After the graves were exhumed, the journey to find the martyr's identity continued with the process of receiving, taking samples, preserving, sealing and preparing dossiers according to standards to serve DNA testing, according to the Dong Thap Provincial Electronic Information Portal (TTĐT).
From bone fragments and teeth still containing genetic material, forensic officers, military doctors and file digitization forces meticulously took samples and encoded information before transferring them to specialized agencies to compare with biological samples of relatives of martyrs.
According to Mr. Trinh Thanh Binh, Dong Thap Provincial Forensic Center, most of the remains have been affected by time, so it is very difficult to collect samples. In many cases, there is only a bone fragment or a tooth that meets the conditions for examination, so all operations are carried out strictly to avoid errors.
In parallel with sampling, all information about the tomb such as location, coordinates, scene images and related artifacts are digitized and stored.
Senior Lieutenant Nguyen Thanh Luan, Political Department, Military Command of Dong Thap province, said that just a small error in the data can affect the identity identification process later.
Since the deployment of the "500 Days and Nights Campaign", working groups have continuously excavated, taken samples and completed dossiers. By July 9, Dong Thap had exhumed 938 martyrs' graves, collected 711 remains samples for DNA testing and handed over 376 samples to specialized agencies.
The whole province currently has 31 martyrs' cemeteries with more than 35,200 graves, of which over 11,800 graves have not been identified. According to the plan, in the period 2026 - July 27, 2027, the province will complete the sampling of all unidentified graves; in the period until the end of 2030, continue to sample unidentified graves using the method of comparing records, witnesses and artifacts to serve DNA identity identification.
Mr. Huynh Minh Tuan, Vice Chairman of Dong Thap Provincial People's Committee, Head of Steering Committee 515 of the province, affirmed that "Operation 500 Days and Nights" is a "command from the heart", expressing responsibility and gratitude to heroic martyrs.
Each successfully decoded remains sample is not only a scientific achievement but also helps a soldier be called by his proper name, a family close a decade-long search journey, contributing to spreading the morality of "When drinking water, remember the source".
