News-Info-Alerts

To: ALL

From: Andi Wolos & Bob Necci

(POW-MIA InterNetwork)

Re: NLF Update 22 APR 99

Date: April 26, 1999

From the National League of Families.

National League of Families
UPDATE LINE: APRIL 22, 1999

Thank you for calling the National League of Families Update Line. This message is being recorded on Thursday, April 22nd. The number of Americans still missing from the Vietnam War is 2,063.

The Defense Department recently provided the names of the six Americans previously missing from the Vietnam War whose remains were recovered and identified. The six were identified as Lt. David L. Hodges, USN, from Maryland; Capt. Samuel L. James, USAF, from Tennessee; Capt. Douglas K. Martin, USAF, from Texas; SSgt. Harold E. Reid, USMC, Utah, Lt. Col. Lewis M. Robinson, USAF, from Michigan, and Capt. Dean A. Wadsworth, USAF, Texas.

The remains of Air Force Captains James and Martin were jointly recovered in Cambodia in January 1998, following 3 separate joint investigations. Lao officials unilaterally provided the remains of LTC Robinson in February 1988, with subsequent joint recoveries in 1993 and 1998. Acting on information obtained from Vietnamese wartime documents, Lt. Hodges' remains were jointly recovered in April and September 1996. The remains of SSgt Reid were jointly recovered in Vietnam in April 1996. A Vietnamese citizen initially turned in remains reportedly of Capt. Wadsworth, a step that was followed by joint field operations in 1995 and 1996.

This brings the number still missing and unaccounted for to 2,063: 1,537 in Vietnam, 444 in Laos, 74 in Cambodia and 8 in the territorial waters of the PRC. It is again noted that of the 2,063 still missing and unaccounted for from the Vietnam War, over 90% were lost in areas under Vietnamese control at the time of their incidents. For this reason, the League looks to Vietnam to unilaterally provide remains and records that could help account for hundreds of Americans.

The League is again sending a delegation to Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia from May 12-20th in an effort to reinforce the families' views on the status of efforts to account for America's POW/MIAs. While appreciating and recognizing some improvements in the ongoing accounting process, the League has consistently stressed the need for increased unilateral actions by the Government of Vietnam, better integration of US efforts between departments and agencies, and various improvements of the accounting effort in Laos and Cambodia. The last League delegation to Southeast Asia was in May 1997.

POW/MIA technical talks took place in Hanoi last week, led by BG Terry Tucker, USA, Commander. Discussions on discrepancy cases involving Americans last known alive which followed have now concluded.

Joint operations in Laos have now concluded. JTF was pleased with the cooperation of the Lao government that permitted flexibility during the recent activities. POW/MIA consultations will be held April 28-29th in Vientiane. US research teams completed review of wartime Lao archival films in Savannakhet Province and will soon do the same in Xieng Khoang and Houaphan provinces in the north, and Attapeu province in the south.

The League's 30th Annual Meeting will be held June 16-19th in Washington, DC. All Vietnam War POW/MIA families are welcome to attend. Veterans and other concerned Americans are also welcome by invitation. Registration and hotel reservation forms are available by request from the League's national office, 202-223-6846, or by email through the League's web site, pow-miafamilies.org.

Due to limited staff and funding, it is not possible to send large amounts of public awareness material. Instead, single copies of current information are available for duplication. POW/MIA window decals are available for $20 per 100. There is current, factual information available on the League's web site at pow-miafamilies.org. For information regarding any matter in this recording, call the League office at 202/223-6846. If no one can take your call, please leave a message with the subject, your name, address, and telephone number. Again, thank you for calling.