News-Info-Alerts

Re: NLF Update Line

To: ALL

From: Andi Wolos & Bob Necci

(POW-MIA InterNetwork)

Date: September 23, 2002

"Update Line
STILL MISSING: According to the Department of Defense, there are still 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.

SENIOR US OFFICIALS MEET WITH LAO, CAMBODIAN & VIETNAMESE: Deputy Secretary of State Rich Armitage met last week in Washington with the Vietnamese Foreign Minister and raised the need for further POW/MIA efforts. Assistant Secretary of State for East Asian and Pacific Affairs Jim Kelly is meeting in New York with the Lao and Cambodian Foreign Ministers. There, too, POW/MIA matters are among those being raised.

DASD HELD POW/MIA TALKS: In early August, Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for POW/MIA Affairs Jerry Jennings met 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 also focused on gaining access to policy-level archival documents and met with senior wartime leaders, seeking information and leads on other possible sources.

US/LAO COOPERATION: Secretary Jennings met September 3rd with the Lao Ambassador to the US, following up his staff's August 19-20th discussions in Laos to set the agenda and outline objectives for his trip to Laos later this year. POW/MIA consultations, led by JTF-FA Commander BG Steve Redmann, were held in Pakse, Laos, on August 20th, and joint field operations, now ongoing, will conclude soon.

US/VIETNAM EFFORTS: On September 11th, officials from Vietnam's POW/MIA office visited Hawaii for technical talks and toured the CILHI and JTF-FA headquarters to learn more of US capability to account for missing Americans. Joint operations in Vietnam will resume October 1st with their 71st field activity.

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

NATIONAL POW/MIA RECOGNITION DAY: This year's commemorative ceremonies, hosted by the Secretary of Defense, will be held September 20th, 2:00 p.m. at the Pentagon's River Entrance Parade Field. The honored speaker will be Congressman Sam Johnson, returned POW from the Vietnam War. Posters are available from the Defense POW/MIA Office by calling Mr. Charlie Brown, 703-602-1319.

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.

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"