Memories of finding teammates

(Baonghean) - Lighting incense on the martyrs' graves, the question in my heart is: How many martyrs have not been gathered, how many cases have not been identified?

In early November 1995, I was assigned to the Collection Unit, Nghe An Provincial Military Command. As a squad leader, at first I was very vague about the unit's mission. One day in early November 1995, the unit thoroughly prepared all aspects to carry out the collection mission in Laos.

Because we did a good job with our ideological work, everyone was excited. Everyone in the group had gone through at least one round of regrouping. This was my first time, and I was the squad leader, so I was even more worried and restless.

We marched along Highway 7A, which at that time was narrow, bad and very difficult to travel. It took us 2 days to reach Pon-xavan town of Xieng Khouang province. During the dry season, the climate in Laos is very harsh, with some areas scorching hot during the day and freezing cold at night.

After coordinating with the Xieng Khouang Provincial Military Command and related agencies, you sent a reinforced platoon of 28 comrades with full weapons to protect the unit (at this time, there were bandits operating in the Xieng Khouang area). We passed through many villages and Muongs, the terrain was extremely complicated, the roads were very difficult to travel, the deeper we went, the more places we had to follow the direction.

There are areas where one has to walk through the forest for several kilometers. Many places still have the remains of shiny mortar shells, B41, M79, which give a creepy feeling. The areas where the units gathered are Tham-Nam-Xiem, Phu-Va-Xay, Hin-Tang, Ban-Ban, Luong-Pha-Deng..., which are said to be cemeteries, but during the war, the burials were still sketchy, lacking maps, inaccurate, bombs, trees, and time made the traces disappear.

Some places have a few graves, some have 15-20 graves, some are under big trees, some are in the middle of the road, most of the cemetery is deep in the deserted forest. Some graves are 1.5-2m deep, some are shallow, some cemeteries have been plowed up by bombs and bullets, the remains of martyrs are scattered, some martyrs have an M79 bullet still in their mouths... Those scenes made all of us extremely emotional, many comrades cried.

Looking for teammates. Photo: Canh Nam

During the time of martyrs’ sacrifice from around 1962 to 1985, many graves had only a few remains left, but there were also graves that were still fresh and had to be cremated. We meticulously searched, collected, arranged, and minimized errors, hoping to make up for the sacrifices, losses, and disadvantages of the martyrs and their relatives.

Having completed the mission, the host country held a solemn farewell ceremony, and we hurriedly prepared everything to set off to bring the remains of the Vietnamese volunteer soldiers and experts who died on the host country after many years of separation back to our homeland.

Of the more than 180 remains this time, less than half of the martyrs have information, the information is very sketchy or difficult to determine, and most of them have not been identified by name, age, unit, or hometown. Although in recent times, the Party and the State have paid special attention, and departments and branches have had many initiatives to innovate the content, methods, and ways to search, collect, and store. However, these efforts seem to be still insignificant compared to the sacrifices and contributions of the martyrs as well as the wishes and aspirations of their relatives.

There is a need for scientific research topics to produce chemical reagents and supporting tools for drilling exploration to facilitate the search and recovery. There is a need for complete and detailed records of what needs to be known and what is known about martyrs to be looked up, supplemented, tested, identified, and the names of martyrs returned, so that the martyrs' families and relatives can know, be welcomed home, and have incense and offerings made.

Every holiday or Tet, I feel emotional, remembering the days of gathering, remembering the martyrs. Lighting incense on the martyrs' graves, my heart aches with the question: How many martyrs have not been gathered, how many cases have not been identified?

Ngo Tri Minh