The difficult journey
Each season of searching for Vietnamese volunteer soldiers and experts who died in Cambodia is an indescribable sacred feeling for the officers and soldiers of Team K73 , Provincial Military Command. The feeling is not only missing home, relatives, units, and homeland when being away for months, but each officer and soldier also carries with them concerns and determination to find more volunteer soldiers and bring them back to their homeland.
Officers and soldiers of Team K73 overcame many difficulties, hardships and dangers on the journey to find the martyrs' remains.
The terrain where the martyrs are buried has changed a lot compared to many years ago. Over time, sources of information about the tombstones have become increasingly scarce. On the other hand, factors such as remote terrain, deep forests, steep mountains, intense heat, temporary food and shelter, and shacks make the search difficult, challenging, and dangerous.
“However, the officers and soldiers of Team K73 are still working hard and urgently to search for the missing person in Cambodia. A day of searching by the officers and soldiers of Team K73 starts at dawn and ends when it is dark,” said Lieutenant Colonel Tran Chi Cong, Team Leader of Team K73.
After many years of searching, collecting, and gathering the remains of Vietnamese volunteer soldiers and experts who died and returned to the country, Team K73 received valuable companionship, help, and support from the people and government of the host country. Not long ago, based on information provided by Mr. Uc Chan, Major General Chun Vy Chat - Captain of the Pailin Provincial Cooperation Team, led Team K73 up a hill in Stueng Trang commune, Salakrau district, Pailin province. After a period of digging, under the layers of soil and rocks, a set of remains with relics of Vietnamese volunteer soldiers were revealed.
Phase 2, phase XXIII (dry season 2023-2024), while performing tasks in Battambang province, with the help and guidance of local people, officers and soldiers of Team K73 moved to Phlov Meas commune, Rotonak Mondol district. According to Lieutenant Colonel Tran Hung Cuong - Political Commissar of Team K73, during the process of searching and collecting HCLS here, 25 officers and soldiers of Team K73 continuously dug many locations. When it seemed like there was no hope, a green "tank fragment" appeared.
Just seeing that small object gave the soldiers more mental motivation. Fatigue seemed to disappear, instead, everyone reminded each other to be careful and gentle so as not to hurt them again. "These are truly the remains of our soldiers!" - Lieutenant Colonel Tran Hung Cuong emotionally told his comrades.
Officers and soldiers of Team K73 dig up areas and locations suspected of containing the remains of Vietnamese volunteer soldiers.
According to Lieutenant Colonel Tran Hung Cuong, through information from the people living here, the excavation site is one of the burial areas of our soldiers who died during the war. Now, this area has been cleared by the people to make fields. Therefore, Team K73 has proactively contacted the people and local authorities to help and create conditions for expanding the scope of the search for HCLS .
The discovery of a set of remains means the hope that more HCLS will be buried here. And as predicted by the Team, after more than 3 months of searching, 30 sets of HCLS of volunteer soldiers and Vietnamese experts buried in this area were found and repatriated. On the day the martyrs returned to their homeland, the Battambang Provincial Steering Committee carefully and solemnly prepared the handover ceremony with a prayer ceremony by the monks of the pagoda. Incense sticks expressing the deep gratitude of the government, officers and soldiers of the armed forces and people of Battambang province moved many attendees to tears.
In addition to the search area in Battambang province, in the second phase, phase XXIII (dry season 2023-2024), Team K73 also carried out the task of searching and collecting fallen military remains in two other provinces in Cambodia, Pailin and Svay Rieng. After nearly 4 months of searching at 168 locations, Team K73 collected 96 sets of military remains, reaching 113% of the plan (collecting 1 set of remains in Svay Rieng province, 65 sets of remains in Pailin and 30 sets of remains in Battambang).
Continue the good tradition
After many years away from home, at the end of June 2024, all 96 sets of military uniforms found by Team K73 in the second phase of phase XXIII were brought back to rest with their comrades in the Vinh Hung - Tan Hung Inter-district Martyrs' Cemetery. The soldiers of the past returning to their homeland were warmly embraced by the red flag with the yellow star of the Fatherland. The solemn crowd stood to welcome their brothers and uncles back with emotion.
Many people witnessed the moment the funeral song "Soul of the Martyrs" was played and were moved and moved. The noble sacrifice of the Vietnamese volunteer soldiers and experts is also an epic about the bravery of the Vietnamese army, ready to sacrifice for the noble spirit of internationalism.
Officers and soldiers of Team K73 carefully collect a set of martyrs' remains.
Up to now, over 22 years, through XXIII stages, Team K73 has searched, collected, and repatriated 2,503 sets of HCLS and 6 mass graves (about 280 remains) sacrificed in Cambodia, and brought them back to be buried at the martyrs' cemetery (including 168 HCLS whose names and addresses are known).
According to Lieutenant Colonel Tran Chi Cong, during the mission in the host country, each officer and soldier of Team K73 also did a good job in mass mobilization and foreign affairs. The officers and soldiers organized activities to help and support local people in difficulty, contributing to strengthening and tightening close relationships, building a beautiful image of Uncle Ho's soldiers.
Searching for the remains of Vietnamese volunteer soldiers and experts who died in Cambodia is a sacred and noble task. For officers and soldiers on duty, even if they have a small piece of information, they will try to exploit, learn and verify it to have more hope of finding the remains of the martyrs and bringing them back to their homeland.
A field meal filled with sincere feelings between Team K73 and the Cooperation Team of Pailin Province (Cambodia)
They understand that this is not only a duty but also a sentiment, responsibility, and act of gratitude towards their fathers' generation. Therefore, when there is still information about the martyrs' graves, they continue to take on the task of searching, to soon bring the heroes and martyrs back to their homeland.
According to Vice Chairman of Long An Provincial People's Committee, Head of Steering Committee 515 on searching, collecting and identifying the identities of the provincial military martyrs - Pham Tan Hoa, the province highly appreciates the proactive advisory role of the Provincial Military Command and the enthusiastic and responsible working spirit and attitude of the officers and soldiers of Team K73 in searching, collecting and collecting the martyrs who died in Cambodia and returning them to the country.
“The Provincial Steering Committee 515 also respectfully acknowledges and thanks the sincere cooperation of the specialized departments of the neighboring province and the Cambodian people in providing valuable information for the search and collection of historical relics,” said Mr. Pham Tan Hoa.
What the generations of officers and soldiers of Team K73 have accomplished in their journey to find the fallen Vietnamese volunteer soldiers and experts in Cambodia is truly something to be proud of. They have, are, and will contribute to enriching the nation’s tradition of gratitude and repaying the noble kindness./.
 | In Phase XXIII, Team K73 searched for and collected 130 sets of martyrs' remains in the provinces of Svay Rieng, Pailin and Battambang, Kingdom of Cambodia. |
Le Duc
Source: https://baolongan.vn/miet-mai-di-tim-hai-cot-liet-si-tren-dat-ban-a179984.html
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