Vietnam has handed the US a sign and guardhouse from a former Marine Corps camp in Da Nang, in a gesture highlighting reconciliation more than half a century after the war.
Vietnam’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said Da Nang authorities, in coordination with relevant agencies, handed over the name sign and guardhouse of the former Camp Reasoner to the US on Sept. 15.
Representatives of Da Nang and the US sign documents completing the transfer of the Camp Reasoner artifacts, witnessed by Vietnamese Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Nguyen Minh Hang and US Ambassador to Vietnam Jennifer Wicks. Photo: US Embassy in Vietnam
Da Nang People’s Committee Vice Chairman Ho Quang Buu said the handover reflected Vietnam’s humanitarian tradition as well as its commitment to putting the past behind it and working together to address the consequences of war.
He said the gesture also embodied the spirit of healing and reconciliation while helping advance a future of peace, cooperation and development between Vietnam and the US.
Da Nang has consistently supported cooperation on war legacy issues, people-to-people exchanges and efforts to preserve historical memories for future generations in both countries.
Representatives of Da Nang and the US sign documents completing the transfer of the artifacts, witnessed by Vietnamese Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Nguyen Minh Hang and US Ambassador to Vietnam Jennifer Wicks.
At the ceremony, a representative of the Da Nang Veterans Association emphasized the invaluable importance of peace and expressed the hope that future generations would never have to endure the suffering caused by war.
The representative said healing and reconciliation efforts provide an important bridge for strengthening mutual understanding and trust between the Vietnamese and American peoples.
US Ambassador Jennifer Wicks thanked Vietnam’s senior leaders, relevant ministries and agencies, and Da Nang authorities for facilitating the transfer.
She said the US appreciated Vietnam’s goodwill and spirit of humanitarian cooperation.
The artifacts carry particular historical significance for American veterans and the families of service members who were once stationed at Camp Reasoner.
Vietnamese and US delegates stand in front of the Camp Reasoner sign in Da Nang on Sept. 15. Photo: US Embassy in Vietnam
Their transfer acknowledges painful memories of the war while also reflecting how Vietnam-US relations have evolved through healing and reconciliation, contributing to the development of bilateral ties and to peace and security in the region and beyond.
Wicks said the US remains committed to supporting Vietnam in clearing unexploded ordnance, addressing dioxin contamination and assisting people with disabilities.
She also reaffirmed US support for Vietnam’s “500 Days and Nights” campaign to search for, recover and identify the remains of Vietnamese soldiers still missing from the war.
Vietnamese and US delegates stand in front of the Camp Reasoner sign in Da Nang on Sept. 15.
The “Camp Reasoner” sign and guardhouse are surviving artifacts from a camp used by the US Marine Corps’ 1st Reconnaissance Battalion during the Vietnam War.
They had been preserved in the Da Son area of Hoa Khanh Ward in Da Nang.
Following a request from the US, including wishes expressed by some American veterans, Vietnam agreed to transfer the artifacts in a spirit of goodwill and humanitarianism.
The items will be used for display and commemoration, honoring the values of peace, healing and reconciliation between the two countries.
More than half a century after the war ended and over three decades since diplomatic relations were normalized, Vietnam and the US have worked to overcome their shared past, build trust and deepen bilateral relations.
Throughout that process, cooperation in addressing the legacies of war has remained a particularly significant part of the relationship.
Vietnamnet.vn
Podcast
.svg){kind=icon}
