DA NANG PROVINCE, Vietnam –
In a poignant repatriation ceremony held, July 25, 2025, in Da Nang province, a joint U.S.-Vietnamese team marked the end of a significant recovery mission aimed at supporting the identification of those still missing from the Vietnam War. Members of the 25-3VN Underwater Recovery Team, working alongside the Vietnamese Office for Seeking Missing Persons, Vietnam Detachment 2, and U.S. Embassy Hanoi carefully loaded possible remains onto caskets bound for the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency's laboratory in Hawaii.
The mission, conducted in support of DPAA, represents the continued effort to account for the 1,567 personnel still missing from the Vietnam War, especially significant in this year marking the 50th anniversary of the war's end.
“I am incredibly proud of the 25-3VN underwater team’s commitment towards fulfilling our nation’s promise to those that couldn’t make it home, while promoting positive relations alongside the Vietnamese." said U.S. Army Capt. Ander Thompson, a diving officer and 25-3VN team leader assigned to DPAA, reflecting on the emotional weight of the mission. "Our team of 31 U.S. Army, Air Force, Coast Guard, and Navy service members demonstrated innate professionalism of carrying out this humble mission by overcoming the challenges of diving in near-blackout conditions at 90 feet beneath the surface"
The possible remains will now undergo rigorous scientific analysis at the DPAA laboratory on Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Hawaii, in hopes of identification and eventual return to their families, contributing to the fullest possible accounting.
"It was a very successful mission in terms of evidence. We are returning osseous material and material evidence to our DPAA laboratory for further evidence.” explained Gregory Stratton, a forensic underwater archaeologist assigned to DPAA. “This analysis could take up to 12-14 months to process for identification due to the rigorous standards used by DPAA.”
DPAA's unwavering commitment to its mission, to provide the fullest possible accounting for America's missing personnel to their families and the nation, continues to bring hope to families who have waited decades for answers. This joint mission underscores the enduring partnership between the United States and Vietnam in addressing the legacy of the Vietnam War and honoring those who served.