News-Info-Alerts

To: ALL

From: Andi Wolos & Bob Necci

(POW-MIA InterNetwork)

Re: DPMO Weekly Update

Date: December 19, 1999

Defense POW/MIA Weekly Update
December 13, 1999

MISSING IN ACTION SERVICEMEN ACCOUNTED FOR

The remains of eleven American servicemen previously unaccounted-for from the Vietnam War have been identified and are being returned to their families for burial in the United States.

They are identified as U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Tim L. Walters, South Bend, Ind.; U.S. Army 1 st Lt. James R. McQuade, Hoquiam, Wash.; U.S. Army Spec. 4 James E. Hackett, Bradenton, Fla.; Col. George W. Jensen, Seattle, Wash.; Col. Marshall L. Tapp, Los Angeles, Calif.; Col. Lavern G. Reilly, St. Paul, Minn.; Maj. George W. Thompson, Beckley, W.Va.; CMSgt. James A. Preston, Bowden, Ga.; CMSgt. James E. Williams, Oxford, Miss.; CMSgt William L. Madison, Lexington, Ky.; and SMSgt. Kenneth D. McKenney, Auburn, Mass., all U. S. Air Force.

On March 9, 1969, Walters was aboard an 0-2A Super Skymaster flying a forward air control mission over Laos. The aircraft crashed, but the cause of the crash was not known. Other aircrews in the area reported seeing the WaltersÕ aircraft shortly after impact. A ground party went to the site shortly after the crash and determined that both crewmembers were dead, but they could not recover the remains due to heavy enemy activity in the area.

Joint U.S.-Lao investigators visited several alleged crash sites in 1993, 1994 and 1998, and an excavation was conducted in January, February and March 1999, where a team recovered human remains, personal effects and crew-related items.

Hackett and McQuade were attempting to rescue the crew of a downed aircraft when their own OH-6A helicopter exploded in mid-air over South Vietnam on June 11, 1972. In 1993 and 1994, joint U. S.-Vietnamese teams conducted investigations and an excavation where they recovered numerous human remains, pilot-related gear and personal effects.

On May 15, 1966, Jensen was piloting an AC-47D gunship on an armed reconnaissance mission over Laos. Also aboard the aircraft were Tapp, Thompson, Preston, Maidson, McKenney, Williams, and Reilly. On that evening, Jensen radioed to his airborne control aircraft that everything was normal on the mission, but the aircraft never returned to its home base. Joint U. S.-Lao investigative teams visited several sites in 1994, 1995, 1996 and 1997 and conducted excavations where they recovered human remains and crew-related items.

With the accounting of these servicemen, 2,032 are missing in action from the Vietnam War. Another 551 have been identified and returned to their families since the end of the war. Analysis of the remains and other evidence by the U.S. Army Central Identification Laboratory Hawaii confirmed the identification of these servicemen.

ALASKA PEAK NAMED IN HONOR OF POWs, MIAs

Mount POW/MIA is now a reality in Alaska, thanks to a unanimous decision by the U.S. Boards on Geographic Names. The Board, voted on October 21 to name a 4,314 foot peak ÒMount POW/MIAÒ approved the proposal forwarded by the Chair of the Alaska Historical Commission., Lt. Governor Fan Ulmer.

ÒI applaud the actions of the Board on Geographic Names and the Alaska Historical Commission in naming this peak in honor of our veterans,Ó said Interior Secretary Babbitt. ÒI am proud to be a part of a well-deserved recognition and unique reminder of those courageous men and women that answered our nationÕs call.Ó

Vietnam veteran John Morriessey of Patterson, New York proposed the name. Morrissey, who had previously lived and worked in Alaska, had been searching for a suitable monument to honor approximately 800,000 Americans who served as Prisoners of War or remain listed as Missing in Action. In June 1999, he planted a flag atop the unnamed peak, approximately six miles southeast of Wasilla, Alaska. It is in direct view from WasillaÕs ÒVeteranÕs Wall of Honor,Ó a local, popular roadside memorial.

In Alaska, the Historical Commission has designation over geographic names within the state. ÒEven though we officially adopted the mountain as Mount POW/MIA, it was not an official U.S. name until it was accepted by the U.S. Board on Geographic Names,Ó explained Lt. Gov. Ulmer. ÒI am very pleased the federal government has agreed to recognize this special peak as Mount POW/MIA. It gives special meaning to veterans.Ó Said Ulmer.

Governor Knowles, a Vietnam Army veteran, said ÒItÕs a fitting tribute to POWs and MIAs. We must never forget them and this peak will be a permanent reminder to us. My thanks to the many veterans and veterans groups in Alaska and around the country who supported this idea.Ó

The peak, in Chugach State Park, is at 61 degrees 26 minutes 47 seconds north latitude and 149 degrees 11 minutes 47 seconds west longitude.

CILHI HOSTS FORENSIC SYMPOSIUM

In November 1999, in a joint venture with the Smithsonian Institution, the Central Identification Laboratory - Hawaii (CILHI), sponsored a symposium focusing on the latest technology involved in mass casualty identifications. The conference, held November 15 th through November 18th in Hawaii, was the brainchild of Dr. Thomas Holland, CILHIÕs Scientific Director.

Marking the 31st anniversary of forensic work at CILHI, speakers from around the world focused on the dramatic changes that have taken place in forensic identification during that time, and where the technology is evolving to. Attendees from Australia, France, Korea, England, Canada, and the United States took part in roundtable discussions on a variety of forensic issues. Experts involved in such highly charged identification processes as WacoÕs Branch Davidian disaster, the Oklahoma City bombing, and the loss of TWA Flight 800, shared their experiences with conference attendees. Forensic experts from the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Armed Forces Institute of Pathology and the New York State Police discussed a wide-range of topics covering lessons learned, difficulties experienced and follow-on recommendations from their most recent involvement with forensic technology.

Dr. Holland will publish the results and findings of the conference in an upcoming book, with royalties from the bookÕs sales going to monetary prizes given to university students involved in forensic science.

Published by the Defense POW/Missing Personnel Office (703) 602-2102 2400 Defense Pentagon www.dtic.mil/dpmo Washington, DC 20301-2400