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Re: Neil Sharman, Charles Dean Remains Found in Laos

From: POW-MIA InterNetwork

Date: November 18, 2003

"MIA Aussie found in twin grave
Nick Papps

THE remains of an Australian journalist shot almost 30 years ago have been found by United States authorities.
The bodies of Neil Sharman and American tourist Charles Dean, brother of front-running US presidential candidate Howard Dean, have been uncovered in a grave in central Laos.

The discovery ends a 30-year mystery after the men were taken by communist forces in September 1974.

Yesterday Mr Sharman's brother Ian told the Herald Sun the men were handcuffed, executed, and their bodies thrown into a bomb crater.

He said US army officials had told him one body had been found on top of the other, and two skulls, bones and shoes had been recovered.

"I've got mixed feelings," said Mr Sharman of Wurtulla, Queensland.

"It's been a long time, it's been in the media for 30 years – it's been a long journey," he said.

"This will give mum a chance to say goodbye.

"I have told her and she's got mixed feelings. But I can't thank the Americans enough – they have done a great job."

The bodies were found in a field about 10 days ago by a team of US army experts searching for missing US soldiers.

Lieutenant-Colonel Jerry O'Hara, from the Joint POW/MIA Accounting Command (JPAC), said a witness in Laos told them where to find the bodies.

"We believe they are remains associated with Sharman and Dean," Col. O'Hara said.

"We finally got a witness that took us to the site. They were found at the same site. We've found an awful lot of remains. We found some clothing.

"It's a good case.

"They are two individuals that were caught up in a war."

The remains will now be taken to JPAC's laboratory in Hawaii for comparison with DNA and dental samples, and to be formally identified.

In early September 1974, the two men disappeared while travelling along the Mekong River, between Paksane and Thakhek.

It is believed that when confronted by Pathet Lao forces, Mr Sharman threw his camera in the river. The men were then arrested as suspected spies and killed.

The Pathet Lao was a communist nationalist group opposed to the US-supported government of Laos in the 1960s and 1970s.

Over the past 30 years, there have been various reports about Mr Sharman and Mr Dean.

These included rumours that they were taken to a Soviet labour camp, that they had been spotted in a Laos prison, and that they were shot after escaping from their captors.

Mr Sharman had been a journalist in Darwin and Sydney. Mr Dean, 24, was the son of John Dean, a former adviser to US president Richard Nixon.

He was also the brother of Howard Dean, who is leading the race to be the Democrat candidate in the 2004 United States presidential election.

Col. O'Hara said Mr Dean's family had been told of the discovery.

"The family's been notified," he said.

"They're very grateful."

© Herald and Weekly Times "