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POW/MIA Update: March 27, 2007
PRESIDENT MEETS WITH US-RUSSIA JOINT COMMISSION CO-CHAIRMEN: On Monday, March 26th, President George W. Bush met with US Chairman General Robert Foglesong, USAF (Ret), and Russian Federation Chairman General Vladimir Shamanov. The Co-Chairmen were pleased with President Bush’s stated commitment to and interest in the work of the Joint Commission, a fact conveyed to the League and other POW/MIA and veterans organizations at a forum, hosted by the Joint Commission Support Directorate (JCSD), a directorate in Defense Department’s POW/MIA office, led by Ambassador Charles Ray, also a US Commissioner. They also met with US Senator Saxby Chambliss (R-GA) and US Representative Sam Johnson (R-TX), both Commissioners, and all anticipate that Russian President Putin will soon formalize the Russian side of the Joint Commission and restore its mission and priority. There is now reason to hope.
U.S. NAVY SHIP WON’T GET APPROVAL IN TIME FOR UNDERWATER OPERATIONS: After more than a decade of consistent League efforts, reinforced by former Commanders of the US Pacific Command, the Vietnamese leadership approved using US Navy vessels just before the President’s visit last November. The detailed process required for approval of recent USN port calls in Vietnam is still ongoing, and apparently will not be completed in time for the underwater survey/investigation scheduled for mid-April. This US Navy asset is not required for the upcoming operations or even most shallow-water recoveries, but commitment from both governments to support the process was a significant policy change by Vietnam. The League was pleased that ADM Gary Roughead, Commander of the US Pacific Fleet, raised the issue during his visit to Vietnam earlier this year as part of the evolving military-to-military bilateral relationship, as did Ambassador Charles Ray, Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense (DASD) for POW/MIA Affairs.
FAMILY MEMBER DELEGATION CONCLUDES SOUTHEAST ASIA TRIP: A League-organized family member trip to Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia departed the US on March 16h. The delegation was led by League Chairman of the Board Jo Anne Shirley, sister of Major Bobby M. Jones, MD, USAF, MIA in SVN since 11-28-72. Participating were Sue Scott, Board Secretary and sister of Captain Douglas D. Ferguson, USAF, MIA in Laos since 12/30/69; Pam Cain, VA State Coordinator and daughter of Colonel Oscar Mauterer, USAF, MIA in Laos since 2-15-66; and Karoni Forrester Gonzales, TX Assistant State Coordinator and daughter of Major Ronald W. Forrester, USMC, MIA 12/27/72 in NVN.
In Vietnam, the four-member group called on US Ambassador Michael Marine and Vietnam’s Office for Seeking Missing Persons (VNOSMP), as well as the Deputy Chief of Mission at the Embassy of the People’s Republic of China. The next day two visited a crash site excavation near Hue, while the other two remained in Hanoi and called on the Russian Ambassador. In Laos, the group called on the US Ambassador (who also hosted a dinner), the Lao Vice Foreign Minister and met with the Director General of the Americas Department and others directly involved in and responsible for POW/MIA cooperation with the US. Exchanging roles, two members visited a crash site in Xieng Khoang Province, northeastern Laos, while their two colleagues remained in Vientiane and called on the Cambodian Ambassador to Laos. The last stop in Indochina was Cambodia, where the group visited a project of the Cambodian-American Community for Development, called on the US Ambassador and met with the Cambodian POW/MIA Committee in Phnom Penh.
The group is now back in Bangkok, Thailand, before going on to Hawaii where they will meet all day on March 29th with personnel from the Joint POW/MIA Accounting Command (JPAC) to debrief these specialists on perceptions gained from their visit to Southeast Asia and receive a briefing from the Navy’s Mobile Diving Salvage Unit #1 on capabilities being utilized in the upcoming underwater investigation and survey off the coast of Vietnam. They will also get a briefing on the status of the JPAC/CIL move to temporary quarters before construction of their long overdue new facility that will include a state-of-the-art forensic laboratory. The four-member team will write up their report for distribution to League members and on the Internet.
U.S. PERSONNEL MISSING FROM THE VIETNAM WAR: There are still 1,787 US personnel listed as missing and unaccounted for by the Department of Defense. The identifications of four Americans previously missing/unaccounted for from the Vietnam War were recently announced, bringing to 795 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 Vietnamese wartime control.
PRESIDENT RENEWS COMMITMENT: On March 6th, President Bush addressed The American Legion’s Washington Conference. In remarks focused almost totally on the global war on terror and care for returning American veterans, the President also commended the Legion for it’s strong support of measures protecting the US flag and stated: “My administration also shares your determination to keep faith with our prisoners of war and those missing in action,” a statement that brought immediate applause from our supportive Legionnaires. Early in the conference, League Executive Director Ann Mills Griffiths joined Ambassador Charles Ray and Deputy Commander of the Joint POW/MIA Accounting Command (JPAC) Johnie Webb in addressing a combined session of The Legion’s National Security and Foreign Relations Commissions. Questions were also raised to and answered by this panel.
UPDATE ON OPERATIONS: The 98th period of joint field operations in Laos, the second such period this year, began on March 6th and will continue until April 8th. As noted, an MIA sister and MIA daughter who are part of the League-organized family member delegation visited excavation sites in the northern provinces of Xiengkhoang on March 23rd. The 88th joint operations in Vietnam, visited by two family members on March 21st, also began March 8th and will conclude about April 21st. Such operations in Vietnam are on a much larger scale and for a longer period than the other two Indochina countries. The underwater investigation team, comprised of JPAC and MDSU#1 members, is scheduled to begin work around April 7th, concluding toward the end of the month or early May.
A DPMO-led team held mid-February talks in Beijing focused on pursuing an archival research program and restoring field operations there. There was little to report on specific results; however, the PRC agreed to consider all issues raised by the US. It is likely talks at a higher level be needed to get more positive reactions. Field operations related to WWII were recently completed in Thailand and Papua New Guinea and are continuing in Palau. Planning continues for scheduled and proposed missions on WWII loss incidents, including Pagan Island in the South Pacific and Iwo Jima. A JPAC team is now conducting site investigations and surveys in South Korea March 14th – April 15th, and two teams recently concluded research on WWII incidents in France and Italy, Germany and Belgium.
The above clearly demonstrates the breadth and scope of US accounting efforts around the world. It would be most helpful and facilitate the accounting if all allocated personnel billets at JPAC were filled to help deal with the backlog of identifications to be made and sites to be investigated, surveyed and excavated. It is difficult to pursue expansion with foreign governments if the US has insufficient personnel to handle the diverse requirements.
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 will soon be distributed with the League Newsletter and also be available to download on the League’s web site.
Special Events: The 38th Annual Dinner will be on Friday, June 22nd, and a combined Casino and Bingo Night will take place on Saturday, June 23rd. On Thursday before the 38th Annual Meeting convenes, we urge all possible to participate in visits to Capitol Hill.
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.
Elections: There will be elections for the 2007-2009 Board of Directors. Applications will be distributed shortly and available to download from the League website, www.pow-miafamilies.org
Ann
Mills
Griffiths |
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