POW/MIAs - VIETNAM WAR: There are now 1,836 Americans listed by the Defense Department as missing and unaccounted for from the Vietnam War - 1,399 in Vietnam, 375 in Laos, 55 in Cambodia and 7 in PRC territorial waters. The League was informed today that the remains of four US personnel, previously listed as KIA/BNR in South Vietnam have been recovered and identified. The four Americans were all lost on May 10, 1967, and their remains were recovered May 27, 2003, though identified late last year and accepted by their families recently. Those now accounted for include 2LT Heinz Ahlmeyer, USMC, of NY; HM3 Malcolm T. Miller, USN, of FL; LCpl Samuel A. Sharp, USMC, of CA; and SGT James N. Tycz, USMC, of WI. In addition, the League recently confirmed that COL Sheldon J. Burnett, USA, from NH, and CWO (3) Randolph J. Ard, USA, both listed as MIA in Laos March 7, 1971 are now accounted for. Their remains were jointly recovered October 4, 2004, and recently identified. Still others have been ID'd, not yet announced by DPMO, perhaps due to delays in scheduling ID consultations with the primary-next-of-kin (PNOK). The reality is that PNOK no longer retain decision-making capability before official ID, but the pretense has been retained.
US-RUSSIA COMMISSION: Support from the Russian government for the US-Russian commission on POW/MIA Affairs has dropped significantly; thus administrative staff support has been reduced dramatically as well. A word from President Bush to President Putin in their talks in May could make a tremendous difference. The Russian government is reportedly displeased that there is no longer a special Presidential Emissary serving as US Chairman. Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense (DSAD) for POW/MIA Affairs Jerry Jennings now holds that position, his third, as he is also the Director of the Defense POW/MIA Office (DPMO). From the Russians' perspective, a DASD does not carry the stature of a special Presidential Envoy, such as Ambassador Malcolm Toon, the first US Chairman. Despite this, we were very encouraged to receive word last week that Senator Saxby Chambliss (R-GA), a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee and Select Committee on Intelligence, agreed to serve as the Senate Republican Commissioner. The League deeply appreciates Senator Chambliss' willingness to take a leading role in the issue, confident that he will heighten the Commission's profile and potential impact. Just over a year ago, the League requested the Senate and House leadership to nominate replacements to fill the positions now held by Senator John Kerry (D-MA) and Representative Lane Evans (D-IL). While both are Vietnam Veterans, neither has played an active role in the Commission's work. DPMO's Joint Commission Support Directorate (JCSD) serves as the staff for the US side of the Commission. Their Moscow-based field office is engaged daily, often augmented by JCSD personnel on specific projects. One Senator and one Representative, both Democrats, are urgently needed to fill US seats on the Commission. This time, we hope the Democrat leaders appoint commissioners who are able and willing to be active, rather than absent. Since former Senator Bob Smith's (R-N) departure, the one active Congressional member has been Congressman Sam Johnson (R-TX), a returned Vietnam War POW to whom we are most grateful.
US CONGRESSIONAL DELEGATION VISITS VIETNAM AND LAOS: Representative John McHugh (R-NY), Chairman of the House Armed Services Committee's Subcommittee on Personnel, headed a recent Congressional Delegation (CODEL) to Vietnam and Laos in an effort to expand POW/MIA accounting cooperation. Joined by Representatives Jim Marshall (D-GA) and Ken Calvert (R-CA), the McHugh CODEL called on leaders in Hanoi to urge increased unilateral responsiveness to criteria defined by President Bush in 2002 and Secretary of State Powell in 2004. The CODEL met with senior officials in Vientiane, Laos, to call on the Lao government to expedite cooperation. The League appreciates this effort by Representatives McHugh, Marshall and Calvert, the first CODEL focused specifically on the POW/MIA issue since former Congressman Mac Collins' trip in early 2004.
LEAGUE'S 36TH ANNUAL MEETING TO BE HELD JUNE 16-18TH: The date for our 36th Annual Meeting has long been set, was known at last year's annual meeting, just as the date and location for our 37th Annual Meeting are already known: June 15-17, 2006. Such contracts are routinely made well in advance to ensure that family members receive the best possible room rates and that meeting rooms are adequate to the requirements. The 36th Annual Meeting will be June 16-18th, again at the Hilton Crystal City Hotel, Arlington, VA. Registration Forms will shortly be available on the League's web site: www.pow-miafamilies.org, and by distribution through the League's newsletter coming out by the end of the week.
Everyone reading this League Update is urged to be present! It is crucial to demonstrate to all interested parties - foreign and domestic - that the Vietnam War POW/MIA families have no intention of being dismissed or marginalized, despite the efforts of DASD Jerry Jennings. DPMO has posted a notice on its web site that the "annual government briefings" will be held a day earlier in a different hotel. The League is urging DoD leaders to direct DPMO to stop it's deliberate attempts to control the POW/MIA family organizations under a false assertion of legal requirements.
LEAGUE SEEKS REMOVAL OF DASD JENNINGS: It is with disappointment that on February 14th the League's Board of Directors concluded its unanimous vote of NO CONFIDENCE in DASD Jerry Jennings in his threefold capacity as DASD for POW/MIA Affairs, Director of DPMO and US Chairman of the US-Russia Commission on POW/MIA Affairs. For the purpose of this League Update, it is sufficient and accurate to say that the League Board deeply regrets the need for this action. It is incredible to the League leadership that optimism felt when Mr. Jennings was selected could be so completely destroyed in the past 1 ? years. Reasons will be outlined fully in the upcoming Newsletter.
On February 16th, the Board of Directors of Korean-Cold War Families of the Missing, Inc. also voted unanimously "NO CONFIDENCE in DASD Jerry Jennings as head of DPMO and Chairman of the USRJC." They, too, conveyed their position to the Department of Defense (DoD) leadership. It is the League's sincere hope that DPMO can be restructured into the viable organization that many observers believe is possible due to the caliber of personnel available within and outside the DoD. Finally, the National Alliance of Families, not routinely considered a strong League supporter, voted NO CONFIDENCE in DASD Jerry Jennings, nothing the earlier positions of the League and the Korea/Cold War Families of the Missing. The League was pleased to see them take this position.
JOINT OPERATIONS: JPAC/CIL's teams are currently in Laos and Vietnam conducting joint field operations, the 88th in Laos and the 80th in Vietnam. Remains repatriation ceremonies were recently conducted in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, and Vientiane, Laos; US Ambassadors Charlie Ray and Patricia Haslach participated in their respective ceremony. Twice yearly POW/MIA Consultations in Laos were held February 26-27th, and Technical Talks with Vietnam were conducted at the end of January in Hanoi. US Ambassador Michael Marine made a strongly supportive presentation to kick off the talks. Remains that may be those of three US personnel were repatriated last week during a ceremony in Da Nang.
JPAC/CIL Recovery Teams deploy to many countries around the world to conduct excavations, with increasing emphasis on WWII, and teams recently concluding operations in Papua New Guinea (PNG) plus now in Fiji with a small team to conduct surveys. Despite serious restraints, five joint recoveries (using a total of 28 US personnel for each excavation period) are scheduled in North Korea (DPRK) this year. Previously postponed talks are again scheduled to be held in Burma in early March to set the stage for field operations that were also previously halted. Though political divisions between the US and Burma (Myanmar) should not be permitted to impede working toward humanitarian accounting objectives, such appears to have occurred. And, finally, a DPMO delegation is in the PRC for talks.
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