News-Info-Alerts

To: ALL

From: Andi Wolos & Bob Necci

(POW-MIA InterNetwork)

Re:NLF Update Line

Date: January 21, 2001

"Update Line

Happy New Year, and thank you for calling the National League of Families Update Line. This message is being recorded on Tuesday, January 16th. 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 that 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 from missing 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. On January 12th, THE WASHINGTON POST carried a brief report that evidence indicates LCDR Speicher likely survived the crash, quoting President Clinton as stating, "that he might be alive." The President, stating that he doesn't want to create "false hopes" later clarified that statement by noting that the US has no evidence that LCDR Speicher is now alive. Subsequently, Iraq claimed that this situation was trumped up by the US, that LCDR Speicher died in the F-18 crash, and records would shortly be released to prove it. Further information will be provided when available.

The Commander in Chief, US Pacific command, Admiral Dennis Blair, just visited Laos for meetings with senior officials, after first meeting with high level officials and visiting a joint field excavation site in Cambodia. The Admiral was scheduled to go to Vietnam, but Vietnam canceled the visit at the last minute. In meetings in Laos and Cambodia, the Admiral reinforced 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 was hoped that Admiral Blair would propose cooperation to permit US Navy vessels to conduct underwater recovery efforts along the coast of Vietnam where many US incidents occurred. Now it is hoped that the incoming Bush Administration will pursue this initiative.

The US at long last 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 seminar, strongly endorsed by the League, will enhance understanding on the part of officials whose help is crucial to success.

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 now ongoing in Cambodia and scheduled to conclude February 6th. Several cases are scheduled for investigation and excavation in all three Indochina countries.

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.

A League Region II and III meeting will be held May 4-5th at the Naval Education Training Center, Newport, RI. This meeting is open to all League members and, by invitation, to concerned veterans and other citizens, by calling Region III Coordinator Maureen Dunn, 781-961-2110. Billeting in Navy Visiting Officers Quarters will be available on a first come-first served basis.

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."

The National League of Families of American Prisoners and Missing in Southeast Asia
1001 Connecticut Avenue Northwest, Suite 919 Washington, D.C. 20036-5504
(TEL) 202-223-6846 Federal Tax ID #23-7071242