Repatriation ceremony for the remains of American soldiers missing in action during the Vietnam War on December 13 - Photo: M.ANH
The 171st repatriation ceremony of the remains of American servicemen is one of the important events concluding 2025, marking the 30th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Vietnam and the United States (1995-2025), the 40th anniversary of the first joint operation to search for American servicemen missing in action (1985-2025), and the 50th anniversary of the end of the Vietnam War (1975-2025).
The remains of American soldiers found in Lao Cai are handed over.
At the ceremony, Vietnam handed over a casket containing human remains to the US. This was the result of Vietnam's unilateral search efforts in Lao Cai province.
Earlier on December 5th, these remains were examined by forensic experts from Vietnam and the United States, who preliminarily concluded that they may be related to a US soldier missing in action during the Vietnam War. They will be transferred to a forensic laboratory in Hawaii for analysis and identification.
US Ambassador Marc Knapper speaks at the ceremony - Photo: M.ANH
U.S. Ambassador Marc Knapper, on behalf of the U.S. Government and people, expressed his sincere gratitude to the Vietnamese Government for its strong and enduring commitment to this humanitarian effort, which is a testament to the close cooperation between the peoples of the two countries and lays the foundation for the normalization and promotion of bilateral relations.
DPAA Director Kelly McKeague shared that Vietnam is one of only two countries out of 46 where the DPAA is conducting searches for missing American servicemen from the war, and has the capacity to carry out unilateral search operations in the most difficult and challenging terrains.
Lieutenant General Hoang Xuan Chien - Deputy Minister of National Defense - speaks at the ceremony - Photo: M.ANH
Ready to cooperate to heal the wounds of war.
Speaking at the ceremony, Lieutenant General Hoang Xuan Chien shared that, overcoming the pain of war, from the very beginning Vietnam has fully cooperated in the search for missing American servicemen in a humanitarian spirit.
Quoting General Secretary To Lam's statement: "We don't choose the past, but we can choose how we look at the past – and from there choose the future," Lieutenant General Hoang Xuan Chien expressed confidence that with goodwill and effort, both sides will work together to overcome the consequences of war.
Simultaneously expanding cooperative relations is the best way to heal the wounds on the land, in bodies and in souls, and build a bright future for Vietnam-US relations.
At the ceremony, Vietnam returned a casket containing human remains to the United States - Photo: M.ANH
The General reaffirmed that Vietnam will continue to cooperate closely and create the most favorable conditions for the search for American servicemen missing in action during the war, as it has done for nearly half a century.
At the same time, Vietnam requested the US to further increase resources and expand the implementation of projects supporting Vietnam in overcoming the consequences of landmines, addressing dioxin contamination, assisting people with disabilities and war victims, searching for and collecting remains, and improving the capacity for identifying the remains of missing Vietnamese soldiers.
Humanitarian cooperation in searching for and inventorying American servicemen missing in action during the Vietnam War was launched by the two countries immediately after the Paris Agreement was signed in 1973.
To date, positive results have been achieved, helping the US identify and return the remains of approximately 740 American servicemen missing in action during the Vietnam War to their families.
Source: https://tuoitre.vn/hoi-huong-hai-cot-linh-my-mat-tich-trong-chien-war-20251213121310677.htm
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