News-Info-Alerts

To: ALL

From: Andi Wolos & Bob Necci

(POW-MIA InterNetwork)

Re: NLF Update Line

Date: July 28, 2000

National League of Families
UPDATE LINE: July 27, 2000

Thank you for calling the National League of Families Update Line. This message is being recorded on Thursday, July 27th. The number of Americans missing and unaccounted for from the Vietnam War is still 2,014.

During the League's 31st Annual Meeting, it was learned that three more Americans listed as unaccounted for from the attempted rescue of the Mayaguez crew off the coast of Cambodia in 1975 have now been accounted for. Although no names were released, this brings to 12 the number of remains recovered and identified from that incident. 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.

On June 16th, 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, both missing since March 6, 1968, 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 2,014, 1,514 in Vietnam. Of the 427 still missing in Laos and the 65 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.

Remains believed to be those of 3 Americans previously unaccounted for from the Vietnam War were turned over to US officials on June 26th in Hanoi. The remains, recovered during joint field operations in April and May of this year, were flown to the Central Identification Laboratory in Hawaii where efforts are underway to establish individual identification.

A team of 43 US specialists from Joint Task Force-Full Accounting, Central Identification Laboratory and Stony Beach have just returned to Laos for another 30-day joint field operation. They plan to conduct remains recoveries at three sites in two separate provinces. Another team of US officials are now concluding month-long joint operations in Vietnam. The US team worked with counterpart Vietnamese officials in 16 provinces and cities to investigate 32 cases and excavate six or more sites, including both aircraft and ground losses.

The League's 31st Annual Meeting took place June 22-25th in Washington, DC. Deputy Secretary of Defense Rudy de Leon delivered the keynote address on June 22nd, and Secretary of the Army Louis Caldera was the dinner speaker on June 23rd. The League was very pleased with Secretary de Leon's personal commitment and specific actions he announced to resolve problems related to additional personnel and resources needed for organizations now working on the accounting effort. For copies of the two speeches, please contact the League's national office.

National POW/MIA Recognition Day will be September 15th this year. Start planning now for a ceremony to be held in your area. By law, the League's POW/MIA flag will next fly over most U.S. Government buildings, all US Post Office facilities and all major military installations and federal cemeteries on National POW/MIA Recognition Day, September 15th.

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. POW/MIA lapel pins are also available at $3 each or 2/$5. 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.