News-Info-Alerts

To: ALL

From: Andi Wolos & Bob Necci

(POW-MIA InterNetwork)

Re: NLF New Address & Update

Date: September 27, 2001

"Update Line
Thank you for calling the National League of Families Update Line. This message is being recorded on Thursday, September 27th. According to the Department of Defense, there are now 1,956 Americans missing and unaccounted for from the Vietnam War.

On August 21st, the ID of LT Edd D. Taylor, USNR, of Arkansas, was formalized. LT Taylor was listed as KIA/BNR on August 29, 1965, in North Vietnam. His remains, jointly recovered in March, 2000, were repatriated that April. The accounting for LT Taylor brings the number still missing 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. Of the total number, roughly 90% were lost in areas under Vietnamese wartime control.

At the September 21st National POW/MIA Recognition Day ceremony, Secretary of the Army Thomas White, substituting for Deputy Secretary of Defense Paul Wolfowitz, delivered a very strong, supportive commitment to accounting for Americans still missing from our nation's wars. Retired Marine LtCol Orson Swindle, III, held over 6 years as a POW in North Vietnam, was the guest speaker. His inspirational remarks made clear the importance of the accounting effort to those who served and sacrificed, as well as those who serve now and will in the future. In view of recent attacks on the United States and the current alert status of our military, the League was especially pleased to see the high level of military and civilian leadership present to honor our returned POWs and missing men.

Ceremonies were also held across the country, including at all major military installations, and the League's POW/MIA flag was prominently on display. Reportedly, it was flown 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.

An important four-day conference was held September 4-7th 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 named Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for POW/MIA Affairs Jerry Jennings and new Commander of JTF-FA, BG Steve Redmann, USAF. Broader discussions focused on direction and approach for the next several months. Mr. Jennings also met with senior CINCPAC officials and received briefings from all Hawaii-based operational organizations.

On October 2-3rd, US and Lao officials will hold a POW/MIA seminar in Savannakhet, Laos, for provincial and district level Lao officials. This seminar was proposed by the Lao Deputy Prime Minister approximately two years ago during discussions with the League, but only recently accepted by the US. The seminar will be preceded by POW/MIA consultations on September 27-28th. The US delegation will be led by Mr. Jennings, joined by recently confirmed US Ambassador to Laos Doug Hartwick and BG Redmann. The senior Lao official will be the Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs. Mr. Jennings will also make brief, introductory calls in Hanoi and Phnom Penh before returning to the US.

Officials of the Vietnam Office for Seeking Missing Persons, often inaccurately equated by 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. Unilateral efforts by Vietnam have long been a priority for the League since many cases of missing Americans, especially those last known alive, cannot be resolved by joint field operations. US-Vietnam technical talks, led by the JTF-FA Commander, took place today in Vietnam.

Posters marking POW/MIA Recognition Day can still be obtained 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.

POW/MIA car-window decals are available at a cost of $20 per 100 by sending a check to the new League office at 1005 North Glebe Road, Suite 160, Arlington, VA 22201. 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 703-465-7432. If no one is available to take your call, please leave a message. Again, thank you for calling.

The National League of Families of American Prisoners and Missing in Southeast Asia
1005 North Glebe Road
Suite 160
Arlington, Virginia 22201
(TEL) 703-465-7432
Federal Tax ID #23-7071242 "