News-Info-Alerts

Re: NLF Update Line

To: ALL

From: Andi Wolos & Bob Necci

(POW-MIA InterNetwork)

Date: May 09, 2002

"Update Line
AMERICANS ACCOUNTED FOR: According to the Department of Defense, there are still 1,914 Americans missing and unaccounted for from the Vietnam War, 1,444 in Vietnam, 404 in Laos, 58 in Cambodia and 8 in the territorial waters of the PRC.

PRESIDENT OUTLINES STEPS FOR VIETNAM ON POW/MIA: When President Bush submitted to Congress the required certification regarding Vietnam's POW/MIA cooperation, he added specific language that outlined steps Vietnam could and should take to strengthen the accounting effort. These included, "Vietnam's unilateral provision of POW/MIA-related documents and records should be improved, focused initially on archival data pertaining to Americans captured, missing, or killed in areas of Laos and Cambodia under wartime Vietnamese control. Vietnam should also focus greater attention on locating and providing information on discrepancy cases, with priority on those last known alive in captivity or in immediate proximity to capture, and to locating and repatriating the remains of those who died while in Vietnamese control that have not yet been returned." The League deeply appreciates the integrity evident in this first accurate assessment in many years.

LEAGUE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR MEETS WITH US AND VIETNAMESE OFFICIALS: League Executive Director Ann Mills Griffiths met on April 25th with Vietnam's Ambassador to the United States Nguyen Tam Chien. During discussions, Mrs. Griffiths raised the need for increased unilateral actions, using as criteria President Bush's certification to Congress noted above. In response, Ambassador Chien renewed his country's pledge of full cooperation.

Mrs. Griffiths also met with Assistant Secretary of Defense for International Security Affairs Peter Rodman seeking increased integration of POW/MIA matters into policy and approach. Secretary Rodman, long committed to the principals involved, reiterated continued support and agreed to her request for more visible support by the Defense Department leadership, both civilian and military, to ensure understanding throughout the military community and the public of the Bush Administration's priority.

DPMO DELEGATION ADVANCES POSSIBLE VIETNAM TRIP BY DOD OFFICIAL: Two DPMO senior staff members, Mr. Mel Richmond and Mr. Gary Sydow, were recently in Hanoi for talks with Vietnamese officials to lay the groundwork for a possible trip to Vietnam in the near future by DASD for POW/MIA Affairs Jerry Jennings. Unlike predecessors, Mr. Jennings holds the view that such a mission should occur only if there is the reasonable expectation of a positive outcome, useful for the issue. The League applauds his approach.

US/LAOS RESUME JOINT FIELD OPERATIONS: US personnel from JTF-FA and CILHI, working with Lao counterparts, are conducting the 73rd field operations in Laos, a 30-day period of joint investigations and recoveries. POW/MIA consultations, held in Luang Prabang April 4-5th, planned this and two more joint field activities and included a full operational assessment.

COORDINATION CONFERENCE IN HAWAII: US officials involved in the accounting process recently met in Hawaii to assess the status of efforts on many cases involving Americans still missing and unaccounted for from the Vietnam War. Such sessions are held 3-4 times each year, bringing together specialists from DPMO, JTF-FA, CILHI and DIA's Stony Beach POW/MIA Office, with LSEL observing. Results of these discussions form the basis of further efforts to account for the individuals involved in each incident, thus the outcome is critical.

JOINT ACTIVITIES IN VIETNAM: A team of over 90 US personnel from JTF-FA, CILHI and Stony Beach just concluded joint investigations and recoveries in 16 provinces of Vietnam, during which an underwater recovery operation in the south was also conducted. Going into the 30-day period, the special Research Investigation Team (RIT) planned to investigate eight Last Known Alive (LKA) cases, 14 additional cases were also to be investigated, and recoveries were scheduled at five primary incident sites.

CAMBODIA & US POW/MIA ACCOUNTING COOPERATION: US and Cambodian officials recently completed field operations conducted over a 60-day period, ending in mid-April. Several cases were excavated successfully, and a repatriation ceremony was conducted. A DIA Stony Beach Team member is now assigned permanently in Phnom Penh to pursue continuous investigations into the remaining cases of 58 Americans still unaccounted for in Cambodia, though 90% occurred in areas under wartime Vietnamese control. Cambodian officials are also involved in a unilateral plan of investigations that is supported by the US, and US specialists have been conducting interviews with Montagnard refugees fleeing Vietnam and now in Cambodia, but headed for the US.

US OFFICIALS MEET IN BEIJING: Specialists from the US met last week with counterpart officials from the People's Republic of China to discuss future efforts to recover remains of Americans unaccounted for from the Cold War and World War II. Since 1978, WWII recoveries conducted by CILHI have been successful in accounting for 278 Americans.

LEAGUE ANNUAL MEETING SCHEDULED: The League's 33rd Annual Meeting will be held June 19-22nd At the Crystal City DoubleTree Hotel in Arlington, Virginia. Forms to register for the meeting and reserve hotel rooms have been distributed to all League members and are now available by request to the League office.

DPMO UPDATE SCHEDULED: The next DPMO Family Update will be held in Columbus, OH, on May 18th. A Veterans Update will be held the prior evening, and both events will be at the Westin Great Southern Hotel, 310 South High Street, downtown Columbus.

UPDATE LINE RESTORED: An automated, shorter League Update Line is now available by calling 703-465-8444.

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"