Video: American veteran longs to return to Vietnam to return keepsake book after more than half a century
Mr. Peter Mathews - who has kept a martyr's notebook for the past 56 years, along with his wife from the US, will return to Vietnam, go to Ha Tinh and directly hand over the notebook to the relatives of martyr Cao Xuan Tuat (Cao Van Tuat) in Cao Thang village (Ky Xuan commune).
These days, many people come to visit the house of martyr Cao Van Tuat's relatives and talk about the story of the notebook that martyr Cao Van Tuat left behind before he died, which is about to be returned to his family.
After more than half a century of waiting for information, until now, the desire of martyr Cao Van Tuat's relatives is to find the martyr's grave. Martyr Cao Van Tuat sacrificed without leaving any souvenirs or a portrait, only a martyr's notebook and a piece of medal certificate bearing Cao Van Tuat's name. Therefore, the martyr's notebook returning to his family will somewhat ease the pain of loss over the years.
From left to right: Ms. Cao Thi Nong - sister of martyr Cao Van Tuat; Mr. Ha Huy My - nephew of martyr Cao Van Tuat and Ms. Cao Thi Nong's husband
Remembering his uncle, Mr. Ha Huy My - the person responsible for burning incense for martyr Cao Van Tuat, was moved: " My family's wish was to find his grave, but we did not know about this diary. To be exact, we could not have imagined this diary in our dreams. The family is truly touched.
Also hoping for the earliest day to receive the diary as the spirit of Tuat reunited with the family so that the family can have joy, comfort and to show gratitude to Mr. Tuat as his uncle is being reborn to return to the family, to return to the relatives of the martyrs according to the family's wishes because there are still two people: an older sister and a younger brother still alive. The family is touched, moved and happy .
Previously, on January 27, 2023, the North Jersey Newspaper published an article by author Megan Burrow about the story of an American veteran who is currently keeping a notebook of a Vietnamese soldier and wants to find information about the author of that notebook. The information was published by Vietnamese press agencies, including VOV media.
According to the Chairman of the Fatherland Front Committee of Ha Tinh province - Mr. Tran Nhat Tan, as soon as he accessed this source of information, he contacted his friends in the US, asked to connect with Mr. Peter Mathew, to access the data about the notebook. From the available data (names of father, mother, sisters, home address), the authorities verified and determined that the name Cao Xuan Tuat in the notebook and martyr Cao Van Tuat in Cao Thang village, Ky Xuan commune were the same. Mr. Cao Van Tuat was born in 1942, enlisted in the army in 1963, and died in 1967 without a wife or children.
" I contacted the author of the article via email but she did not respond. I thought why not find a sponsor, and I contacted a professor at the University of Alaska and he accepted. At the same time, I looked at Mr. Peter Mathews' website. T
I also asked the Department of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs and the People's Committee of Ky Anh district to find all martyrs named Cao Xuan Tuat in Ky Anh. But the answer was no such name, only Cao Van Tuat in Ky Xuan. Along with that, the provincial police checked the population data to confirm one thing: Cao Xuan Tuat did not exist. On that day, I contacted the relatives of martyr Cao Van Tuat and there was a lot of matching data, it can be confirmed that Cao Van Tuat and Cao Xuan Tuat are one and the same ," said Mr. Tran Nhat Tan.
Mr. Tran Nhat Tan - Chairman of the Vietnam Fatherland Front Committee of Ha Tinh province and officers of the Military Command of Ha Tinh province
In an interview with VOV's US correspondent at his home in Bergenfield, New Jersey, Peter Mathews said he was surprised that less than two weeks after the article was published, he received a response from Vietnam. He was very nervous and stayed up all night waiting for an answer.
Mr. Peter Mathews emphasized: " I was really surprised because it was so fast. I was not sure that the records in Vietnam were kept carefully but they were. I assumed that they kept very careful records of every soldier.
I still remember it was around 3am in the US when they verified the information about the author of the notebook. They went to his sisters' house and showed me through the camera. I cried. My tears at that time were because of emotion and happiness when seeing them. It was wonderful and I really wanted to meet them and give the notebook to them ."
56 years after his discharge, Peter Mathew has never returned to Vietnam due to financial difficulties. And this return, he considers it a mission of his life: to return the notebook of a Vietnamese soldier, also an opportunity for him to thank the Vietnamese people, and to feel a new Vietnam.
VOV correspondent in the US talks with veteran Peter Mathew
Mr. Peter Mathew said: " I would like to take this opportunity to thank the Vietnamese people for helping me. The messages from them surprised me with their affection and support for me. And I will never forget that. Therefore, I did not hesitate to return to Vietnam because I know that it is a country living in peace.
I am really looking forward to this trip. Through what I see on TV, I see a prosperous and peaceful country, open to all visitors. As I said, the feedback I received from the Vietnamese people was wonderful. Therefore, I am very happy to return to Vietnam to witness a new Vietnam .
Currently, Mr. Peter Mathew is on a flight from the US to Vietnam. Tomorrow (March 5), Ha Tinh province will hold a ceremony to hand over the notebook of martyr Cao Van Tuat to his family.
THU HA - LAI HOA (VOV1)
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