News-Info-Alerts

Re: NLF Update Line

From: POW-MIA InterNetwork

Date: March 18, 2003

"Update Line
STILL MISSING: According to the Department of Defense, there are still 1,889 Americans still missing from the Vietnam War, 1,444 in Vietnam, 381 in Laos, 56 in Cambodia and 8 in the territorial waters of the PRC. The names of Americans most recently accounted for still have not been released, but nine were recovered during several US-Lao joint operations, the latest in February of last year, and officially identified on December 11th. The names will be announced when received from the Defense Department.

LEAGUE DELEGATION TO SOUTHEAST ASIA: League Chairman of the Board Jo Anne Shirley, former Reagan Administration Director for Asian Affairs, now League Adviser, Richard Childress and Executive Director Ann Mills Griffiths traveled to Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia for talks with officials in each country to try to expedite accounting efforts. The delegation also visited the new U.S. base camp in southern Laos and an incident site in Cambodia where a U.S. helicopter carrying several Americans was in the recovery process.

JOINT FIELD OPERATIONS: Large-scale field operations in Laos and Cambodia were ongoing during the League delegation, and the Cambodia recovery extended until well after the Vietnam field activities began on February 18th. Of significant interest in Vietnam was the first-time use of dogs trained to locate long-buried remains. The preliminary tests were very positive and this JTF-initiative offers significant potential. After a quick turn-around, joint operations were resumed in Laos, again operating out of the base camp in Salavan Province, but also focused on the Phou Pha Thi site in northeastern Laos, near the Vietnam border, also known as Lima Site 85.

RUSSIA INITIATES DECLASSIFICATION: In December, League Executive Director Ann Mills Griffiths met in Moscow with senior officials of the US-Russia Commission on POW/MIA Affairs and former Prime Minister Yevgeny Primakov. The focus was to gain greater access by US specialists to archival records and sources of information. Minister Primakov, now head of the Russian Chamber of Commerce and Industry, stated his belief that it was time for Vietnam War records to be declassified and made available for research. On January 27th, Russian news reported that the State Duma's Defense Committee, chaired by the Commission's Vietnam War Working Group Chairman, had asked the Chief of the General Staff to allow most documents dealing with the Vietnam War to be declassified. In mid-February, further coverage reported that initial screening of documents had been useful and information had been located on 56 possible Americans. The League welcomes and appreciates these positive developments and looks forward to full implementation.

NOTES: Start planning now to attend the League's 34th Annual Meeting, June 26-29th, again in Arlington, VA. 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"