News-Info-Alerts

To: ALL

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

Re: POW-MIA Report, November 1998

Date: December 21, 1998

Report of DASD Jones' Meetings with Key Officials, Nov 1998

SUBJ: SUMMARY OF DEPUTY ASSISTANT SECRETARY OF DEFENSE (POW/MISSING PERSONNEL AFFAIRS) TRIP TO VIETNAM, SOUTH KOREA, HONOLULU, HAWAII AND LAS VEGAS, NEVADA IN NOV 98.

RMKS/1. SUMMARY. U.S. DEPUTY ASSISTANT SECRETARY OF DEFENSE (POW/MISSING PERSONNEL AFFAIRS) ROBERT L. JONES MET WITH SENIOR MILITARY AND POLITICAL MEMBERS OF THE GOVERNMENT OF VIETNAM WHILE IN HANOI FROM 2-5 NOV 98, AND WITH THE GOVERNMENT OF SOUTH KOREA FROM 5-10 NOV 98. FOCUS OF DASD JONESÕ DISCUSSIONS WAS TO THE CURRENT STATUS OF THE ACCOUNTING EFFORT FOR MISSING AMERICANS FROM THE VIETNAM AND KOREAN WARS. DASD JONES REEMPHASIZED THE PRIORITY PLACED ON COOPERATION WITH POW/MIA ACCOUNTING BY THE PRESIDENT. THE MEETINGS IN BOTH COUNTRIES WERE WELL RECEIVED WITH THE VIETNAMESE AND KOREAN GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS STRESSING THEIR DESIRE TO COOPERATE FULLY ON THIS HUMANITARIAN ISSUE AND PLEDGING THEIR CONTINUED SUPPORT OF JOINT OPERATIONS. DASD JONES ALSO STOPPED IN TO HAWAII TO BE THE KEYNOTE SPEAKER FOR THE VETERANS CEREMONY AT THE PUNCHBOWL CEMETERY AND TO DISCUSS ASIA-PACIFIC CENTER FOR SECURITY STUDIES HOSTING A MULTINATIONAL KOREAN WAR SYMPOSIUM. THE DASD CONCLUDED HIS TRIP BY ADDRESSING A VETERANS FORUM AND THE FAMILY UPDATE CONFERENCE IN LAS VEGAS.

2. VIETNAM. DASD JONES MET WITH AMERICAN AMBASSADOR PETERSON; DEPUTY FOREIGN MINISTER NGUYEN DINH BIN; VICE MINISTER OF NATIONAL DEFENSE LTG TRAN HANH; AMERICAS DEPARTMENT DIRECTOR, NGUYEN MANH HUNG; VICE-MINISTER OF PUBLIC SECURITY, MR. TOAN. DASD JONES ALSO HOSTED A LUNCHEON FOR MR. DO VAN TAI, CHAIRMAN OF THE NATIONAL ASSEMBLYÕS FOREIGN AFFAIRS COMMITTEE, AND THREE OTHER MEMBERS OF HIS COMMITTEE. AMBASSADOR PETERSON REVIEWED, IN DETAIL, THE ACTIVE-DUTY LEAVE POLICY RESTRICTION WHICH EXISTS IN VIETNAM. DASD JONES AND BG TUCKER OFFERED THEIR OPINIONS ON THE POLICY AND THE IMPACT OF LIFTING THAT RESTRICTION. AS A RESULT OF THAT DISCUSSION AMBASSADOR PETERSON ASKED DOD TO CONSIDER REMOVAL OF ALL TRAVEL RESTRICTIONS FOR VIETNAM NOW IMPOSED ON ACTIVE DUTY MILITARY MEMBERS, EFFECTIVE 1 JANUARY 1999 OR AT ANY TIME THEREAFTER. DASD JONES ALSO INTRODUCED THE INCOMING STONY BEACH COMMANDER, COLONEL MARSHMENT, TO THE AMBASSADOR AND HIS STAFF. FURTHER DISCUSSION ON THE STONY BEACH MOU WAS ALSO CONDUCTED BETWEEN DASD JONES, THE AMBASSADOR AND DCM HARTER.

A. SRV DISCUSSION ITEMS. DASD JONES STRESSED THAT THE MIA ISSUE IS THE NUMBER ONE ISSUE IN THE U.S. GOVERNMENTÕS BILATERAL RELATIONSHIP WITH VIETNAM. HE STATED THAT THE U.S. AND VIETNAM HAVE MADE GREAT STRIDES IN CONDUCTING OPERATIONS TO ACCOUNT FOR MISSING AMERICANS. HE ALSO CITED WORK WITH LIVE SIGHTING INVESTIGATIONS (LSI) AND LAST KNOWN ALIVE (LKA) CASES, JOINT FIELD OPERATIONS, ORAL HISTORY INTERVIEWS, ARCHIVAL RESEARCH, UNILATERAL AND TRILATERAL INVESTIGATIONS AS THE MAIN AREAS RELATING TO THIS HUMANITARIAN ISSUE.

(1) U.S. ASSESSMENT OF SRV COOPERATION. IN EACH OF HIS MEETINGS DASD JONES ECHOED PRESIDENT CLINTONÕS STATEMENT THAT ACHIEVING THE FULLEST POSSIBLE ACCOUNTING OF OUR WAR MISSING IS A MATTER OF THE HIGHEST NATIONAL PRIORITY. DASD JONES REEMPHASIZED THE PRESIDENTÕS FOUR AREAS BY WHICH SRV COOPERATION IS MEASURED. HE THEN PRESENTED A COPY OF PRESIDENT CLINTONÕS MARCH 4, 1998 ASSESSMENT OF COOPERATION TO EACH SRV OFFICIAL.

SRV RESPONSE: ALL SRV OFFICIALS WERE VERY APPRECIATIVE TO RECEIVE THE PRESIDENTÕS COOPERATION STATEMENT.

(2) REMAINS STUDY QUESTIONS. DASD JONES EXPRESSED HIS APPRECIATION TO THE VIETNAMESE FOR THEIR ASSISTANCE IN DPMOÕS PREPARATION OF THE REMAINS STUDY. HE THEN REQUESTED ASSISTANCE IN ANSWERING ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS THAT CUT ACROSS SEVERAL SRV GOVERNMENT MINISTRIES. AMONG THOSE QUESTIONS WERE A REQUEST FOR LISTS OF AMERICAN REMAINS AS WELL AS DOCUMENTS WHICH TASKED CIVIL AND MILITARY AUTHORITIES TO INSPECT AND RECONFIRM THE LOCATION OF AMERICAN PILOTÕS GRAVES. ALSO INCLUDED WAS A REQUEST FOR A COPY OF THE CENTRAL GOVERNMENT DIRECTIVE REGARDING SEARCHING FOR, VERIFYING, AND RECOVERING THE GRAVES AND PERSONAL EFFECTS OF AMERICAN PILOTS. IN ADDITION, THERE WAS A REQUEST FOR DOCUMENTARY PHOTOS TAKEN BY SRV TECHNICIANS AS THEY VERIFIED AND INSPECTED THE RECOVERED REMAINS.

SRV RESPONSE: THEY REMAIN COMMITTED TO ASSISTING DPMO IN THE COMPLETION OF THIS STUDY.

(3) LAST KNOWN ALIVE CASES. DASD JONES STATED THAT RESOLVING THE LAST KNOWN ALIVE CASES AND LIVE SIGHTING INVESTIGATIONS REMAIN AS THE HIGHEST PRIORITIES IN OUR ACCOUNTING EFFORTS. HE REMARKED THAT WE MUST CONTINUE TO WORK TO DETERMINE THE FATE OF THE 43 LAST KNOWN ALIVE INDIVIDUALS. DASD JONES EXPLAINED THAT THESE LAST KNOWN ALIVE CASES ARE CRITICAL TO US BECAUSE THEY ILLUMINATE THE MOST COMPELLING QUESTIONS. THE DASD EXPLAINED THAT IN ORDER TO IMPROVE THIS EFFORT, OUR JOINT RESEARCH INVESTIGATIVE TEAMS WERE RESTRUCTURED TO FOCUS SOLELY ON LAST KNOWN ALIVE CASES. IN ANOTHER POSITIVE STEP, EARLY NEXT YEAR, U.S. ANALYSTS AND THE VNOSMP WILL PARTICIPATE IN WORKING LEVEL MEETINGS ON THE LKA CASES. HE SAID THAT, WE BELIEVE THAT BY SHARING IDEAS, WE CAN MOVE FORWARD IN INVESTIGATING AND RESOLVING THESE CASES.

SRV RESPONSE: THEY WILL CONTINUE TO FOCUS THEIR EFFORTS ON THESE 43 CASES. MR. TOAN STATED THAT IS IMPERATIVE THAT SPECIALISTS FROM BOTH SIDES MEET IN ORDER TO BRING THIS EFFORT TO CLOSURE.

(4) LIVE SIGHTING INVESTIGATIONS (LSI). DASD JONES STATED THAT VIETNAM MUST CONTINUE TO SUPPORT THE LIVE SIGHTING INVESTIGATION PROGRAM. ALTHOUGH THESE INVESTIGATIONS HAVE NOT YET FOUND ANY CREDIBLE EVIDENCE OF AMERICANS BEING HELD AGAINST THEIR WILL, THIS ISSUE REMAINS A MATTER OF PRIMARY CONCERN TO FAMILIES OF THE UNACCOUNTED FOR, FOR DOD, OUR CONGRESS, AND THE U.S. VETERANS ORGANIZATIONS. DASD JONES POINTED OUT THAT THE INVESTIGATION OF THESE REPORTS HAS BEEN ONE OF THE MOST EFFECTIVE WAYS OF DEMONSTRATING THE VALIDITY OF THE SRV GOVERNMENTÕS POSITION THAT THERE ARE NO AMERICANS FROM THE WAR BEING HELD AGAINST THEIR WILL IN VIETNAM AND VIETNAMÕS COMPLETE COOPERATION. DASD JONES STATED THAT DPMO CLOSELY ANALYZES EVERY LIVE SIGHTING REPORT. IN ANTICIPATION OF SRV SKEPTICISM OF THIS PROGRAM, DASD JONES STATED THAT WE INVESTIGATE IN VIETNAM ONLY THOSE REPORTS THAT RAISE COMPELLING QUESTIONS. WE BELIEVE IT IS IN THE INTERESTS OF BOTH COUNTRIES TO CONTINUE TO INVESTIGATE SUCH REPORTS IN VIETNAM AS QUICKLY AND THOROUGHLY AS POSSIBLE.

SRV RESPONSE: BOTTOMLINE WAS THAT ALL SRV OFFICIALS PLEDGED CONTINUED SUPPORT TO THIS ISSUE. LTG HANH ASKED THAT WE KEEP THE INFORMATION COMING SO THAT WE MAY JOINTLY PURSUE, EVEN THOUGH ALL PREVIOUS REPORTS WERE FALSE. MR. TOAN STATED THAT IN ORDER TO KEEP THE CONFIDENCE OF THE U.S., THEY WILL CONTINUE TO SUPPORT THIS ISSUE. HE DID BLAME THE CRIMINALS IN HIS COUNTRY FOR PROVIDING FALSE INFORMATION TO THE USG AND EXPLAINED THAT IS WHY THE REPORTS ARE NOT CREDIBLE. HE WENT ON TO STATE THAT BECAUSE HE STAKES HIS REPUTATION AND THE REPUTATION OF HIS COUNTRY ON THE MATTER THAT THERE ARE NO LIVE AMERICANS IN VIETNAM WHO ARE BEING HELD AGAINST THEIR WILL, THIS MATTER SHOULD BE CLOSED. HOWEVER, HE VOWED CONTINUED SUPPORT.

(5) TRILATERAL INVESTIGATIONS. DASD JONES SAID THAT SINCE 1993 THE SRV GOVERNMENTÕS PROGRAM OF TRILATERAL INVESTIGATIONS HAS BEEN SUCCESSFUL. SINCE IT BEGAN, THE USG HAS BEEN PLEASED WITH THE POSITIVE CONDUCT OF THESE INVESTIGATIONS AND WE ARE SEEKING WAYS TO IMPROVE THE PROCESS. DASD JONES THANKED THEM FOR THEIR PAST EFFORTS AND ASKED THEM FOR THEIR CONTINUED SUPPORT OF THIS VITAL PROGRAM IN THE FUTURE. USG FOUND THAT VIETNAMESE RECORDS AND WITNESSES ARE ONE OF THE GREATEST POTENTIAL SOURCES FOR RESOLUTION OF MANY LAO AND CAMBODIAN CASES. BECAUSE OF THIS, MR. JONES ASKED FOR THEIR ASSISTANCE IN PROVIDING ACCESS TO DOCUMENTATION ON LAO BORDER CASES. WE ARE USING SUCH RECORDS TO HELP IDENTIFY VIETNAMESE WITNESSES WHO ARE FAMILIAR WITH THESE CASES. DASD JONES SAID THAT WE BELIEVE ADDITIONAL DOCUMENTS COULD HELP US MAKE MORE PROGRESS ON THESE CASES. DASD JONES ALSO REQUESTED SRV SUPPORT IN WORKING WITH THE LAO GOVERNMENT TO FACILITATE BORDER CROSSINGS BETWEEN THE TWO COUNTRIES.

SRV RESPONSE: COOPERATIVE EFFORTS, ESPECIALLY WITH LAOS, WILL CONTINUE. LTG HANH STATED THAT THE U.S., HOWEVER, SHOULD SHOW MORE CONCERN FOR SRV WITNESSES, ESPECIALLY THOSE GOING TO LAOS. THEY ARE PUTTING THEIR LIVES IN JEOPARDY TO ASSIST IN THE EFFORT. IN THAT LIGHT, THE SRV HAS REQUESTED INSURANCE FOR THESE WITNESSES AS WELL AS SRV MIA TEAM MEMBERS.

(6) MULTI-NATIONAL POW/MIA CONFERENCE. JUST PRIOR TO HIS DEPARTURE FOR THIS TRIP DASD JONES WAS MADE AWARE OF THE SRV PROPOSAL TO CONDUCT SUCH A CONFERENCE. HE STATED THAT THIS PROPOSAL HAS MERIT AND THAT IT WILL BE TAKEN UNDER ADVISEMENT.

SRV RESPONSE: LTG HANH STATED THAT THEY ARE LOOKING FORWARD TO THIS CONFERENCE AND UNDERSTAND THAT MUCH WORK WILL NEED TO BE DONE PRIOR TO ITS CONVENING.

(7) THE ORAL HISTORY PROGRAM & DOCUMENT TURNOVER. THE PRESIDENTÕS FOURTH AREA FOR ASSESSING VIETNAMESE COOPERATION RELATES TO DOCUMENTS AND ORAL HISTORY INTERVIEWS. DASD JONES REMARKED THAT OUR REQUESTS FOR REMAINS RELATED DOCUMENTS AND REPORTING ON LAO AND CAMBODIA CASES ARE BOTH RELEVANT TO THIS MATTER. SO TOO IS THE ORAL HISTORY PROGRAM, WHICH HAS PROVIDED VALUABLE INFORMATION ON WARTIME SITUATIONS AND HAS BEEN USEFUL TO SUPPORT CASE INVESTIGATION AND RESOLUTION. DASD JONES THANKED THE SRV OFFICIALS FOR THE RECENT TURNOVER OF TWO DOCUMENTS CONCERNING THE WARTIME SHOOTDOWN OF U.S. AIRCRAFT DURING THE DALAT CONFERENCE. DASD JONES EMPHASIZED THE NEED TO CONTINUE ORAL HISTORY INTERVIEWS OF VETERANS WHO HAVE INFORMATION RELEVANT TO LKA CASES, TRILATERAL INVESTIGATIONS AND OVERALL ACCOUNTING ISSUES IN GENERAL. DASD JONES THANKED LTG HANH FOR THE DIRECTIVE THAT HE ISSUED IN REGARDS TO THE REVIEW OF ALL SRV FILES FOR ADDITIONAL DOCUMENTATION.

SRV RESPONSE: ALL SRV OFFICIALS PROMISED CONTINUED COOPERATION IN THE SEARCH FOR ADDITIONAL DOCUMENTS. MR. TOAN STATED THAT HE TOO HAD ISSUED A SIMILAR DIRECTIVE TO THE VIETNAMESE PEOPLE REQUESTING ANY INFORMATION THAT THEY MAY HAVE ON U.S. MIAS.

(8) OPERATIONS INITIATIVE/10 YEAR ASSESSMENT MEETING IN DALAT. DASD JONES MENTIONED THAT DURING THE WEEK PRIOR TO HIS VISIT, U.S. AND SRV REPRESENTATIVES MET IN DA LAT TO ASSESS 10 YEARS OF U.S./VIETNAMESE JOINT ACTIVITY. HE THEN MENTIONED THAT AT THAT TIME GENERAL TUCKER PRESENTED THE VNOSMP WITH A STATISTICAL DATA PAPER THAT SUMMARIZED MANY ASPECTS OF OUR 10-YEAR EFFORT. DASD JONES REEMPHASIZED THAT THIS DATA WAS PROVIDED TO THE VNOSMP TO ASSIST THE OFFICE IN ITS OWN INTERNAL REPORTING. HE CLEARLY STATED THAT THIS PAPER DOES NOT REPRESENT U.S. POLICY ON THIS ISSUE, BUT RATHER IS A RESPONSE TO SPECIFIC QUESTIONS ASKED BY THE SRV GOVERNMENT.

(9) NO FURTHER PURSUIT & DEFERRED CASES. DASD JONES STATED THAT WHILE APPLAUDING THE ACHIEVEMENTS OF THE PAST, WE IN THE USG ARE LOOKING TO THE FUTURE. HE REMARKED THAT OUR FOCUS IS ON CONTINUING TO WORK TO: RESOLVE THOSE 833 VIETNAM CASES WHICH WARRANT FURTHER PURSUIT, DISCOVER INFORMATION ABOUT OTHER AMERICANS LOST IN THE BORDER AREAS OF CAMBODIA AND LAOS, AND FIND NEW INFORMATION ON THOSE 151 VIETNAM CASES THAT ARE IN A DEFERRED STATUS. DASD JONES PRESENTED A LIST OF THOSE 151 CASES TO EACH SRV OFFICIAL AND ASKED THEM TO REVIEW THESE AND LET US KNOW WHETHER THE SRV GOVERNMENT HAD ADDITIONAL INFORMATION OF WHICH WE MIGHT NOT BE AWARE. DASD JONES THEN STATED THAT OF THE 2078 INDIVIDUALS STILL MISSING IN SOUTHEAST ASIA, 602 FALL INTO A "NO FURTHER PURSUIT" ACCOUNTING CATEGORY; 569 OF THOSE ARE FROM VIETNAM. DASD JONES STATED THAT DURING THE AUGUST TECHNICAL TALKS MR. HUNG AND SENIOR COLONEL BIEN OF THE VNOSMP REQUESTED A COPY OF OUR LIST OF "NO FURTHER PURSUIT" CASES. HE PASSED A COPY OF THAT LIST AS WELL AS A LIST OF THE DEFERRED CASES TO EACH SRV OFFICIAL. DASD JONES REQUESTED THAT THE SRV GOVERNMENT REVIEW THIS LIST AND LET US KNOW IF THEY HAVE LOCATED MORE DATA ON ANY OF THESE CASES. DASD JONES ASKED FOR A FORMAL RESPONSE ONCE THEIR REVIEW WAS COMPLETED.

SRV RESPONSE: LTG HANH EXPRESSED HIS APPRECIATION FOR THESE TWO LISTS AND STATED THAT HE HOPES TO CLOSE THE INVESTIGATIONS ON THE NO FURTHER PURSUIT INVESTIGATIONS. HE WILL CONTINUE TO PRESS FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ON THE DEFERRED CASES. MR. TOAN STATED THAT THEY WOULD AGAIN EXAMINE THE LISTS, BUT ASSURED DASD JONES THAT THE SRV HAS NO FURTHER INFORMATION ON EITHER LIST.

(10) UNILATERALS. DASD JONES NOTED THAT WE HAVE SEEN SIGNIFICANT IMPROVEMENT IN TERMS OF BOTH QUANTITY AND QUALITY OF VIETNAMESE UNILATERAL INVESTIGATIONS OVER THE PAST YEAR. HE ALSO STATED THAT U.S. ANALYSTS ARE NOW CLOSELY REVIEWING THE REPORTS OF THE 14 UNILATERAL INVESTIGATIONS THAT WERE DELIVERED TO GENERAL TUCKER LAST WEEK IN DALAT. DASD JONES SAID THAT THIS IS A GOOD INITIATIVE ON THE PART OF THE VNOSMP AND ONE WE HOPE WILL BE EXPANDED AND WILL CONTINUE TO RECEIVE THE SRV GOVERNMENTÕS STRONG SUPPORT.

SRV RESPONSE: ALL OFFICIALS WERE APPRECIATIVE OF DASD JONESÕ REMARKS AND PLEDGED TO CONTINUE THEIR STRONG SUPPORT OF THE UNILATERAL PROGRAM.

(11) U.S. ARCHIVAL INITIATIVE. DASD JONES PROPOSED TO PROVIDE ACCESS TO SRV ARCHIVISTS TO VISIT U.S. NATIONAL ARCHIVES IN COLLEGE PARK, MARYLAND. HE EXPLAINED THAT HE HAD FOUND THAT THE RECORDS OF THE U.S. ARMY IN VIETNAM CONTAIN INFORMATION RELATING TO BURIAL SITES OF VIETNAMESE FORCES. DASD JONES SAID THAT THIS INFORMATION MIGHT ASSIST VIETNAM IN LOCATING THE REMAINS OF THEIR CASUALTIES. AS PART OF THIS U.S. INITIATIVE, MR. JONES STATED THAT WE CAN PROVIDE: ACCESS TO THE UNITED STATES ARMYÕS RELEVANT RECORDS FROM THE WAR THAT ARE IN OUR NATIONAL ARCHIVES AS WELL AS OTHER RELEVANT MILITARY RECORDS, AS MUCH ASSISTANCE REQUIRED TO LEARN TO WORK WITH AMERICAN MILITARY RECORDS AND UNLIMITED ACCESS TO PHOTOCOPYING EQUIPMENT. DASD JONES PROVIDED A FOLDER THAT CONTAINED AN INDEX OF THE INFORMATION THAT IS AVAILABLE IN THOSE ARCHIVES TO ALL SRV OFFICIALS. HE HOPED THAT THE SRV COULD ACCEPT THIS OFFER AND LET US KNOW HOW THEY WISHED TO PROCEED.

SRV RESPONSE: ALL SRV OFFICIALS EXPRESSED GRATITUDE FOR THIS PROPOSAL AND SAID THEY WERE LOOKING FORWARD TO GAINING ADDITIONAL INFORMATION THAT WOULD ASSIST IN LOCATING THEIR MISSING FORCES. THEY DID NOT GIVE THEIR DEFINITE ACCEPTANCE OF THE OFFER.

(12) CLOSING REMARKS. DASD JONES THANKED THE VNOSMP FOR THEIR EFFORTS IN SETTING UP THE NOI BAI REPATRIATION CEREMONY IN ORDER TO ACCOMMODATE HIS TRAVEL ARRANGEMENTS. THIS WAS THE FIRST REPATRIATION CEREMONY THAT HE HAD ATTENDED IN VIETNAM. DASD JONES SAID HE WAS PROUD TO HAVE BEEN INVOLVED IN THIS EMOTIONAL, MOVING EVENT. IN CONCLUSION, HE ASSURED THE SRV OFFICIALS THAT THE U.S. GOVERNMENT IS FIRMLY COMMITTED TO ACHIEVING THE FULLEST POSSIBLE ACCOUNTING AND WILL CONTINUE TO APPLY CONSTANT PERSONNEL RESOURCES AND MAINTAIN THE CURRENT PACE OF OPERATIONS. HE ALSO STATED THAT OUR TWO COUNTRIES HAVE MADE SIGNIFICANT STRIDES IN OUR HUMANITARIAN QUEST TO ACHIEVE THE FULLEST POSSIBLE ACCOUNTING. HE THANKED THEM FOR THEIR STEADFAST SUPPORT.

(14) ADDITIONAL ISSUES RAISED BY SRV OFFICIALS.

A. A CONTINUING THEME TO INCREASE THE PACE OF OPERATIONS WAS NOTED. MR. BIN STATED THAT IT WOULD TAKE AT LEAST ANOTHER 10 YEARS TO WRAP UP OPERATIONS AT THE CURRENT PACE. MR. TOAN WANTED TO PROMOTE A FASTER PACE BUT UNDERSTOOD THE NEED TO CONSIDER ALL INFORMATION. HE DID STATE THAT AT THIS PACE THE OPERATIONS WOULD TAKE FOREVER TO CONCLUDE.

B. LTG HANH STATED THAT HE IS CONCERNED ABOUT THE SLOW RATE OF IDENTIFICATIONS.

C. LTG HANH FELT VERY STRONGLY THAT INCREASED COMPENSATION TO THE VIETNAMESE POPULACE WHO SUPPORT THE ACCOUNTING EFFORT IS NECESSARY. HE FELT THAT THIS WOULD ENCOURAGE A BETTER ATTITUDE AMONG THE SRV PEOPLE.

D. VIETNAMESE OFFICIALS WERE INTERESTED IN OUR RECOVERY OPERATIONS IN NORTH KOREA. THEY WANTED TO KNOW THE PACE AND SCOPE OF OPERATIONS AS WELL AS THE NUMBER OF REMAINS RECOVERED TO DATE.

E. ALL SRV OFFICIALS STATED THAT THEY TOO UNDERSTOOD THE SORROW THAT THE U.S. FAMILIES CONTINUE TO EXPERIENCE. MR. TOAN SPECIFICALLY ASKED DASD JONES TO TELL THE U.S. FAMILIES ABOUT THE HARD WORK THAT IS BEING DONE ON THEIR BEHALF.

F. NEARLY EVERY SRV OFFICIAL RAISED THE ISSUE OF THE SUFFERING THAT THE VIETNAMESE PEOPLE HAVE ENDURED DUE TO THE EFFECTS OF AGENT ORANGE AND THAT THEY FELT THAT THE U.S. SHOULD CONSIDER PAYMENT OF REPARATIONS TO THOSE VICTIMS AND THEIR FAMILIES.

3. KOREA. DASD JONES MET WITH OFFICIALS OF THE US GOVERNMENT, UNITED NATIONS COMMAND REPRESENTATIVES AND OFFICIALS OF THE REPUBLIC OF KOREA IN SEOUL AND PUSAN, SOUTH KOREA, FROM 6-10 NOVEMBER 1998. DASD JONES' DISCUSSIONS FOCUSED ON BRIEFING THE COMMAND CONCERNING A PLANNED INCREASE IN THE OPERATIONAL TEMPO FOR 1999 JOINT RECOVERY OPERATIONS WITH THE NORTH KOREANS. ADDITIONAL DISCUSSIONS FOCUSED ON THANKING THE SOUTH KOREAN GOVERNMENT FOR SUPPORTING OUR HUMANITARIAN EFFORTS WITH THE NORTH KOREANS TO DATE. MEETINGS WITH THE SOUTH KOREAN OFFICIALS WERE WELL RECEIVED. THE OFFICIALS PLEDGED THEIR CONTINUED SUPPORT FOR OUR MISSION AND OFFERED TO PROVIDE ANY ASSISTANCE REQUESTED TO FORWARD OUR ACCOUNTING EFFORTS. SOUTH KOREAN VETERAN SERVICE ORGANIZATIONS ASKED FOR THE DASDÕS SUPPORT CONCERNING ENGAGEMENT WITH NORTH KOREAN OFFICIALS IN ORDER TO SUPPORT "THE 50TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE KOREAN WAR" INITIATIVES. IN ADDITION TO THE AFOREMENTIONED DISCUSSIONS, DASD JONES PARTICIPATED IN THE REPATRIATION OF REMAINS CEREMONY IN PANMUNJOM AND LAID A WREATH AND MET WITH THE DIRECTOR AT THE UNITED NATIONS CEMETERY IN PUSAN, SOUTH KOREA.

A. SOUTH KOREAN GOVERNMENTAL SUPPORT. DASD JONES THANKED THE SOUTH KOREAN OFFICIALS FOR ASSISTING IN OUR ACCOUNTING EFFORTS TO DATE. SOUTH KOREAN OFFICIALS PLEDGED THEIR SUPPORT FOR OUR FUTURE INITIATIVES. DASD OFFERED TO SHARE DATA WITH THE SOUTH CONCERNING OUR WORLDWIDE RECOVERY EFFORTS IN ORDER TO FURTHER THEIR ACCOUNTING PROCEDURES. THE SOUTH KOREAN AUTHORITIES OFFERED TO SPONSOR A LIVING HISTORY INITIATIVE WITHIN SOUTH KOREA IN ORDER TO PROMOTE OUR KOREAN WAR ACCOUNTING EFFORTS. IN RELATED DISCUSSIONS, SOUTH KOREAN VETERAN ORGANIZATIONS REQUESTED DASD SUPPORT IN PERSUADING NORTH KOREAN OFFICIALS TO PARTICIPATE IN JOINT OBSERVANCES OF THE 50TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE KOREAN WAR.

B. UNITED NATIONS COMMAND. DASD MET WITH UNC OFFICIALS CONCERNING OUR FUTURE PLANS FOR JOINT RECOVERY OPERATIONS WITH THE NORTH KOREANS. UNC WAS ADAMANT US OFFICIALS SHOULD NOT CHANGE THE ESTABLISHED VENUE FOR REPATRIATION OF KOREAN WAR ERA REMAINS. THIS MESSAGE WAS CONSISTENTLY REINFORCED IN SEVERAL MEETINGS ATTENDED BY THE DASD.

C. PRESS INTERVIEW. DASD JONES MET WITH US AND HOST NATION MEDIA AND OUTLINED OUR EFFORTS TO DATE CONCERNING THE FULLEST POSSIBLE ACCOUNTING OF OUR MISSING. DASD REQUESTED THE MEDIAÕS SUPPORT IN ASKING CITIZENS TO PROVIDE ANY INFORMATION THEY MAY HAVE CONCERNING US LOSSES FROM THE KOREAN WAR. THE PRESS INQUIRED CONCERNING FUTURE OPERATIONS, REIMBURSABLE EXPENSES AND WORKING RELATIONS WITH THE NORTH KOREANS. DASD FIELDED THESE QUESTIONS.

4. HAWAII. WHILE IN HAWAII DASD JONES PROVIDED THE VETERANÕS DAY KEYNOTE ADDRESS IN THE PUNCHBOWL CEMETERY. IN ADDITION HE MET LTG HOUSE, DCINCPAC, LT GEN (RET) STACKPOLE, DIRECTOR OF THE ASIA-PACIFIC CENTER FOR SECURITY STUDIES, AND MR. WEBB, DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF CILHI.

A. MEETING WITH DCINCPAC. DASD BRIEFED DCINC ON HIS TRIP TO SOUTHEAST AND NORTHEAST ASIA AND COVERED ALL THE POINTS AS NOTED ABOVE. IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE 50TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE KOREAN WAR, THE DASD PROPOSED ORGANIZING A SEMINAR TO BRING TOGETHER KOREAN WAR VETERANS AND EXPERTS FROM THE NATIONS INVOLVED TO DISCUSS POW/MIA ISSUES. THE ASIA-PACIFIC CENTER WAS DISCUSSED AS A POSSIBLE LOCATION FOR THIS VENUE. DASD ALSO DISCUSSED OPTIONS TO CONDUCT INFORMAL RESEARCH IN CHINESE ARCHIVES FOR POW/MIA INFORMATION FROM THE KOREAN WAR. DISCUSSION ALSO FOCUSED ON INCREASED OPERATIONS TEMPO IN KOREA IN CONJUNCTION WITH CONTINUING OPERATIONS IN VIETNAM AND THE PROPOSAL TO REALIGN THE DPMO LIAISON FUNCTION FROM JTF-FA TO PACOM J-3/J-5 IN ORDER TO FACILITATE THIS INCREASED EFFORT.

B. MEETING WITH MR. WEBB. DASD BRIEFED MR. WEBB ON THE UPCOMING MANPOWER SURVEY AND STATED THAT THIS MUST BE WELL THOUGHT OUT TO ENSURE THAT THE KOREA OPERATIONS, INCREASED TEMPO IN SOUTHEAST ASIA AND THE IDENTIFICATION OF THE PUNCHBOWL REMAINS ARE CONSIDERED IN THE EQUATION. REGARDING THE ISSUE OF MAKING CILHI A JOINT SERVICE AGENCY, MR. WEBB ADVISED THE DASD THAT CILHI HAD IDENTIFIED 41 BILLETS THAT COULD BE FILLED BY ANY SERVICE RATHER THAN JUST ARMY PERSONNEL. DASD ALSO DISCUSSED THE STATUS OF THE COMMON DATABASE BEING DEVELOPED SO THAT EVERYONE INVOLVED IN PERSONNEL RECOVERY WOULD USE THE SAME DATABASE. MR. WEBB STATED THAT CILHI IS WORKING TO RESOLVE THOSE MINOR PROBLEMS.

C. MEETING WITH LT GEN STACKPOLE (USMC RET.). DASD JONES MET WITH LT GEN STACKPOLE TO DISCUSS THE POSSIBILITY OF THE ASIA-PACIFIC CENTER HOSTING A LEARNING SEMINAR IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE 50TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE KOREAN WAR. VETERANS FROM ALL SERVICES, THE UN FORCES, AND NORTH KOREA AND CHINA VETERANS WOULD BE INVITED TO SOLICIT VIEWS AND RELATE EXPERIENCES FROM THE KOREAN WAR. THE END PRODUCT OF SUCH A SEMINAR WOULD BE AN ORAL/LIVING HISTORY OF THE WAR. DPMO WILL PREPARE A CONCEPT PAPER TO PROVIDE BROADER DEFINITION AND TO COORDINATE WITH GEN KICKLIGHTER. MG STACKPOLE DID EXPRESS AN INTEREST IN HOSTING SUCH A SEMINAR. DASD JONES WAS INTRODUCED TO COL IGOR MIKHAILOVICH POPOV, DEPARTMENT VICE-DIRECTOR, INSTITUTE OF MILITARY HISTORY, MOSCOW. COL POPOV IS A STUDENT AT THE CENTER AND HE PERSONALLY CONDUCTED RESEARCH ON BEHALF OF THE U.S. POW/MIA ISSUE. DASD THANKED HIM FOR HIS ASSISTANCE AND CONCERN ON THE ISSUE. COL POPOV STATED THAT HE WAS DISMAYED AT HOW THE PRESS WAS IMPROPERLY PORTRAYING THE RUSSIAN EFFORTS TO ASSIST THE USG.

5. LAS VEGAS FAMILY UPDATE CONFERENCE. DASD JONES CONCLUDED HIS TRIP IN LAS VEGAS WHERE HE SPOKE TO A VETERANS FORUM ON THE EVENING OF 13 NOV AND PROVIDED THE OPENING REMARKS FOR THE FAMILY UPDATE THE FOLLOWING MORNING. DASD JONES PROVIDED BOTH AUDIENCES WITH A BRIEF RECAP OF HIS TRIP TO VIETNAM AND KOREA AND THEN RESPONDED TO QUESTIONS FROM BOTH GROUPS.

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