50 Years After the War, Remains of American Soldiers Come Home

MIA search activity in Thanh Tien commune (Thanh Chuong district, Nghe An) in 2021. Photo: KT

Over the past half-century, Vietnam returned more than 1,000 sets of remains, helping the US identify more than 730 cases of soldiers missing during the war. Vietnam Office for Seeking Missing Persons (VNOSMP) could not have achieved that result without the support, cooperation, and assistance of the Vietnamese people

Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Ha Kim Ngoc spoke at an event celebrating the 50th anniversary of the establishment of the Vietnam Office for Seeking Missing Persons (VNOSMP) and the 35th anniversary of the joint operation to search for US servicemen who were reported missing in action (MIA) during the war in Vietnam. The event took place on taking place on June 8.

According to Deputy Minister Ha Kim Ngoc, during 50 years of existence and development, 35 years of joint operation to search for US servicemen, with the support of Party and State leaders, leaders of ministries and local authorities, VNOSMP successfully completed assigned political tasks, contributed to healing war wounds, normalizing and promoting Vietnam-US relations.

He said that Vietnam's goodwill and good cooperation results with the US on MIA over the past 50 years have been recognized by the Government, the US Congress, veterans' associations and MIA family members.

The US side considers this a model for bilateral relations particularly and international relations in general.

It is also a motivation for the two sides to strengthen cooperation in overcoming other war consequences such as Agent Orange/dioxin clean-up at Da Nang and Bien Hoa airports, support for disabled people affected by Agent Orange/dioxin, clearing unexploded bombs, searching, and gathering the remains of Vietnamese soldiers missing in the war.

DPAA Director Kelly McKeague sent the thanks of many US military families to Vietnam. Photo: cand.com.vn

At the celebration, Tran Khanh Phoi, a representative of the MIA team in Quang Tri province, said that the war caused his family too much pain. However, for the past 30 years, he has been searching for missing Americans.

"Ordinary Americans are not at fault. And so, I no longer hold grudges against anyone. If there is, it's just hatred for war, with the wish that there will never be a war anywhere, with anyone and for any reason," Phoi said.

Kelly McKeague, director of the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency (DPAA) at the US Department of Defense, told the touching stories of some US military families who were fortunate to receive the remains of their loved ones thanks to the help from Vietnam.

He also sent the thanks of the families of the missing US servicemen to VNOSMP.

MIA activities in Huong Son commune, Lang Giang district, Bac Giang. Photo: KT

"The VNOSMP plays an essential role in helping 729 US military families get the final answer to their prayers - the return of their loved one. The remaining 1,243 military families, who are still waiting for an answer, would also like to express their gratitude for the efforts that VNOSMP made to locate their loved ones," McKeague said.

"Trust and understanding have also brought achievements to a higher level, reflected in the remarkable development of the Vietnam-US relationship, through the growing bonds between the peoples of the two countries, and the growth of Vietnam today," he said.

According to US Ambassador to Vietnam Marc Knapper, both countries experienced strong growth over the past 50 years, from a history full of conflict and division to becoming comprehensive partners of each other.

The United States strives to support a strong, prosperous, independent, and self-reliant Vietnam. However, getting what it is today, the Ambassador affirmed that it is thanks to the enduring relationship between the MIA agencies of the two countries. The relationship was established before the two countries normalized relations, helping to create a solid foundation for promoting bilateral relations between the US and Vietnam.

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