News-Info-Alerts

To: ALL

From: Andi Wolos & Bob Necci

(POW-MIA InterNetwork)

Re: NLF Update

Date: August 01, 2001

"Update Line
Thank you for calling the National League of Families Update Line. This message is being recorded Monday, July 31st. According to the Department of Defense, there are now 1,957 Americans missing and unaccounted for from the Vietnam War.

This morning, the League was informed that two Americans, initially listed as MIA on January 21, 1968, are now accounted for. The remains of US Army Reserve Warrant Officer 2nd Class William Kimsey and his co-pilot, a US Marine, were jointly recovered in North Vietnam on January 1, 1998.

On July 19th, the League learned that five Americans whose remains were jointly recovered in South Vietnam were also identified. The remains of one, a KIA/BNR on October 6, 1969, were jointly recovered on November 20, 2000, but his family requested that his name not be publicly announced. The other four were lost on August 3, 1967, and their remains were jointly recovered on June 8, 1994. Their names are Corporal Thomas A. Gopp, USMC, of OH, Seaman James P. McGrath, USN, of IL, Lance Corporal John B. Benedict, III, USMC, of MI and Corporal Jack Wolpe, USMC, of NY.

On July 16th, the League learned that two Americans whose remains were jointly recovered in Laos and repatriated on February 11, 2000 are now accounted for. One, Major Luther A. Lono, USMC, was from WA, and the NOK of the other requested that the name of the other not be publicly announced.

The accounting for these Americans brings the number now missing and unaccounted for in Vietnam to 1,474, with 415 in Laos, 60 in Cambodia and 8 in the territorial waters of the PRC. Over 90% of the 1,957 Americans still missing from the Vietnam War were lost in areas under Vietnam's wartime control.

Secretary of State Colin Powell recently completed his visit to Vietnam to attend the Assn. of SEA Nations conference where he also had bilateral discussions with senior officials of all attending countries. The Hanoi byline in Reuters coverage on July 26th stated, "Powell hails effort to find men lost in Vietnam."

The report continues saying that Secretary Powell stated, "All of my buddies came home, even those who died. We got the remains. But for those we didn't find, there's still a longing in the hearts of their family members and their fellow veterans." He spoke to the press after placing flowers at a memorial to the seven US and 9 Vietnamese personnel killed during field operations in Vietnam and meeting with members of Joint Task Force Full Accounting.

The article goes on to state, "The MIAs are still Washington's top foreign policy priority with Hanoi. As previously noted, the League is confident that looking to the future includes addressing the POW/MIA accounting, a problem from the past that still requires future actions to reach the fullest possible accounting. Such actions include a focus on unilateral steps by Vietnam to locate and return remains, as well as continuing to improve the quality and effectiveness of joint field operations.

The Senate finally confirmed US Ambassador to Laos Doug Hartwick who is expected to arrive in Vientiane in early September. The Bush Administration has not yet formally announced the new Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for POW/MIA Affairs; however, the League was informed that Mr. Jerry Jennings will soon be named. He is highly qualified and in our view will be the first person with the necessary background and experience to hold the position. The League looks forward to working closely with Mr. Jennings and other Bush Administration officials.

On July 23rd, Air Force BG Steven Redmann assumed command of JTF-FA from BG Harry Axson, USA, during a ceremony over which Admiral Dennis Blair, US Commander of Pacific Forces, presided. This is the first time that the Air Force has commanded the organization. Joint field activities are now ongoing in Vietnam, expected to conclude next week. Joint US-Lao operations are scheduled to resume on August 9th and will continue for approximately one month.

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"