The 170th repatriation ceremony for the found remains of US servicemen missing in action in the Việt Nam War was held on July 25 in the central city of Đà Nẵng.

HÀ NỘI — Việt Nam handed over the remains of three individuals believed to be US servicemen missing in action (MIA) during the war in Việt Nam during the 170th repatriation ceremony in the central city of Đà Nẵng on Friday.

The event coincided with the 30th anniversary of diplomatic ties between the two nations (July 12), the 40th anniversary of the first joint MIA search mission, and the 50th anniversary of the war’s end in Việt Nam (April 30).

It saw the presence of leaders of the Việt Nam Office for Seeking Missing Persons (VNOSMP), along with representatives from the Vietnamese ministries of national defence, foreign affairs, and public security. The US delegation included Deputy Chief of Mission in Việt Nam Courtney Beale, officials from the US Embassy, members of the Defence POW/MIA Accounting Agency (DPAA) in Hà Nội, alongside veterans and personnel from the 159th joint field activity conducted from May to July.

The remains, recovered off the coast of Khánh Hoà Province during a recent joint operation, were examined by Vietnamese and US forensic specialists on July 23. Preliminary findings suggested a link to missing US servicemen, and the remains will be sent to the DPAA’s forensic laboratory in Hawaii for further analysis and identification.

During his visit to Việt Nam from July 8 to 12, DPAA Director Kelly McKeague expressed his profound thanks to the Vietnamese Government, VNOSMP, and local authorities, and communities for their dedicated support to the MIA search efforts.

He affirmed that both he and the DPAA remain committed to securing continued US congressional and governmental backing for strengthening bilateral ties and expanding postwar recovery programmes in Việt Nam.

The humanitarian collaboration on MIA search and accounting, which began after the 1973 Paris Peace Accords signing, has led to the identification and repatriation of nearly 750 US servicemen’s remains. These efforts, significant for the US Government and people, contribute to bolstering broader joint work to address the war’s aftermath. — VNA/VNS