On August 14, the Military Command (CHQS) of Da Nang city said that it had organized a survey of the Hang Da Mai area, Mat Rang mountain, belonging to the Hon Tau range, Duy Xuyen commune, Da Nang city.
This is a place identified as likely to still have the remains of cadres, military medical staff and wounded soldiers who sacrificed in the resistance war against the US for national salvation.
According to information from witnesses, on July 22, 1969, after a US helicopter was shot down by our troops in the Hon Tau area, from about 10:30 am, the enemy air force continuously fiercely attacked our military positions. At about 4:30 pm on the same day, bombs hit Da Mai Cave, where Team 5 Surgery Team, Military Medical Team of Front 4 Quang Da was on duty to rescue wounded soldiers. A large rock collapsed, burying cadres, medical staff and wounded soldiers who were in the cave.
Participating in the survey delegation, Mr. Doan Ngoc Minh, son of martyr Doan Ngoc Le, said: "In 1989, he and some witnesses and local forces organized the search for the remains of his father and comrades. However, due to the large volume of landslides and rocks, the terrain was dangerous, so the search did not achieve results. Before leaving, he marked the location of the cave with the hope that functional forces would have the conditions to continue searching later.
From information provided by witnesses, the Da Nang City Military Command urgently verified, collected documents and organized field surveys. The engineering force proceeded to clear bombs, mines, and remaining explosives, open roads and ensure safety for the survey team.
Initially, functional forces have identified the location of Da Mai Cave, where Surgical Team 5 is said to have stationed; and at the same time discovered many artifacts, including medical equipment, syringes, leather belts, raincoats and some other items.
The traces and artifacts discovered are an important basis for the City Military Command to continue to compare documents, verify information, consolidate dossiers and develop appropriate search plans.
