The veteran is tirelessly devoted to his comrades

“Remember to cherish your roots” is a precious tradition that has been passed down through generations among the Vietnamese people. Every year, on War Invalids and Martyrs Day (July 27th), we commemorate the heroic sacrifices made by our fallen soldiers, wounded veterans, and all those who fought bravely for the independence and freedom of our homeland.

For several consecutive years, Mr. Nguyen Xuan Truong, a former soldier and the Head of the Communication Department of Battalion 1 in Khanh Hoa province, currently working at Power Engineering Consulting Joint Stock Company 4 (EVNPECC4), has been tirelessly working day and night with his comrades to carry out the task of searching, relocating, and burying the remains of heroes and martyrs.   

Recently, Mr. Nguyen Xuan Truong and the Communication Department of Battalion 1, Division 2, Military Region 5 in Khanh Hoa province, along with relevant local authorities, solemnly organized the reception, tribute, and burial ceremony of the remains of martyr Tran Van Hung on the morning of June 17, 2023, at Hon Dung Martyrs Cemetery, Nha Trang City.

Martyr Tran Van Hung was born in 1960, Phuoc Tien Ward, Nha Trang City, Khanh Hoa Province. He enlisted in September 1978, serving in the Platoon 6, Battalion 2, Division 1, Military Region 2, and sacrificed his life on December 24, 1978, while performing duties in defending the southwestern border of Vietnam.

The collective effort of the veteran and the Communication Department of Battalion 1, in collaboration with various organizations and searching units, managed to identify the grave of martyr Tran Van Hung at the Martyrs Cemetery in Chau Thanh district, Tay Ninh province. However, due to the family's relocation to a different location, they lost contact, preventing the transportation of the martyr's remains back to his hometown.

According to the veteran Nguyen Xuan Truong, the Head of the Communication Department of Battalion 1 in Khanh Hoa, recently, they managed to locate the relatives of martyr Tran Van Hung. In accordance with the family's wishes, the Communication Department of Battalion 1 organized a trip to retrieve and bury martyr Tran Van Hung's remains at the hometown martyrs cemetery after nearly 45 years of sacrifice.

"We would like to express our sincere gratitude to comrade Truong and all the comrades of martyr Tran Van Hung for putting in so much effort and time to bring him back after 45 years away from his hometown... The ceremony was held solemnly, warmly, and emotionally touching. The biggest wish of mine has been fulfilled thanks to all of you. Sincerely, thank you all," said Ms. Nguyen Ngoc Tuyet, a relative of martyr Tran Van Hung.

The veteran Tram Loi Men emotionally shared: “For 45 years, his resting place was in the Martyrs Cemetery in Chau Thanh, Tay Ninh. Many of his comrades have returned to their hometowns, only he remained. For various reasons, when his family moved elsewhere, they lost his identification papers. Fortunately, in the old wallet of a 90-year-old father, there was still a martyr family card with his name. It took more than 10 years, and comrade Nguyen Xuan Truong managed to establish contact. The family's wish was successfully fulfilled on the trip to retrieve and bury Tran Van Hung's remains at the Hon Dung Martyrs Cemetery in Nha Trang on June 17, 2023, amidst the smoke of incense in commemoration, together with many former comrades-in-arms.”

“When we bid farewell to him 45 years ago, we were like brothers. From June 15 to June 17, 2023, we welcomed him back to our homeland with loving arms of his family and former comrades. On behalf of all the comrades on this journey, Truong would like to express our sincere gratitude to all the agencies, authorities, media, and comrades who attended the farewell ceremony for martyr Tran Van Hung. On behalf of the Communication Department of Battalion 1, Ba Gia in Khanh Hoa, we sincerely thank all the veterans, organizations, media, and comrades," shared the veteran Nguyen Xuan Truong, representing the Head of the Communication Department of Battalion 1 in Khanh Hoa province.