News-Info-Alerts

Re: Cambodia & Laos Recovery Missions

From: POW-MIA InterNetwork

Date: January 29, 2003

"Jan. 13, 2002 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Release

MIA SEARCH & RECOVERY TEMAS DEPLOY TO CAMBODIA AND LAOS


CAMP H.M. SMITH, HAWAII - Two Joint Field Activities will deploy from Hawaii this week to conduct investigative and recovery operations in Cambodia and recovery operations in Laos in hopes of bringing home remains of Americans still missing or unaccounted-for from the war in Southeast Asia. The missions will include teams consisting of mostly Hawaii-based U.S. military specialists and Department of Defense civilians from Joint Task Force-Full Accounting, the U.S. Army's Central Identification Laboratory, and the Defense Intelligence Agency's Joint Field Operating Base, Hawaii (Stony Beach).

This is the 28th Joint Field Activity into Cambodia. Approximately 40 U.S. team members will join technical representatives from the Kingdom of Cambodia for operations. Recovery excavations are scheduled at two sites in two provinces. There will be approximately 24 cases investigated in 10 provinces including six last known alive cases.

This is the 77th Joint Field Activity in Laos. On arrival, technical representatives from the Lao People's Democratic Republic will join approximately 50 U.S. team members to begin operations. Recovery excavations are scheduled at four primary sites in two provinces.

There are currently 1,891 Americans still missing or unaccounted-for from the war in Southeast Asia: 1,444 in Vietnam, 382 in Laos, 57 in Cambodia, and eight in the territorial waters of China.
MEDIA NOTES:

* Due to flexibility in departure times, there is no media coverage of the deployment scheduled.
* JTF-FA public affairs contact is Capt. Gina Jackson at (808) 477-5301
* CILHI public affairs contact is Ginger Couden at (808) 448-8903 x 109
* Full Accounting mission info log onto www.pacom.mil/jtffa.htm or www.cilhi.army.mil

WE NEED YOUR HELP: Today's technology allows us to identify some remains through mitochondrial DNA. If you know of a family member who is from the maternal bloodline of an unaccounted-for serviceperson, please ask them to contact the military services to provide a blood sample at U.S. Army: (800) 982-2490; U.S. Air Force: (800) 531-5510; U.S. Navy: (800) 443-9298; U.S. Marine Corps: (800) 847-1597.

U.S. Army Central Identification Laboratory, Hawaii
310 Worchester Ave, Hickam AFB, Hawaii 96853"