US servicemen’s remains repatriated

A repatriation ceremony of remains of U.S. servicemen who died during the war in Vietnam was held at Da Nang International Airport on July 8^th.

This is the 144^th hand-over of American missing servicemen’s remains since 1973. (Photo: Ministry of Foreign Affairs)

Attending the ceremony were representatives from the Board of Directors of Vietnam Office for Seeking Missing Personnel (VNOSMP), U.S. diplomatic missions in Vietnam, the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency and the U.S. MIA Office in Hanoi.

The Vietnamese side’s representative handed over to the U.S. side two boxes of remains which were recovered by joint and unilateral excavation teams during the 131^st Joint Field Activities from May to July, 2018.

The remains had been jointly reviewed and concluded by Vietnamese and U.S. forensic specialists in Da Nang that they might be associated with the U.S. servicemen missing during the war in Vietnam and were recommended to bring to Hawaii, United States, for further review.

Addressing at the repatriation ceremony, a U.S. government representative expressed deep gratitude and high appreciation for the steadfast humanitarian policy, good-will, the full and the increasingly efficient cooperation of the Vietnamese government and people.

The seeking of the remains of U.S. servicemen missing during the war in Vietnam is humanitarian cooperation between the Vietnamese government and the U.S. government. This is the 144^th hand-over of American missing servicemen’s remains since 1973./.

VNF/VNA