August 1996
Summary of news for the entire month.
For recent and daily news, please go to: InterNetwork
01 AUG 96: The Washington Times reports that North Korean soldiers handed over the remains of a US pilot, missing since the Korean War. The remains were in an aluminum casket and draped with the blue flag of the United Nations. They were received by an Honor Guard of the US - led U.N. Command. The remains were recovered in a joint US-North Korea search, sixty miled north of Pyongyang.
02 AUG 96: Congressman Bob Dornan introduces the POW/MIA Protection Act, H.R. 4000, with 255 original co-sponsors. This in response to an Amendment which passed the Defense Authorization Conference. If signed into law, this conference report would gut the Dole-Gilman Missing Service Personnel Act (public law 104-106) and impose the following unacceptable provisions: a) Unit Commanders would be permitted to wait 10 full days (rather than 48 hours) before reporting that a service person is missing or unaccounted for; b) Missing service persons could be declared dead by the Pentagon without credible proof; c) Criminal penalties would be removed for government officials who knowingly and willingly withhold information related to the disappearance, whereabouts or status of a missing person.
07 AUG 96: In the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA), a study was reported on the LONG TERM HEALTH OUTCOMES AND MEDICAL EFFECTS OF TORTURE AMONG US NAVY PRISONERS OF WAR IN VIETNAM. This study by D. Stephen Nice, Phd, had as its objective: "To characterze incidence of illnesses and injuries from 1979 to 1983 in former naval aviators prisoners of war {POWs} from teh Vietnam War..." Its conclusion: "During captivity, ropes, ratchet handcuffs, leg irons, or stocks were used to put tightly constrictive pressure around the extremeties of POWs as a means of torture, resulting in painful ischemia and subsequent neuropathies."
08 AUG 96: Reuter reports that Vietnam diplomatic veteran, Desaix Anderson, who is the Charge D'Affaires at the one-year-old American embassy in Vietnam, and who has a 35 year regional history experience is a reflection of the increased interest that Washington has taken in East Asia. If President Clinton gets his way the first full ambassador to Vietnam will be Congressman Pete Peterson, who spent years as a prisoner of war in the notorious 'Hanoi Hilton'.
09 AUG 96: AP reports that the US and Vietnam could make quicker progress in improving relations if US domestic politics {POW/MIA accountability} didn't get in the way, Vietnam's Prime Minister Vo Van Kiet said. Vietnam has not been granted low-tariff status as a "most favored nation." The latest blow came when Peterson's nomination was blocked because of a clause in the U.S. Constitution that forbids Congressmen from accepting jobs created during their term of office. National Security Advisor Anthony Lake, on a trip last month to Vietnam, stated that the US is satisfied with Vietnamese cooperation, but added that the fullest possible accounting for missing Americans remains the bedrock of relations.
10 AUG 96: In a letter and attachment received from the OSD and signed by James Wold, DASD for POW/MIA Affairs, we read: "There are no US service personnel who remain unaccounted for from the Gulf War." "... the case of... Navy Lieutenant Commander Michael Speicher, ... is currently being investigated." The attachment lists 25 incidents with 49 casualties. NOTE: The DOD POW-MIA FACT BOOK of July 1991, lists 49. The October 1992 edition, lists 52. Now we are back to 49. An inquiry has been made to recive clarification. Stay tuned.
12 AUG 96: AP reports that Pete Peterson won't give up on going back to Vietnam as a diplomat, despite problems with his appointment. Peterson said his problems getting a Senate confirmation hearing aren't personal. "This has never been, frankly, about me. It's been about whether we want to place an ambassador in Vietnam."
16 AUG 96: The Defense POW/MIA Weekly Update states that U.S. and Lao investigators began a joint investigation and recovery operation last week to investigate as many as 14 cases of Americans missing in action in that country. There are 2,149 Americans still listed as unaccounted for as a result of the Vietnam War, of which 459 are from Laos.
20 AUG 96: In an AP report, speaking at a VFW national convention, Bob Dole with Jack Kemp and Colin Powell at his side, said that: We stood together "during teh Vietnam War when Congress threatened to cut off funds to US forces there, and later in demanding a full accounting of prisoners of war and those missing in action." Dole also said: "... a full accounting that has still not been delivered."
22 AUG 96: In a letter received from OASD, James Wold DASD, writes, "... the new Missing Persons Act applies to cases occuring after February 10, 1996, the effective date of the act. The only provision of the Act that applies to cases that occured before its passage, is section 1509 which permits hearings in cases under certain circumstances when new evidence is discovered."
25 AUG 96: Congressman Pete Peterson speaking at a Kansas City hotel, where a fund-raiser was held for the newly established Westmoreland Scholarship Foundation, said this: The United States can forge closer ties to Vietnam while remaining persistent in trying to uncover what happened to those missing from the war..." Peterson went on to say, "I know deep bitterness that lingers in the hearts of many Vietnam Veterans and their families... and while US-Vietnam relations are progressing, obtaining teh fullest account of our POWs and MIAs will receive our highest priority with respect to Vietnam."
26 AUG 96: Although we have been active for decades, and on the internet for years, we now have a dedicated domain. Advocacy and Intelligence Index for Prisoners of War-Missing in Action, Inc., announces that its Website has a permanent internet URL address: http://www.aiipowmia.com/
September 20th, 1996, is National POW-MIA Recognition Day.
POW-MIA Issue Update September 1996