News-Info-Alerts

Re: NLF Update Line

From: POW-MIA InterNetwork

Date: December 06, 2003

" Update Line

POW/MIAs - VIETNAM WAR: According to the Department of Defense, there are 1,872 Americans missing and unaccounted for from the Vietnam War, 1,426 in Vietnam, 383 in Laos, 55 in Cambodia and 8 in the territorial waters of the PRC. Over 90% of all Americans missing from the Vietnam War were lost in Vietnam or in areas of Laos and Cambodia under Hanoi's wartime control.

SRV DEFENSE MINISTER VISITS WASHINGTON: Vietnam's Minister of Defense General Pham Van Tra, recently visited Washington for talks with the US Secretaries of State and Defense, Deputy Secretary of Defense Paul Wolfowitz, the Deputy National Security Adviser, and many other US officials, including Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense (DASD) for POW/MIA Affairs Jerry Jennings. The Defense POW/MIA Office (DPMO) hosted the SRV delegation for an official briefing and short presentations by The American Legion's National Commander and other veteran leaders from VFW and AMVETS.

While at DPMO, the Minister met privately with DASD Jennings and League Executive Director Ann Mills Griffiths. POW/MIA accounting efforts, especially President Bush's criteria urging unilateral Vietnamese actions and improved archival research, were high on the discussion list, as was use of a US Navy vessel for POW/MIA accounting efforts. The Minister pledged full support for increased cooperation. Very importantly, he stated his support for use of a US Navy salvage ship in accounting efforts indicating that bilateral agreement should be reached between the US Secretary of State and the SRV Foreign Minister and that he would support it. The League has long advocated the need for a US Navy vessel to map and excavate aircraft crash sites, especially along the coast of northern Vietnam. This positive development must be followed up immediately, and the League intends to work toward that objective.

US WARSHIP VISITS VIETNAM: A US Navy warship visited Ho Chi Minh City, formerly Saigon, for an official port call in mid-November. As a follow-on to Vietnamese Defense Minister Tra's visit, the port call further expands the military-to-military ties and is a useful development.

SRV FOREIGN MINISTER PLEDGES INCREASED COOPERATION: In early October, Vietnamese Foreign Minister Nguyen Dy Nien also visited Washington and Honolulu, HI. In DC he met with Secretary of State Colin Powell. In HI, he met with Commander of US Pacific Command Admiral Tom Fargo, DASD for POW/MIA Affairs Jerry Jennings, BG (P) Que Winfield, USA, Commander of the Joint POW/MIA Accounting Command (JPAC) and the League's Executive Director. While meeting with JPAC and the League, Foreign Minister Nien pledged full cooperation on the Jennings-proposed archival research initiative, suggested expediting interviews to obtain intelligence information from knowledgeable sources due to their advancing age, and offered support for resolving cases along Vietnam's coastline. Vietnam's Ambassador to the US, accompanying the Foreign Minister, raised potential use of a US salvage vessel for this purpose. If implemented, these pledges offer great potential.

FOUR-PARTY TALKS HELD IN BANGKOK: DASD Jennings hosted what DPMO termed the "First Annual POW/MIA Consultations" in Bangkok October 23-24th. The reported purpose was to promote solutions to problems that continue to exist in the accounting process and generate useful discussions among all participants. Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia each sent delegations to meet with US officials. Jennings was joined by JPAC commander BG (P) Winfield and several working-level US officials. Though cited as the "First Annual POW/MIA Consultations," the US meets twice yearly with Lao officials for "POW/MIA Consultations" most often in Vientiane, occasionally in Honolulu.

DASD MET NORTH KOREAN OFFICIALS IN BANGKOK: DASD Jennings recently visited Bangkok for discussions with North Korean officials on bilateral POW/MIA accounting efforts. The talks with successful in reaching agreement for several joint field recovery operations next year, but North Korea is still reluctant to overtly pursue investigations on sighting reports and other POW-related matters. Jennings was joined at the talks by JPAC Commander BG Winfield and US officials from the State Department and UN Military Assistance Command, South Korea.

FIELD OPERATIONS: Most of the approximately 150 JPAC personnel, including CILHI recovery specialists, and Stony Beach interviewers, wrapped up 30-day operations in Laos and Vietnam. A recovery team in Vietnam extended through the Thanksgiving holiday to complete a site excavation, a commendable demonstration of mission support.

Significant publicity recently surfaced regarding the reported recovery in Laos of remains believed to be those of Charles Dean, brother of former Vermont governor and presidential candidate Howard Dean. Some unwarranted controversy arose and was published, primarily questioning why military honors were paid to a non-government civilian, but until remains are identified, all remains recovered by US specialists are accorded such respect and in this instance, one individual was an Australian citizen, Neil Sharman. It was clearly noted that no ID has yet been made, but that sufficient material was recovered to clearly distinguish between the two individuals. Priority was NOT given to the recovery of the burial site beyond that of an American last known alive who was caught up in Vietnam War-related hostilities, and priority will NOT be given to identifying the recovered remains, though as non-combat losses, ID might be more readily accomplished than is the norm for losses related to combat missions.

LEAGUE MEETINGS SCHEDULED: A Region VI Meeting (TX, LA, AR, OK, NM, CO) is scheduled for February 7th at Brooks City-Base, San Antonio, TX. Registration forms and a draft agenda are now being distributed to all League members - family and associate - and veteran leaders in the region inviting them to hear briefings from US Government and League officials about efforts to account for Americans still missing from the Vietnam War.

A Region IV Meeting (OH, IN, MI, WI, MN) is now scheduled for April 3rd at the Defense Supply Center, Columbus, OH. Additional information will be distributed after the first of the year. This is a date change made to accommodate a DPMO Family Update that was in conflict.

A Region III Meeting (ME, NH, VT, MA, CT, RI) is also now scheduled for May 1st at the Naval Education Facility, Newport, RI, and additional information will be forthcoming.

35th ANNUAL MEETING SCHEDULED: The League's 35th Annual Meeting will be held June 24-26th in Washington, DC, again at the Hilton Hotel in Crystal City. Start planning now to attend this year's important meeting. Registration and hotel reservation forms will be available after the first of the year, as will additional information.

POW/MIA decals for windows are $20 per 100, and POW/MIA lapel pins are $3 each or 2/$5, by sending a check to the League office. For added information on any subject, please log onto the League's web site, 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"