The sacred mission of the teams collecting the remains of fallen soldiers in foreign lands.

In the deep, ancient forests of Battambang, Pailin, or the rugged mountains of Oddar Meancheay, Siem Reap, and Banteay Meanchey in Cambodia, the footprints of officers and soldiers of Teams K71 and K73 (Tay Ninh Provincial Military Command) continue to be left untouched. On their shoulders rests the sacred mission: to search for and collect the remains of Vietnamese volunteer soldiers and experts who sacrificed their lives for peace and for the solidarity between Vietnam and Cambodia.

For over a month since embarking on the new phase of their mission (the 2025-2026 dry season), the forests and fields of Battambang have become the site where the soldiers of Team K73 tirelessly dig and excavate every inch of land. Rocks and pebbles block the way, and tree roots pierce through the soil at each location identified as the burial ground for the remains of fallen soldiers. Every swing of the hoe and shovel, every sharp knife cut into the roots, is done with patience, reverence, and gratitude. Captain Nguyen Thanh Thanh, Assistant for Policy and Civil Affairs of Team K73, spoke with a voice still choked with emotion: “This is my first time undertaking this mission, and only now do I truly understand the hardships that my comrades have endured for so long. Despite the difficulties, I see even more clearly the great significance of the work I am doing. This is not just a mission, but a promise to the people, the leaders, and my comrades... that wherever our uncles and aunts lie, we will find them and bring them back to Mother Earth.”

Team K73 collected the remains of fallen soldiers in Chill hamlet, Traeng commune, Rotanak Mondol district, Battambang province, in Cambodia.

The battlefields of the past have changed considerably. Some areas are now covered in dense forests, others have been cleared for farming, and some coordinates have been erased over the years. Therefore, every story and memory from the local people is cherished by the unit members as invaluable information. Sometimes, just to verify a single account, the unit has to travel hundreds of kilometers, starting at dawn and returning to base late at night, their clothes soaked and their limbs exhausted. Lieutenant Colonel Tran Hung Cuong, Political Officer of Team K73, shared: “There are few clues, and the terrain has changed a lot… but we believe that as long as there is information, we will keep searching, not allowing ourselves to miss any possibility. The unit's determination is to ensure that no fallen soldier is left behind in foreign soil. To date, we have found and collected 11 sets of remains of fallen soldiers, bringing them to the most solemn place in the unit to await their return to their homeland.”

In the provinces of Oddar Meancheay, Siem Reap, and Banteay Meanchey, the journey of Team K71 was equally arduous. There were slippery dirt roads where the vehicles swayed as if about to tip over. Sometimes, the team had to wade through vast flooded fields, carrying bags of equipment through mud. While digging, rain poured down, with thunder and lightning flashing repeatedly, but no one left their position. Each comrade silently waited for the storm to pass before continuing their work. Lieutenant Colonel Nguyen Hoai Thanh, Political Officer of Team K71, said emotionally: “Searching for and collecting the remains of fallen soldiers is both a special political task and a sacred sentiment of those who are alive for those who have sacrificed. We always believe that as long as there is even one fallen soldier lying here, we have a responsibility to search with all our heart, gratitude, and the honor of a soldier.”

Amidst the remote villages of the Cambodian people, the figures of the soldiers of Team K71 are regularly seen from early morning until late afternoon. The work demands meticulous attention to even the smallest details. Corporal Nguyen Thanh Long, a soldier of Detachment 2, Team K71, confided: "Some days we dig dozens of cubic meters of soil and find nothing, but just discovering a piece of bone or a small memento of a fallen soldier makes all the fatigue disappear."

To date, the K71 and K73 teams have recovered 132 sets of remains of fallen soldiers. Each set of remains represents a arduous journey, a sweat soaking into the earth and rocks, footsteps overcoming treacherous terrain and harsh climates, and even facing imminent danger. The day these soldiers return to their homeland will ease the anxieties and longing of their families and comrades. More than half a century after the war, deep in the forests of a foreign land, the soldiers of the K teams continue their journey of gratitude with humility, perseverance, unwavering loyalty, and a command from their hearts.

Source: https://www.qdnd.vn/nuoi-duong-van-hoa-bo-doi-cu-ho/nhiem-vu-thieng-lieng-cua-cac-doi-quy-tap-hai-cot-liet-si-tren-dat-ban-1017937