Over 13,500 Martyr Remains Transported by Air for DNA Identification

Over 13,500 unidentified remains of martyrs have been transported by military aircraft from southern Vietnam to Hanoi for DNA identification, offering renewed hope for their names to be recovered and for them to be reunited with their families. On the morning of September 11, remains gathered from Dong Nai, Tay Ninh, and Lam Dong provinces began their journey to Hanoi for DNA identification, with the hope of determining the identities of those who sacrificed their lives but remain unnamed. Zone 7 Command, in coordination with the Air Defense-Air Force and the authorities of the three provinces, organized the transportation and handover of the remains. Each sample was preserved and sealed before being loaded onto a military aircraft, a Casa C-295 with tail number 8901. Among these, Tay Ninh provided 5,287 samples, Dong Nai 4,651, and Lam Dong 3,625. After their journey from the South, at 10:10 AM, the Casa C-295 landed at Gia Lam Airport in Hanoi, bringing the remains to the next stage of the DNA identification process. From here, the samples will be handed over to specialized units for DNA analysis and data comparison. This process aims to re-establish information lost over many years and help families find their lost relatives. As soon as the aircraft stopped at its designated parking spot, the receiving force quickly commenced operations. Specialized containers holding the martyr remains were sequentially unloaded from the aircraft's cargo hold. This transportation is part of the "500-Day and Night Campaign to Identify Martyrs' Identities." The Air Defense-Air Force collaborated with receiving and transporting units to ensure safety and accuracy throughout the journey. The 13,563 martyr remains were sealed and packed in 144 specialized containers draped with the national flag, ensuring their safety from the moment they left the three southern provinces until their handover in Hanoi. For the officers and soldiers involved, the mission demanded meticulous care at every step, from preservation and transportation to reception and handover, as each set of remains carried the hope of a family to identify their lost martyr. Before the handover, officers and soldiers walked around the 144 containers of remains in a solemn atmosphere, expressing their gratitude to those who sacrificed for the nation. Following the ceremony at Gia Lam Airport, the 13,563 remains were handed over and transferred to specialized vehicles, en route to the DNA Identification Center at the Center for Research and Development of High Technology, under the Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology. The journey of the 13,563 remains concludes at the DNA identification center, but it opens up the hope of determining the identities of martyrs, allowing more families to find the names and information of their loved ones after many years of waiting. At 11:10 AM, the convoy carrying the remains arrived at the DNA Identification Center, beginning the final leg of their journey to reclaim identities. Behind each sample lies a person who sacrificed and the decades-long anticipation of their kin.