News-Info-Alerts

To: ALL

From: Andi Wolos & Bob Necci

(POW-MIA InterNetwork)

Re: NLF Update Line

Date: September 17, 2001

Update Line
According to the Department of Defense, there are now 1,956 Americans missing and unaccounted for from the Vietnam War.

Though not informed until September 10th, the primary next-of-kin of LT Edd D. Taylor, USNR, of Arkansas, accepted the mtDNA identification on August 21st. LT Taylor was listed as KIA/BNR on August 29, 1965, in North Vietnam, and his remains, jointly recovered in March, 2000, were repatriated that April. This brings the number still missing and unaccounted for from the Vietnam War to 1,956, 1473 in Vietnam, 415 in Laos, 60 in Cambodia and 8 in the territorial waters of the PRC. Over 85% of all losses in Laos and Cambodia occurred in areas under Vietnamese wartime control; therefore, it is to Vietnam that the US must look for answers, including archival records.

Also on August 21st, Secretary of Defense Rumsfeld's nominee as Deputy Assistant Secretary for POW/MIA Affairs, Jerry Jennings, assumed office. He was appointed by the White House the previous day. 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 achieve POW/MIA accounting objectives.

A four-day POW/MIA conference was held last week in Hawaii. The first two days focused on a long-standing League objective - full integration of DIA's Stony Beach Team into field operations. JTF-FA, CILHI, Stony Beach and Defense POW/MIA officials were joined by newly appointed DASD for POW/MIA Affairs Jerry Jennings and the new Air Force Commander of JTF-FA, BG Steve Redmann, for broader discussions, including direction and approach for the next several months. While in the area, Mr. Jennings also met with senior CINCPAC officials and received briefings from all Hawaii-based operational organizations.

The JTF-FA Commander recently completed an introductory swing through Laos, Vietnam and Cambodia. US-Lao field operations, begun on August 9th, recently concluded. On October 2-3rd, Lao and US officials will hold a POW/MIA seminar in Savannakhet, Laos, for provincial and district level Lao officials. This seminar, proposed by the Lao Deputy Prime Minister approximately two years ago during discussions with the League, was only recently accepted by the US and will be preceded by POW/MIA consultations on September 27-28th. The US delegation will be led by DASD Jennings, joined by US Ambassador to Laos Doug Hartwick, and the senior Lao official will be the Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs.

Officials of the Vietnam Office for Seeking Missing Persons, often equated 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.

Friday, September 21st is 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. It will fly over the White House, Departments of State, Defense and Veterans Affairs, headquarters of the Selective Service System, the National Vietnam War and Korean War Memorials, all National Cemeteries, all offices of the US Postal Service and major military installations, as directed by the Secretary of Defense. The national ceremony will be hosted by Deputy Secretary of Defense Dr. Paul 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