News-Info-Alerts

Re: NLF Update Line

To: ALL

From: Andi Wolos & Bob Necci

(POW-MIA InterNetwork)

Date: October 16, 2002

"Update Line
STILL MISSING: According to the Department of Defense, there are now 1,904 Americans missing from the Vietnam War, 1,447 in Vietnam, 391 in Laos, 58 in Cambodia and 8 in the territorial waters of the PRC. The name of the most recent American accounted for has not yet been released, but the Navy officer was listed as missing in northern Vietnam in August, 1967. His remains were recovered in November, 1998.

STATUS OF GULF WAR PILOT RECLASSIFIED: Secretary of the Navy Gordon England acted on October 11th to again change the status of Navy Captain Michael "Scott" Speicher from MIA to "Missing/Captured" during the Gulf War. The change means that the Navy believes it likely that Speicher, shot down over Iraq on the opening night of the Gulf War, at some point was held by Iraqi forces, according to the Navy spokesman. Today, Congress passed the Senate's version of what is referred to as the "Speicher Bill," to reinforce their hope that he will be accounted for soon.

US/RUSSIAN COOPERATION: Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for POW/MIA Affairs Jerry Jennings returned last week from Moscow after holding discussions with appropriate Russian officials in an effort to reinforce the need for improved cooperation on POW/MIA matters.

EVENTS RELATED TO LAOS: On October 10th, the Lao Ambassador hosted a dinner in honor of the POW/MIA delegation that Mr. Jennings will lead to Laos later this month. State Department officials and League Executive Director Ann Mills Griffiths were also guests at the dinner. The 76th joint field operations will begin at the end of this month.

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 resumed October 1st with their 71st field activity and will conclude at the end of the month.

US/CAMBODIA ACTIVITIES: A limited joint field operation began last week in Cambodia and will last approximately 30 days. Large-scale field operations will be conducted after the first of next year, so this activity expands the usual schedule. Cambodian officials are also engaged in ongoing unilateral investigations to augment efforts of the DIA linguist, now permanently assigned in Phnom Penh, to locate and interview sources with relevant information.

NATIONAL POW/MIA RECOGNITION DAY: This year's national commemorative ceremony on September 20th, hosted by the Secretary of Defense and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, was held at the Pentagon's River Entrance Parade Field. The honored speaker was Congressman Sam Johnson, returned POW from the Vietnam War. Representatives of the Air Force Casualty Office, Randolph AFB, TX, rang the closing bell at the New York Stock Exchange, standing in front of the League's POW/MIA flag. Posters are no longer available from DPMO.

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"