News-Info-Alerts

Re: NLF Update Line

To: ALL

From: Andi Wolos & Bob Necci

(POW-MIA InterNetwork)

Date: July 07, 2002

"Update Line

STILL MISSING: According to the Department of Defense, there are now 1,908 Americans missing from the Vietnam War, 1,451 in Vietnam, 391 in Laos, 58 in Cambodia and 8 in the territorial waters of the PRC. This week, the remains of four Americans, two previously missing in Laos and two in North Vietnam, were identified. At the end of May, the remains of two U.S. civilians, previously missing in Laos, were also identified. The names of these six Americans, plus several identified over the last two months, have not yet been made public.

FIELD OPERATIONS: The 74th joint field operations began in Laos late last week. A team of 50 US specialists is focusing on joint investigations and recoveries over a 30-day period. BG Steve Redmann, Commander of JTF-FA, will visit Laos later this week to participate in the visit of Laos' Minister of National Defense to the site of an ongoing field excavation. This is the first such visit by the Defense Minister, though the Foreign Minister and several vice ministers have availed themselves of the opportunity. The minister will be accompanied by US Ambassador Doug Hartwick.

Joint operations in Vietnam concluded late last week. Nearly 100 US specialists worked with their counterparts to conduct a variety of tasks, including an underwater excavation that was somewhat success, but had to be suspended. It may resume at a later date, once concerns over team safety are assuaged.

REFUGEES DEBRIEFED: In Cambodia, Stony Beach Team members completed screening over 900 Montagnard refugees from Vietnam and obtained what may be 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. Based on interventions by senior State Department officials and the US Ambassador, preliminary agreement was reached to move forward.

DASD SUCCESSFULLY CONCLUDES TALKS WITH DPRK: Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for POW/MIA Affairs Jerry Jennings recently concluded successful talks with North Korean officials in Bangkok, and agreement was reached to conduct more joint recoveries later this year. Just prior to these talks, Jennings had met with Israeli, Saudi and Kuwaiti officials to generate closer cooperation, a move that the League supports.

ANNUAL MEETING: The League's 33rd Annual Meeting was held June 19-22nd. Deputy Secretary of Defense Paul D. Wolfowitz and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Richard Myers, USAF, were the two keynote speakers. Both focused on the increased seriousness signaled by President Bush's definition of steps Vietnam must take to be more forthcoming on the accounting effort. All U.S. organizations with POW/MIA responsibilities spent three days briefing the families and responding to their questions on the issue.

NOTES: 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"