From a 96-Year-Old Medic's Notebook, Fallen Soldiers Are Gradually Returning Home

In the central Vietnamese province of Quang Ngai, a notebook meticulously kept by a 96-year-old former medic and his wife is quietly facilitating reunions with the families of soldiers lost over half a century ago. The couple served at the B23 military hospital during the war. In their notebook, they diligently recorded the names of numerous soldiers who were brought to the hospital with injuries and subsequently passed away. Despite the harsh realities of the battlefield, the notebook reflects their profound respect for the fallen and a strong determination to remember their existence. More than fifty years later, this notebook has transcended its role as mere record-keeping, serving as a guide to help return lost lives to their families. The couple reportedly still remembers the three burial sites where the soldiers rest, located in mountainous areas that were once intense battlegrounds. Their memory and records are invaluable given the circumstances of the time. Under Vietnam's one-party system, the inheritance of war memories is a national concern. Such individual efforts offer an opportunity to re-examine the history of the war from a more human perspective. For younger generations who did not directly experience the tragedy of war, these stories hold significant meaning in understanding the preciousness of peace. The reunions facilitated by this notebook will help fill the void of lost family history and aid in healing the deep wounds left by the war. It also serves as a reminder to contemporary society of the hardships Vietnam endured and the respect owed to the countless lives lost. Source: The Saigon Times