On August 8, the Ho Chi Minh City Command announced the latest results of the search and recovery of fallen soldiers’ remains at Le Thi Rieng Park in Hoa Hung Ward.

According to the team responsible for recovering the remains, authorities continued to expand the search area around the second burial trench in Zone B, excavating more than 250 cubic meters of soil to reach locations where remains were believed to be buried.

The area consists of an earth mound created during the park’s redevelopment, meaning a large volume of soil has to be removed. To speed up the operation, authorities deployed three excavators and a dump truck to transport soil, with the search continuing without interruption.

The team subsequently discovered and recovered 18 sets of fallen soldiers’ remains along with 14 groups of accompanying artifacts.

Since June 23, teams working at Le Thi Rieng Park have discovered and recovered 245 sets of fallen soldiers’ remains. Of these, 217 were found individually, while the remaining 28 were recovered from seven locations associated with mass graves in Zones A and B.

The Ho Chi Minh City Command said it would continue directing teams to expand the search area and coordinate with specialised agencies, witnesses and relevant units in the search and recovery of fallen soldiers’ remains.

Key milestones in the search for fallen soldiers’ remains at Le Thi Rieng Park

May 28: The Ho Chi Minh City Command issued a public notice seeking a “witness” who appeared in a photograph taken when soldiers sacrificed on February 12, 1968, were being buried.

June 8: National Steering Committee 515 held a workshop to verify and assess information concerning a mass grave of fallen soldiers at the former Chi Hoa - Cho Quan cemetery, now part of the Le Thi Rieng Park area.

June 23: Authorities conducted exploratory excavations and discovered multiple sets of fallen soldiers’ remains in an area behind the memorial dedicated to heroes and fallen soldiers of the 1968 Tet General Offensive and Uprising.

July 6: The search and recovery of fallen soldiers’ remains at Le Thi Rieng Park was officially launched.

To date: A total of 245 sets of fallen soldiers’ remains, along with numerous artifacts, have been found.

Phuoc Sang