News-Info-Alerts

To: ALL

From: Andi Wolos & Bob Necci

(POW-MIA InterNetwork)

Re: NLF Update

Date: May 22, 2001

"Update Line
Thank you for calling the National League of Families Update Line. This message is being recorded Monday, May 21st. According to the Department of Defense, the number of Americans missing and unaccounted for from the Vietnam War is now 1,979.

On May 17th, the League was informed that the remains of a Navy Seaman, listed as KIA/BNR on June 16, 1968, were recently identified and returned to his family for burial. The remains were jointly recovered October 6, 1993. On May 1st, the Defense POW/MIA Office web site posted a change in the number of missing civilians from 39 to 38. This man now accounted for was lost in a helicopter incident on August 9, 1967, with five manifested personnel on board. Five remains were recovered immediately, identified and returned to their families, and this man's remains were mistakenly interred as an Army serviceman. A sixth set of remains was recovered several days later and ID'd in the early 1980s as those of the Army serviceman previously buried. Identification efforts on the disinterred remains were recently renewed, thanks to a dedicated CILHI data analyst, attesting to the determination that CILHI brings to the accounting mission. The number now missing and unaccounted for in Vietnam is 1,487, with 417 in Laos, 67 in Cambodia and 8 in the territorial waters of the PRC. Over 90% of the 1,979 Americans still missing from the Vietnam War were lost in areas under Vietnam's wartime control. The names of all Americans recently identified will be on this update line and published in the League Newsletter as soon as released by the Defense Department, providing the respective families concur.

Russian officials of the US-Russian Commission on POW/MIAs were in Washington for discussions during the last week of April. The Vietnam War Working Group Chairman, General Major Bezborodov, a member of the Russian Duma, and two members of his team, participated in a League-hosted working lunch on April 25th, during which very useful discussions occurred. The general also met with Deputy Secretary of State Rich Armitage and Deputy Secretary of Defense Paul Wolfowitz, plus Senator Bob Smith, the general's US counterpart on the Commission and official host of the visit. During their visit, the Russians provided a summary document related to over 140 Vietnam War incidents, a welcome development. The League is hopeful and encouraged that further progress can be made in accessing Russian archives and sources of information on missing Americans.

The Bush Administration has not yet named a new Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for POW/MIA Affairs to replace Bob Jones. DPMO Deputy Director Alan Liotta is now serving as Acting Director. The League is pleased that on May 1st, the Senate confirmed Mr. Jim Kelly as Assistant Secretary of State for East Asian and Pacific Affairs, a key position in working with all of the countries relevant to POW/MIA matters and a retired Navy Captain.

POW/MIA consultations were held in Vientiane, Laos, on May 3-4th. Led by JTF-FA Commander Harry Axson, US officials included representatives from the US Embassy in Vientiane, CILHI and DIA's Stony Beach team. Although unable to use the Russian-built MMI8 and MI17 helicopters until the results of an ongoing investigation are concluded, the joint field operations are scheduled to proceed with an altered schedule of cases to pursue. A mid-May visit to Hawaii by Vietnam's POW/MIA team for technical talks with JTF-FA and CILHI was postponed due to the tragic helicopter accident on April 7th that killed 7 Americans and 9 Vietnamese on a survey mission for upcoming field operations that were to have begun in early May. The field activities were postponed, but the talks are now ongoing in Hanoi and field operations are due to resume soon.

The League's 32nd Annual Meeting will be held June 21-23rd at Crystal City's DoubleTree Hotel, across the Potomac River from Washington, DC. Family members and concerned supporters are urged to attend this important, first annual meeting of the Bush Administration. DOD-sponsored, commercial round-trip travel for two family members per missing man has been approved. Registration and hotel reservation forms are available by calling the League office. The deadline for assured reservations at the DoubleTree Hotel is May 25th, and May 30th is the deadline to register for the annual meeting.

POW/MIA car-window decals are available at a cost of $20 per 100 by sending a check to the League office at 1001 Connecticut Avenue, NW, Suite 919, Washington, DC 20036. POW/MIA lapel pins are also available at $3 each or 2/$5. For added information on any subject, please contact the League's web site at www.pow-miafamilies.org or call the national office at 202-223-6846. If no one is available to take your call, please leave a message. Again, thank you for calling.

The National League of Families of American Prisoners and Missing in Southeast Asia
1001 Connecticut Avenue
Northwest, Suite 919
Washington, D.C. 20036-5504
(TEL) 202-223-6846
Federal Tax ID #23-7071242"