Racing against time to find the remains of fallen soldiers.

QTO - Although the war ended more than half a century ago, many martyrs in Quang Tri province have yet to be returned to their homeland, families, and comrades. Overcoming difficulties due to dwindling information sources and changing battlefield terrain, officers and staff of the Search and Collection Team for the remains of martyrs of the 968th Division (Military Region 4) continue their tireless efforts day and night to bring these heroes back to their beloved homeland.

In the last days of May, amidst the scorching sun of western Quang Tri , officers and staff of the 968th Division's search and recovery team for fallen soldiers continued their tireless efforts, traversing forests and streams, following every clue and piece of information to find their comrades who bravely sacrificed their lives in the resistance wars.

Implementing the "500-day campaign to intensify the search, collection, and identification of the remains of fallen soldiers," the search and collection team of the 968th Division focused its search on key areas including Ba Long, Cam Lo, Hieu Giang, and Con Tien (Quang Tri) - places where fierce battles took place, resulting in the heroic sacrifice of many officers and soldiers.

To date, with a high sense of responsibility and close coordination with local Party committees, authorities, functional forces, and historical witnesses, the unit has searched for and collected the remains of 7 fallen soldiers. Each set of remains found not only helps alleviate the longing of their relatives but also represents the result of the persistent efforts of the soldiers carrying out the search mission.

The search and recovery team of the 968th Division found and recovered the remains of 3 fallen soldiers in the area of ​​Hill 278, Hieu Giang commune - Photo: TH

Following the search team's officers and staff on the ground, one can truly appreciate the difficulties and hardships of this special mission. Information sources are increasingly scarce, historical witnesses are dwindling over the years, while the terrain of the former battlefield has changed significantly. Many areas that were once fierce battles have now become planted forests, cultivated fields, or residential areas. Harsh weather conditions, with intense heat and unpredictable floods, also significantly affect the search process.

Colonel Dang Quyet Thang, Secretary of the Party Committee and Political Commissar of the 968th Division, stated: “The search and repatriation of the remains of fallen soldiers is a special political task, reflecting the principle of 'drinking water, remembering the source' and the responsibility of today's generation towards those who sacrificed for the Fatherland. Although there are still many difficulties, with the highest determination, we will continue to direct the search forces to ensure no information is missed, and to overcome hardships to bring the fallen soldiers back to their hometowns, families, and comrades.”

Lieutenant Colonel Cao Xuan Cuong, Team Leader of the Search and Collection Team for the remains of fallen soldiers of the 968th Division, shared: “The biggest difficulty currently is the decreasing amount of information about the burial places of fallen soldiers, with many witnesses being elderly or no longer alive. However, with a sense of responsibility and deep gratitude, the officers and staff in the team always strive to stay in the area, reviewing every source of information and every suspected area to improve the effectiveness of the search and collection.”

Leaders and commanders of the 968th Division inspect the determination of search coordinates on the map - Photo: TH

For soldiers tasked with searching for and collecting the remains of fallen soldiers, every piece of information, however small, carries hope. Therefore, they persistently meet with witnesses, compare documents and battle diagrams, and conduct field surveys to accurately identify suspected locations of fallen soldiers' remains.

Major Nguyen Huu Thanh, a professional soldier and member of the 968th Division's search and recovery team for fallen soldiers, emotionally stated: "Every time we find the remains of a fallen soldier, the team members are deeply moved. We always recognize that this is not just a duty, but also a responsibility and an expression of our affection for those who sacrificed their lives for the independence and freedom of the Fatherland. Regardless of harsh weather or treacherous terrain, we remain determined to search and bring them back to their hometowns and families as soon as possible."

Currently, the unit's officers and staff are racing against time to gather and verify information and expand the search area. As time passes, the traces of war are increasingly erased, while many fallen soldiers still lie buried in the former battlefields.

That journey continues. In the forests and hills once stained with the blood of generations of our forefathers, the unit's officers and staff silently overcome difficulties, persistently carrying out their duties with all gratitude and responsibility. Each set of remains found not only helps alleviate the pain of the martyrs' families but also expresses profound gratitude to those who sacrificed for the independence and freedom of the Fatherland.

Thanh Hai

Source: https://baoquangtri.vn/xa-hoi/202606/chay-dua-voi-thoi-gian-de-tim-kiem-hai-cot-liet-si-f7964f9/