News-Info-Alerts

To: ALL

From: Andi Wolos & Bob Necci

(POW-MIA InterNetwork)

Re: NLF Update

Date: November 04, 1999

National League of Families

UPDATE LINE: NOVEMBER 4, 1999

Thank you for calling the National League of Families Update Line. This message is being recorded on Thursday, November 4th. The number of Americans missing from the Vietnam War is 2,047.

Although the DOD announcement of names has still not been made on the 7 Americans previously missing from the Vietnam War who have been accounted for, the family of one Air Force office, Major Thomas H. Amos, previously missing in Laos, has notified the League office. It is also known that one more from Laos and 5 from South Vietnam are among the 7. Reportedly, all resulted from joint field recoveries during the first Clinton Administration. The League is pleased that these POW/MIA families now have gained peace of mind by receiving answers and appreciates the cooperation of the Lao and Vietnamese governments that made possible the accounting for these 7 US personnel, two Air Force and 5 Army.

Joint field operations in Vietnam ended October 22nd, after a period of about 30 days. CILHI and JTF-FA teams conducted activities in several provinces, working with counterpart Vietnamese personnel. US-Vietnam technical talks will be held November 5th in Nha Trang, Vietnam, in preparation for the next JFA that will occur November 19th to December 18th.

In Laos, joint field operations began October 19th from a new base camp in southern Laos. The Archival Research Team recently concluded film reviews in Xieng Khoang and Houa Phan Provinces, and the Lao Government has agreed to refocus unilateral efforts on archival research. The FY2000 operational plan was recently presented to the Lao Government by JTF-FA, and no problems are anticipated.

In Cambodia, after nearly one year, joint field operations are now scheduled to begin January 11th and will continue until February 9th. The lack of more frequent JFAs in Cambodia is not due to unwillingness on the part of the Cambodian government, but to lack of sites recommended for recovery. Vietnamese archives and sources of information on cases in Cambodia are needed and have been requested, thus far without much success.

The League is still very disappointed that there has been no effective US Government follow-up to the several initiatives that resulted from the League's May 11-22nd delegation to Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia. Each of these governments agreed to participate in a 4-party conference concept and pledged renewed efforts in specific areas, including unilateral actions.

Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for POW/MIA Affairs Bob Jones briefly visited all three Indochina countries June 23-29th. The League had hoped that these important opportunities would not be squandered, but apparently they were. The full report of the League's May 11-22nd Delegation to Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia is available on the League's web site: pow-miafamilies.org or by calling the League's office at 202-223-6846.

Due to limited staff and funding, the League is unable to provide large amounts of public awareness material. Current, factual information is available on the League's web site at pow-miafamilies.org or the League office can provide single copies for duplication. POW/MIA window decals are $20 per 100 from the League office. For information on any matter in this recording, call 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.