News-Info-Alerts

To: ALL

From: Andi Wolos & Bob Necci

(POW-MIA InterNetwork)

Re: NLF Update

Date: August 25, 2001

"Update Line
Thank you for calling the National League of Families Update Line. This message is being recorded on Friday, August 24th. According to the Department of Defense, there are still 1,957 Americans missing and unaccounted for from the Vietnam War.

On August 20th, the League was informed that Secretary of Defense Rumsfeld's nominee as Deputy Assistant Secretary for POW/MIA Affairs Jerry Jennings had been officially appointed by the White House and would assume office on August 21st. The League offers congratulations and looks forward to working closely with Mr. Jennings, the most qualified person to be selected for this position so key to achieving POW/MIA accounting objectives.

A four-day POW/MIA conference will be held in Hawaii during the first week of September. Operational organizations, including JTF-FA, CILHI and DIA's Stony Beach, plus officials from the Defense POW/MIA Office and CINCPAC headquarters will participate.

During Secretary of State Colin Powell's recent visit to Vietnam for the Assn. of SEA Nations conference, he 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 quotes Secretary Powell as stating, "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." 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 Bush Administration policy includes POW/MIA accounting as a priority objective, a problem from the past that still requires serious attention. Necessary 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 new JTF-AF Commander, Air Force BG Steven Redmann, recently completed an introductory swing through Laos, Vietnam and Cambodia. Joint US-Lao field operations, begun on August 9th, are reportedly going well and will conclude just after Labor Day.

On October 2-3rd, the Lao and US governments will hold a POW/MIA seminar in southern Laos. This seminar, proposed by the Lao Government approximately two years ago following discussions with the League, was only accepted by the US within the last six months and will be preceded by POW/MIA consultations on September 27-28th. Preparations are also ongoing for technical talks between the US and Vietnam that will be held September 24th.

President Bush will soon proclaim September 21st as National POW/MIA Recognition Day. Ceremonies will be held across the country, including at all major military installations, and the League's POW/MIA flag will be prominently on display. In addition to all office of the US Postal Service, locations include the White House, Departments of State, Defense and Veterans Affairs, headquarters of the Selective Service System, the National Vietnam War and Korean War Memorials, and all National Cemeteries. The national ceremony will be hosted by Deputy Secretary of Defense Paul D. Wolfowitz, and will be held at 11:00 a.m. at the Pentagon's River Entrance Parade Field. The Defense Department has produced posters marking the occasion, and they can be ordered by calling Mr. John Brown, Defense POW/MIA Office, 703-602-2102, Ext. 185. If he is not available, leave your full name and address, and the number of posters requested. For information to distribute in support of this yearly event, check the League's web site at www.pow-miafamilies.org or call our national office at 202-223-6846.

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.

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"