While searching for scrap metal, they found a box of documents from the resistance war against the US.

Seventeen years ago, Mr. Vo Tan Trung (46 years old), residing in Tan Dong hamlet, Tan Thanh commune, Tay Ninh province, found a box of documents from the resistance war against the US. Since then, Mr. Trung has always longed to return these meaningful mementos to their owner, but he has yet to do so.

Recalling the story from 17 years ago, Mr. Trung recounted that back then, he and many young men in the neighborhood worked scavenging for scrap metal to sell to recycling centers. One time, while scavenging for scrap metal in Memot district, Kampong Cham province, Kingdom of Cambodia, he discovered a box of ammunition containing many documents and mementos from the resistance war against the US.

The ammunition box containing wartime documents was found by Mr. Vo Tan Trung.

“At that time, I was scanning the road for anti-tank mines when the metal detector suddenly beeped, indicating there was something under the ground. Fearing an anti-tank mine, I called my brother to come and check, and we carefully dug. After digging, we discovered a metal container used to hold ammunition. When I opened it, I found many documents inside, so I closed the lid and took it home,” the man recounted. After returning home, Mr. Trung opened the ammunition container. Inside were two neatly folded white khaki shirts and a nylon bag containing various documents and newspapers. Upon examining them, he found many files related to Party work. These documents all bore the name Le Xuan Phuc, residing in Thieu Toan commune, Thieu Toan district, Thanh Hoa province; rank: A-team leader, position: nurse, working at the S25 Military Medical Unit.

It is unclear whether Mr. Le Xuan Phuc is still alive or has died in the resistance war. Recognizing the value of these mementos and documents, Mr. Trung carefully preserved them with the hope of returning them to their rightful owner or a relative of Mr. Le Xuan Phuc.

On September 25, 2025, Mr. Trung brought out the aforementioned ammunition box for us to see. Although carefully preserved, after many years of exposure to humidity, temperature, and other factors, the outside of the box had rusted considerably. Opening the lid, Mr. Trung took out two khaki jackets and spread them on the tiled floor. Over the years, the jackets had turned a yellowish-gray color and were wrinkled.

The khaki jacket in the ammunition box

Mr. Trung said, "When I first brought them home, these two shirts were white and quite new. Seeing them, my older brother wanted to wear them, but I didn't let him." Mr. Trung added that the first time he took them out, the two shirts were neatly folded flat, like military uniforms. Because he didn't know how to fold them properly and took them out many times, the shirts are now wrinkled like this.

The papers inside the ammunition box had yellowed and were heavily creased. Among them were some noteworthy documents, such as a notebook about the size of an adult's hand. The outside of the notebook was decorated with a burning torch, a hammer and sickle flag, the number 3-2 on a red background, and the printed text: "Commemorating the 39th Anniversary of the Party's Founding 1930-1969". In the right corner of the notebook was the neatly written inscription: "Gift: Division: 2".

Below is the passage: “On the occasion of the anniversary of the Party's founding, we would like to introduce to you, the Youth, a brief overview of the memorable historical days on the path of growth and revolutionary leadership of the Vietnam Revolutionary Labor Party.”

In the inner pages, the author summarizes important milestones such as: “May 1, 1930: For the first time, workers, peasants, and laborers in Indochina showed signs of solidarity with the world proletariat by demonstrating their strength on International Workers' Day under the leadership of the Party. The hammer and sickle flag, leaflets, and slogans “Workers, peasants, and soldiers unite! Proletariat of the world unite!” resounded everywhere. L'Humanité – the organ of the French Communist Party – was distributed throughout major cities. The atmosphere of International Workers' Day on May 1, 1930, was vibrant from North to South, from cities to villages. And the subsequent struggle continued to spread strongly and widely, reaching its peak in Nghe Tinh.”

The notebook was found in the ammunition box.

Following that, the author records milestones such as September 12, 1930, the founding of the Nghe Tinh Soviet. In October 1930, the Central Committee of the Party held its first conference in Hong Kong, attended by Comrade Nguyen Ai Quoc,…

Another noteworthy document is the Self-Assessment After Studying President Ho Chi Minh's Testament. The author writes: "After studying President Ho Chi Minh's Testament, I see that his entire life of great activity and dedication is truly magnificent; his contributions are as vast as the sky and the ocean. Reflecting on my own shortcomings, I realize I haven't tried my best to follow his teachings."

Similarly, in his "Four Good Party Member Registration" for the last six months of 1969, Mr. Le Xuan Phuc carefully wrote: “1. Politics and Ideology: A. Absolutely believe in the leadership of the Party, believe in the victory of the revolution, and thoroughly understand the Party's strategic determination to fight the Americans to the end… B. Express the idea of ​​not fearing sacrifice and hardship, not being weary of the long term, ready to accept any task assigned by the Party, always cultivating the consciousness of collective ownership, putting others first…”

Self-assessment after studying President Ho Chi Minh's Testament.

Inside this document box was a document from the Party Committee of the 50th Division guiding subordinate party committees and branches on procedures for admitting and transferring party members. These documents were typed on thin parchment paper. In addition to the above documents, Mr. Trung also showed us several other papers and notebooks, some of which showed signs of smoke stains and burn marks.

Mr. Trung said that about seven years ago, he handed over some documents from this ammunition box to the leaders of Tan Thanh Commune People's Committee, asking them to find Mr. Le Xuan Phuc or his relatives so he could return the documents. The then Vice Chairman of Tan Thanh Commune People's Committee, Mr. Huynh Tan Hiep, called Thieu Toan Commune to inquire about Mr. Le Xuan Phuc – the owner of these documents – but so far there has been no result. Mr. Trung added: “Over the years, several antique collectors have repeatedly come to inquire about buying these documents. Feeling that these mementos are very meaningful to their owner, I have refused to sell them.”

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Source: https://baolongan.vn/ra-sat-nhat-duoc-thung-tai-lieu-thoi-khang-chien-chong-my-a204811.html