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POW MIA Update April 13, 2007
AMERICAN ANNOUNCED AS ACCOUNTED FOR THIS WEEK: There are now 1,786 US personnel listed as missing and unaccounted for by the Department of Defense. The identification of the remains of one American previously KIA/BNR from the Vietnam War was released on April 11th. LT Michael R. Newell, USN, from Ellenville, NY, was reported killed in action on December 14, 1966, in an F8E on a mission over North Vietnam. His remains were repatriated August 15, 2005, identified November 27, 2006, and his name was released April 11th. The accounting for LT Newell brings to 797 the number of US personnel accounted for since the end of the Vietnam War in 1975. Over 90% of the 1,787 still listed as missing were lost in Vietnam or in areas of Laos and Cambodia under Vietnam’s wartime control.
U.S. NAVY SHIP NOT PARTICIPATING IN UNDERWATER OPERATIONS: After more than a decade of consistent League efforts, reinforced by former Commanders of the US Pacific Command, Vietnam’s leaders approved using US Navy vessels just before the President’s visit last November. The detailed process required for approval is reportedly still being worked, but was not completed in time for the underwater survey/investigation now ongoing. This US Navy asset was not required for the current operations or even most shallow-water recoveries, but commitment from both governments to support the process was a significant and welcome policy change by Vietnam’s leadership. The League was pleased that ADM Gary Roughead, Commander of the US Pacific Fleet, raised the issue during his January visit to Vietnam as part of the improving military-to-military relationship, as did Ambassador Charles Ray, Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense (DASD) for POW/MIA Affairs. Comment: Despite high level emphasis and agreement, including during Deputy Prime Minister/Foreign Minister Khiem’s recent visit to Washington and talks with Deputy Secretary of Defense Gordon England, Vietnam’s bureaucracy was reportedly unable to move quickly enough to implement the high level agreement, at least on the POW/MIA accounting agenda. Perhaps by the time Vietnam’s President Triet visits Washington in early summer bureaucratic hurdles will have been removed.
MEMBERS OF HOUSE ARMED SERVICES COMMITTEE VISIT VIETNAM: A delegation of US House Members, led by Representative Solomon Ortiz (D-TX), Chairman of the House Armed Services Committee's Subcommittee on Readiness, visited Vietnam April 5-7th. Reportedly, the delegation discussed matters relating to bilateral relations, the “search for Americans Missing in Action (MIA), economy and trade." The delegation also met with the Joint POW/MIA Accounting Command’s Detachment II in Hanoi and counterpart officials in the External Relations Committee of Vietnam’s National Assembly. During the meetings, the Vietnamese were positive concerning recent development of bilateral relations with the US, including improved military to military relations. This was the first delegation to Vietnam from the new Democratic-led 110th Congress, and its House Armed Services Committee.
UPDATE ON OPERATIONS: The 98th period of Joint Field Activities (JFA) in Laos, the second 30-day JFA this year, took place March 6th to April 8th. Two members from the League-organized POW/MIA family delegation visited incident sites in Northeastern Laos on March 23rd. Semi-annual POW/MIA consultations were conducted in between the two JFAs; the Lao reportedly responded with flexibility to US requests, urging expanded efforts to build on successes and a review of the past several years’ cooperation.
On March 21st, two family members visited one area of the 88th JFA in Vietnam that began March 8th and is scheduled to conclude about April 21st. Such operations in Vietnam are on a much larger scale and for a longer period of time (45 days) than in Laos or Cambodia. The underwater survey/investigation team, comprised of US members from JPAC and the Navy’s Mobile Diving Salvage Unit #1 (MDSU#1) began work this week along the coast of North Vietnam and plan to conclude in early May, though as noted above, without participation by the USN ship.
There is widespread disappointment – DPMO, JPAC and the League – in responses to the US Government-funded archival research programs, especially with Vietnam. This program has been ongoing for several years, but archival records known to exist have not yet been provided, thus the continued calls for unilateral actions by Hanoi, including by President Bush last November. It is hoped bilateral talks with each of the Indochina governments that will occur over the summer will focus on renewing viable multilateral archival cooperation, among other presumed initiatives.
AMBASSADOR BILL RICHARDSON’S TRIP TO NORTH KOREA: Former US Ambassador to the United Nations (Clinton Administration) and current Governor of New Mexico and declared presidential candidate Bill Richardson (D-NM) led a bipartisan delegation to Pyongyang, North Korea (DPRK) for the stated purpose of accepting six remains that are believed to be those of US servicemen who died during the Korean War. Reflecting the bipartisanship of the delegation was former head of the Department of Veterans Affairs Anthony Principi, accompanied by various US officials, including an Asian specialist from the President’s National Security Council staff and Col Dave Ellis, USAF, Principal Director of the Defense POW/MIA Office (DPMO). A welcoming repatriation ceremony was held yesterday at Hickam AFB prior to transfer of the remains, unilaterally recovered and turned over by the DPRK, to the JPAC’s Central Identification Laboratory.
WIN A HARLEY DAVIDSON SPORTSTER: The League will receive all proceeds from a nationwide raffle of a beautiful customized 1989 Harley Sportster that is now ongoing. Only 8,000 raffle tickets have been printed and numbered, $10.00 each, obtainable by contacting the League office. With a 1/8,000 chance of winning this Harley Davidson Sportster, the drawing will be held on National POW/MIA Recognition Day, September 21, 2007, in Washington, DC. Tickets can also be obtained through the League’s website, www.POWMIALeague.org, by clicking on Pay Pal, though handling adds an additional $2.00 per raffle ticket. Now is your chance to win a Harley AND support the League, a nonprofit 501 [c] 3 tax-exempt organization.
38TH ANNUAL MEETING DATE & LOCATION SET: Many have asked about the date and location of the League’s 38th Annual Meeting, now set for June 22-24th at the Hilton Crystal City Hotel, Arlington, VA. There will be two very full days of League and US Government presentations, both policy and operational, on Friday, June 22nd and Saturday, June 23rd, followed by a Candlelight Service and League business session wrap-up on Sunday morning, June 24th.
Registration & Hotel Reservations: The two forms have been distributed to all League members and are also available to download on the League’s web site, www.POWMIALeague.org.
Special Events: The 38th Annual Dinner will be on Friday, June 22nd, an event that is always inspirational; cost is $40 per person. A combined Casino and Bingo Night will take place on Saturday, June 23rd. On Thursday before the meeting convenes, we urge visits to Capitol Hill in the morning, before returning to register and attend the concert being planned at the new USAF Memorial.
Transportation: As authorized by Congress, the Defense Department will likely again implement transportation for two family members, representing each missing and unaccounted for US serviceman to attend the annual meeting and hear official presentations.
Silent Auction: There will again be a Silent Auction, though smaller in scope. Sorely as are needed the funds generated by this highly successful event spread over three days, it is very labor-intensive and demanding. Hopefully, more League members will volunteer to help on this project. There was serious consideration given to not holding this event in 2007; however, the board again decided that due to the event’s popularity and the need for funds, it should be included in the planning.
Program Ad Rates: Each year, the League publishes a beautiful program that includes individual ads honoring missing US personnel, organizational ads sending best wishes to the families gathered for the events, ads promoting POW/MIA-related and other products, etc. The deadline for receipt of ads is June 1, 2007. Please send your ads by email to powmiafam@aol.com or send them camera-ready to the League office at the address on the letterhead. .
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