News-Info-Alerts

To: ALL

From: Andi Wolos & Bob Necci

(POW-MIA InterNetwork)

Re: NLF Update Line

Date: November 14, 2001

"Update Line
Americans Accounted for:
According to the Department of Defense, there are 1,948 Americans still missing and unaccounted for from the Vietnam War. The remains of eight US personnel previously unaccounted for from the Vietnam War have been identified. The remains of Navy CDR John A. Feldhaus of TN were jointly recovered in North Vietnam on April 26, 2000. The remains of Air Force Capt James A. Wheeler, Jr., of AZ, were jointly recovered in South Vietnam and repatriated on April 22, 1998. The remains of Air Force Reservists Capt Fred C. Cutrer, Jr., of MS and 1Lt Leonard L. Kaster of MA, also jointly recovered in South Vietnam, were repatriated on May 22, 1997. The February 11, 2000, joint recovery in Laos of the remains of four Army personnel brought identification of WO1 Barry F. Fivelson of IL and Specialists 4th Class Willis C. Crear of AL, Donald E. Crone of CA and John L. Powers of Idaho. Of the 1,948 still missing and unaccounted for, 1469 are in Vietnam, 411 in Laos, 60 in Cambodia and 8 in the territorial waters of the PRC; however, over 90% of all Vietnam War missing were lost in Vietnam or areas under its wartime control.

Lao Deputy Prime Minister's Visit: On November 10th, the Lao Deputy Prime Minister met in Washington, DC, with the League's Adviser and Executive Director, and others. The Minister takes a direct role in POW/MIA matters, having proposed the successful POW/MIA Seminar that was held last month. Next week, he plans to visit a joint field operations site and agreed to work on ways to implement the Oral History Program aimed at interviewing current and former Lao officials with relevant POW/MIA information. Such informal talks are often very helpful in removing obstacles and moving issues forward.

Lao Recoveries/Talks Ongoing: Fifty US personnel from the CILHI and JTF-FA are now working with their Lao counterparts to conduct five joint recovery missions. This is the first time that five recovery missions have been undertaken at the same time in Laos, an encouraging development. In addition, a small US team is now in Laos to discuss implementation of a unilateral program to be conducted by the Lao Government focused on interviewing witnesses to US incidents.

Senior Cambodian Official Visits: Also in Washington last weekend was General Pol Saroeun, Chief of the Joint Staff, Royal Cambodian Armed Forces, and the senior Cambodian official responsible for POW/MIA Affairs. Prior to the visit to Washington, he had met with JTF-FA Commander BG Steve Redmann, USAF, during a visit to CINCPAC that was not directly related to POW/MIA matters. General Saroeun met informally with the League's Adviser and Executive Director and Dep. Assistant Secretary of Defense for POW/MIA Affairs Jerry Jennings. Cambodia recently proposed a series of unilateral investigations and interviews of current and former officials to develop leads on missing Americans.

Field Operations in Cambodia: Due to security concerns related to the US Embassy in Phnom Penh, the US Ambassador postponed a joint field operation in Cambodia that had been scheduled for mid-October. The site to be surveyed involved last known alive cases and had been planned for a long time. Initially postponed until February, the League was pleased to learn that at the request of the Cambodian Government, JTF-FA has now rescheduled this activity for late December.

League Board of Directors Meets New DASD for POW/MIA Affairs: The League Board of Directors met with DASD Jerry Jennings on October 26th and received a briefing on his mid-September trip to Laos, Cambodia and Vietnam. Although board members had met Mr. Jennings in prior years at League annual meetings, the board was encouraged by his grasp of the issue and obvious commitment to intensifying serious efforts.

US-Russia Commission on POW/MIA Affairs: The U.S. Chairman, retired Army MG Roland Lajoie, is in Russia with a small delegation for discussions with counterpart Russian officials. Commission Executive Secretary Norm Kass and Russ Thommason, of Senator Bob Smith's staff, accompanied BG Lajoie. Hopefully, their visit will bring the renewed emphasis that has been lacking to the Commission's efforts. In the League's view, there is significant potential for obtaining answers.

33rd Annual Meeting Date Set: The League's 33rd Annual Meeting will be held June 19-22, 2002, at the Crystal City DoubleTree Hotel in Arlington, VA. Registration and reservation forms will be available after the first of the year.

DPMO Family Updates: This Saturday, November 17th, a DPMO Family Update will be held in Little Rock, Arkansas. There is no meeting scheduled in December, but January 12th will see a Family Update held in San Diego, CA, with another in Honolulu, HI on January 15th. In each instance, a forum for local veterans is held on the preceding Friday.

Notes: 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.

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"