AMERICANS ACCOUNTED FOR: Following is the list of US personnel whose remains were recovered and identified individually or as a group since the last League Newsletter on October 16, 2008:
- Major Bernard L. Bucher, USA, of IL, KIA/BNR, 5/12/68, SVN, RR 6/9/93
- Lance Corporal Ralph L. Harper, USMC, of IN, KIA/BNR, 6/6/68, SVN, RR 10/19/06
- Staff Sergeant Frank M. Hepler, USA, of PA, KIA/BNR, 5/12/68, RR 6/9/93
- Lance Corporal Kurt E. LaPlant, USMC, of KS, KIA/BNR, 6/6/68, SVN, RR 10/19/06
- Major John L. McElroy, USA, of KY, KIA/BNR, 5/12/68, SVN, 6/9/93
- First Lieutenant Stephen C. Moreland, USA, of CA, KIA/BNR, 5/12/68, RR 6/9/93
- Lance Corporal Luis F. Palacios, USMC, of CA, KIA/BNR, 6/6/68, SVN, RR 1019/06
- Private First Class Jose R. Sanchez, USMC, of NY, KIA/BNR 6/6/68, SVN, RR 10/19/06
There are still 1,742 US personnel listed by the Defense POW/MIA Office (DPMO) as missing and unaccounted for from the Vietnam War. There have been no announcements of Vietnam War personnel identified since December 15th. The number of US personnel accounted for since the end of the Vietnam War in 1975 is 841. 90% of the 1,742 still missing from the Vietnam War were lost in Vietnam or in areas of Laos and Cambodia under Vietnam’s wartime control.
LEAGUE DELEGATION GOING TO LAOS, CAMBODIA & VIETNAM: Departing on March 15th, Executive Director Ann Mills Griffiths will again lead a small team to Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia for discussions with senior officials in each country. She has taken many such trips since her first in 1982, including both League and US Government delegations. By vote of the Board of Directors, Senior Policy Advisor Richard Childress and Vice Chairman of the Board Mark Stephensen will complete the three-member delegation. Both are paying all expenses themselves, with some support from concerned citizens in Idaho, Nevada and Utah to help with Mark’s expenses. Expense to the League will be minimal; the executive director’s round trip ticket was purchased with accumulated frequent flyer miles. Earlier, by electronic distribution, family members were asked to write personal letters to senior officials in the country where their loved one was lost, either thanking them for answers received (such is the case for Mark Stephensen and his family), or appealing for answers and greater cooperation, as is pertinent for over 1,700 families and countless friends. The letters received will be taken by the delegation and delivered to officials in each country.
CONGRESSIONAL HEARING TO BE HELD: The Executive Director has been invited to testify at a hearing of the House Armed Services Subcommittee on Personnel on April 2nd, the day after returning from Southeast Asia. There will be two panels. Panel #1 will include The American Legion, Veterans of Foreign Wars, the League and other groups who claim representation for Korean War and WWII families. The first panel also includes a Korean War veteran who has long advocated a complete restructure of the US government’s POW/MIA community. Some of his and his supporters’ proposals include reverting to a separate Central Identification Laboratory that would no longer be under JPAC or the Commander, U.S. Pacific Command (PACOM), and relocation to the continental US, among other actions that the League strongly opposes. Panel #2 includes Ambassador Charlie Ray, Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense (DASD) for POW/Missing Personnel Affairs and Director of the Defense POW/Missing Personnel Office. (no longer POW/MIA) and Rear Admiral Donna Crisp, USN, JPAC Commander. The focus for this hearing appears to be on internal questions of structure, resources and personnel, budget, command and control, mechanisms for establishing priorities, etc. We know of no requests from the Committee in terms of policy recommendations to increase accounting results, and each witness is being given only three minutes for an oral presentation, supplemented by written statements. The League supports Committee oversight, versus another Select Committee or special commission, and hopes future hearings will focus on policy approach and knowledge of those governments still withholding answers, as well as their ability to provide them.
DEFENSE ATTACHÉ OFFICE OPENED IN LAOS: A Defense Attaché Office (DAO) was officially opened on December 5th at the US Embassy in Vientiane, Laos. The long-sought agreement to exchange military attachés between the US and Laos was first announced in 2007. The new US Defense Attaché, Army LTC (P) James McAden, met with senior officials at the Lao Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Ministry of National Defense as part of the DAO opening. US Ambassador to Laos Ravic R. Huso hosted a reception that evening for Lao and US officials and counterpart attachés in the embassies of other countries with representation in Vientiane. LTC McAden is a Southeast Asia specialist (FAO) who most recently served as Deputy to the Foreign Policy Advisor at US Pacific Command (PACOM) and previously at the US Embassy in Indonesia.
DEFENSE ATTACHÉ IN VIETNAM: After months of awaiting approval from the Vietnamese Government, COL Patrick Reardon, USA, recently assumed his position as Defense Attaché (DATT) in Hanoi. The first exchange of attachés between the US and Vietnam occurred fairly early in the bilateral relationship formally established in 1995. The resulting improvements in the military-to-military relationship have been useful and beneficial to both countries, but the pursuit of answers on America’s POW/MIAs could and should be improved, including the long-overdue permanent assignment of DIA’s two Stony Beach specialists to the US Embassy in Hanoi.
US NAVY SHIP FOR USE IN ACCOUNTING EFFORTS: Vietnam has repeatedly announced agreement that a USN ship could be used in the accounting process, most recently affirmed by Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung during his visit to Washington in June, 2008. After several delays, the mission was planned for March, 2009; however, there was yet another postponement. If Vietnam can and will complete inter-ministerial coordination and final agreement on a newly developed Vietnamese regulation can be reached, the current target time frame is June/July of this year. The League had hoped that the highly visible announcement last June by the Prime Minister would overcome any remaining obstacles, but has been repeatedly disappointed. It is past time for senior US officials to raise this issue and express the well-justified frustration of the families.
JPAC OPERATIONS: To enable all personnel to spend holidays with family and friends, no operations occurred the last half of December, but activities geared up quickly after the first of the year. The 107th Joint Field Activity (JFA) in Laos began January 25th and ended February 18th, a shorter time in the field than is routinely the case due to the Lao Military’s 60th Anniversary Commemorations. During the JFA, two Investigation Teams (ITs), including a DIA Stony Beach specialist, a trilateral investigation team and one Recovery Team (RT) conducted operations. POW/MIA consultations between US and Lao officials took place February 23rd-24th in Vientiane to review past operations and discuss future steps. US officials reported increased Lao Government flexibility and seriousness in consistently working to improve the accounting process. The 108th JFA began March 4th in Houa Phan and Xieng Khoang Provinces, to conclude April 4th.
On March 6th, the 42nd JFA ended in Cambodia, having focused for several weeks on recovery of reported burial sites. Although the Cambodian government willingly cooperates, there are still 57 US personnel missing and unaccounted for in that country. Due to the great tragedy inflicted on Cambodia between 1975 and 1978 by the Khmer Rouge, much of their country was destroyed and nearly two million people died of starvation or were killed. Thus, locating sites for joint operations is very difficult. The best hope for concrete answers on those still missing and unaccounted for in Cambodia lies in obtaining Vietnam’s records, as over 90% of the 57 still missing there were lost in areas under the wartime control of Vietnamese forces.
The 94th JFA in Vietnam is now ongoing. An advance team preceded the main JPAC team that includes three Recovery Teams, conducting excavations at three sites located in Gia Lai, Binh Phuoc and Binh Dinh Provinces. The fourth Recovery Team (RT) will survey and excavate an underwater site in the waters off Nghe An Province. One Investigation Team (IT) will be pursuing ten (10) cases in Quang Nam, Khanh Hoa, Ninh Thuan, Binh Dinh and Quang Ngai Provinces. The second IT will conduct research and investigation on nine (9) cases in Ho Chi Minh City and Tay Ninh, Ca Mau, An Giang, Kon Tum, Thua Thien-Hue and Thanh Hoa Provinces. This is a complex JFA that will be ongoing during the League Delegation’s visit to Vietnam; however, there are no plans to go to the field in Vietnam as all sites are significant distances from Hanoi where the primary mission is to urge the Vietnamese leadership to take the unilateral actions repeatedly specified in successive determinations to Congress. The one Underwater Investigation Team (UIT) will utilize US Navy assets, but NOT the hydrographic ship, USNS Heezen, use of which was again postponed by the Vietnamese.
JPAC investigation teams also recently conducted operations in South Korea, the Republic of Suriname (South America) and India. Talks were also recently held with the Peoples Republic of China, but no agreement could be reached to resume joint field operations in that country.
ACCOUNTING – WHAT IT IS NOT! There has recently been discussion at an official conference of many in the POW/MIA accounting community – JPAC, Casualty, DPMO and others – on a subject that impacts all POW/MIA families, all wars: what constitutes accounting. The discussion appears to be focused solely on personnel previously listed as POW/MIA and KIA/BNR from the Vietnam War, but the League’s name, and mine, as Executive Director, were misused as supporting a concept that we have long opposed. Lest this continue and the League’s position be further misrepresented, it is important to make clear that the League does not support what is being cited as the "third method of accounting." We are strongly opposed!
The terminology, developed many years ago to define the “fullest possible accounting” and more recently codified in law, defines “accounted for” – with respect to a person in a missing status – as 1) the man returned alive; 2) the recovery/repatriation of identifiable remains; or 3) convincing evidence as to why neither is possible, in which circumstance, the man's name would remain forever on the list of KIA/BNR personnel. Further, where evidence supported that all possible had been done to account for the individual, the family would be so notified and the case would become inactive, but NOT removed from the list of US personnel still missing (previously POW/MIA) and otherwise unaccounted for (initially KIA/BNR) from the Vietnam War.
Never was there any consideration of removing a missing man’s name by reaching an analytical conclusion on information. To learn at this point in history that such is now being considered, or even might be, raises more questions than answers. Why would this be considered? What is the purpose of an action that would summarily write-off US personnel as accounted for? Who stands to benefit? Not the families! Reducing the number of Vietnam War missing by decision, rather than by forensic analysis and identification of remains, would accomplish nothing except to generate a false perception of greater accounting results than have been achieved. But again, why? The US government’s record to date, though at time frustratingly slow, is nevertheless impressive. It reflects America’s national commitment to stand behind those who serve our country – past, present and future – and account for them as fully as possible if captured or missing.
In many cases, it also defies logic to make another "determination" on personnel that nothing further can be done unless and until US analysts can certify to the families and, if necessary, to Congress that all archival records believed relevant to the accounting mission have been provided by the government of Vietnam. That assurance is not possible at this time, and all analysts involved know this reality. If a decision based on evidence generates a reasonable conclusion that nothing further can be done to account for an individual, that reality must be shared with the family and the case put into the “no further pursuit” category, as many already have been. That was the reason for creating the category, to signal that further active US effort would end.
There is also a glaring contradiction in referring to long lost WWII personnel (many in fact unrecoverable or considered buried at sea) as "missing" in DPMO media releases, while summarily removing the names of POW/MIAs from the most recent war in which the number of missing was significant due to a judgment that no further official effort would result in accounting for them.
I don't know for certain who came up with this ill-conceived notion, and there must be bureaucratic reasons that are not relevant to the central issue, and three most obvious possibilities exist: 1) Reducing the number still listed as missing would bring down the backlog – on paper, if not in reality: 2) Reducing the number listed as unaccounted for would make some family members no longer eligible to travel COIN Assist to attend the League's annual meetings at which US Government briefings are given, a mere pittance in monetary terms: 3) Newly assigned personnel, again at our expense, as in the past, may be trying to build a public record of false success for their resumes.
When such matters are being discussed by government officials, it would make sense to obtain input from those most directly affected who also have a proven record of responsibility and discretion, a record the League has established throughout our history. Such consultation no longer occurs, to the detriment of the issue. In this era of reaching out to a vast number of experts, interested parties, specialists, etc., it is only on the POW/MIA issue that no “pre-decisional” consultation is allowed. Too often insecure people, or those who know the answer and don't want to accept the reality, choose to avoid communication but, hopefully, such misguided thinking will finally be destroyed for the good of all. It is a shame that at this stage in the issue’s history, the League is back to having little confidence in the direction being taken by some in government but, with eternal optimism, tempered by reality, and with greater determination to pursue answers, the League simply must survive to meet each challenge for the good of our unreturned veterans – America’s POW/MIAs – and their families, as well as those serving today.
40TH ANNIVERSARY ANNUAL MEETING JULY 23-25, 2009: This year’s annual meeting promises to be special, including commemoration of over 35 years since the end of the Vietnam War in 1975 and 40 years since the League was formed, then incorporated on May 28, 1970. Governmental transitions are taking place, and there will be much to discuss and decide in terms of the League’s and the issue’s future in this first year of the Obama Administration. ADM Timothy Keating, USN, Commander, US Pacific Command, will be the Keynote Speaker at the Opening Session on Thursday, July 23rd, 9:00 a.m. The Secretary of Defense is again expected to authorize COIN Assist travel. There will be two very full days of presentations by senior US officials and the League, briefings by analytic personnel, field operators and scientists, and guest presentations on the complete range of issue-related policy and operational matters. A three-hour Question & Answer session with US officials will be held on Saturday morning, July 25th, followed by the bylaw-required League Business Session. There will also be Special Events. The 40th Anniversary Annual Dinner & Candlelight Ceremony will be on Thursday, July 23rd, an event that is always inspirational; cost this year had to be increased to $55 per person. On Friday night, we have requested a concert at historic Ft. Myer by the US Army Chorus. The Army Chorus is the only military musical group ever to receive the League Award for their many contributions to annual meetings over the years. BINGO Night will conclude all activities on Saturday night, July 25th.
Reservations can now be made at the Hilton Crystal City Hotel. Call 1-800-HILTONS (800-445-8667), noting affiliation with the League’s 40th Anniversary Annual Meeting, or go to www.hilton.com, and use Group Code “POW” to get the special rate of $149 (plus taxes) per room night, single/double. Deadline to secure the special rate is June 19th, but the block of rooms is limited, so early reservations are encouraged to ensure desired accommodations are available.
Registration: The form to register for the 40th Anniversary Annual Meeting is on page 7 of this newsletter, with the Program Ad Flyer printed on the reverse, page 8. Simply complete and return the form in the enclosed envelope to the League office with your check for the registration fee ($50 per League member; $60 for non-League attendees) and $55 per person payment for the special 40th Anniversary Annual Dinner and Candlelight Ceremony. This form is also available from the League’s web site: www.pow-miafamilies.org.
Transportation: As stipulated by Congress, the Secretary of Defense is expected to again authorize transportation (COIN Assist) for two family members representing each Vietnam War missing and unaccounted for US serviceman and civilian to attend the annual meeting during which official briefings will be given. Service Casualty Offices will be sending information to some family members regarding the 40th Anniversary Annual Meeting and forms to complete for requesting COIN Assist transportation, file reviews, attendance at Service-hosted luncheons, and transportation to the Friday evening concert, if confirmed.
Executive Director Comment: We are hopeful that, this year, there will be no confusing material distributed by the Service Casualty Offices, as occurred last year when preliminary information was distributed to PNOK (primary-next-of-kin) ONLY, with no mention of the League’s Annual Meeting, no League Registration Form and no information concerning reservations at the Hilton Hotel. In authorizing COIN Assist, Congressional intent was to ensure that each unaccounted for American would be represented at the League’s annual meetings. (DPMO later initiated changes to the language, now stating “an annual meeting at which USG briefings will be given.”) Since the Service Casualty Offices and DPMO do not consistently coordinate with the League on material to be distributed, it is up to all involved to spread the word. All family members are eligible to attend League annual meetings at which official briefings will be given, though some League events are open only to those registered for the full League annual meeting. If you have questions, call the League office.
Silent Auction: There will again be a Silent Auction, though smaller in scope and open limited hours. Sorely as are needed the funds generated by this highly successful, three-day event, it is very labor-intensive and demanding. In view of the tremendous success of last year’s Silent Auction, we are again seeking suitable items for display and purchase. Please be very selective in accumulating and sending items. Either bring the item(s) with you and deliver them to the Board Room, 1st floor, or send the item(s) to the League office with an itemized list stating the value of each item.
Program Ad Rates: Each year, the League publishes a beautiful program that includes individual ads honoring missing US personnel, organizational ads with best wishes to the families gathered for the meeting, ads promoting POW/MIA-related and other products, etc. Enclosed is a flyer with PROGRAM AD RATES for 2009; the deadline is July 1st, as stated on the flyer. Please send payment to the League office. If possible, send your ad camera-ready to powmiafam@aol.com, and mail a copy of your ad with the payment.
COMBINED FEDERAL CAMPAIGN (CFC): The League (a 501 [c] 3 nonprofit) again met the stringent criteria for eligibility in the 2008 campaign, and has already applied for the 2009 campaign that doesn’t begin until next October. Our official number is the same, CFC #10218, assigned by the Office of Personnel Management (OPM), Washington, DC. The League is the ONLY nonprofit organization representing American POW/MIAs, KIA/BNRs and their families eligible for donations through CFC & United Way. Despite the reality of many competing charities and much need, especially in a time of war, the League is proud of our eligibility, due to tough requirements that must be met and is in urgent need of tax-deductible donations, FEIN #23-7071242.
STATUS OF THE LEAGUE: Funds received since the financial appeal was distributed in mid-October enabled the League to continue, but the outcome was far from clear. Thanks to the generosity of several members – family and associate – some former US officials and our League Advisors, funds were sufficient to catch up on expenses for the calendar year 2008. The stated goal, however, was to also have six months operating funds – $72,000 ($12,000 per month) – on hand and in the bank by January 1, 2009. That goal was not met; therefore, at its meeting February 6th-7th, the Board of Directors decided that a referendum should be sent to all League members to determine the level of interest in and commitment to the League’s continuation as an organization operating under current bylaws. That referendum is included below and on the next page of this newsletter. The results will be tabulated and available for the next meeting of the Board of Directors, now scheduled for May 1st-3rd. At that time, the Board will decide whether an election will be held to seat a Board of Directors for 2009 – 2011. Every possibility is being exhausted to ensure the League’s continuation. All recognize that this comes at a time of worldwide economic recession and that funds are tight. The contributions received thus far have been due to widespread realization of the importance of the League’s role to ensure continuing priority on accounting efforts. Members and supporters are urged to be imaginative in trying to raise funds and to contribute to the extent possible to sustain League efforts.
REFERENDUM OF ALL MEMBERS REGARDING THE LEAGUE’S CONTINUATION
For the League to sustain operations, a commitment from 500 individuals, families or groups to donate $25 per month is required. All need to understand that a few members, advisors and some dedicated state and local level veteran organizations have been donating substantial sums for years and years. We hope their generosity will continue with increased support from other League members, especially family members, even though our numbers dwindle each year, just from attrition. The Board recognizes that not all members can afford to send in $25 per month, but many can. Some just don’t realize the gravity of the situation.
The League was never intended to be an ongoing nonprofit organization, but was planned from inception to close as soon as the fullest possible accounting had been achieved. It never occurred to the founders that the League would be necessary some 40 years after formation. Had this possibility been considered, our POW/MIA flag would have been legally protected, and income to sustain operations would never have been a problem. It needs to be clearly understood: The League receives no government funding. None of the POW/MIA flag manufacturers donate a cent to the League, despite the profits they make on US Government contracts for supplying POW/MIA flags to fly on required dates.
Despite these realities, and the all-too-often desperate financial hardships, if the League had not existed and pushed every step of the way until President Reagan made this issue a priority, the effort would long ago have been shelved, as was originally intended post-war. Had it not been for the League closely monitoring each step since1992 – including overcoming the disastrous impact of the Senate Select Committee – there would have been no expansion of personnel and resources to achieve continuing success. The organizations that comprise the official accounting community – DPMO, JPAC, AFDIL, LSEL, Stony Beach – and more, simply would not exist, at least at today’s level. The Korean War, Cold War and WWII families would not have had any hope for final answers. Having said that, we cannot expect others to shoulder most of the burden; this is a responsibility that must be shared by more of the POW/MIA families, even though our membership is aging and many are on fixed or reduced incomes. The younger members must now step up to the plate if you, also, want the League to continue.
If you are willing and able to make this commitment, please complete the form that appears on page six (6) of this newsletter and mail or email it to the League office so that it will arrive no later than April 15th. Your stated commitments will bear heavily on the Board’s decisions in May.
I/We, __________________________________, want the League to continue and am/are making a commitment to send $25.00 per month, totaling $300.00 per year, to the National League of POW/MIA Families, effective immediately, so that the League can continue its operations.
___ $300 check enclosed for the year.
___ $150 check enclosed for six months, and I/we pledge to send an additional $150 prior to 12/31/09.
___ $25 check enclosed for one month, and I/we pledge to send $25 on the first of each month, based on the outcome of this referendum.
NAME:________________________________________
SIGNATURE:___________________________________
DATE:_____________________
STREET ADDRESS:____________________________________________________
CITY, STATE, ZIP CODE:_____________________________________________
PHONE:__________________________________
EMAIL:__________________________________
Please complete, tear out and mail this form in the enclosed envelope, with your check, plus the Registration Form and check if you plan to attend the 40th Anniversary Annual Meeting. If you wish to honor your missing loved one, a friend, offer congratulations to the League on its 40th anniversary, or advertise your business, be sure to include a check in the appropriate amount for the ad you wish to insert into the program and, if possible, send camera-ready art to the League office by email, powmiafam@aol.com.
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