DNA sampling - a chance to find the remains of unidentified martyrs

The war has been over for more than half a century, but until now there are still those who heroically sacrificed but whose graves or information are unknown. This is a torment and concern for all levels, sectors and relatives of martyrs nationwide as well as Ha Tinh.

Through two resistance wars against French colonialism and American imperialism and fulfilling international obligations to protect the country's borders, tens of thousands of Ha Tinh people went to war, directly fighting or indirectly serving in combat on all battlefields, and more than 26,600 outstanding people fell, of which more than 12,000 martyrs have not been identified.

At cluster 1 at the Ha Tinh City Cultural Center, authorities collected 93 samples from martyrs' mothers and relatives.

Pursuant to Plan No. 356/KH-BCA-C06 dated December 16, 2024 of the Ministry of Public Security on the implementation of DNA sample collection for relatives of martyrs whose identities have not been determined, the Provincial Police Department coordinated with the Department of Home Affairs, People's Committees of districts, cities and towns to implement the collection of DNA samples for relatives of martyrs whose identities have not been determined.

During two days (March 24-25, 2025), Ha Tinh Provincial Police coordinated with the Department of Administrative Management of Social Order of the Ministry of Public Security and the testing unit to collect DNA samples of relatives of unidentified martyrs in the province at 4 clusters.

In which, cluster 1 at the hall of Ha Tinh City Cultural Center, collects samples for martyrs' relatives residing in Ha Tinh City, Can Loc, Thach Ha, Cam Xuyen; cluster 2 at the hall of Ky Anh District People's Committee, collects samples for martyrs' relatives residing in Ky Anh town and Ky Anh district; cluster 3 at the hall of Duc Tho District People's Committee, collects samples for martyrs' relatives residing in Hong Linh town, Nghi Xuan district and Duc Tho district; cluster 4 at the hall of Huong Son District People's Committee, collects samples for martyrs' relatives residing in Huong Son, Vu Quang and Huong Khe districts.

Mr. Dang Van Dung - Deputy Director of the Department of Home Affairs said: "Organizing the collection of DNA samples for relatives of martyrs whose identities have not been determined is a very urgent task. The relatives of martyrs will grow old and die, and if they do not do so quickly, there will be no more opportunities. The collection of DNA samples in this period will identify the priority relatives as the biological mothers of martyrs who are still alive.

With the help of the Ministry of Public Security, Ha Tinh collected DNA samples from the biological mothers of 139 martyrs. The number of DNA samples collected this time was 214, including 137 samples from the biological mothers of martyrs (2 mothers of 2 martyrs) and 77 samples from the relatives (brothers and sisters) of these martyrs. The funding for the implementation was mobilized by the Department of Administrative Management of Social Order of the Ministry of Public Security from socialized sources. In the coming time, the Government, the Ministry of Home Affairs and relevant ministries and branches will arrange funding to implement the collection of DNA samples for relatives of martyrs whose identities have not been determined on a large scale.

Collecting DNA samples to search for martyrs is considered the best preparation for the journey to search, collect and identify the remains of martyrs. This once again kindles hope for families whose loved ones died in the struggle to regain national independence.

Mr. Tran Huu Ty, residing in Thach Quy ward, Ha Tinh city, and his mother, Mrs. Tran Thi Nuoi (born in 1922), were present at cluster 1 to take DNA samples.

Mrs. Tran Thi Nuoi (born in 1922) residing in Thach Quy ward, Ha Tinh city has a son, Tran Huu Quang (born in 1951), who died in 1972 on the battlefield in Quang Tri province. Although she is no longer lucid, sometimes remembers, sometimes forgets, and has difficulty walking, when she heard the news of taking DNA samples to find the remains of her son, a martyr, Mrs. Nuoi immediately agreed.

Information about the DNA of Ms. Tran Thi Nuoi (born in 1922) is kept to serve the future search for martyrs.

Present at the sample collection, Mr. Tran Huu Ty (born in 1960) - son of Mrs. Tran Thi Nuoi emotionally shared: "The day Quang sacrificed, I was still young. According to some of his comrades, my brother sacrificed in a fierce battle at Ai Tu airport (Hai Lang district, Quang Tri province). The family has searched many times but still has not found his remains. The authorities organized the collection of DNA samples to serve the search for martyrs' remains, the family was very emotional, hoping to find him soon. Now my mother is 103 years old, I just hope that before she passes away, she will achieve her wish and bring him back to her hometown for burial."

To facilitate the families of martyrs, in cases where relatives are in poor health and unable to travel, the provincial police have arranged for forces to collect samples directly at home.

Staff of the Working Group implementing Project 06 in Ha Tinh province took samples at the house of Vietnamese Heroic Mother Tran Thi Dieu (born in 1922), residing in Dong Chau village, Thach Ngoc commune, Thach Ha district, to help identify martyrs.

Heroic Vietnamese mother Tran Thi Dieu (born in 1922), residing in Dong Chau village, Thach Ngoc commune, Thach Ha district, had two sons, martyr Phan Danh Lai (1952 - 1974) and martyr Phan Danh Ngo (1954 - 1974); of whom, martyr Phan Danh Ngo's remains have not been found. On the morning of March 24, the provincial police working group went to Dieu's mother's house to complete the procedure of taking DNA samples of her and her son Phan Danh Dau (born in 1956) - the younger brother of martyr Lai and martyr Ngo.

The working group took samples from Mr. Phan Danh Dau, residing in Dong Chau village, Thach Ngoc commune, Thach Ha district - younger brother of martyr Phan Danh Ngo.

At her rare age, Dieu's mother still yearns to find the remains of her son who heroically sacrificed himself to protect the Fatherland. Mr. Phan Danh Dau - Tran Thi Dieu's son said: "When I was still healthy, I can't remember how many times my mother and my husband and I went to look for Ngo's remains but we couldn't find them. My mother spent her whole life hoping to find Ngo's grave. Hopefully this time, the authorities will help my family find his remains."

At the hall of the People's Committee of Ky Anh district, Ms. Nguyen Thi Thang (born in 1941), residing in Tuan Tuong village, Ky Phong commune, Ky Anh district, mother of martyr Tran Quoc Dung (born in 1964) who died in 1984 in the war to protect the northern border, was brought by her daughter to take a DNA sample.

Ms. Tran Thi Thanh Thuy (born in 1974) - the younger sister of martyr Tran Quoc Dung shared: "When my father was alive, due to the family's difficult economic conditions, he never went to the northern provinces to find my brother's remains. Before he passed away, my father told my mother and children to try to find Dung's remains to bring them back to take care of the incense. Although we have searched many times, the family has not found his remains. My mother is in poor health, so I hope to find Dung's remains so that she can rest in peace."

Authorities took blood samples from the martyr's mother at the hall of the People's Committee of Ky Anh district.

The hope of Mr. Tran Huu Ty, Mr. Phan Danh Dau and Ms. Tran Thi Thanh Thuy is also the expectation of many relatives of martyrs whose DNA samples were taken during this period.

Colonel Dang Hoai Son - Deputy Director of Ha Tinh Provincial Police said: "The work of searching for, collecting martyrs' remains, and identifying martyrs' identities has always been identified as an important political task, the responsibility of the entire Party, the entire army and the entire people, and has been constantly carried out by all levels and sectors in Ha Tinh.

Collecting DNA samples from mothers and relatives of martyrs whose identities have not been determined is an act of deep gratitude to the generation of fathers and brothers who heroically sacrificed for the independence and freedom of the Fatherland. Collecting DNA samples from relatives of martyrs whose information has not been determined is the first step in preparation for the journey of searching, gathering, and identifying the remains of martyrs whose information is still missing."

Source: https://baohatinh.vn/lay-mau-adn-co-hoi-tim-hai-cot-liet-si-chua-xac-dinh-danh-tinh-post284793.html