POW MIA Update  June 2, 2007

 

 

AMERICANs ANNOUNCED AS ACCOUNTED FOR:  There are now 1,784 US personnel listed by the Department of Defense as missing and unaccounted for from the Vietnam War.  The identification of the remains of two American previously listed as MIA in Laos was recently announced.  Those identified are Major Donald E. Westbrook, USAF, from Texas, listed MIA March 13, 1968, remains repatriated September 3, 1998 and identified February 14, 2007.  The second person was Sergeant First Class John T. Gallagher, USA, from Connecticut, listed MIA January 5, 1968, remains repatriated March 15, 2002 and identified November 13, 2006.  The accounting for these two Americans brings to 799 the number of US personnel accounted for since the end of the Vietnam War in 1975.  Over 90% of the 1,784 still listed as missing were lost in Vietnam or in areas of Laos and Cambodia under Vietnam’s wartime control.  

 

UPDATE ON OPERATIONS:  The 99^th period of Joint Field Activities (JFA) in Laos, the third 30-day JFA this year, began April 30^th and is expected to conclude June 5^th.  Comprised of some 50 US personnel, one of the four teams is pursuing information on ten cases, and the three other teams are focusing on excavating incidents related to a burial site, a ground loss and three aircraft losses.  The 100^th JFA in Laos will take place June 26 – July 31^st and consist of four recovery teams.   The 88^th JFA in Vietnam took place March 8^th- April 21^st, a longer period of time (45 days) and with a larger team than in Laos or Cambodia. That JFA was extended to include an underwater survey and investigation team, comprised of US members from JPAC and the Navy’s Mobile Diving Salvage Unit #1 (MDSU1) that was completed on May 4^th.  The underwater survey was conducted in two provinces along the coast of northern Vietnam, though without participation by the USN ship as earlier agreed.  Reportedly, bureaucratic obstacles impeded inter-ministerial coordination required by Vietnam for using the US Navy’s hydrographic ship on the POW/MIA accounting effort.   On worldwide operations, a survey and investigation of a WWII loss on the island of Iwo Jima will take place June 17-27^th; and an investigation team will work in South Korea June 1-30^th.  In addition, a JPAC historian returned June 2^nd to Hawaii after a brief visit to the Netherlands to observe salvage operations of a possible US aircraft and conduct interviews related to a WWII incident. 

 

US PACIFIC COMMAND (PACOM) VISIT:  League Executive Director Ann Mills Griffiths visited Hawaii May 6-9^th, receiving a comprehensive briefing by MDSU1 personnel on their just-concluded Vietnam operations while there.  The trip’s primary purposes were to attend the Change of Command for US Pacific Fleet (PACFLT) and meet with ADM Tim Keating, Commander, US Pacific Command (PACOM), and his Chief of Staff, VADM Van Alford.  Griffiths reinforced the importance of retaining JPAC as a cohesive organization that includes the Central Identification Laboratory (CIL), not again separating it as long existed.  She also reinforced JPAC’s role in the issue and urged PACOM support for full funding and placing higher priority on construction of the new JPAC facility.   Significant time was also spent at JPAC, including discussions with JPAC Commander Mike Flowers, USA, Deputy Commander Johnie Webb and senior Staff Directors on issues of mutual interest and/or concern.    

 

ARCHIVAL RESEARCH:  There is widespread disappointment – in DPMO, JPAC and the League – in responses to the US Government-funded archival research programs, especially in 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 technical talks with each of the Indochina governments that will occur over the summer will focus on renewing viable multilateral archival cooperation, among other initiatives that are or should be considered.  

 

 

WIN A HARLEY DAVIDSON SPORTSTER:  The League will receive all proceeds from a nationwide drawing to win 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 to the total cost of the ticket(s).  Now is your chance to win a Harley AND support the League, a nonprofit 501 [c] 3 tax-exempt organization.

 

38^TH ANNUAL MEETING DATE & LOCATION:  The League’s 38^th Annual Meeting will be held June 22-24^th 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 22^nd and Saturday, June 23^rd, followed by a League business session wrap-up on Sunday morning, June 24^th.

 

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:  On Thursday a concert  and special tour are planned at the new USAF Memorial.   We urge visits to Capitol Hill on Wednesday or Thursday before the meeting convenes, and registration will also take place on Thursday, June 21^st.  The 38^th Annual Dinner will be on Friday, June 22^nd, an event that is always inspirational; cost is $40 per person.  A combined Casino and BINGO Night will take place on Saturday, June 23^rd.  

 

Transportation:  As authorized by Congress, DoD is again implementing, through the Service Casualty Offices, transportation for two family members of each missing and unaccounted for US serviceman and certain civilians to attend the annual meeting and hear official presentations.  All should have received the required forms to complete as the deadline was June 1^st. 

 

Silent Auction: There will again be a Silent Auction, though smaller in scope.  Though the funds generated by this highly successful event are still sorely needed, it is a very labor-intensive and demanding process.  Hopefully, more League members will volunteer to help on this project.  There was serious consideration given to not holding this event in 2007, but the board again decided that due to the event’s popularity and the need for funds, it should again be included.

 

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 extended until June 8, 2007, the absolute deadline.  Please send your ads by email to powmiafam@aol.com or send them camera-ready to the League office.   

 

COMBINED FEDERAL CAMPAIGN (CFC) APPROVES LEAGUE FOR 2007:  The League was just notified that all criteria were met, and our newly assigned (five digit) number is 10218, just assigned by the US Office of Personnel Management (OPM), Washington, DC.  The League is the ONLY nonprofit organization representing Vietnam War POW/MIAs and KIA/BNR’s and their families that is eligible for donations through the CFC & United Way structure.  Despite the reality that there are many competing charities and much need, especially in a time of war, the League is proud of our CFC eligibility, knowing the tough criteria any organization must meet.   .

 

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www.POWMIALeague.org

www.POWMIALeague.com

www.pow-miafamilies.org