News-Info-Alerts

Re: Recovery Efforts Continue

From: POW-MIA InterNetwork

Date: February 28, 2003

"Recovery efforts continue for military personnel

By RAY HACKETT
Norwich Bulletin

The Joint Task Force-Full Accounting Detachment Two, based in Hanoi, Vietnam, coordinates and executes the search and recovery efforts for the Missing in Action in Southeast Asia.

It conducts four field exercises annually, each lasting approximately 30 to 35 days at sites where it is believed the remains of American servicemen may be found. The joint operations typically consist of 95 American military members and U.S. Department of Defense civilian employees, 20 representatives of the Vietnamese Government and up to 600 local workers.

JTF-FA Detachment One is based in Bangkok, Thailand, and oversees the search and recovery efforts in neighboring Laos and Cambodia.

The JTFs are under the supervision of the Department of Defense's POW/MIA Office, responsible for the search and recovery efforts of U.S. servicemen from all wars at a cost of $100 million a year.

Since 1973:

281 Americans have been recovered from World War II battle sites. An estimated 78,000 remain unaccounted for.

27 Americans have been recovered from the Korean War, with an estimated 8,100 still listed as unaccounted for.

15 Americans have been recovered from the Cold War with 120 still unaccounted for.

And 736 from Southeast Asia, leaving 1,902 still unaccounted for.

Of those listed as unaccounted for in Southeast Asia:

1,445 were lost in Vietnam, of which 611 are now classified as "no further pursuit" status, meaning after extensive investigation it has been determined the individual perished, but recovery is not possible.

391 of the unaccounted for were lost in Laos, of which 35 cases are no longer being pursued.

58 of the unaccounted were lost in Cambodia; eight cases no longer being pursued.

Eight were lost in China.

© 2003 Norwich Bulletin. "