Three sets of remains found in Quang Tri, DNA testing to identify martyrs

Three sets of remains believed to be from martyrs of the 1972 war have been discovered in the central Vietnamese province of Quang Tri as part of ongoing efforts to locate and identify fallen soldiers. The discovery was made in the Cuu Nhi area of Nam Hai Lang commune, Hai Lang district. The remains were found buried at a depth of 20-50 cm, approximately 4 meters apart. The bones were fragmented and decomposed. Accompanying artifacts included a military tent, shoe soles, a belt, buttons, a medicine bottle, a gun strap, a grenade, an AK magazine, a canteen, and an ink pen cap. The discovered remains have been transferred to Brigade 584 for preservation and care. In the future, if conditions permit, biological samples will be collected for DNA testing to help identify the martyrs. The Cuu Nhi area was the site of one of the fiercest battles during the Tri-Thien campaign in 1972. Specifically, in the early hours of May 26, 1972, Battalion 6 of Regiment 88, Division 308, was tasked with capturing the Cuu Nhi bridgehead to block enemy forces advancing from Hue to Quang Tri. Approximately 110 officers and soldiers from Company 9 crossed a shallow river and launched their attack. However, a soldier triggered a booby trap, exposing the unit's position. Enemy fire from blockhouses and fortifications immediately rained down on the formation in the open field. The battle, lasting less than two hours, resulted in the deaths of about 93 officers and soldiers, with the identities of 83 individuals confirmed to date. Since the early 1990s, local residents have discovered 20 sets of remains while renovating gardens on former battlefield sites. Brigade 584 has since collected an additional 9 sets of remains in this area. These 29 sets of remains have been interred at the Hai Lang Martyrs' Cemetery. As part of the ongoing "500-Day and Night Campaign for the Search, Collection, and Identification of Martyrs' Remains," relevant authorities have cross-referenced aerial photographs, foreign documents, witness accounts, and conducted field surveys to pinpoint nine suspected locations of remains in Cuu Nhi. Ground-penetrating radar surveys have also identified an area with unusual geological structures that aligns with one of the suspected sites. Authorities estimate that between 26 and 54 sets of remains still remain undiscovered and uncollected in this area. Source: VnExpress