News-Info-Alerts

To: ALL

From: Andi Wolos & Bob Necci

(POW-MIA InterNetwork)

Re: NLF Update Line

Date: September 04, 2001

"Update Line
According to the Department of Defense, there are still 1,957 Americans missing and unaccounted for from the Vietnam War.

On August 21st, Secretary of Defense Rumsfeld's nominee as Deputy Assistant Secretary for POW/MIA Affairs, Jerry Jennings, appointed by the White House the previous day, assumed office. The League offers congratulations and looks forward to working closely with Mr. Jennings, the most qualified person to be selected since DPMO was formed in 1992 to hold this position so key to achieving POW/MIA accounting objectives.

A four-day POW/MIA conference begins today in Hawaii. The first two days will focus on a long-standing League objective - fully integrating DIA's Stony Beach Team into the field operations process. JTF-FA, CILHI, Stony Beach and officials from the Defense POW/MIA Office will be joined by new DASD for POW/MIA Affairs Jerry Jennings the new Commander of JTF-FA, BG Steve Redmann, USAF, for broader discussions, including direction for the next several months. Mr. Jennings is also expected to meet with senior CINCPAC officials while in the area. The League wishes Mr. Jennings well on this first oversight visit of his tenure in leading the Defense Department's POW/MIA accounting efforts.

JTF-FA Commander, Air Force BG Steven Redmann, recently completed an introductory swing through Laos, Vietnam and Cambodia. Joint US-Lao field operations, begun on August 9th, are reportedly going well and will conclude this week.

On October 2-3rd, the Lao and US governments will hold a POW/MIA seminar in southern Laos. This seminar, proposed by the Lao Government approximately two years ago following discussions with the League, was only accepted by the US within the last six months and will be preceded by POW/MIA consultations on September 27-28th.

Officials of the Vietnam Office for Seeking Missing Persons, often equated in the media to the US Joint Task Force-Full Accounting, have begun a 30-day period set aside by joint agreement for Vietnam to focus on unilateral steps to facilitate the accounting for missing Americans. Preparations are also ongoing for technical talks between the US and Vietnam that will be held September 24th.

President Bush will soon proclaim September 21st as National POW/MIA Recognition Day. Ceremonies will be held across the country, including at all major military installations, and the League's POW/MIA flag will be prominently on display. In addition to all office of the US Postal Service, locations include the White House, Departments of State, Defense and Veterans Affairs, headquarters of the Selective Service System, the National Vietnam War and Korean War Memorials, and all National Cemeteries. The national ceremony will be hosted by Deputy Secretary of Defense Paul D. Wolfowitz and held at 11:00 a.m. at the Pentagon's River Entrance Parade Field. The guest speaker will be the Honorable Orson Swindle, retired Marine LTC and a returned Vietnam War POW currently serving as a commissioner on the Federal Trade Commission.

The Defense Department has produced posters marking the occasion, and they can be ordered by calling Mr. John Brown, Defense POW/MIA Office, 703-602-2102, Ext. 185. If he is not available, leave your full name and address, and the number of posters requested. For information to distribute in support of this yearly event, check the League's web site at www.pow-miafamilies.org or call our national office at 202-223-6846.

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.

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 "

AND

"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 9/4/01.

NEW DASD On August 20th, the League was informed that Secretary of Defense Rumsfeld's nominee as Deputy Assistant Secretary for POW/MIA Affairs, Jerry Jennings, was officially appointed by the White House and would assume office on August 21st. The League offers congratulations and looks forward to working closely with Mr. Jennings, the most qualified person to be selected for this position so key to achieving POW/MIA accounting objectives.
Sept. 21 President Bush will soon proclaim September 21st as National POW/MIA Recognition Day. Ceremonies will be held across the country, including at all major military installations, and the League's POW/MIA flag will be prominently on display. In addition to all office of the US Postal Service, locations include the White House, Departments of State, Defense and Veterans Affairs, headquarters of the Selective Service System, the National Vietnam War and Korean War Memorials, and all National Cemeteries.
The national ceremony will be hosted by Deputy Secretary of Defense Paul D. Wolfowitz, and will be held at 11:00 a.m. at the Pentagon's River Entrance Parade Field. The Defense Department has produced posters marking the occasion, and they can be ordered by calling Mr. John Brown, Defense POW/MIA Office, 703-602-2102, Ext. 185. If he is not available, leave your full name and address, and the number of posters requested. For information to distribute in support of this yearly event, check the League's web site at www.pow-miafamilies.org or call our national office at 202-223-6846.

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 Links http://www.vvmf.org - THE VIETNAM VETERANS MEMORIAL: As the founders of The Wall, the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund works to preserve the legacy of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial and to educate current and future generations about the enduring lessons of the Vietnam War on American society.

http://www.virtualwall.org - THE VIIRTUAL WALL: The Virtual Wall is a digital, interactive legacy memorializing the men and women who gave their lives in Vietnam. The Virtual Wall ofers a unique experience for each visitor. Individual profiles, remembrances, reunion postings, name rubbings, custom reports, your own Virtual Wall page, and more - create your personal journey.

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).

Current Status There are 1,957 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"