Subcommittee on Asia and the Pacific :: SEACOM

Committee on Foreign Affairs

Opening Statement of Gary L. Ackerman, Chairman Subcommittee on Asia and the Pacific
Statement of Colonel Ted Guy Ex-POW, {USAF -ret.}
Statement of Michael D. Benge Ex-POW {Civilian}
Statement of Carol Hrdlicka, Wife of Colonel David L. Hrdlicka - POW - Laos
Statement of Anne Mills Griffiths, National League of Families
Statement of Judith Coady Rainey - Sister of MIA
Statement of Anne Mills Griffiths - July 21, 1993
Statement of Patricia Plumadore - Sister of LCPL Kenneth Plumadore - MIA
Statement of Karen Miller - Cousin - Major Donald Gene 'Butch' Carr
Submission on Vietnam POW/MIA Matters by George A. Carver, Jr.
Statement of William E. LeGro - Officer, Author, Researcher & Investigator for the SSC
Statement of Dr. Stephen J. Morris, An Evaluation of the '1205' Document
Statement of Al Santoli - Historian - February 10, 1994
Statement of Al Santoli - July 14, 1993 "Towards an Honest Accounting of POW/MIAs
Transcript of Hearing with Barry A. Toll
Transcript of Response, Correspondence and Documents provided by Barry A. Toll
Statement of Richard Schultz, Disabled American Veterans
Statement of J. Thomas Burch, Jr. - National Vietnam Veterans Coalition
Statement of John F. Somer, Jr., American Legion - February 10, 1994
Statement of John F. Terzano, Vietnam Veterans of America Foundation
Statement of Robert G. Torricelli
General John W. Vessey, Jr., USA (Ret) Presidential Emissary to Hanoi for POW/MIA Affairs
Statement of Carl W. Ford, Jr., International Security Affairs
Statement of Stephen J. Solarz, Chairman, Subcommittee on Asian and Pacific Affairs - 17 July, 1991
Statement of Ambassador Winston Lord
Statement of Edward W. Ross Acting Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense (POW/MIA AFFAIRS)
Statement of Major General Thomas H. Needham, U.S. Army Commander - Joint Task Force Full Accounting

What was SEACOM?

Today, the Subcommittee on Asia and the Pacific continues its hearings on the questions surrounding our missing servicemen in Southeast Asia. Now that President Clinton has decided to lift the trade embargo on Vietnam we must immediately move to ensure that Hanoi does not interpret this action to mean it is off the hook on providing a full accounting of our missing Vietnam War Heroes.

As we enter this new phase of our relationship with Hanoi, I urge the Administration in the strongest possible terms to remind the Vietnamese at every opportunity that we expect a full accounting of our POWs and MIAs. Indeed, we will be satisfied with NOTHING LESS.

Let me reassure the families and friends of those who are missing that they should not for one moment think that the U.S. Congress has written them off or forgotten about them or their loved ones. To the contrary, we must use our expanded presence in Vietnam to pursue this issue with renewed vigor.

I would emphasize that the lifting of the trade embargo should not be confused with the normalization of diplomatic relations. Before we contemplate that step, there must be a far more forthright response from Hanoi on the POW/ MIA issue than we have had over the past 19 years.

When congress returns the week after Next, I will introduce a resolution into the house of Representatives that reiterates our determination to secure a full accounting for each and every one of our missing men, and that calls for the establishment of an office within the U.S. interests section in Hanoi that will be available to assist the families of our POWs and MIAs. I invite all my colleagues to be original co-sponsors of this resolution.

I am confidant that we will receive widespread, bipartisan support for this effort to remind Hanoi that we will not rest until the fates of all our men are known.
Gary L. Ackerman
Chairman Subcommittee on Asia and the Pacific
February 10, 1994

Subcommittee on Asia and the Pacific :: SEACOM

Committee on Foreign Affairs

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What was SEACOM?