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To: ALL
From: Andi Wolos & Bob Necci
(POW-MIA InterNetwork)
Re: NAF Bits 'N' Pieces
Date: April 07, 2001
"National Alliance of Families
For The Return of America's Missing Servicemen
+ World War II + Korea + Cold War + Vietnam + Gulf War
BITS 'N' PIECES - April 7th, 2001
The National Alliance of Families mourns the loss of 7 members of the Joint Task Force - Full Accounting team in Vietnam, today. A JTF-FA Public Affairs Officer confirmed to Lynn O'Shea that members of the Joint Task Force Full Accounting were on board a helicopter when it crashed and that lives were lost. JTF-FA Public Affairs would not confirm the number of American on board, until additional information becomes available. However, both the Pentagon and Reuters are reporting 7 Americans and at least 9 Vietnamese were on board when a helicopter crashed in the Bo Trach district of Quang Binh province.
Wire services are reporting the following: from Reuters article. "HANOI (Reuters) - Seven American searchers for Vietnam War missing were among 16 people killed in a helicopter crash in central Vietnam on Saturday, a U.S. Embassy spokesman quoted Vietnamese authorities as saying."
"The embassy has been informed by Vietnamese authorities that a helicopter went down in Quang Binh province this afternoon with seven Americans and nine Vietnamese aboard, including crew," the spokesman said."
"Reportedly there were no survivors."
"A Vietnamese soldier at Quang Binh province's military command center told Reuters all 16 people aboard the helicopter were killed when it crashed into a mountainside in Thanh Tranh commune of Bo Trach district, about 700 yards from Vietnam's main north-south road artery, Highway One. "The helicopter crashed into the mountain in thick fog," he said. "There were 16 people aboard and all were killed."
"The commune is about 280 miles south of Hanoi, the national capital. The embassy spokesman said the preliminary assumption was that the Americans were military personnel, although teams searching for U.S. war missing often include civilians."
"He said steps were being taken by U.S. officials and Vietnamese authorities to identify those killed and inform their next of kin. An official at the airport in the town of Vinh, from where the helicopter took off, said he had heard it had been chartered to carry soldiers involved in searching for American servicemen missing from the Vietnam War."
" The official said the helicopter had been on a flight to the central city of Hue. It left Vinh at 4:15 a.m. EDT and had been scheduled to stop at Dong Hoi, the Quang Binh provincial capital, before heading south to Hue. Bo Trach is about 18 miles north of Dong Hoi...." 04/07/2001 14:02
Associated Press reports: "HANOI, Vietnam (AP) -- A helicopter believed to be carrying a team searching for Americans missing in action from the Vietnam War crashed Saturday in central Vietnam, killing all 20 people on board, Vietnamese officials said."
"There was no immediate word on whether any Americans were on board. Villagers saw the helicopter making unusual swinging-like movements in the air before it crashed into the side of a mountain, a local official said. Authorities found 19 badly burned bodies, police said. A man who was alive when they reached the site told them the plane was carrying an MIA search team, officials said. He later died."
"A U.S. Embassy spokesman, David Monk, said the embassy had little information about the crash but had heard that at least one passenger "may have been assigned" to the MIA task force. There are currently no large-scale MIA excavations under way in Vietnam, but some Americans remain in the country year-round doing advance work for future digs."
"The sky was somewhat hazy when the helicopter crashed mid-afternoon near Thanh Tranh village in Quang Binh province's Bo Tranh district, officials said. The area is about 280 miles south of Hanoi. Officials were investigating the cause of the crash..." 04/07/2001 12:52
The National Alliance of Families has always had the highest respect for the men and women who staff these teams. They work under extremely difficult conditions, to provide honest answers to difficult questions. Our problems with JTF-FA relates to what is done with the information as it moves up the chain of command.
To the families of those lost on board this helicopter, we offer our deepest sympathy.
Bring Them Home!
On March 31st 2001 a Navy EP-3 electronic surveillance plane made an emergency landing on the Chinese Island of Hainan, after colliding with a Chinese jet fighter. As of this writing, the crew of 21 men and 3 woman remain held, as hostages, by the Chinese Government. This action is in direct violation of all international law.
Navy Members of the EP- 3 are: Ensign Richard Bensing of Brandon, Fla.; Aviation Electrician's Mate 3rd Class Steven Blocher of Charlotte, N.C.; Cryptologic Technician Seaman Bradford Borland, whose home of record was not listed; Aviation Electronics Technician 2nd Class David Cecka, of Leavenworth, Wash.; Lt. (j.g.) John Comerford of Palos Verdes Estates, Calif.; Cryptologic Technician Operator 1st Class Shawn Coursen, of Valdosta, Ga.; Cryptologic Technician Collection Seaman Jeremy Crandall, of Poplar Grove, Ill.; Cryptologic Technician Interpretive 1st Class Josef Edmunds of Davis, Calif.; Cryptologic Technician Interpretive 2nd Class Brandon Funk, of Showlow, Ariz.; Aviation Electronics Technician 2nd Class Scott Guidry, of Satellite Beach, Fla.; Cryptologic Technician 2nd Class Jason Hanser, of Billings, Mont; Lt. Patrick Honeck, of La Mesa, Calif. Lt. (j.g.) Regina Kauffman, of Warminster, Pa.; Aviation Machinist's Mate Senior Chief Nicholas Mellos, of Ypsilanti, Mich.; Aviation Electronics Technician 2nd Class Ramon Mercado, of Moreno Valley, Calif. Lt. Shane Osborn, of Norfolk, Neb.; Lt. (j.g.) Richard Payne, whose home of record was not listed; Cryptologic Technician 2nd Class Kenneth Richter, of Staten Island, N.Y.; Lt. Marcia Sonon, of Lenharstville, Pa.; Lt. (j.g.) Jeffery Vignery, of Goodland, Kan.; Aviation Machinist 2nd Class Wendy Westbrook, of Rock Creek, Ohio ; Cryptologic Technician 3rd Class Rodney Young, of Katy, Texas.
Marine Corps Member of the EP- 3 is Sgt. Richard Pray, of Geneseo, Ill.
Air Force Member of the EP- 3 is Senior Airman Curtis Towne, of Haywood, Calif.
It is our sincere hope, that by the time this Bits 'N' Pieces circulates, the crew of the EP-3 will be one their way home. To the families of the EP-3 crew members, you have the complete support of the National Alliance of Families. Our prayers and good wishes are with you for the safe and quick return of your loved ones.
Terminology - Since the emergency landing of the EP-3, in China, the Pentagon has continually referred to this crew as detainees. The National Alliance of Families has a problem with that. Just as we have had a problem with the new terminology the DOD and DPMO has attempted to put in general usage. Obviously, these crew members are not POWs. We are not at war with China. However, they are not detainees either. They are hostages. They are not free to come and go as they please and they are being held for a ransom. That is the simple definition of a hostage. The ransom sought, by the Chinese, comes in the form of an apology from the United States for the collision, which all evidence indicates was a direct result of over aggressiveness by the Chinese Pilot.
In all the news reports we've watched and all the print and wire stories we've read, only one Senator has had the courage to call this crew what they are - Hostages. We congratulate Senator Richard Selby, chairperson of the Senate Intelligence Committee.
We congratulate the many Senators and Congressional Representatives who canceled their Spring Junkets to China. Many were due to depart April 7th for week long trips to China. To the few Senators and Congressional Representatives who went ahead with their travel plans to China, we say shame on you!
Do Your Part - When shopping, watch for the labels that say "Made In China" and leave any product carrying that label in the store. It's a small step, but it's a beginning.
A Pueblo Apology - If the United States is left with no choice other than to apologize, in order to gain the return of this crew, let it be a "Pueblo Apology." Many remember the USS Pueblo seized, on the high seas, by North Koreans in January of 1968. The crew was held for 11 month, tortured and brutalized while the North Koreans demanded an apology for supposed U.S. infringement in North Korean territorial waters. Initially the U.S. refused to apologize. The stand-off dragged on 11 months. In the end, the U.S. apologized.
At the sign ceremony the U.S. delegate, before affixing his signature to the agreement, announced that the apology was bogus and the U.S. had nothing to apologize for. He then signed the agreement - a "Pueblo Apology."
We got the crew back. North Korea kept the boat, which when last we heard had been turned into a tourist attraction.
Jones Out At DPMO - As of March 30th 2001, Robert Jones is no longer the Assistant Deputy Secretary of Defense for POW/MIA Affairs and head of the Defense POW/MIA Office. In our opinion, Mr. Jones holds the distinction of the most traveled ADSD while accomplishing the least progress on the POW/MIA issue.
During his tenure relations with POW/MIA families hit an all time low. His rudeness became legendary and was well documented in a C-SPAN broadcast aired in June of 1999. Under the Jones leadership DPMO succeeded in dividing Korea/Cold War and Vietnam family members by refusing, as of the year 2000, to hold simultaneous family briefings, as was done in previous years. This limits contact between family members for Korea, Cold War and Vietnam and hampers our free exchange of information and experiences.
Fortunately, Mr. Jones failed in two major areas. He was unable to carry out the initial steps of his "Strategic Plan," and in spite of his best efforts he was unable to discount the overwhelming evidence that Roger Dumas is, in fact, a POW of the Korean War.
The National Alliance of Families welcomes Mr. Jones' departure. We can only hope that the next Assistant Secretary of Defense for POW/MIA Affairs, will have the qualifications and people skills sorely lacking in Mr. Jones.
We urge the Bush Administration to review candidates for the ADSD position carefully, and choose the individual with the best qualifications and the confidence of the majority of POW/MIA family groups.
We look forward to working with the new ADSD for POW/MIA Affairs, whomever he or she is, and hope that their tenure is not as contentious as their predecessor.
Caught In The Spy Fallout - In retaliation for the expulsion of 50 Russians in connection with the Hanson Spy saga, the Russians are expelling 50 Americans from Moscow. According to our sources, among those to be expelled are the majority, if not the entire staff of the Joint Commission Support Directorate (JCSD) of the U.S. Russian Joint Commission. As one source puts it, this would be a "significant blow to the operation."
The JCSD is comprised of researchers seeking information on America's POW/MIAs. We are outraged that the Russians would include the men and women of the JCSD among the diplomats scheduled to be expelled. The Americans will be required to leave Russia by July 1, 2001.
We would like to remind the Russians of recent remarks made by Mr. Valentin Alekseyevich Sobloev. During the 17th Plenum of The U.S.-Russia Joint Commission on Prisoner of War/Missing in Action, November 14th, 2000. During that meeting Mr. Sobolev, a deputy at the Russian National Security Council stated: "In the years of its existence the Commission has achieved significant in its noble, humanitarian mission attempting to resolve the fate of those who perished, were captured or are missing in action from post-World War II conflicts and incidents. The work of the Commission has honored the memory of the time when the United States and the Soviet Union were allied against German Nazism. The relatives and friends of those missing servicemen whose fate the Commission has been able to establish are grateful."
"The activities of the USRJC are constantly and closely followed by the Presidents of Russia and the United States and are publicized by the mass media of both countries. The activities of the USRJC serve to broaden the bilateral relationship between our two countries. Further, they have prompted great interest in other countries such as Germany, Italy, Finland, Poland, Kuwait and others who face similar problems with unaccounted for personnel."
"The Security Council of the Russian Federation pays much attention to the work of the USRJC and is always ready to render necessary assistance and Support. I hope that the Seventeenth Plenum will be fruitful and wish all USRJC members success in their work. I am convinced that the Seventeenth Plenum will be another step in resolving the many issues before the Commission."
The resolution of the POW/MIA issue and the work of the JCSD should not be used as a pawn in a game of diplomatic chess.
Deny No More - From the Associated Press by Estes Thompson, April 4, 2001 - "A once-secret Special Operations unit credited with rescuing pilots and diverting the enemy during the Vietnam War was officially recognized with a presidential citation Wednesday, 29 years after it disbanded."
"Veterans of the Studies and Observation Group, including some active duty soldiers, were given ribbons and special coins at a ceremony here. A small group of beret-clad Vietnamese stood alongside veterans wearing special black jackets and green berets. "It's a day that most of us thought would never happen," said John Plaster of Iron River, Wis., a retired Army major. "That's part of the price of doing clandestine operations. Our existence was officially denied."
"The unit, made up of Army, Navy and Marine personnel, operated from 1964 until 1972. It had 2,000 U.S. personnel and 8,000 indigenous mercenaries assigned to it at its peak...."
"...Eighteen SOG teams -- usually eight men each -- disappeared without a trace or were killed in battle. None was returned after the war as prisoners...."
McNamara At It Again - Many remember former Secretary of Defense Robert McNamara's comments on Vietnam and his statements that he knew in 1967 that further involvement in Vietnam was a mistake. We called him a coward for not voicing his opinions in 1967 and asked how many Servicemen would be alive today, had Robert McNamara had the courage of his convictions. Instead, he waited over 20 years to voice his opinion, helping to make his book a bestseller.
Well, now we have another comment from McNamara. According to a March 23rd Reuters article, "The ill-fated U.S-backed Bay of Pigs invasion of Cuba in 1961 was a "dumb" plan that should never have gone ahead,
former Defense Secretary Robert McNamara told an academic conference in Havana."
"Although McNamara could not attend the three-day session in Cuba on the 40th anniversary of one of the Cold War's most emblematic battles, he sent a message that was read out at a closed-door session, a participant said late on Thursday. "He basically said that this was a really dumb operation. The Bay of Pigs invasion was wrong and never should have occurred," Thomas Blanton, head of the National Security Archive, which co-sponsored the conference, told reporters...."
"...A key architect of the Vietnam War, McNamara has also said in the past that conflict was "terribly wrong."
Just how much blood is on this man's hands, because he never had the courage to voice his opinions?
Why does Johnnie Webb still have a job?
H.R.62 - the dumbest piece of legislation ever introduced - (for details see bits 2/24/01) - as of April 6th the legislation has zero co-sponsors.
National Alliance of Families Twelfth Annual Forum is scheduled for June 21st - 23rd, 2001. Our Forum is conducted to coincide with the governments annual POW/MIA Family Briefings. We urge all family members to attend this years government briefings, for Vietnam family members. Remember the government will provide free airfare to two family members to attend the briefings. There is no charge or registration fee to attend the government briefings. It is important that family members attend these briefings.
Our meeting will be held at the Crown Plaza Hotel, 1489 Jefferson Davis Highway, Arlington Va. Room rates are $106.00 single or double, plus tax. To make reservations call 703- 416-1600 Remember to say you want the National Alliance of Families Group Rate. The deadline for reservations is May 29th, 2001.
Remember, the Alliance is an all volunteer organization. Our meetings are open to all, without charge. At this time of year, we actively seek contributions to finance our Forum. If you wish to contribute, donations may be mailed to:
National Alliance of Families
P.O. Box 40327
Bellevue, WA. 98015
Dolores Apodaca Alfond
National Chairperson - (dolores@nationalalliance.org)
Voice/Fax 425-881-1499
Lynn O'Shea
New York State Director - (lynn@nationalalliance.org)
Voice/Fax 718-846-4350"
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