News-Info-Alerts

To: ALL

From: Andi Wolos & Bob Necci

(POW-MIA InterNetwork)

Re: NLF Update Line

Date: February 16, 2002

"Update Line
AMERICANS ACCOUNTED FOR: According to the Department of Defense, there are now 1,945 Americans still missing and unaccounted for from the Vietnam War. The remains of LtCol Lawrence G. Evert, USAF, from Wyoming, missing since November 8, 1967, were jointly recovered during successive field operations beginning February 9, 2000. The remains of LT Gene R. Gollahon, USN, from Ohio, missing since August 13, 1965, were jointly recovered April 26, 2000. In addition, one Air Force officer, previously missing in North Vietnam, was accounted for through identification of remains recovered during several field operations beginning in 1997. No public announcement has yet been made, though it is hoped that will soon occur. Of the total unaccounted for, 1,466 are in Vietnam, 411 in Laos, 60 in Cambodia and 8 in the territorial waters of the PRC. Over 90% of all Vietnam War missing were lost in Vietnam or areas under its wartime control.

DEPUTY SECRETARY OF DEFENSE ADDRESSES NATIONAL DAY OF PRAYER POW/MIA BREAKFAST: Deputy Secretary of Defense Paul D. Wolfowitz was the keynote speaker at the February 7th POW/MIA Breakfast hosted by Jerry Jennings, Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for POW/MIA Affairs. His remarks sent strong signals to the countries in which Americans are still missing by stating, "I ask the leaders of those nations in which our men are still missing to respond to our appeals. Their cooperation will be recognized and appreciated by a grateful American nation. For despite the differences that may exist, families who endure uncertainty about a missing loved one share a burden that can end only with answers." Secretary Wolfowitz's long-standing commitment is well known, and deeply appreciated by the League.

US TEAM IN LAOS FOR JOINT FIELD OPERATIONS: US personnel from JTF-FA, CILHI and DIA's Stony Beach Team have recently begun a 30-day period of joint operations in several Lao provinces. The field investigations and recoveries are scheduled to conclude on March 12th. Another US team was recently in Laos to work with Lao personnel in developing a successful unilateral Lao Oral History Program. This effort, long a League priority, offers promise in developing leads from sources not yet known to US interviewers.

JOINT OPERATIONS IN VIETNAM: A team of 95 US personnel from the JTF-FA, CILHI and Stony Beach concluded joint field operations on in Vietnam on February 5th. The operations consisted of six recovery teams and one investigation team, operating for a period of approximately 30 days in 8 provinces of Central Vietnam. The joint teams planned to investigate as many as 29 incidents and conduct recoveries on 6 cases; however, a wrap-up of the operations has not yet been issued.

Technical talks will be held in Hanoi on February 28th, and an operational assessment of operations over the past year will take place on March 1st. BG Steve Redmann, USAF, Commander of the Joint Task Force-Full Accounting will lead a US delegation comprised of other JTF representatives, plus DPMO, CILHI and DIA.

CAMBODIA & US TO CONDUCT FIELD OPERATIONS: US and Cambodian officials met recently in Phnom Penh to coordinate plans for full-scale joint operations beginning February 14th. Several cases are to be investigated and others are scheduled for excavation. Cambodian officials are currently involved in a unilateral plan of investigations that was proposed by the Cambodian government and is being supported by the United States. The League welcomes this initiative to assist in accounting for our missing men.

CILHI PURSUING WWII ACCOUNTING: CILHI also has deployed two teams to the Marshall Islands and Papua New Guinea to recover remains of Americans lost during World War II. Chili's role is now global, and that is to be applauded, but the priority on accounting for those missing from the Vietnam and Korean Wars must be maintained. There are still open questions as to whether American prisoners survive from both wars.

US OFFICIALS MEET WITH NORTH KOREANS: Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for POW/MIA Affairs Jerry Jennings recently concluded discussions in Bangkok with North Korean officials. The sessions were held in an effort to reach agreement on a schedule for joint field operations for the year and many related questions. The two sides appear to have reached no agreement, likely due to North Korea's usual tactic of demanding huge sums of money for their cooperation. The League is confident that Mr. Jennings is quite capable of holding his own with these tough negotiators. Hopefully, the Korean War POW/MIA families and US Government interests will be better served than over the last few years.

LEAGUE REGIONAL MEETINGS SCHEDULED: League members and friends are invited to attend two upcoming regional meetings. The Region IV and V meeting will be held in Columbus, Ohio, on April 6th. Region IV includes OH, IN, MI, WI and MN; Region V includes IL, MO, IA, KS, NE, SD and ND. Registration forms and information will be sent to all League members and associate members. Further information can be obtained by calling Region IV Coordinator Liz Flick at 614-451-2405.

The Regions II and III meeting will be held in Newport, Rhode Island, on May 3-4th. Registration forms will also be sent out for this meeting, and further information can be obtained by calling Region III Coordinator Maureen Dunn at 781-961-2110.

UPDATE LINE TO BE RESTORED BY END OF FEBRUARY: Due to a breakdown of old equipment, and the lack of availability of a replacement device, automated service will be restored shortly.

LEAGUE ANNUAL MEETING SCHEDULED: The League's 33rd Annual Meeting will be held June 19-22nd, 2002, at the Crystal City DoubleTree Hotel in Arlington, VA. Registration and reservation forms will be distributed to all League members by mail and available by request to the League office.

THE LEAGUE HAS MOVED: The new League office location is 1005 North Glebe Road, Suite 170, Arlington, VA 22201. It is not yet completed, but is open on a limited basis, hoping to be fully functional by the end of January.

POW/MIA car window decals are available at a cost of $20 per 100 by sending a check to the League. POW/MIA lapel pins are also available at $3 each or 2/$5, also by sending a check to the League office. 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 and your call will be returned.

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"

February 7, 2002
1,945 Americans are still missing and unaccounted for from the Vietnam War, though 459 were at sea/over water losses: Vietnam - 1,466 (North, 521; South, 945); Laos - 411; Cambodia - 60; Peoples Republic of China territorial waters - 8. The League seeks the return of all US prisoners, the fullest possible accounting for those still missing and repatriation of all recoverable remains.

The League's highest priority is resolving the live prisoner question. Official intelligence indicates that Americans known to have been alive in captivity in Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia were not returned at the end of the war. In the absence of evidence to the contrary, it must be assumed that these Americans may still be alive. As a matter of policy, the U.S. Government does not rule out the possibility that Americans could still be held.

Unilateral return of remains by the government of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam (SRV) has been proven an effective means of obtaining accountability, as have joint field operations in recent years, though the first in northern Vietnam occurred in 1985. A comprehensive wartime and post-war process was established by Vietnam to collect and retain information and remains; thus, unilateral efforts by Vietnam to locate and return remains and provide records continue to offer significant potential. Hanoi's decision to establish a Special Research Cell to support their government's unilateral efforts was encouraging, a positive response to the May 1999 League Delegation. Archival research in Vietnam has produced thousands of items, documents and photos, but to date all except 1+% pertain to returned POWs and Americans previously accounted-for.

Joint field operations in Laos are very productive. The Lao recently agreed to increase the number of US personnel permitted in-country and allow greater flexibility during field operations. Agreements between the U.S. and the Indochina governments now permit Vietnamese witnesses to participate in joint operations in Laos and Cambodia when necessary. POW/MIA research and field activities in Cambodia have received excellent support. Over 80% of US losses in Laos and 90% of those in Cambodia occurred in areas where Vietnamese forces operated during the war, but Vietnam has not yet responded to countless US requests for case-specific records on loss incidents in these countries. Records research and field operations are the most likely means of increasing the accounting for Americans missing in Laos and Cambodia.

U.S. intelligence assessments and other evidence indicate that many Americans can best be accounted for by unilateral Vietnamese efforts to locate and return remains and provide relevant documents and records. Despite this reality, former President Clinton regularly certified to Congress that Vietnam was "fully cooperating in good faith" to resolve this issue. The League disagrees, but recognizes that legislation requiring the certification includes punitive measures that would reverse political and economic relations to the level in place in 1994. The League supported steps by the US to respond to concrete results, not advancing political and economic concessions in the hope that Hanoi will respond. The Clinton administration lifted the trade embargo, established the US Embassy in Hanoi, normalized diplomatic relations, posted a US Ambassador to Vietnam, signed a bilateral trade agreement and advocated normal trade relations. President George W. Bush has also now certified that Vietnam is "fully cooperating in good faith," likely again to avoid reversing the status of relations, but based on recommendations from the bureaucracy. The President has made serious commitments to the League, most recently on Memorial Day. Although political capital and economic leverage were squandered, the League is confident that President Bush, Vice President Cheney and senior officials from the Departments of State and Defense will press Hanoi for answers.

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"