News-Info-Alerts

To: ALL

From: Andi Wolos & Bob Necci

(POW-MIA InterNetwork)

Re: NLF Update Line

Date: February 06, 2001

"Update Line

Thank you for calling the National League of Families Update Line. This message is being recorded on Thursday, February 1st. According to the Department of Defense, the number of Americans missing and unaccounted for from the Vietnam War is now 1,990.

The Department of Defense announced today that LtCol Roscoe Fobair, USAF, is now accounted for. His remains, jointly recovered in Vietnam, were repatriated on January 16, 1998. The League extends understanding to the relatives and friends of LTC Fobair, confident that the accounting for him brings long awaited peace of mind. J This brings the number still missing and unaccounted for from the Vietnam War to 1,990. Of these losses, 1497 are in Vietnam, 418 are in Laos, 67 are in Cambodia and 8 are in the territorial waters of the PRC, though over 90% of all losses from the Vietnam War occurred in areas under Vietnamese wartime control.

At the January 19th Salute to Veterans inaugural event, Vice President Dick Cheney pledged renewed effort to achieve the fullest possible accounting for America's POW/MIAs. Following several earlier commitments by President George W. Bush, this commitment, though not surprising, is welcome and appreciated. Strong records of support and involvement by many senior Administration officials and nominees offer the promise of serious, objective policy on POW/MIA over the next few years.

The Commander in Chief, US Pacific command, Admiral Dennis Blair, recently visited Laos and Cambodia for meetings with senior officials during which he reinforced the importance of serious efforts to account for missing Americans and expressed appreciation for their efforts. In both countries, the Admiral also visited field sites to see firsthand the work of US and host-country personnel conducting investigations and excavations. The Admiral was also scheduled to go to Vietnam, but at the last minute, Vietnam canceled the visit.

During consultations in early December, 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 advocated and supported 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, month-long joint field operations resumed in Laos, as they will in Vietnam on February 8th, preceded by technical talks later this week. Joint investigations in Cambodia, conducted in November, prepared the way for full-scale joint operations ongoing in Cambodia that are scheduled to conclude February 6th. Several cases are scheduled for investigation and excavation in all three Indochina countries.

The next Family Update sponsored by the Defense POW/MIA Office will be held February 24th in San Francisco, CA, preceded by a forum for veterans on February 23rd. Family members who wish to attend the update should contact their military service casualty office to register for the meeting. Veterans and others who wish to attend the Veterans Briefing can obtain information by calling DPMO at 703-602-2101, 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"