News-Info-Alerts

To: ALL

From: Andi Wolos & Bob Necci

(POW-MIA InterNetwork)

Re: NLF Update Line

Date: March 16, 2001

"Update Line

The League has a 24-hour, 7 day a week update line. Please call 202-659-0133 to find out the latest detailed information regarding the POW/MIA issue or click here to see the text online. The last update was 3/16/01.

March 16 The Department of Defense today informed the League that the remains of one American, listed as KIA/BNR in North Vietnam since August 30, 1967, have been identified and returned to his family. The remains were jointly recovered on August 4, 1993 and accepted by the NOK as identified on October 21st of last year. DOD has not yet announced the name of this Navy officer. The remains of Warrant officer 2nd Class Howard B. Comer, missing since November 24th, 1969, were turned over to US officials on December 14, 1993, during joint field operations in South Vietnam. Remains of the third, also US Army, were jointly recovered and repatriated June 27, 2000, but his name was not publicly announced at the request of his family. The fourth American, Mr. Gustav G. Hertz, was a civilian employee of the US Government. Now identified, his remains were unilaterally repatriated by the government of Vietnam in 1989. The accounting for these four Americans brings the number still missing and unaccounted for in Vietnam to 1493; 418 in Laos, 67 in Cambodia and 8 in the territorial waters of the PRC. Over 90% of the 1,986 Americans still missing and unaccounted for from the Vietnam War were lost in areas under Vietnam's wartime control.

January 17 The League was notified January 17th of approval by the Office of Personnel Management in Washington, DC, for acceptance into the 2001 Combined Federal Campaign. Over the years, the National League of POW/MIA Families is the only POW/MIA organization that has ever been approved at the national level as having met the stringint criteria for acceptance. The designation number for the 2001 Campaign will again be #1174. The League appreciates the support of federal government employees over the years, especially the active duty military community with whom we have so much in common. Annual Meeting The League recently finalized the date and location for our 32nd Annual Meeting that will be held June 21-25th, 2001, at Crystal City's DoubleTree Hotel, across the Potomac River from Washington, DC. Family members and concerned supporters are urged to start planning now to attend this important first meeting of a new administration. We again anticipate DOD-sponsored, round-trip travel for this meeting for two family members per missing man.

Virginia Residents Effective July 1, a bill was passed to allow production of special license plates with the POW/MIA logo . Before production can begin, DMV must receive 350 PREPAID applications. Click here for more information. Important Link http://www.cilhi.army.mil/ - The United States Army Central Identification Laboratory, Hawaii. CILHI has a threefold mission: 1) Search for, recover, and identify remains of American military personnel, certain American civilian personnel, and certain allied personnel unaccounted for from World War II, the Korean War, the Vietnam War, and other conflicts and contingencies.

2)Conduct humanitarian missions as directed by competent authority. 3)Provide technical assistance in these matters as requested by the appropriate geographic Commander-in-Chief (CINC).

Q & A Q: "Is the National League of POW/MIA Families nationally eligible for donations through the Combined Federal Campaign/United Way? "

A: "The requirements for meeting qualifications are difficult and require annual audits, nonprofit 501(c)3 status and all but a small percentage (under 25%) of donations to be spent on programs. In the League's case, that is a threefold, single objective: the return of all POWs, the fullest possible accounting for our MIAs and the repatriation of all recoverable remains of those who lost their lives serving our country during the Vietnam War. The League easily meets all criteria and has for many years.

We're nationally eligible for the Fall, 2000 campaign; our CFC number is #1174; however, the name of the League can be written in if donors don't have it readily available.

There are many worthy causes and countless requests, but we hope that the League's many years of responsible credibility, the importance of our mission to today's active-duty community and our urgent need for additional staff will persuade many to seriously consider the League as deserving of CFC/United Way contributions. "

Q: "Our state recently enacted legislation requiring the display of the POW-MIA flag at state and municipal buildings. Is there any official protocol as to where it should be displayed when on a pole along with the US and state flag." A: "The flag, since it pertains to missing Americans from across the country, flies beneath the US flag and, if on the same pole with the state flag, beneath the US flag and above the state flag. Of course, it is preferable that there be more than one flag pole if three flags are to be flown, but it isn't always possible. If there are two or three separate flag poles, the POW/MIA flag just flies a bit lower than the US flag, as all other do."

Current Status There are 1,986 Americans still missing and unaccounted for from the Vietnam War.

E-Mail The Official e-mail address for The National League of POW/MIA Families is info@pow-miafamilies.org

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