"IN MY OPINION by Irene Mandra
"Never apologize for showing feeling. When you do so, you apologize for the truth." Benjamin Disraeli
My Dear Members,
The past several weeks have been a roller coaster of events, and emotions. Last month our Board of Directors published a No Confidence vote in DASD Jerry D. Jennings, head of DPMO and the USRJC. The National League of Families and the National Alliance of Families did the same.
It was a heartbreaking decision, one that we had no choice but to render. Clearly when the 3 major family organizations take the same stand, there is something terribly wrong that must be addressed and fixed. We are hoping that our actions, and those of our friends and fellow family members, will move those in power to make the right decisions. When I say the right decisions, I mean those that are in the best interest of the issue, of the family members, of those tasked with resolution and, most importantly, in the best interests of our missing loved ones.
This week I gave sworn depositions to the IDA and the IG regarding the situation at DPMO, the USRJC, JCSD and DASD Jerry Jennings. The IDA is the Institute for Defense Analysis in Alexandria, VA. IDA is a nonprofit institution that provides independent assessments to U.S. Government Agencies and is currently undertaking a study on the USRJC and the JCSD. The Inspector General is collecting information and sworn statements regarding the current situation at DPMO and with DASD Jerry Jennings.
Rather than go into a lengthy explanation, I am enclosing the letter Korea-Cold War Families of the Missing sent to the Honorable Paul Wolfowitz, the Honorable Peter W. Rodman and, as a courtesy, the Honorable Jerry D. Jennings. The letter follows this In My Opinion and will address some of the issues and concerns that have brought us to this point.
Additionally, more confusion and disappointment are to be found with the Family Outreach schedule and the Annual Family Conference in Washington, D.C.
ONCE AGAIN, DPMO has changed our Annual Korea-Cold War Conference/Briefing and scheduled it for October 26th, 27th and 28th at the DoubleTree in Crystal City. This is the third date we have been given. Aside from the constant confusion of what, where and when, we now find that the DoubleTree is one of the more expensive hotels in the area. With the exceptionally high room rate and the local hospitality tax, accommodations will run nearly $200.00 a night for each room. When one considers transportation, food, lodging and whatever other expenses may occur, we are looking at a potential Conference cost of up to $1,000.00 per family member. This is outrageous. We are primarily Senior Citizens, most on fixed incomes and dependent on Social Security. In addition, many of us suffer from health and age-related conditions. It is a nightmare. We are presently looking for less expensive lodging and will notify everyone should we find a hotel that will work with us.
Also, the Raleigh, NC Family Outreach has been changed to April 30th, 2005, to make room for the October Conference. The current Outreach Schedule is:
Mar 19, 2005 Memphis, TN
Apr 30, 2005 Raleigh, NC
Jun 15-17, 2005 Washington, DC
** SEA Briefing
Jul 30, 2005 Omaha, NE
Aug 27 , 2005 Columbus, OH
Sep 24, 2005 San Diego, CA
Oct 26-28 Washington, DC
* Annual Korea-Cold War Conference/Briefing
Nov 19, 2005 Spokane, WA
Please keep our POWs and MIAs in your Thoughts and Prayers,
Respectfully,
Irene L. Mandra
Letter to Paul Wolfowitz follows:
The Honorable Paul Wolfowitz
Deputy Secretary of Defense
1010 Defense Pentagon
Washington, D.C.
20301-1010
Dear Doctor Wolfowitz,
On February 14th, 2005, Korea-Cold War Families of the Missing, a national organization serving the needs and interests of family members of POWs and MIAs from the Korean War and Cold War Era, recorded a Board of Directors vote of NO CONFIDENCE in DASD Jerry Jennings head of both DPMO and the US-Russian Joint Commission.
In addition, two other national family organizations, the National League of Families and the National Alliance of Families have also polled and recorded their Board of Directors to publish a NO CONFIDENCE vote in DASD Jennings. As you are aware, historically none of the family organizations can agree on anything. That we should all come to the same conclusion clearly shows that the POW-MIA issue in general and DPMO in particular is in shambles because of DASD Jerry Jennings.
I cannot express how difficult a measure this was for us. For years, for decades, we have done our level best to maintain faith and trust in our elected and appointed officials tasked with resolution of this painful issue. That we were forced to take a stand such as this is testimony to the horrible conditions at DPMO and the poor, if not outright hostile, manner in which DASD Jennings interacts with family members.
Let me list a few of the reasons that forced us to take such a vote;
1.) DASD Jennings is inaccessible to family members and representative organizations. He cannot be reached by phone, e-mail or mail.
2.) When addressed by correspondence, and asked to respond to a number of issues extremely important to us, the letter goes ignored for months. Finally, after we publicly stated that our letters went unanswered, DASD Jennings had one of his assistants, Mr. Adrian Cronauer, responded point by point, in what I can only describe as a most dismissive, almost scolding tone. After 3 months of waiting for a response, I was humiliated and disgusted that a public servant would use such a tone. In addition, answers to the questions were not always truthful or enlightening.
3.) DASD Jennings spends an inordinate amount of time insuring his name is in print and his travels duly recorded for the media. Unfortunately, we see nothing meaningful coming from all this drama. The perception amongst most is that is simply spin or good PR and nothing of substance.
4.) DASD Jennings' management style has a negative effect of the North Koreans. This is an assessment that comes from those who are in the position to know and are concerned.
5.) DASD Jennings' management style has an extremely negative effect on DPMO personnel. As a result, there is a virtual mutiny at DPMO. The morale is nonexistent. There are numerous formal complaints, EEO complaints, the DASD filing counter complaints against those who dare to disagree with him... this is insanity. Personnel are so wrapped up in the drama of what is occurring they are incapable of doing their job effectively. DASD Jennings is the lightning rod for most, if not all of the complaints. He has managed to distract and derail the mission and objectives. Personnel are reassigned, some are even prohibited from doing their jobs. They have openly stated to many family members that they are being prevented from doing their jobs, period. Presently there are sexual harassment complaints as well as hostile work environment charges against this man. In over 20 years publicly in this issue, I have never heard of such outrageousness. It is overshadowing the issue and the mission.
The grievances and complaints filtering out of DPMO only highlight the severe impact this man has had not only on personnel and the POW-MIA Office, but the perception of the public and our former adversaries with whom we are trying to gain trust and cooperation.
6.) The US-Russia Joint Commission needs a strong leader, who is respected and trusted ON BOTH SIDES. We already know how the good people at DPMO feel about him, I can only imagine what the Russians are thinking. I would like to point out the continued disruption of the US-Russian Joint Commission Plenum that has been canceled and rescheduled repeatedly. The Russians regard DASD Jennings as a low-level bureaucrat even though it is a Presidential Appointment. As DASD Jennings has managed to almost single-handedly destroy all vestiges of professionalism and the ability to do one's job effectively at DPMO, he is doing the same with the USRJC. In order to deal with Russia, we need a higher ranking appointee to the Commission for the US side. Previously we have had Generals and an Ambassador. The White House needs to be advised that it is imperative that respected, senior official be appointed to this sensitive position.
7.) DASD Jennings' proxy for the San Antonio, Texas, Family Outreach openly and publicly disparaged a family member in front of the entire gathering. This is inexcusable. Additionally, the proxy, Mr. Cronauer again, backpedalled when confronted by the family member. This is simply a replay of the antics family members were forced to endure 30 years ago. I sincerely thought we had managed to get past that dark period when family members were dismissed, demeaned and disrespected by officials, apparently I was wrong.
8.) DPMO appears to be trying to corral the entire issue and run it as the DASD sees fit. If it weren't for the family members, there would be no issue. The wives, husbands, mothers, fathers, sisters, brothers, children and grandchildren have endured years, decades, of sacrifice, lies, and deception, being dismissed and disrespected by those vested with resolution. There are good people at DPMO and USRJC, but they and their efforts are being overshadowed by the ugliness that is permeating into their offices from a select few. There is an old saying that goes... "If it ain't broke, don't fix it." That DPMO and DASD Jennings would become the oversight agency of record over JPAC is mystifying.
As the representative of Korea-Cold War Families of the Missing, my members and I desperately hope that you will investigate the above outlined complaints and remedy the situation before it mortally wounds DPMO and the excellent people who bring dignity and compassion to an already impossible task... accounting for our loved ones and America's sons and daughters.
Very truly yours,
Irene L. Mandra
National Chairwoman
Korea-Cold War Families of the Missing
cc; The Honorable Peter W. Rodman
Assistant Secretary of Defense, International Security Affairs
The Honorable Jerry D. Jennings
Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense, POW/Missing Personnel Affairs"