Chua village (Hieu Giang commune) is located more than 10km from the commune center, the people living in the village are ethnic minority households. More than a month ago, 15 officers and soldiers of the 968 Division Martyrs' Remains Collection Team (Military Region 4) set up a tent in the forest area of Ban Chua to survey and search for martyrs' remains.
Lieutenant Colonel Le Truong Giang, Political Commissar of the Gathering Team, said that searching for martyrs' remains is a sacred but extremely arduous task. The search area in Ban Chua has forested terrain, many locations have changed over time, information about the place of martyrs' burial is not complete, making it very difficult to identify.
However, with perseverance, responsibility and deep gratitude, the team of 15 officers and soldiers isolated, surveyed and dug for many days in the harsh weather.
With many years of experience in the profession and information about the location of the buried remains quite accurately, the collection team discovered at a depth of about 1.2m under the soil layer that marked the remains of martyrs. The team found the remains of martyrs tied in a hammock, 23m apart. Each set of remains is made up of 2634 broken teeth and bones. In addition, there are relics such as rubber sandals, Hammer, soldier belt, information wire and 3 glass bottles with closed covers that have decomposed the inside.
During the search, the remains of the martyrs found were brought back to the community learning center of Ban Chua village for worship. Here, the remains of martyrs are carefully preserved, local officials and people regularly come to offer incense.
The weather in June and July in Quang Tri province is erratic, today it is hot, but tomorrow it will have to be rainy and windy. However, the 968 Division Martyrs' Remains Collection Team persistently stayed in the area, continuing to expand the search area until there were no more signs of martyrs' remains.
After finishing the search for martyrs' remains in Ban Chua forest, the team found and collected 12 martyrs' remains. On July 23, at the National Martyrs' Cemetery, Road 9, the memorial service and burial of 12 martyrs were held in a solemn atmosphere. In front of the main hall of the cemetery, a large theater was built, inside which were glass cages preserving the remains of martyrs. The scent of flowers and the quiet bowing eyes of officers, compatriots and soldiers are proof of the endless gratitude of today's generation.
Mr. Le Duc Tien - Vice Chairman of the People's Committee of Quang Tri province was moved: "Today, you have returned in the arms of your comrades, in the boundless love and gratitude of the people. The war has gone back in time, but each remains found remind us of the resilience, bravery and immortal ideals of generations of ancestors.
According to Ms. Le Nguyen Huyen Trang - Deputy Director of the Department of Home Affairs of Quang Tri province, the search and collection of martyrs' remains is an important political task, which has been closely coordinated by the locality with military units, especially Division 968, for many years.
