Family finds grave of first martyr who died in Truong Sa, after 50 years

Corporal Tong Van Quang (born in 1954, enlisted in 1972, hometown in Cao Ngan commune, Thai Nguyen city, Thai Nguyen province) was a soldier of Company 1, Battalion 4, Regiment 38, Division 2 (Military Region 5) participating in the forces of the Navy and Military Region 5, liberating Truong Sa, early April 1975.

- Ảnh 1. — Delegations prepare to visit martyrs at the martyrs cemetery in Cam Ranh City ( Khanh Hoa )

On the morning of April 14, 1975, Corporal Tong Van Quang sacrificed his life while fighting to liberate Song Tu Tay Island (Truong Sa District, Khanh Hoa Province) and was buried by his comrades on Song Tu Tay Island.

In early 1987, the grave of martyr Tong Van Quang was moved from the island to the mainland by the Naval Region 4 Command and buried at the martyrs cemetery in Cam Ranh City (Khanh Hoa).

- Ảnh 2. — Representatives of Thanh Nien Newspaper and relatives of martyr Tong Van Quang

Due to the unit's change of name, transfer to a management center and burial conditions on a remote island... since then, the search and notification of relatives by the policy agency has encountered many difficulties, and no relatives have come to visit the grave of martyr Tong Van Quang.

Recently, Thanh Nien Newspaper in coordination with Navy Region 4, departments and agencies of Khanh Hoa and Thai Nguyen provinces have focused on reviewing, connecting information, and verifying through management contacts, veterans of the Navy, Military Region 5... to find the relatives of martyr Tong Van Quang.

- Ảnh 3. — Delegation of the Provincial Party Committee, People's Committee, Vietnam Fatherland Front Committee of Khanh Hoa province and the Military Command of Khanh Hoa province

At the hometown of martyr Tong Van Quang (Cao Ngan commune, Thai Nguyen city, Thai Nguyen province), the family said: "Due to difficult economic circumstances, there is no specific information, so we have not had the opportunity to find the martyr's grave" and earnestly requested Thanh Nien Newspaper, Navy Region 4, Khanh Hoa province, Thai Nguyen province to help the family to burn incense at the grave of their loved one, after 50 years of waiting.

Based on the above wishes, the Editorial Board of Thanh Nien Newspaper, the Command of Naval Region 4 and the functional departments of Khanh Hoa and Thai Nguyen provinces coordinated to bring 3 relatives of martyr Tong Van Quang from Thai Nguyen to Khanh Hoa to visit the martyr's grave for the first time after 50 years of sacrifice.

- Ảnh 4. — Mr. Nguyen Khac Toan, Standing Deputy Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee, Chairman of the People's Council of Khanh Hoa province visited the grave of martyr Tong Van Quang.

This morning (April 14), the incense offering and flower offering ceremony and the family receiving the graves of martyrs who died in the battle to liberate Song Tu Tay Island (April 14, 1975 - April 14, 2025) were held by the Naval Region 4 Command, Thanh Nien Newspaper and the City Party Committee and People's Committee of Cam Ranh City at the Cam Ranh City Martyrs Cemetery.

- Ảnh 5. — Students of Cam Ranh City visit the grave of martyr Tong Van Quang, the first martyr on Truong Sa archipelago.

Attending the ceremony were Mr. Nguyen Khac Toan, Standing Deputy Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee, Chairman of the People's Council of Khanh Hoa province, representing the Provincial Party Committee, People's Committee, Vietnam Fatherland Front Committee of Khanh Hoa province; Colonel Nguyen Huu Minh, Deputy Political Commissar of Naval Region 4, representing Naval Region 4; Colonel Vo Van Vien, Deputy Political Commissar of Khanh Hoa Provincial Military Command, representing Khanh Hoa Provincial Military Command; Mr. Ngo Huu Hien, Vice Chairman of Cam Ranh City People's Committee and many officers, soldiers, representatives of agencies and units of Naval Region 4, Cam Ranh City...

- Ảnh 6. — Relatives of martyr Tong Van Quang and officers and soldiers of Naval Region 4, in front of the grave of the first martyr who died in Truong Sa, exactly 50 years ago.

Witnessing the ceremony and receiving direct attention from local leaders, officers and people, Ms. Tong Thi Be (65 years old, sister of martyr Tong Van Quang) was moved: "The family received the grave of our brother exactly 50 years after his sacrifice and also the liberation of the island, with such solemnity and sacredness, which is something we could not have expected."

Ms. Be said: "The help of Thanh Nien Newspaper, Navy Region 4, and functional departments of Khanh Hoa and Thai Nguyen provinces is the greatest comfort and encouragement after 50 years of waiting for news of the fallen"...