News-Info-Alerts

Re: NLF Update Line

To: ALL

From: Andi Wolos & Bob Necci

(POW-MIA InterNetwork)

Date: October 02, 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 recently met 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 also met in New York with the Lao and Cambodian Foreign Ministers where the POW/MIA issue was a priority among those raised.

US/LAO COOPERATION: Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for POW/MIA Affairs Jerry Jennings met September 3rd with the Lao Ambassador to the US to follow up his staff's August 19-20th discussions in Laos to set the agenda and outline objectives for his trip to Laos in mid-October. POW/MIA consultations, led by JTF-FA Commander BG Steve Redmann, were held in Pakse, Laos, on August 20th, and the Lao government agreed to US requests to relocate the base camp from Savannakhet Province to Salavan Province, a difficult, but necessary move. The 75th joint field operations will conclude on October 1st.

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/CAMBODIA 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. A limited joint field operation is beginning next week.

NATIONAL POW/MIA RECOGNITION DAY: This year's national commemorative ceremony, hosted by the Secretary of Defense and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, was held September 20th, 2:00 p.m. at the Pentagon's River Entrance Parade Field. The honored speaker was Congressman Sam Johnson, returned POW from the Vietnam War. Posters are still 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"