Identifying bodies of Argentine soldiers from a war 36 years ago

Americas Now

A dispute over who rules the Falkland-Malvinas Islands led to war in 1982. And the remains of more than a 120 soldiers have been a mystery – until now.

For decades, the bodies have laid in a cemetery in the Malvinas Islands, known to the British as the Falkland Islands. They were Argentine soldiers who died in the war between Great Britain and Argentina.

With no means to identify the bodies when the conflict ended, they were buried by a British army captain. Their tomb read — Argentine Soldier, Known only to God.

Tension remains over sovereignty of the Islands. But in 2016 both sides agreed to allow the Red Cross to help identify the soldiers. After a long process, 88 families traveled to the Islands to finally put a name on the graves.

As Correspondent Joel Richards reports, the process has brought a sense of closure to many Argentine families.

For those living on the Islands the cemetery is a constant reminder of the dispute over sovereignty of the region.