\U.S. PERSONNEL MISSING FROM THE VIETNAM WAR: The number listed by DoD as missing and unaccounted for since the end of the Vietnam War in 1975 is still 1,807 Ð 1,382 in Vietnam, 364 in Laos, 54 in Cambodia and 7 in PRC territorial waters. Some 63 Americans were accounted for pre 1975 in areas where the US had access, for a grand total of Vietnam War accounted for personnel of 839, but these US personnel were accounted for without cooperation from the post-war governments of Vietnam , Laos or Cambodia . Over 90% of the 1,807 still missing were lost in Vietnam or in areas of Laos and Cambodia under Vietnamese wartime control.
ACTING DPMO LEADER CONTINUES TO SERVE: Since early January, Mr. Bob Newberry has worked as Acting Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense (DASD) for POW/MIA Affairs, replacing Jerry Jennings who resigned in December following an absence from his office of over seven months. Col George Gagnon, USAF, was named the Principal Director of DPMO. Mr. Newberry is charged with addressing and correcting problems within DPMO in preparation for the appointment of a permanent DASD for POW/MIA Affairs. No specific time has been given, but in the interim, scrutiny is being applied to all aspects of DPMO's operations, including policies, strategy, plans, budget, personnel, travel, conferences, communication with the families and the POW/MIA community, etc.
JPAC OPERATIONS STALLED BY LACK OF FUNDING: The current field operation in Laos was reduced to only one team of 15 US personnel (rather than 4-5 teams comprised of 50 US personnel), excavating one site, despite the backlog of nearly 100 cases previously identified for excavation. In Vietnam , the just-concluded operations were reduced to only three teams, but one larger team is still in-country finishing the excavation at a large site.
This problem is due to Defense Department failure to ensure adequate funding to sustain operations, not due to any backing off by the Lao, Vietnamese or Cambodian governments. The League calls on the Bush Administration, in particular DoD, to come up with the $3.6 million needed to sustain Fiscal Year 2006 operations at the level previously scheduled. In terms of the DoD budget, this amount is not even a ripple, but in terms of impact on JPAC operations, it is huge!
To his credit, Acting DASD Bob Newberry has been actively pushing to get JPAC fully funded. The shortage has also impacted operations in Cambodia . Teams worked there from January 12 th - February 13 th , but JPAC was forced to drop plans to resume February 14 th and conclude March 18 th due to lack of funds, and an investigation team was also cancelled. Funding for JPAC is insufficient to fully support NECESSARY field operations . Some POW/MIA-related budgets and personnel, including DIA's Stony Beach Team and DPMO, are fenced Ð restricted from use for other purposes. JPAC's budget, under PACOM, is not protected, and the reality is that JPAC, and its predecessors JTF-FA and CIL, were consistently funded too low to meet expanded requirements. It is up to the DoD leadership to augment FY06 funding to ensure that humanitarian accounting efforts can move forward without further interruption; the League is actively supporting that effort. It is then up to Congress for FY07 and beyond.
CALL OR WRITE YOUR ELECTED REPRESENTATIVES: That is precisely what the VFW and the League have done and are doing. We need the support of ALL veterans and family members on this, and we need it NOW. Go on line to www.senate.gov or www.house.gov to look for the email addresses and phone numbers you need. Now is the time for action, and it needs to come from all across America .Ê
LAOS TAKES POSITIVE STEPS: Unilateral Lao investigations that took place in December brought the most positive results to date from such efforts, including several leads on LKA cases. In response to requests from JPAC, reinforced by Ambassador Haslach, the Lao Government has allowed the US to augment its staff in Vientiane by adding a Deputy Commander and recently notified the US of agreement to permit two-year, accompanied tours for JPAC's Detachment 3 personnel.
CONGRESS SPEAKING OUT: Several Members of Congress have recently taken an active role and are speaking out. Representative Chris Smith (R-NJ), Vice Chairman of the House International Relations Committee and Chairman of the Africa, Human Rights and International Operations Subcommittee, chaired a joint hearing with the Asian and Pacific Affairs Subcommittee on March 29 th , entitled ÒThe Human Rights Dialogue with Vietnam: Is Vietnam Making Significant progress?Ó After he opened the hearing by stating its primary focus on human rights and religious freedom, Congressman Smith stated: ÒBut I cannot begin any hearing on Vietnam without first raising the issue that engages more Americans, more deeply, than any other when we talk of Vietnam Ð a full, thorough and responsible accounting of the remains American MIAs from the Vietnam conflict. ÉÉÉÉÉÉÉ. I remain concerned that the government of Vietnam could be more forthcoming and transparent in providing the fullest possible accounting. It is our sacred duty to the families of the ;missing that we never forget and never cease our pursue until we achieve the fullest possible accounting of our MIAs.Ó The League deeply appreciates his pointing out the need for Vietnam to be more forthcoming, a theme repeatedly raised by the President in terms of the need for unilateral actions by Vietnam to provide records and to locate and return remains of US personnel that can't be jointly recovered in the field.
Representative John McHugh (R-NY), Chairman of the Subcommittee on Military Personnel, House Armed Services Committee, has been instrumental in raising to DoD officials the need to fully fund JPAC's mission. Congressman McHugh's interventions have been many and helpful, including serious efforts to retain active duty military positions in the Defense POW/MIA Office (DPMO).
Representative Sam Johnson (R-TX) consistently raises the need for greater cooperation by Vietnam to account for his colleagues still missing from the Vietnam War. As a returned Vietnam War POW, retired Air Force Colonel, and House Republican Member of the US-Russia Joint Commission on POW/MIA Affairs, Congressman Johnson is a constant supporter and friend of many years, as is his wife, Shirley, a charter member of the League.
Senator Saxby Chambliss (R-GA), member of the Senate Armed Services Committee and the Select Committee on Intelligence also serves as the Senate Republican on the US-Russia Joint Commission on PWO/MIA Affairs. His leadership has been crucial across a wide range of issues and concerns that the League has raised in requests for his support. He has repeatedly been responsive, and we are grateful.
VETERANS TAKE ACTION: Special thanks to the VFW leadership for going to Hanoi , conveying our message and sending our a strongly worded media release summarizing their trip. Reportedly you can read it in its entirety at www.vfw.org . VVA also took a trip to Russia and reported on that trip via their web site, www.vva.org . The direct interventions can be most helpful in pushing the accounting.
LEAGUE 37 TH ANNUAL MEETING Ð JUNE 21-24 TH : The League's 37 th Annual Meeting will be held Wednesday through Saturday, June 21-24 th , again at the Hilton Crystal City Hotel , in Arlington , VA , the same hotel as the last two years. The rates are only $119/nighT, single-double-triple-quad, far lower than comparable hotels in the DC area. All requested DoD briefings will be given at the League-contracted hotel, and military transportation (COIN Assist) will be approved by Secretary Rumsfeld and provided, as authorized by Congress. The 37 th Annual Dinner will be held on Thursday, June 22 nd , so start planning now. Plan to come early and arrange appointments with your elected representatives on Wednesday, June 21 st , then attend the Congressional Reception that evening on Capitol Hill.
POW/MIA decals for windows (inside) 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
Help us achieve our humanitarian goals by sending your check to National League of POW/MIA Families, 1005 North Glebe Road, Suite 170, Arlington, Virginia 22201. Without the League, the POW/MIA issue would long ago have been ignored by the U.S. Government. Donations are tax deductible to the extent allowed by law.