Soldiers' Portraits Found in Dong Nai Mass Grave, Offering Clues to Identification

Multiple leather wallets containing portraits of soldiers have been discovered during excavations of a mass grave in Dong Nai province, southern Vietnam. These findings are expected to provide crucial clues for identifying the fallen servicemen and locating their families. On July 26, the Dong Nai Provincial Military Command resumed the search and collection of martyrs' remains at Point 74 in Minh Duc commune, following a deployment ceremony the previous day. At the site identified as a mass grave, authorities found six sets of remains along with numerous combat relics and personal belongings. Among the discovered artifacts, two leather wallets have drawn particular attention. These wallets contained numerous portrait photographs of soldiers, presumably the fallen, as well as images of their relatives. These photographs are considered vital clues to help identify the soldiers and assist in their repatriation or reunification with their families. Previously, after 15 days of expanding the excavation area in Minh Duc commune, the 7th Military Region had uncovered 26 sets of martyrs' remains and many relics. Notably, a pen inscribed with the words "Tiến Quy" and a drawing of two doves was also found. The area where the remains were discovered is located on the northwestern slope of Point 74. Between 1967 and 1975, this location was the site of intense battles between the main forces of the Liberation Army and the US and Republic of Vietnam armies, resulting in the deaths of many officers and soldiers. In November 1969, this area was part of the US-led "Minh Duc Search and Containment Operation," during which the Liberation Army also conducted numerous ambushes against enemy convoys, tanks, and armored vehicles. According to the Ministry of National Defense, during the four-month "500 Days and Nights Campaign," authorities have searched for and collected nearly 1,500 sets of martyrs' remains and discovered seven mass graves. Source: VnExpress