News-Info-Alerts

To: ALL

From: Andi Wolos & Bob Necci

(POW-MIA InterNetwork)

Re: NLF Update Line

Date: January 15, 2001

"Happy New Year, and thank you for calling the National League of Families Update Line. This message is being recorded on Friday, January 12th. According to the Department of Defense, the number of Americans missing and unaccounted for from the Vietnam War is still 1,991.

On January 10th, CBS News announced that Secretary of the Navy Richard Danzig had changed the status of LCDR Michael Scott Speicher, USN, from KIA/BNR to MIA status. Speicher was the first US loss of the Gulf War, Desert Storm, on January 17, 1991, during an F-A18 incident. An official DOD release stated, "On May 22, 1991, following a Secretary of the Navy status review board that found 'no credible evidence' to suggest he had survived the shootdown, his status was changed to KIA/BNR." There was a great deal left out of the DOD release that was publicly revealed in two CBS 60 Minutes segments, but serious official clarification has not yet occurred. Today's WASHINGTON POST carried another brief report that evidence now indicates LCDR Speicher likely survived the crash and quoted President Clinton as stating, "that he might be alive." Further information will be provided when available.

The Commander in Chief, US Pacific command, Admiral Dennis Blair, is now in Cambodia to meet with senior officials, as well as visit a joint field excavation site, before going on to Laos and Vietnam. Throughout his trip, he will reinforce the importance of serious efforts to account for missing Americans. In view of the military to military dialogue now increasing between the US and Vietnam, it is hoped that Admiral Blair will also propose cooperation to permit US Navy vessels to conduct underwater recovery efforts along the coast of Vietnam where many US incidents occurred.

In December, the US and Laos reached welcome agreements that improve the bilateral accounting process. At talks led by the JTF-FA Commander, the Lao agreed to raise from 40 to 50 the US team size, thus enabling the US to field a fifth ten-person team. They also agreed to extend the normal 30-day period in-country by excluding days required for preparation and departure, plus extend the time in the field if needed to complete recovery at an incident site.

The US responded to the May 1999 Lao proposal to hold a seminar in Vientiane, during which JTF-FA, CILHI, Stony Beach and LSEL will brief Lao officials from throughout the country on the accounting effort. This long-overdue seminar will enhance understanding on the part of officials whose help is crucial to success. The Lao also agreed to permit US interviewers to use tape recorders while conducting joint investigations and to unilaterally conduct oral history interviews of current and former Lao officials who may have useful information. The League is pleased with these confirmed improvements in US-Lao cooperation.

Both Laos and Vietnam conducted unilateral investigations during the month of December, pursuing leads provided by the US, including efforts to locate witnesses for subsequent joint interview in both countries. On January 9th, joint field operations resumed in Laos, as they will in Vietnam on February 8th. Joint investigations in Cambodia, conducted in November, prepared the way for full-scale joint operations that began January 10th and are to conclude February 6th. Several cases are scheduled for investigation and excavation.

On January 20th, in Las Vegas, NV, the Defense POW/MIA Office will hold another Family Update for next-of-kin from all past wars in which the US was involved. Family members within a 300-mile radius should have received notice of this meeting. An abbreviated veterans' session will be held on January 19th. Those interested should call their service casualty office or the Defense POW/MIA Office at 703-602-2102, Ext. 111.

The League's 32nd Annual Meeting will be held June 21-24th, 2001, at Crystal City's DoubleTree Hotel, across the Potomac River from Washington, DC. Family members and concerned supporters are urged to attend this important first meeting of the new Bush Administration. We again anticipate DOD-sponsored, round-trip travel for two family members per missing man to attend the meeting.

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. "