Searching and gathering martyrs' remains - Part 1: Silent journey

With the spirit of solidarity, unity and indomitable will, Teams K70, K71 and K73 of the Tay Ninh Provincial Military Command have successfully completed their mission in the 2024-2025 dry season, collecting 490 martyrs' remains, reaching more than 180% of the target. That number not only reflects the efforts of today's soldiers to overcome difficulties, but is also a vivid testament to the morality of "When drinking water, remember its source", the strong solidarity between the people of Vietnam and Cambodia.

To clarify the role, efforts and profound significance of the work of searching for and collecting martyrs' remains, VNA reporters have produced a series of two articles "Searching for and collecting martyrs' remains", recording the silent journey of the K Teams of Tay Ninh province over the past many years, in Cambodia and in the country.

Officers and soldiers of Team K70 (Military Region 7) and Team K71 (Tay Ninh Provincial Military Command) leave for Cambodia to perform duties at Xa Mat International Border Gate, Tan Bien District, Tay Ninh Province. Photo: Giang Phuong/VNA

Lesson 1: The silent journey of the soldiers of Team K Tay Ninh

For decades, the work of searching for and collecting the remains of Vietnamese martyrs who died in Cambodia has been continuously maintained by Tay Ninh province by Teams K70, K71, and K73. Although the war has ended, the journey to bring comrades back home continues silently and arduously, because deep in the soul of each soldier is the sacred sentiment, the sense of responsibility of each Vietnamese child who has absorbed the morality of "When drinking water, remember its source".

Follow the traces

In the forests, mountainsides and fields of Cambodia, the soldiers of Team K Tay Ninh still stick to their areas day and night, following every faint trace of their former comrades. For them, it is not only a political mission, but also a tribute to those who have fallen.

According to the Steering Committee 515 of Tay Ninh province, in the 2024-2025 dry season, Team K70 will be in charge of the two provinces of Tboung Khmum and Kam Pong Cham (Cambodia); Team K71 will carry out missions domestically and in the three provinces of Seam Reap, Banteay Mean Chey, Oddar Meanchey; Team K73 will be in charge of the Special Military Region, the provinces of Svay Rieng, Battambang, Pailin and domestically.

As a result, the units surveyed hundreds of areas, dug up tens of thousands of cubic meters of earth and rock, and collected a total of 490 martyrs' remains. Team K70 alone searched 85 areas in 18 communes and 9 districts, dug up more than 12,000 cubic meters of earth, cleared over 6,600 square meters, and collected 105 martyrs' remains. After completing the mission, the unit coordinated with the Cambodian government to organize a solemn and ceremonial handover ceremony to receive the martyrs' remains back to the country, expressing deep gratitude. The remains were buried at the Hill 82 Martyrs' Cemetery (former Tan Bien district), the resting place of tens of thousands of martyrs who sacrificed for the Fatherland.

Along with professional work, the teams always attach importance to mass mobilization and foreign affairs activities, building close relationships with the armed forces, government, villages, communes and people of Cambodia. The consensus and support from you have contributed significantly to the successful search and collection of martyrs' remains.

Colonel Tran Chi Cong, Captain of Team K73, shared that the search and collection of martyrs' remains in Cambodia and in the province is currently facing many difficulties. Information sources are increasingly limited, the terrain is changing a lot, while most of the witnesses are old, their memory is declining, and many have even passed away. Vehicles and equipment serving the mission are also degraded and need to be repaired and supplemented.

During the past dry season, Team K73 concentrated its forces in three provinces of Svay Rieng, Pailin and Battambang (Cambodia). In Phnom Penh alone, there was almost no new information about the martyrs' graves. However, the team's officers and soldiers remained steadfast, closely coordinating with the Steering Committee 515 of Tay Ninh province and the neighboring country's government to search for and verify even the smallest information.

Thanks to the timely attention and support of the Provincial Military Command and departments, branches and localities, the material and spiritual life of the K teams has been increasingly improved. Many practical activities such as repairing barracks in the Pailin Provincial Military Sub-region, supporting extra food money, visiting, giving gifts on holidays and Tet... have become valuable sources of encouragement, adding strength for officers and soldiers to work with peace of mind and complete their assigned tasks well.

The sacred duty of gratitude

In phase XXIV (dry season 2024-2025), Team K71 was assigned to search for and collect martyrs' remains in three provinces: Seam Reap, Banteay Mean Chey and Oddar Meanchey. Lieutenant Colonel Nguyen Hoai Thanh, Political Commissar of Team K71, said that the unit had sent 83 officers and soldiers to Cambodia and 30 to perform tasks in the province, surveyed 352 areas, dug and leveled more than 8,000m3 of earth and rock, collected 213 martyrs' remains, ensuring absolute safety for people and vehicles.

Identifying this as a special political mission, Team K71 always closely cooperates with the local government and people, considering mass mobilization and military diplomacy as key factors. Many soldiers of the team have many years of experience and know Khmer, making it easier to approach witnesses and collect information. Thanks to that, the work of collecting martyrs' remains has been effective, contributing to strengthening the friendship between Vietnam and Cambodia.

However, according to Lieutenant Colonel Nguyen Hoai Thanh, there are still many difficulties; the burial time is too long, leaving most of the remains unidentifiable; many graves are located in residential areas, public works or production land of Cambodian people, requiring close coordination and large financial support. In addition, the harsh climate and dangerous roads greatly affect the health of the task force.

Based on the practical work, the K teams have recommended more attention to human resources, vehicles and facilities. Team K71 proposed to build housing in Oddar Meanchey Military Sub-region, exchange old mobile vehicles, and extend the mission time each dry season to improve efficiency. Team K70 recommended to add more personnel and repair degraded housing in Kam Pong Cham.

Colonel Tran Chi Cong said that the K teams also hope that the Provincial Steering Committee 515 will continue to pay attention and coordinate with the Department of Home Affairs, Department of Foreign Affairs of Tay Ninh province and localities in reviewing and completing dossiers and maps of martyrs' graves; at the same time, maintain cooperation agreements with Cambodian provinces, expand information channels to improve search efficiency.

According to the latest survey, in the first phase of phase XXV (dry season 2025-2026), Oddar Meanchey province alone had 42 sources of information with about 80 graves, mainly buried in concentrated areas, so the collection efficiency is expected to be high. "In particular, one point has about 35 graves located in the administrative area of ​​the province, requiring compensation costs of about 3.9 billion VND when conducting excavation", Lieutenant Colonel Nguyen Hoai Thanh, Political Commissar of Team K71 shared.

The journey of searching for and collecting the remains of martyrs of the Tay Ninh K teams is still ongoing, quietly but meaningfully. On every step they take, there is always a blend of responsibility, gratitude and international friendship. That is the journey of today's soldiers, who continue the spirit of "When drinking water, remember its source", so that those who have fallen can return to the arms of the motherland.

Last article: Determined to bring comrades back to the Fatherland

Source: https://baotintuc.vn/thoi-su/tim-kiem-quy-tap-hai-cot-liet-si-bai-1-hanh-trinh-tham-lang-20251029162156449.htm