News-Info-Alerts

To: ALL

From: Andi Wolos & Bob Necci

(POW-MIA InterNetwork)

Re: NLF Update Line

Date: December 14, 1999

Update Line

Thank you for calling the National League of Families Update Line. This message is being recorded on Friday, December 10th. The number of Americans still carried as missing and unaccounted for from the Vietnam War is now 2,032.

On December 8th, the Defense POW/MIA Office provided the names of four American servicemen previously missing from the Vietnam war whose remains were recently identified. The four now accounted for include Navy officers Capt. Norman E. Eidsmoe, South Dakota, and Lt. Commander Michael E. Dunn, Illinois, and Captain David May, of Maryland, and Chief Warrant Officer Jon E. Reid, of Arizona, both US Army.

Captain Eidsmoe and Lt. Commander Dunn had been missing since January 26, 1968, when they were lost were during a night bombing mission over North Vietnam, flying an A-6A Intruder off the USS Ranger. Their remains were jointly recovered by US and Vietnamese specialists in 1997 and '98. Captain May and CWO Reid were lost when their UH-1C Huey helicopter was shot down during an emergency resupply mission over Laos on February 20, 1971. Following joint investigations in 1994, '96 and '98, their remains were jointly recovered by US and Lao officials.

On December 7th, the League learned that another 11 Americans previously missing from the Vietnam War have been accounted for, though no names have yet been provided by the Defense POW/MIA Office. Nine of the US personnel were previously missing in Laos, and 4 were unaccounted for in Vietnam. All were jointly recovered, 2 in 1994, 8 in 1998 and 1 in 1999.

The accounting for these Americans brings the number still missing to 2,032. The League appreciates the cooperation of the Lao and Vietnamese governments that made possible the accounting for these US personnel.

DPMO has reported that Vietnam fielded two unilateral teams in September and October, resulting in 18 reports that were described as "thorough and of great assistance" to the accounting effort. DPMO provided no clarification on what this means. Vietnam also recently established a unit of senior investigators, called the Special Research Cell, to conduct research and interviews in support of unilateral Vietnamese activities. The League welcomes Vietnam's increased unilateral investigations and formation of this special office, both actions that respond to repeated League requests, most recently during the May 1999 League Delegation.

On November 19th, unidentified remains that could be those of 11 unaccounted for US personnel, 8 from the Vietnam War and 3 from the Korean War, were honored at an arrival ceremony held at Hickam AFB. The 11 remains were taken to the US Army's Central Identification Laboratory where the latest science efforts will be utilized to establish individual identification.

The US-Russian Joint POW/MIA Commission met recently in Moscow and agreed to renew its efforts, hoping to overcome a lapse in cooperation that had occurred due to political turmoil in Russia. The results of these discussions were encouraging, as was POW-related material provided by the Government of Belarus to Joint Commission Support Directorate officials who met recently in New York with a member of the Belarus Parliament.

Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for POW/MIA Affairs Bob Jones recently visited Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia, though no background was provided on the reason for this trip. Jones was accompanied by BG Harry Axson, USA, Commander of Joint Task Force-Full Accounting, and DPMO staff members.

For additional information, please contact the League's web site at www.pow-miafamilies.org or call the League's national office at 202-223-6846. Copies of information for duplication are available at no charge, and decals can be ordered at a cost of $20 per 100 by sending a check to the League office at 1001 Connecticut Avenue, NW, Suite 919, Washington, DC 20036. Again, thank you for calling.

The National League of Families of American Prisoners and Missing in Southeast Asia 1001 Connecticut Avenue Northwest, Suite 919 Washington, D.C. 20036-5504 (TEL) 202-223-6846