The items were discovered in an iron ammunition box bearing his name. found recently by the martyr-remains recovery team of Military Corps 34.

During a survey to locate martyrs' remains on Chu Pa Mountain (Dip village, Ia Kreng commune, Chu Pah district, Gia Lai province), the team recovered the remains of five martyrs who died during the resistance war against the US, along with artifacts such as hammocks, machine gun casings, AK magazines, medicine tubes, and iron bowls.

The team found an iron box hidden in a cave at coordinates 6792.02, carefully packed with important mementos and documents belonging to veteran Nguyen Viet Tuat, born in 1935, from Trong Quan commune, Dong Hung district, Thai Binh province. At that time, he was the Deputy Platoon Commander of the Combat Support Company (Gia Lai Provincial Military Command).

Among the recovered mementos were a set of clothes, two unused parachutes, and dozens of commendations and certificates awarded to Nguyen Viet Tuat by the Southern Vietnam Liberation Army leadership for his achievements in battles at Cho Don on October 30, 1968; the Cho Don artillery strike on November 13, 1968; the counter-sweep operation on December 29, 1968; the battle on February 1, 1970; achievements in the first six months of 1970; a certificate as an exemplary soldier at the grassroots level in 1970; and a certificate as an exemplary soldier at the company level in 1970.

Additionally, Tuat received commendations from the Gia Lai Provincial Military Command for completing tasks in the artillery strike on Tan Tao airfield on the night of March 21, 1969; for achievements in the last six months of 1969; and for outstanding task performance in combat and operations in 1969.

The iron box also contained a decision promoting Nguyen Viet Tuat from deputy squad leader to deputy platoon leader, and three unsent letters (written to his siblings, niece/nephew, and superiors).

After learning that Tuat was still alive, on April 9, Lieutenant Colonel Nguyen Canh Minh, Director of the Central Highlands Corps Museum (Military Corps 34), coordinated with Trong Quan commune authorities to deliver the mementos to Tuat at his home.

Minh said despite Tuat’s advanced age and frail health, he remains lucid. Although he couldn’t recall the exact time he hid the ammunition box, the documents suggest the mementos were concealed in late 1971 or early 1972.

“He recounted the brutality of the war and the heroic sacrifices of soldiers. Tuat himself buried his comrades and hid their documents and belongings in the cave to continue fighting to protect the homeland,” the museum director said.

Tran Hoan