A ceremony took place in Da Nang on Thursday to transfer remains believed to belong to U.S. servicemen missing in action (MIAs) during the Vietnam War to the U.S. side.
This marked the 168th such event, attended by representatives from the Vietnam Office for Seeking Missing Persons (VNOSMP), along with officials from the Ministry of National Defense, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and Ministry of Public Security. The U.S. delegation included Deputy Ambassador Courtney Beale, leaders of the U.S. MIA Office, and specialists who participated in the 157th joint search mission conducted from October to December 2024.
The VNOSMP handed over a casket containing the remains, recovered during a unilateral excavation operation carried out in Quang Ninh and Yen Bai provinces. Forensic experts from both nations examined the remains on December 3, concluding that they could be linked to U.S. soldiers missing in action during the war. The remains will now be sent to Hawaii for further forensic analysis and identification.
Vietnam and the U.S. began cooperating on MIA recovery efforts after the 1973 Paris Agreement. Over the decades, this humanitarian initiative has led to the identification and repatriation of over 730 U.S. soldiers’ remains.
Since the establishment of the Vietnam-U.S. Comprehensive Strategic Partnership in September 2023, the recovery mission has gained greater significance as a key area of bilateral cooperation. The initiative not only demonstrates the Vietnamese people’s humanitarian spirit but also helps heal the scars of war, strengthen mutual trust, and foster broader cooperation between the two nations.
