the younger brother of martyr Nguyen Van Thu, expressing his gratitude to Mr. Dang Quang Huynh. And this is just one of hundreds of letters of gratitude that relatives of martyrs from all over the country have sent to him.

A letter from the relatives of a fallen soldier expressing gratitude to Mr. Dang Quang Huynh.

There were also families who traveled to Dien Tho to meet him in person and express their gratitude, to witness firsthand the life of this compassionate veteran. Most of the families of fallen soldiers faced difficult circumstances, so the gifts they brought were simple things like a bunch of garden vegetables, a bundle of green tea, or, if they were luckier, a dozen oranges or chicken eggs. Some people came but didn't have enough money to return home, so Mr. Huynh drove them to National Highway 1A to catch a bus and gave them some money for travel expenses.

This is a list of martyrs from Nghe An province buried in cemeteries in Quang Tri province, compiled and preserved by Mr. Dang Quang Huynh.

During that arduous and exhausting journey, Mr. Huynh had many joyful, sad, and surprising memories. He remembers most vividly the time he took a photograph of a soldier's tombstone and went to find the family of the fallen soldier whose name was inscribed on it. Upon arriving at the house, after a while of conversation, he realized that the "fallen soldier" was still alive, having returned from the battlefield and was speaking to him. War is often associated with brutality, hardship, and sacrifice, but sometimes there are moments of miracles. During a march, this "fallen soldier" lost an arm to enemy artillery fire. His comrades retrieved the arm, buried it, and inscribed his name on the tombstone. Later, the recovery team found the grave with the soldier's name and hometown and placed it in the cemetery. Until one day, Mr. Huynh took a photograph and went to find him… The two soldiers embraced, their smiles mixed with tears.

To date, after more than 10 years, through direct visits to homes, letters, television messages, and close friends, Mr. Dang Quang Huynh has managed to send approximately 450 photographs. This means that many families have received information about the resting place of their children and loved ones. In other words, he has built a bridge connecting the shores of love, linking the real world and the spiritual realm, bringing joy to countless people.

Cong Kien