News-Info-Alerts

To: ALL

From: Andi Wolos & Bob Necci

(POW-MIA InterNetwork)

Re: USCINCPAC Statement & JTF-FA Fact Sheet

Date: April 08, 2001

"Helicopter accident in Vietnam

CAMP H.M. SMITH, HAWAII - Army Lt. Col. Franklin Childress (left), Joint Task Force - Full Accounting public affairs officer, addresses the media during a press conference here April 7. He discussed the accident involving a Russian-made Mi-17 commercial cargo helicopter carrying seven U.S. servicemembers and nine Vietnam nationals.

The aircraft crashed in Vietnam early this morning (April 7, late Saturday afternoon Vietnam time).

According to Vietnamese sources, there are reportedly no survivors.

The crash occurred in the Quang Binh Province during preparation for a recovery operation involving unaccounted for Americans lost during the Vietnam War. The Quang Binh Province is approximately 250 miles south of Hanoi.

American and Vietnamese officials are taking actions to recover and identify those aboard and notify next of kin.

The accident is currently under investigation.

JTF-FA Facts

Joint Task Force Full Accounting (JTF-FA) was established on January 23, 1992. Its mission is to resolve the cases of Americans still unaccounted- for as a result of the Southeast Asian conflict. JTF-FA operations include investigations, archival research, an oral history program and remains recovery operations.

The task force was created in response to Presidential, Congressional and public interest, as well as increased opportunities for case resolution. The opportunities included an increased willingness of the governments of Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia to share information they have regarding unaccounted- for Americans, as well as increased access to files, records and witnesses in these countries.

JTF-FA consists of more than 180 investigators, analysts, linguists and other specialists representing all four services and Department of Defense civilian employees. The task force's operations are supported by casualty resolution specialists and anthropologists from the U.S. Army Central Identification Laboratory in Hawaii (CILHI), representatives of the Defense POW/MIA office, and augmentees from U.S. Pacific Command component commands. JTF-FA is headquartered at Camp H.M. Smith, Hawaii. Detachments are located in Bangkok, Thailand, Vietnam's capital of Hanoi, Vientiane in Laos, and Cambodia's capital of Phnom Penh.

JTF-FA Fact Sheet
Joint Task Force - Full Accounting
PO Box 64044
Camp H.M. Smith, HI 96861-4044
Phone: 808-477-5301; Fax: 808-477-5501

The mission of Joint Task Force-Full Accounting (JTF-FA) is to achieve the fullest possible accounting of Americans still unaccounted-for as a result of the war in Southeast Asia. JTF-FA operations include case investigations, archival research, an Oral History Program, and remains recovery operations. The task force was created in response to Presidential, Congressional, and public interest, as well as increased opportunities for case resolution. The opportunities included an increased willingness by the governments of Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia to share information they have regarding unaccounted-for Americans, as well as increased access to files, records, and witnesses in their countries.

The task force grew out of the previously established Joint Casualty Resolution Center, an organization that began spearheading U.S. Government accounting efforts in 1973. As cooperation on the part of the Southeast Asian nations and opportunities for issue resolution increased, Commander in Chief, U.S. Pacific Command, established Joint Task Force-Full Accounting on January 23, 1992.

JTF-FA is comprised of 161 investigators, analysts, linguists, and other specialists representing all four military services and Department of Navy civilian employees. The task force's operations are supported by casualty resolution specialists, archaeologists, and anthropologists from the U.S. Army Central Identification Laboratory in Hawaii (CILHI); representatives of the Defense POW/MIA Office; and augmentees from U.S. Pacific Command component commands. JTF-FA is headquartered at Camp H.M. Smith, Hawaii, with three detachments located in Bangkok, Thailand; Hanoi, Vietnam; and Vientiane, Laos. The detachment in Thailand also supports operations in Cambodia.

As of 1975, there were 2,583 Americans unaccounted for in Vietnam 1,923 (425 were lost over water off the Vietnamese coast), 569 in Laos, 81 in Cambodia, and 10 in China.

Not since the release of 591 American prisoners of war during "Operation Homecoming" in 1973 has an American -- whose fate was unknown to the U.S. -- returned alive from Southeast Asia. Over the years, however, numerous first-hand reports have surfaced concerning Americans alleged to be alive in Southeast Asia. Intelligence organizations have resolved most of those reports through correlation with accounted-for personnel; others have proven to be fabrications. Support of Defense Intelligence Agency investigation and resolution of these live sightings is JTF-FA's first priority. Although the U.S. Government has thus far been unable to obtain definitive evidence that Americans are still being detained against their will in Southeast Asia, the information available precludes ruling out that possibility. Therefore, actions to investigate live-sighting reports have and will continue to receive the highest priority.

Archival research is conducted by JTF-FA analysts to determine if any of the materials contained in host-nation files can be correlated to unaccounted-for Americans. Another aspect of JTF-FA's responsibility is investigating incident-of-loss sites. JTF-FA investigators and linguists examine areas determined to be the position unaccounted-for Americans were known to be lost or last known to be alive. They also interview local villagers and provincial officials to determine if witnesses are available to support the investigation.

The Oral History Program was established to identify and interview higher-ranking individuals who may possess information related to specific cases. Often these individuals provide names of other individuals who have knowledge of incidents involving Americans. Information obtained through this program has sometimes lead investigators to unresolved crash or burial sites.

Task force specialists also locate and examine crash sites. Many of the unaccounted-for Americans were pilots or other aircrew members who were lost when their aircraft crashed or was shot down. These excavations are much like archaeological digs; their aim is to recover remains and material evidence, which could help confirm the fate of the aircraft occupants. If a site investigation, witness interview, or crash site survey results in the discovery of remains or material evidence associated with a loss, a recovery operation will be conducted by JTF-FA and CILHI casualty resolution and other operations specialists. The remains are then transported to CILHI, located at Hickam Air Force Base, Hawaii, where they undergo forensic examination. Positive identification of the remains through anthropological and pathological analysis are made whenever possible.

Currently, JTF-FA conducts ten Joint Field Activities annually in Southeast Asia, four in Vietnam, five in Laos, and one in Cambodia. Depending on the requirements, team composition can range from 30 to 95 personnel. Counting deployment and redeployment time, each Joint Field Activity lasts approximately 35 days.

Since its inception in 1992, Joint Task Force-Full Accounting has conducted more than 3,400 case investigations and 590 recovery operations, which have led to the repatriation of more than 500 sets of remains believed to be unaccounted-for Americans. JTF-FA investigators and analysts have also answered countless questions about what happened to many of those whose fate was previously unknown. Many questions remain, some of which may never be fully answered, but Joint Task Force-Full Accounting is resolved to continue the investigation and recovery efforts until the fullest possible accounting is achieved.

Currently the number of unaccounted-for in Southeast Asia is 1,981."