Re: NLF Update Line

Date: April 28, 2004

"Update Line

POW/MIAs - VIETNAM WAR: According to DoD, there are 1,862 Americans listed as missing and unaccounted for from the Vietnam War, 1,420 in Vietnam, 379 in Laos, 55 in Cambodia and 8 in PRC territorial waters. On April 9th, DPMO reduced the number by two Americans whose remains were jointly recovered in Laos, and one whose remains were jointly recovered in Vietnam, all recently identified. The name of one American, SSGT Dennis W. Hammond, USMC, was released with the family's permission by the POW Committee of Michigan. Captured during the TET Offensive on February 8, 1968, SSGT Hammond reportedly died in captivity in 1970 and he remains were unilaterally turned over by Vietnam in 1989. He will be buried in Bremond, TX, on May 22nd, 2:00 p.m. The names of the two Americans previously missing in Laos have not yet been released for public announcement. 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.

POW/MIA CONSULTATIONS HELD IN LAOS: Officials from the Joint POW/MIA Accounting Command (JPAC), Defense POW/MIA Office (DPMO) and DIA's Stony Beach Team met last week in Pakse, Laos, for semi-annual POW/MIA Consultations. The purpose was to assess recent field operations and plan for the next six months, as well as address outstanding issues than can help continue to improve the operations to achieve more rapid accounting results. Meeting with Lao officials from the Ministries of Foreign Affairs, Defense and Public Security, the talks - led by JPAC Detachment III Commander LTC Johnny Strain - were reportedly constructive. BG Que Winfield, JPAC Commander, and the Lao Ministry of Foreign Affairs Director for the Americas co-hosted the final session.

TALKS IN HANOI: Officials from JPAC, DPMO and US Pacific Command also recently held technical talks in Hanoi to discuss upcoming field operations review the outcome of recent activities and conduct an operational assessment. More recently, DPMO personnel held talks on initiatives begun by DASD Jerry Jennings, including the archival research initiative and wartime leader interview program, in hopes of getting responses that have thus far been withheld. These sessions were preceded by exploratory discussions to lay the groundwork required for higher-level decision-making needed to authorize proceeding on underwater survey and recovery operations.

JOINT FIELD OPERATIONS: JPAC/CIL's worldwide operations are fast-paced and varied. JPAC recently halted joint field operations in Laos due to concerns about the safety of Lao West Coast helicopters. A team of Army aviation experts was called in to take a close look at maintenance and other factors before clearing further in-country flights. The few remaining days of work left to be accomplished will be rescheduled as soon as possible. A ceremony honoring remains recently recovered was held April 6th.

JPAC teams, with personnel from DIA's Stony Beach, resumed joint operations in Vietnam on April 18th and will continue until approximately May 22nd. Recovery teams recently concluded work in Burma, Palau and Australia and operations are ongoing in Papua New Guinea to recover remains of US personnel killed during World War II. Excavation of a Korean War F-86 loss in the PRC is ongoing, with equipment moved across the DMZ for the first time in many years. That operation will be followed by a Cold War recovery that will begin in the PRC in late April.

DPMO TO HOLD POWMIA ACCOUNTING CONFERENCE: In mid-May, the Defense POW/MIA Office will hold a conference to bring together responsible US Government officials to discuss strategy and approach for the upcoming year in dealing with each of the many countries where Americans are still missing and unaccounted for from past wars. Non-government representatives of the League, Korean and Cold War Families, American Legion, VFW, DAV and AMVETS have been invited to the opening and closing days. Hopefully, something constructive will come from the conference; however, one was held over a year ago and little follow-up occurred.

LEAGUE MEETINGS SCHEDULED: A Region III Meeting (ME, NH, VT, MA, CT, RI) is scheduled for May 1st at the Naval Education Facility, Newport, RI. Registration Forms are available from Region III coordinator Maureen Dunn, 781-961-2110, or from the League office. As was the case in the recent regional meeting in Columbus, Ohio, US officials with responsibility for POW/MIA accounting efforts worldwide will participate, as will the League's executive director. All participants will be open to questions from family members, veterans and other concerned Americans who attend. Call now to register for this meeting.

The League's 35th Annual Meeting will be held June 24-26th again at the Hilton Crystal City Hotel, Arlington, VA. Though the League is nonpartisan and nonprofit, this year's meeting is particularly important as we face another presidential election. The League has sent registration and hotel reservation forms to all League members and they are available from the League office by request and through the League website email address.

The Defense Department will again provide transportation for two family members per missing man to attend briefings held each year in conjunction with the League annual meeting. Forms for registration and hotel reservations will shortly be distributed by the Service Casualty Offices to all primary-next-of-kin of Americans still missing and unaccounted for from the Vietnam War.

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"