Vietnam has returned a set of remains believed to belong to a United States service member missing from the war era. The handover took place on the morning of December 13 at Gia Lam Airport in Hanoi, marking another step in long standing humanitarian cooperation between the two countries.
The remains were recovered in Lao Cai Province in northern Vietnam and examined jointly by forensic specialists from both nations on December 5. Initial analysis indicates a possible link to an American service member listed as missing during the conflict. The remains will be transferred to a laboratory in Hawaii for further testing and identification.
United States officials express gratitude for Vietnam’s continued cooperation
United States Ambassador Marc Knapper thanked the Vietnamese Government for its consistent commitment to this humanitarian effort. He described the ceremony as an example of the close collaboration that continues to strengthen relations between the two peoples.
Kelly McKeague, Director of the United States Defense POW and MIA Accounting Agency, praised the professionalism and dedication of Vietnam’s Missing Persons Search Agency. He noted particular appreciation for Vietnam’s ability to conduct unilateral search missions in remote and challenging terrain.
Senior Lieutenant General Hoang Xuan Chien, Deputy Minister of National Defense, emphasised that Vietnam has cooperated fully on the issue of missing American personnel since the earliest days after the Paris Peace Accords. He cited remarks by General Secretary To Lam, who said that Vietnam cannot choose the past but can choose how to look at it and how to shape the future.
General Chien reaffirmed Vietnam’s readiness to provide the best possible conditions for continued search operations. He also encouraged the United States to expand assistance in several areas connected to war legacies. These include mine clearance, dioxin remediation, support for people living with disabilities and the improvement of Vietnam’s own ability to identify missing Vietnamese soldiers.
Humanitarian cooperation on POW MIA accounting has been one of the earliest and most enduring areas of collaboration between Vietnam and the United States. Since efforts began after the signing of the Paris Agreement in 1973, the programme has helped the United States identify and return the remains of seven hundred forty service members to their families.
Officials from both countries expect continued joint missions in the coming years as part of broader efforts to address the lasting consequences of war and to build forward looking ties.
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Source: Vietnam Insider