News-Info-Alerts

To: ALL

From: Andi Wolos & Bob Necci

(POW-MIA InterNetwork)

Re: NLF Update Line

Date: June 18, 2000

National League of Families
UPDATE LINE: June 16, 2000

Thank you for calling the National League of Families Update Line. This message is being recorded on Friday, June 16th. The number of Americans still missing and unaccounted for from the Vietnam War is now 2,017.

Today, the Defense Department provided the names of three Americans now accounted for, and the name of a fourth was not publicly released at the request of his family. Those announced include Captain Roger M. Netherland, USN, of PA, LTC Robert Lopez, USA, of WA, and Major William H. Seward, USMC, of GA. The remains of Captain Netherland, missing since May 10, 1967, were unilaterally repatriated by the Government of Vietnam on September 11, 1989. The remains of LTC Lopez and Major Seward were jointly recovered in August of 1993 and October of 1994. The accounting for these three Americans, plus the one Air Force officer not publicly identified, brings the number still missing and unaccounted for to 2,017, 1,514 in Vietnam. Of the 427 still missing in Laos and the 68 unaccounted for in Cambodia, approximately 85% were lost in areas under Vietnam's wartime control. There are also 8 Americans still unaccounted for in the territorial waters of the PRC.

As the President announced during his Memorial Day Address, Specialist 4th Class John E. Crowley, from Williamson, NY, missing in Laos since August 10, 1970, is now accounted for. In 1998, some remains were turned in to members of a joint field team in Vietnam. Later, a US-Lao team jointly recovered remains, concluding the US effort. Earlier, DOD announced that the remains of six USMC personnel, previously unaccounted for from the attempted rescue of the Mayaguez crew on May 15, 1975, had been identified. Those identified were LCpl Gregory S. Copenhaver from MD, LCpl Andres Garcia from NM, PFC Walter Boyd of VA, and PFC Kelton Turner from CA. The names of two Marines were withheld at the request of their families. Between 1991 and 1999, US, Cambodian and Vietnamese personnel conducted seven joint investigations, and on three occasions, Cambodian officials unilaterally turned over remains believed to be those of Americans associated with this incident. The identifications, made by the US Army's Central Identification Laboratory in Hawaii, used extensive mtDNA technology to aid in determining those identified.

A team of 43 US specialists from JTF-FA, CILHI and Stony Beach resumed monthlong joint operations in Laos on May 26th. US-Lao consultations regarding a ten-year assessment of bilateral POW/MIA cooperation were postponed until late August.

Technical talks, led by BG Harry Axson, JTF-FA Commander, took place in Vietnam during the first week of June. For the first time in years, the DIA Stony Beach Chief, COL Rick Villalobos, participated in these operational discussions, indicating another step to fully reintegrate Stony Beach team into the accounting process. The League has worked for nearly 7 years, including during the May 1999 League delegation, to ensure that Stony Beach would to resume its role as primary collector of POW/MIA information from sources in Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia.

The League's 31st Annual Meeting is June 22-24th in Washington, DC, again at the Washington Marriott Hotel. Registration and hotel reservations are now closed. Deputy Secretary of Defense Rudy de Leon has agreed to provide the Keynote Address, and Secretary of the Army Louis Caldera will be the dinner speaker. National POW/MIA Recognition Day will be September 15th this year. Start planning now for a ceremony to be held in your area. The League's POW/MIA flag will again fly over nearly all US Government buildings, plus all US Post Office facilities and major military installations. By law, our flag will also be flown before National POW/MIA Recognition Day on Independence Day, July 4th.

POW/MIA car-window decals are available 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. For added information on any subject, please contact the League's web site at www.pow-miafamilies.org or call the national office at 202-223-6846. If no one is available to take your call, please leave a message and your call will be returned. Again, thank you for calling.