Crossing rocky mountains to find teammates.

Implementing the "500-Day Campaign to Intensify the Search, Collection, and Identification of the Remains of Martyrs," the search for those who bravely sacrificed their lives for the Fatherland is being urgently carried out in the high-altitude border areas. Overcoming many difficulties and hardships, this journey not only helps to alleviate the longing of the martyrs' relatives but also continues to spread the national tradition of "Drinking water, remembering the source."

Officers and soldiers of the Search and Collection Team for the remains of fallen soldiers are carrying out their duties at E4 peak, located at Hill 685, Nam Ngat village, Thanh Thuy commune.

Hardships in the highlands

Amidst the scorching sun of early June, we followed the officers and soldiers of the Search and Collection Team for the remains of fallen soldiers, under the Provincial Military Command, to the E2 and E4 peaks of Hill 685, Nam Ngat village, Thanh Thuy commune. This is one of the areas where fierce battles took place during the war to protect the northern border, and is called the "century's lime kiln" by many veterans because of the intensity of the bombing and shelling in the past.

The path leading to the high point was winding and steep. Sharp, jagged cliffs, interspersed with dense bushes and vines, made movement extremely difficult. Upon reaching the designated search area, the officers and soldiers quickly deployed their tasks. Layer after layer of soil and rock was carefully removed, and every small trace was meticulously examined, hoping to not miss any information related to the fallen soldiers.

Lieutenant Colonel Tran Quang Huy, Head of the Team for Searching and Collecting the Remains of Fallen Soldiers, said: “The process of carrying out the mission faced many difficulties due to the vast search area, rugged terrain, and harsh weather; information about fallen soldiers and their graves was limited. In addition, after many years, the terrain and landmarks have changed, with many areas suspected of containing the remains of fallen soldiers located in high mountains, deep ravines, and rocky crevices, making it difficult to delineate, identify locations, and organize the search.”

There were days when they stayed at the scene from early morning until late afternoon, only to find a few rotten pieces of canvas, some shell casings, or leftover personal belongings. But for the soldiers on this tribute mission, these were all valuable clues to further expand the scope of verification and narrow down the search area.

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Major Vu Van Dong, an officer in the team searching for and collecting the remains of fallen soldiers, shared: "Every time we discover artifacts or traces related to fallen soldiers, we are all very moved. Even though we have to live in the forest for many days, facing harsh weather, the thought of being able to bring them back to their comrades and families gives everyone more motivation to complete the mission."

They meticulously dug through every clod of earth and rock in search of the remains of fallen soldiers.

Determined to fulfill this sacred mission.

Recognizing the search and repatriation of the remains of fallen soldiers as a particularly important political task, immediately after the National Steering Committee launched the "500-Day Campaign," the Provincial Party Committee and the Provincial Military Command proactively advised local Party committees, authorities, and the Provincial Steering Committee 515 to issue leadership and guidance documents to implement a comprehensive range of solutions to improve the effectiveness of the search and repatriation work. Along with reorganizing and restructuring the team responsible for searching and repatriating the remains of fallen soldiers, the unit focused on professional training and capacity building for its officers; simultaneously, it intensified propaganda and mobilization efforts to encourage the public to provide information about fallen soldiers and their graves.

Colonel Nguyen Hoai Nam, member of the Provincial Party Committee, Political Commissar of the Provincial Military Command, affirmed: The Provincial Military Command has focused on reviewing and identifying key areas; mobilizing maximum resources to serve the task of searching for and collecting the remains of martyrs. We consider this not only a political task but also a responsibility, an expression of affection and morality towards those who sacrificed for the Fatherland.

Since the campaign began, the Search and Collection Team for the Remains of Fallen Soldiers has searched for and collected 13 sets of remains, including 11 individual graves and 2 mass graves. They have coordinated the organization of memorial services and burials for the remains of fallen soldiers and those in the mass graves in accordance with regulations. Currently, 7 sets of remains are being carefully cared for and honored at the team's mortuary in preparation for upcoming memorial services and burials.

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The war is long over, but the journey to find the nation's most outstanding sons and daughters remains arduous. On the steep mountain slopes, amidst the vast borderlands, today's soldiers silently continue this journey of gratitude with all their responsibility, appreciation, and camaraderie. Each remains of a fallen soldier found is not only the result of their perseverance and dedication, but also a vivid testament to the nation's principle of "drinking water, remembering the source."

Text and photos: Ma Thuy

Source: https://baotuyenquang.com.vn/xa-hoi/202606/vuot-nui-da-tim-dong-doi-86a3880/