The journey to find teammates continues.

Over the past period, veteran association members at all levels in Khanh Hoa province have consistently strived to implement the Project for searching for, collecting, and identifying the remains of fallen soldiers with incomplete information (Project 515). Not only have they actively coordinated in providing reliable information, but these members have also directly participated in numerous survey and verification activities, contributing to practical results in the journey of "finding their comrades."

Actively coordinate efforts to search for and collect the remains of fallen soldiers.

Implementing Project 515 for the period 2021-2025, the Provincial Veterans Association has proactively coordinated with the Provincial Military Command, the Steering Committee for the implementation of policies and regulations for civilian workers participating in the resistance against France and the US, the war to protect the Fatherland, and international missions (Steering Committee 24) in districts, towns, and cities in the province, and relevant departments and agencies to collect and verify information about martyrs, martyrs' graves, and remains of martyrs whose identities have not been determined. Over the past five years, the associations at all levels have distributed more than 2,100 information collection forms and received 200 valuable forms providing information about the place of sacrifice and the initial burial site of martyrs. Based on this information, the relevant agencies have conducted surveys, compared records and maps of the collection process, documented combat history, and conducted fieldwork, effectively supporting the search for the remains of martyrs.

Mr. Tran Than - Vice Chairman of the Provincial Veterans Association (on the left) participates in the memorial and burial ceremony of martyrs' remains at Ninh Hoa - Van Ninh Martyrs' Cemetery on May 31, 2025.

In addition to their efforts in collecting and providing information about fallen soldiers, many officials and members also directly participate in guiding, surveying terrain, deciphering combat unit symbols, cross-referencing military records, and assisting the families of fallen soldiers in their search for graves. For example, in 2022, members Cao Mà Đấy and Cao Xà Vân (Liên Sang commune, Khánh Vĩnh district) made dozens of trips through treacherous mountains and forests, crossing streams to survey areas suspected of containing the remains of fallen soldiers. Thanks to their efforts, in August 2022, they found the remains of fallen soldier Ca Là Ni in the Gugana area (Xà Liên village, Liên Sang commune). Subsequently, the authorities quickly exhumed the remains of fallen soldier Ca Là Ni and reburied them at the Khánh Vĩnh District Martyrs' Cemetery, ending a nearly 50-year-long wait for his family. Mr. Day shared: "I fought in battles and witnessed my comrades fall. As long as I have the strength, I vow to continue searching and bring them back to their homeland!"

Similarly, in Dien Tan commune, Dien Khanh district, member Dong Quoc Hung spent a lot of time contacting former comrades, reviewing the records of the Mercury Regiment, and verifying and clarifying information related to the grave of martyr Giang Van Man (originally buried in Vinh Diem Thuong village, Vinh Hiep commune, Nha Trang city). After 6 months of persistent coordination, the martyr's records were clarified, the remains were exhumed, and transferred for reburial at the Hanoi City Martyrs' Cemetery at the end of 2022. Mr. Hung emotionally said: “The journey to find the name of my comrade is a duty that needs to be done. For me, each time I contribute a small part to that work is like reliving the time when we stood side by side on the line between life and death.”

Furthermore, in 2024, the Cam Ranh City Veterans Association coordinated a survey and discovered two graves of fallen soldiers in Cam Loc ward. Through cross-referencing information and the repatriation map, one of the graves was identified as belonging to fallen soldier Tran Thom. This is the result of the efforts and dedication of the city's Veterans Association officials and members, particularly Mr. Dao Van Hoa, Chairman of the Cam Ranh City Veterans Association.

Enhancing the role in implementing Project 515

Implementing Project 515 for the period 2021-2025, under the leadership of the Provincial Party Committee, the Provincial People's Committee, and the Provincial Steering Committee for Project 515, the Provincial Veterans Association has extensively deployed the project to all cadres and members at all levels. With a membership of over 17,800, the majority of whom have experienced combat and understand the battlefields of the past, the cadres and members have demonstrated their role, experience, and sense of responsibility in providing information, directly participating in verifying, searching for, and collecting the remains of fallen soldiers, and contributing to identifying remains whose identities are still unknown.

The various levels of the association have proactively coordinated closely with Party committees, government agencies, military units, and local departments, organizations, and associations to disseminate information about the Party and State's policies and guidelines on the search for and repatriation of fallen soldiers. This dissemination has been intensified through various forms such as branch meetings, thematic conferences, oral presentations, internal newsletters, and coordinated media coverage. Through these efforts, the awareness and responsibility of cadres and members have been enhanced, and the movement to honor fallen soldiers has been widely spread throughout the community.

In addition, over the past period, the Veterans' Associations at all levels in the province have advised and directly participated in organizing dozens of exhumation, memorial services, burials, and transportation of the remains of martyrs after exhumation to other localities for handover and burial in martyrs' cemeteries in their hometowns according to the wishes of their families. At the same time, they have actively coordinated in resolving benefits for relatives searching for the graves of martyrs; supported the construction of dossiers to identify martyrs through DNA testing, electronic databases, and combat unit symbols, etc., making a significant contribution to improving the effectiveness of Project 515 in the province in recent times.

Mr. Tran Than, Vice Chairman of the Provincial Veterans Association, stated: “One of the most sacred and profound activities that the Veterans Associations at all levels in the province have persistently carried out over the years is participating in the search and collection of the remains of fallen soldiers. The associations at all levels clearly define their responsibilities, and from there, they proactively, practically, and effectively implement this sacred task. In the coming time, we will continue to promote propaganda and mobilize cadres and members to actively participate in providing information about fallen soldiers and their graves, and cooperate in activities to search for and collect the remains of fallen soldiers in the locality; coordinate activities to identify the remains of fallen soldiers whose information is incomplete; participate in providing information, verifying, and concluding information to serve the identification of fallen soldiers whose information is incomplete using empirical methods. At the same time, we will link the work of honoring fallen soldiers with the education of patriotic traditions and the moral principle of "drinking water, remembering the source" for the younger generation.”

THE ANH

Source: https://baokhanhhoa.vn/xa-hoi/202506/van-mot-hanh-trinh-di-tim-dong-doi-17c4398/