During the excavation of a mass grave area in Minh Duc commune, Dong Nai, military personnel uncovered numerous personal effects, including group and portrait photos stored in leather wallets. These artifacts are considered vital clues to help relatives identify fallen soldiers.

The group photo, held by Nguyen Gia Chinh (standing in the middle) for nearly 60 years, is identical to the one found in the mass grave. Fallen soldier Le Van Duan is the tallest person. Thai Ha.

The group photo, held by Nguyen Gia Chinh (standing in the middle) for nearly 60 years, is identical to the one found in the mass grave. Fallen soldier Le Van Duan is the tallest person. Thai Ha.

The photos were subsequently shared across groups dedicated to searching for and repatriating the remains of fallen soldiers. In the past two days, Nguyen Gia Chinh, 76 years old, residing in Thong Nhat ward, Phu Tho province, was surprised to recognize the circulating photo as identical to a keepsake he has kept for nearly 60 years.

According to Chinh, the photo features six people, three men and three women, taken in Hoa Binh city (now part of Phu Tho province) on 1/6/1968, before their 7th-grade summer break. A few months later, his friend Le Van Duan, the tallest person in the photo, enlisted in the army. In 1972, friends received news that Duan had sacrificed his life on the Southern battlefield.

"Those were difficult days. Our group took a common photo and then made six copies. It's possible the photo found underground is the one Duan carried with him when he went south to fight", Chinh said.

Another friend in the photo, currently living in Khanh Hoa, also called Chinh after seeing the photo found in the fallen soldier's grave in Dong Nai, recognizing it as identical to one they held. The two were overjoyed and emotional at the thought of soon finding their childhood friend.

"The '500 Days and Nights' campaign is very meaningful. In the past two days, I couldn't sleep, thinking of my friend. After more than 50 years, he is about to return home to his relatives and friends", Chinh stated.

Chinh then reported the information about the photo to Duan's family, who live about 6 km from his home. The fallen soldier's relatives visited to take a copy of the photo to supplement their records and contacted the Dong Nai City Military Command to verify the identity.

Chinh (left) discusses the photo with a relative of fallen soldier Duan in Phu Tho, on 7/8. Thai Ha.

Chinh (left) discusses the photo with a relative of fallen soldier Duan in Phu Tho, on 7/8. Thai Ha.

Dang Chien Thang, 65 years old, Duan's younger brother, said that after national reunification, the family searched for his brother many times without success. Now, among the six people in the photo, five living individuals have confirmed the person in the picture is fallen soldier Duan.

"The family is very happy to find a clue about my brother. We are completing the documentation, collecting DNA samples, and working with authorities to bring him home soon", Thang explained.

Previously, on 14/7, the Dong Nai Provincial Military Command initiated a large-scale excavation and search in Minh Duc commune. In addition to the photo related to fallen soldier Duan, the K72 Team has so far found 26 sets of fallen soldiers' remains along with many significant artifacts, such as a pen engraved with the name Tien Quy, guns, canteens, and both portrait and group photos.

The area where the remains were discovered is on the northwestern slope of Hill 74, located in Binh Minh hamlet. During the 1967-1975 period, this area witnessed many battles between the liberation army's main units and US and Army of the Republic of Vietnam forces, resulting in the sacrifice of many cadres and soldiers.

The "500 Days and Nights" campaign is being implemented to accelerate the search, collection, and identification of fallen soldiers' remains, leading up to the 80th Anniversary of Invalids and Martyrs Day on 27/7/2027.

Phuoc Tuan