News-Info-Alerts

Re: NLF Update

To: ALL

From: Andi Wolos & Bob Necci

(POW-MIA InterNetwork)

Date: November 10, 2002

"Update Line
On this Veterans Day weekend, the League wishes to thank all of our nation's veterans for their service to our country and to the American people. We pledge to continue our efforts to return your fellow veterans, our missing relatives, and to stand behind those in the active duty community now serving us all.

STILL MISSING: According to the Department of Defense, there are 1,903 Americans missing from the Vietnam War, 1,446 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 Marine was listed as KIA/BNR in South Vietnam in September, 1967. His remains were jointly recovered in June, 1996.

US DEPUTY ASSISTANT SECRETARY OF DEFENSE VISITS LAOS: On October 21-24th, Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for POW/MIA Affairs Jerry Jennings met in Vientiane, Laos, with former Lao President Nouhak, Deputy Prime Minister Somsavat, Minister of Defense Phicit and other senior Lao officials to advocate greater POW/MIA cooperation to increase accounting results. These high-level Lao officials reaffirmed their government's commitment to work positively with the US on the issue. The 76th joint field operations began this past week and will continue for over a month.

US/RUSSIAN COOPERATION: Russian officials who are members of the US-Russian Commission on POW/MIAs will be in the Washington area next week for meetings with counterpart US officials aimed at generating greater cooperation between the two sides. It is the League's view that much greater emphasis needs to be focused on the work of this Commission than has previously been evident, and it is hoped that the leadership of the Bush Administration will raise this need to their political counterparts in Moscow.

US/CAMBODIA ACTIVITIES: A two-week period of joint field activities was recently completed in Cambodia. Larger-scale 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. In early December, technical talks will be held, and JTF-FA Commander, BG Steve Redmann, is hosting a POW/MIA Seminar for Province-level Cambodian officials to increase their understanding about US capabilities and objectives.

US/VIETNAM EFFORTS: BG Redmann also recently returned from a brief trip to Vietnam to meet with his staff in Detachment II and Vietnamese counterpart officials. The 71st joint field operations in Vietnam recently concluded, and technical talks are scheduled for December 10th.

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