News-Info-Alerts

To: ALL

From: Andi Wolos & Bob Necci
(POW-MIA InterNetwork)

Re: NLF Update

Date: May 22, 1998

NATIONAL LEAGUE OF FAMILIES
UPDATE LINE: May 22, 1998

Thank you for calling the National League of Families Update Line. This message was recorded on Wednesday, May 22nd. The number of Americans listed as missing from the Vietnam War is 2,090.

On May 14th, the Vietnam War remains interred in the Tomb of the Unknowns at Arlington National Cemetery were exhumed and are now undergoing testing in an effort to establish individual identification. Since the anonymity of the tomb of the Unknowns had been violated by irresponsible CBS reporting, including false assertions that there was a coverup at the time of interment in 1984, and since the US Government determined there is a reasonable possibility of identification using scientific technology that did not exist in the early 1980s, the League supported Secretary Cohen's decision to exhume the remains. In view of identification technology now and in the future, the League strongly opposes any reinterment of Vietnam War remains in the Tomb. Recognizing the need to honor those who may never be accounted for, the League recommends that a plaque be formally dedicated at this site to honor those still missing and their noble sacrifices for our nation.

Joint field operations recently resumed in Laos and will continue for just over one month. Plans include excavation of up to nine sites in four provinces, utilizing 43 American specialists, joined by Lao officials and local citizens. 447 Americans are still missing in Laos, though over 80% were lost in areas then under the control of the Vietnamese government. To date, the Vietnamese have not provided case-specific documents regarding these losses.

Joint field operations in Vietnam recently concluded. Investigations of 54 cases and excavations 12 sites were to be conducted in 17 provinces of Vietnam. Approximately 100 American personnel participated, joined by Vietnamese officials.

The League's POW/MIA flag flew nationwide on Armed Forces Day, May 16th, the first of six days per year now mandated by law. In addition to all offices of the US Postal Service, our POW/MIA flag is to be displayed at the White House, the Departments of State, Defense and Veterans Affairs, where it now flies daily, the Selective Service System headquarters, the national Vietnam Veterans and Korean War Memorials, major military installations and all VA national cemeteries and veterans service centers. On Memorial Day, the League's POW/MIA flag will again be displayed, as it will on Independence Day, National POW/MIA Recognition Day, this year on September 18th, and Veterans Day.

The Reagan and Nixon Presidential Libraries held impressive ceremonies on May 16th, as did many US post office across the country. Listeners are urged to contact their local post office to ensure that the POW/MIA flag is being flown.

Remains recovered recently in North Korea are being withheld by that government, despite appeals by the US. The planned research effort in North Korean archives is also on hold pending agreement by the North Korean government. The US seeks to resolve this problem as soon as possible so that the remainder of this year's schedule of four more operations can continue.

DoD personnel from Task Force Russia, headquartered in Moscow, have interviewed two former Japanese POWs living in Russia. Although neither of those interviewed had encountered any Americans while held in the gulag of the former Soviet Union, follow-on interviews are scheduled for later this month with other Japanese POWs.

The League's 29th Annual meeting will be held June 18-20th at the Washington Marriott Hotel in Washington, D.C. All family members are invited to attend. Veterans and other concerned citizens are welcome and can obtain information by calling the League office. Deadline for registration is May 26th.

Due to limited staff and funding, it is not possible to send large amounts of public awareness materials. Instead, single copies of current information are available for duplication. The League's web site can be located at pow- miafamilies.org. Though the site is still evolving, there is current factual information now available on-line.

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.