Journey to find the grave of martyr Nguyen Ngoc Khoi

Comrades and family burn incense at the grave of martyr Nguyen Ngoc Khoi at the Martyrs Cemetery of Binh Dinh commune, Thang Binh district.

In 1972, the Quang Nam battlefield was very fierce, the provincial army units prepared conditions to organize attacks on enemy-occupied areas to expand the liberated areas. To ensure food and provisions for combat units, on November 16, 1972, Battalion 74 of Quang Nam Provincial Military Command stationed in Hamlet 1, Phuoc Son Commune, Tien Phuoc District (now Tien Son Commune, Tien Phuoc District) sent a group of officers and soldiers to collect food and provisions in the eastern area of ​​Thang Binh.

On the way back at midnight, when reaching road 16, in village 2, Binh Dinh commune, our soldiers encountered an enemy ambush, firing artillery and exploding mines, killing 6 of our comrades and injuring 6 others.

“We reached a safe place but on the way back, the enemy ambushed us and planted mines on the way. We were carrying heavy loads of food so we couldn’t react in time. The leading group was killed. The remaining force was ordered to retreat to a safe place,” said Le The Dong, a native of Tinh Gia, Thanh Hoa, a former soldier of Battalion 74, one of those on duty that night.

Because they were in enemy territory, the remaining soldiers had to retreat to the rear base that night. The soldiers who died were later secretly and simply buried by the people and guerrillas. After the liberation day, their remains were brought to the local martyrs' cemetery, but some had their names engraved on their tombstones, while others were unidentified.

Martyr Nguyen Ngoc Khoi was one of the six people who died in that battle. He left behind a wife and three young children in Yen Phong district, Bac Ninh province. The martyr’s family received a death notice at that time, but the only information given was that Mr. Khoi had enlisted in the army in 1967 and died in 1972 on the Quang Nam battlefield.

Martyr Nguyen Ngoc Khoi was brought back to his hometown Bac Ninh.

After the country's reunification, martyr Khoi's family was still in a difficult situation and did not have the means to find the martyr's grave. Since 2015, martyr Khoi's children have also intended to find their father's grave, but the information was still very vague. In 2019, martyr Nguyen Ngoc Khoi's grandson searched on the website of the Department of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs of Quang Nam province, but once again the information from both sides did not match.

Meanwhile, Mr. Doan Van Phuc, a soldier of Battalion 74, Quang Nam Provincial Military Command, currently residing in Ho Chi Minh City, is also quietly searching for the relatives of martyr Nguyen Ngoc Khoi.

“Khoi and I spent two years together in the trenches, eating, living, and fighting together. So I know that Khoi is from the same hometown as me in Bac Ninh, and he is exactly one generation older than me, so I cannot forget him. Through Le The Dong, who survived Khoi’s last military trip, I know exactly where Khoi died. Five years ago, I tried to find Khoi’s relatives, but could not find them.

By 2024, I asked a comrade in Yen Phong district, Bac Ninh province to announce on the radio of the whole district to the villages to find relatives of martyr Khoi, born in 1939, who died in Quang Nam.

In February 2025, I was able to contact Mr. Khoi's children and grandchildren. Over the phone, we connected and together searched for the exact grave of martyr Nguyen Ngoc Khoi, currently at the Martyrs' Cemetery in Binh Dinh Commune, Thang Binh District," said Mr. Doan Van Phuc, a comrade of martyr Nguyen Ngoc Khoi.

Mr. Doan Van Phuc's journey to find relatives of his fallen comrades ended satisfactorily. On March 22, 2025, the family of martyr Nguyen Ngoc Khoi from Bac Ninh came to Quang Nam with the veterans of Battalion 74 of Quang Nam Provincial Military Command to pay tribute to the martyrs.

On March 23, 2025, the remains of martyr Nguyen Ngoc Khoi were brought back to his hometown Bac Ninh after more than 50 years in Quang land.

“When my father joined the army, we were still very young, my father had no brothers or sisters, my mother had a very difficult time. When we had the chance, we didn’t know where to find him, so we kept thinking about him until Phuc, my father’s comrade, informed us. We were determined to follow his instructions to come here and bring my father’s remains back to our hometown for reunion. We are very grateful for the affection of my father’s comrades, and grateful for the help of the local government in Quang Nam,” said Mr. Nguyen Van Trien, son of martyr Nguyen Ngoc Khoi, emotionally.

Source: https://baoquangnam.vn/hanh-trinh-di-tim-mo-liet-si-nguyen-ngoc-khoi-3151533.html