News-Info-Alerts

To: ALL

From: Andi Wolos & Bob Necci

(POW-MIA InterNetwork)

Re: NLF Update Line

Date: October 22, 2001

"Update Line
NUMBER MISSING: According to the Department of Defense, there are still 1,956 Americans missing and unaccounted for from the Vietnam War: 1473 in Vietnam, 415 in Laos, 60 in Cambodia and 8 in the territorial waters of the PRC. Of the total number, over 90% were lost in Vietnam or areas of Laos and Cambodia under Vietnam's wartime control.

POW/MIA SEMINAR HELD: US and Lao officials recently concluded a two-day seminar in Savannakhet, Laos, for provincial and district level Lao officials. The sessions were preceded by POW/MIA consultations on September 27-28th. This seminar was proposed by the Lao over two years ago during discussions with the League, but only recently moved forward by the US. Newly appointed Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for POW/MIA Affairs Jerry Jennings led the US delegation, joined by recently confirmed US Ambassador to Laos Doug Hartwick and BG Steve Redmann, USAF, Commander of the JTF-FA. Lao host for the seminar was Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs Phonsavath Boupha. For the first time, personnel from CILHI and DIA's Stony Beach Team made the presentations in the Lao language. A ceremony was held on October 3rd, at the conclusion of the sessions, to turn over remains recovered jointly over the last several weeks.

ON TO CAMBODIA AND VIETNAM: Mr. Jennings also made a brief stop in Phnom Penh and met with Prime Minister Hun Sen and General Pol Saroeun, the senior Cambodian official directly responsible for POW/MIA matters. Introductory calls were then made in Vietnam. Meetings were held with Deputy Minister of Public Security Nguyen Van Huong, Deputy Minister of Defense for International Affairs MG Nguyen Huy Hieu, and former Vietnamese Ambassador to the United States Le Van Bang, now with the Foreign Ministry in Hanoi. On October 5th, a ceremony was held in Hanoi to turnover remains that could be those of 5 US personnel previously missing in Vietnam.

FIELD OPERATIONS: Vietnamese officials recently concluded a 30-day period focused on unilateral steps to account for missing Americans, long a League priority, as many cases of missing Americans, especially those last known alive, are unlikely to be resolved by joint field operations. US-Vietnam field operations began last week and are scheduled to conclude November 9th. Technical talks, led by the JTF-FA Commander, took place in Vietnam on September 24th.

A limited joint field operation in Cambodia that was to have been underway at this time was postponed by the US Ambassador due to security concerns related to the US Embassy in Phnom Penh. The site to be surveyed involved last known alive cases and had been planned for quite a long time. The League is hopeful that the field activity can be rescheduled as soon as possible, under the premise that small military teams in remote areas under the protection of the Cambodian military are unlikely to be of interest to radical terrorist organizations.

SPECIAL POW/MIA INTELLIGENCE OFFICE FORMED: A special office for analysis of POW/MIA-related intelligence has been formed in the Defense Intelligence Agency, as stipulated by Congress and signed into law by President Clinton. This office was established to provide independent intelligence analysis to augment the work of the Defense POW/MIA Office. Though underway long before the September 11th terrorist attacks, formation of the DIA POW/MIA Office was expedited in preparation for ongoing military operations. The League welcomes formation of this office as a means of reducing manipulation of intelligence data to support political objectives, such as occurred in the Clinton Administration in relation to Vietnam.

POW/MIA RECOGNITION DAY: Countless ceremonies were held across the country on September 21st, National POW/MIA Recognition day, and the League's POW/MIA flag was prominently displayed. By law, it is to be flown six days each year 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 next date on which the POW/MIA flag will fly is November 11th, Veterans Day. 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.

NOTE: 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 170, 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. Or, write to us at our new office: 1005 North Glebe Road, Suite 170, Arlington, VA 22201.

The National League of Families of American Prisoners and Missing in Southeast Asia
1005 North Glebe Road
Suite 170
Arlington, Virginia 22201
(TEL) 703-465-7432
Federal Tax ID #23-7071242"