News-Info-Alerts

Re: NLF Update Line

To: ALL

From: Andi Wolos & Bob Necci

(POW-MIA InterNetwork)

Date: August 21, 2002

"Update Line
STILL MISSING: According to the Department of Defense, there are now 1,905 Americans missing from the Vietnam War, 1,448 in Vietnam, 391 in Laos, 58 in Cambodia and 8 in the territorial waters of the PRC. The most recent IDs are of two Air Force officers, previously missing in Laos, whose remains were recovered during three joint operations, the last two of which were this year. The Defense Department has made no public announcement of the names of most recently accounted for US personnel.

DASD HELD POW/MIA TALKS IN VIETNAM: Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for POW/MIA Affairs Jerry Jennings met recently in Hanoi with the Deputy Prime Minister and the Vice Ministers of Defense, Public Security and Foreign Affairs to stress the need for increased unilateral efforts by Vietnam in keeping with the President’s March 20th certification to Congress. He focused on gaining access to policy-level, POW/MIA-related archival documents and met with senior wartime leaders in an effort to obtain relevant information, as well as leads on additional sources with case-related details.

JOINT OPERATIONS: In July, the Lao Minister of National Defense visited the site of an ongoing field excavation, the first such visit by the Defense Minister, though the Foreign Minister and several vice ministers have previously visited such sites. POW/MIA consultations, led by JTF-FA Commander BG Steve Redmann, USAF, are scheduled in southern Laos on August 20th .

Vietnamese officials are now conducting the 30-day period set aside for unilateral investigations. On September 11th, the Vietnamese will visit Hawaii for technical talks and tour the CILHI and JTF-FA headquarters to renew their understanding of US capabilities in terms of accounting. Joint field operations in Vietnam will resume in October with their 71st field activity.

Cambodian officials are engaged in unilateral investigations to augment ongoing efforts of the Stony Beach linguist, now permanently assigned in Phnom Penh, to locate and interview sources of relevant information.

US-PRC COOPERATE ON COLD WAR ACCOUNTING: US and PRC specialists were successful in locating what is believed to be the site of a 1952 Cold War incident in which two American pilots were lost on a CIA mission to recover US agents. Although remains were not yet located, it is hoped that this initial effort will lead to further POW/MIA cooperation. Agreement to work on this case was reached due to interventions by senior State Department officials and the US Ambassador in Beijing.

NATIONAL POW/MIA RECOGNITION DAY: This year’s commemorative ceremonies will be held September 20th, and the posters are available from the Defense POW/MIA Office by calling Mr. Charlie Brown, 703-602-1619. Patriotism is the theme of this year’s poster that also features the League’s POW/MIA flag. All major national veterans organizations have also received large quantities for onward distribution.

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"