News-Info-Alerts

Re: NLF Update Line

To: ALL

From: Andi Wolos & Bob Necci

(POW-MIA InterNetwork)

Date: May 28, 2002

"Update Line

STILL MISSING: according to the Department of Defense, there are 1,914 Americans still missing from the Vietnam War, 1,444 in Vietnam, 404 in Laos, 58 in Cambodia and 8 in the territorial waters of the PRC. Recently, 18 Americans previously listed as MIA and KIA/BNR have been accounted for, but their names have not yet been publicly announced.

POSSIBLE DASD TRIP TO VIETNAM: Two DPMO senior staff members were recently in Hanoi for talks with Vietnamese officials to advance a possible trip to Vietnam if it appears that a summer visit by DASD for POW/MIA Affairs Jerry Jennings would produce results.

TECH TALKS HELD: BG Steve Redmann, JTF-FA Commander, recently led a team of US officials for technical talks in Hanoi to conduct an operational assessment of past efforts, plan further joint recoveries, including more underwater, and urge more productive unilateral efforts by the government of Vietnam.

LAOS OPERATIONS: The 73rd joint field operations in Laos are nearing conclusion, with a team of 50 US specialists focused on joint investigations and recoveries for a 30-day period.

REMAINS RETURNING: A repatriation ceremony will be held on Memorial Day at Hickam AFB, Hawaii, to honor the remains believed to be those of four Americans previously missing in Vietnam and Laos.

REFUGEES DEBRIEFED: In Cambodia, Beach Team members have completed screening over 900 Montagnard refugees from Vietnam for useful POW/MIA-related information.

PRC AGREEMENT REACHED: US specialists met recently with PRC officials in Beijing to discuss future efforts to recover remains of Americans unaccounted for from the Cold War and World War II. Preliminary agreements, based on interventions by the State Department and the US Ambassador, were reached to move forward.

DASD ON TRIP TO MID-EAST: Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for POW/MIA Affairs Jerry Jennings is now in the Mid East holding talks with Israeli, Saudi and Kuwaiti officials to generate closer cooperation. The League supports such efforts.

ANNUAL MEETING & OTHER NOTES: The League's 33rd Annual Meeting is June 19-22nd at the Crystal City DoubleTree Hotel in Arlington, Virginia. Forms to register for the meeting are available by calling the League office at 703-465-7432. It is past the deadline for hotel reservations. POW/MIA car window decals are $20 per 100 and lapel pins are $3 each or 2/$5, 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. Again, thank you for calling.

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"