The casket of remains was handed over at the 173rd ceremony for the repatriation of U.S. service members missing in action (MIA), held in Da Nang on 2/7. This repatriation resulted from a joint Vietnam - U.S. excavation in Dan Hoa commune, Quang Tri province.

On 30/6, forensic experts from both countries conducted an examination and made a preliminary conclusion that the remains could belong to U.S. service members missing from the war in Vietnam. The samples will be sent to a forensic laboratory in Hawaii for further analysis and identification.

Representatives from both countries attended the 173rd ceremony for the repatriation of U.S. service members missing in action (MIA) in Da Nang on 2/7. Photo: BNG

This repatriation ceremony held special significance due to the presence of high-ranking U.S. military leaders. Attendees included Lieutenant General Joel Bryant Vowell, Deputy Commander of U.S. Army Pacific, and Christopher Phelps, Director for the Indo-Pacific region of the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency (DPAA).

According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, this participation underscores the importance the U.S. places on the search for missing service members. It also recognizes Vietnam's goodwill and humanitarian efforts over many years.

Vietnam hands over one casket containing the remains of U.S. service members, collected during an excavation in Quang Tri province. Photo: BNG

Previously, on 23/6, Acting Secretary of the Navy Hung Cao visited an MIA site in Truong Ninh commune, Quang Tri province. His visit coincided with his participation in the Pacific Partnership - Pacific Friends program.

This area is where two crew members of an F-111A aircraft, tail number 66-0022, went missing during a night flight on 28/3/1968. The U.S. has coordinated with Vietnam on numerous search operations for remains here.

During his one-hour site inspection, Cao engaged with the search team. He also participated in the process of sifting through soil and rocks to locate missing remains.

The Acting Secretary of the Navy thanked the government and people of Vietnam for their support in searching for missing U.S. service members. He highlighted that cooperation in addressing war legacy issues demonstrates the two countries' commitment to closing the past and looking towards the future. He also affirmed the U.S. will maintain its long-term commitment to war legacy programs in Vietnam.

Hung Cao participates in sifting soil and rocks to search for missing remains in Quang Tri. Photo: Dac Thanh

Cooperative efforts to search for and account for missing U.S. service members have been ongoing since the signing of the Paris Agreement in 1973. To date, approximately 740 cases of U.S. service members missing from the war in Vietnam have been identified, and their remains returned to their families.

These results also contribute to fostering broader war legacy cooperation between the two nations. This includes activities such as searching for and identifying the remains of Vietnamese fallen soldiers, clearing bombs and mines, detoxifying dioxin, and supporting people with disabilities resulting from the war.

Thanh Danh