More US servicemen's remains in Vietnam repatriated
Post-war remains recovery efforts demonstrate both sides' shared commitment to setting aside the past and building sustainable future.
THE HANOI TIMES — Vietnam and the United States on April 19 jointly held the 169th repatriation of US personnel missing in action (MIA) during the wartime in Vietnam.
The event was held in Danang, coinciding with the 50th anniversary of Vietnam's Reunification Day (April 30, 1975 - April 30, 2025) and ahead of the 30th anniversary of the establishment of US-Vietnam diplomatic relations (July 12, 1995 - July 12, 2025), highlighting the progress of reconciliation between the two countries from former adversaries to comprehensive strategic partners.
At the event, attended by Vietnamese officials, US Ambassador to Vietnam Marc Knapper and American war veterans, Vietnam handed over four sets of remains believed to be those of US soldiers discovered during recent joint recovery efforts in Thua Thien Hue, Quang Tri, and Kon Tum provinces by Vietnamese and US teams.
Prior to the handover on April 15, preliminary examinations conducted by Vietnamese and American forensic specialists indicated that the remains may be related to US servicemen missing in action during the war. The remains will be sent to a forensic laboratory in Hawaii for further analysis and identification.
The repatriation of remains is part of a long-standing humanitarian cooperation between the two countries that began after the 1973 Paris Peace Accords. To date, 735 of the 1,973 missing US servicemen have been identified and returned to their families through the joint effort.
The repatriation of US servicemens’ remains.
This cooperation supports broader post-war recovery efforts, including joint programs to search for and identify missing Vietnamese soldiers, clear landmines, decontaminate dioxin-affected areas, and assist war victims and persons with disabilities in Vietnam.
