POW/MIA Update:  March 7, 2007

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:   

Colonel Norman D. Eaton, USAF, OK, MIA 1/13/69 , Laos , RR 12/16/05 , ID 11/20/06

Lt Colonel Paul E. Getchell, USAF, ME, MIA 1/13/69 , Laos, RR 12-16-05 , ID 11/20/06

Major Benjamin F. Danielson, USAF , USA , MN, MIA 12/5/69 , Laos , RR 11/12/03 , ID 8/6/06

Sergeant First Class Lewis C. Walton, RI, MIA 5/10/71 , SVN, RR 10/19/04 , ID 10/23/06

The accounting for these Americans brings 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.  

U.S. NAVY SHIP SCHEDULED FOR USE IN UNDERWATER OPERATIONS:   After more than a decade of consistent League efforts, reinforced in more recent years by former Commanders of the US Pacific Command, ADM Tom Fargo (now retired) and ADM William J. Fallon, now Commander of the US Central Command, the Vietnamese leadership recently approved using US Navy vessels.  The detailed approval process required for recent official USN port calls is ongoing, and if all goes well, underwater surveys and investigations using this advanced technology will occur in mid-April.  Such a US Navy asset won't be necessary for most shallow-water recoveries, but commitment from both governments to support the process is a significant policy change by Vietnam , deeply appreciated by the League.  We were pleased that ADM Gary Roughead, Commander of the US Pacific Fleet, raised this issue during his recently concluded visit to Vietnam 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.

PRESIDENT RENEWS COMMITMENT:   On March 6 ^th, 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 League for it's strong support of measures protecting the US flag.  He also 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 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.

FAMILY MEMBER DELEGATION READIED:    A League-organized family member trip to Vietnam , Laos and Cambodia will take place March 19-27 ^th.  The group will be 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 will be 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.  Participants have been encouraged to raise funds from local citizens, churches, veterans and other interested friends and neighbors to help defray the estimated $10-12,000 cost per person, so try to help if you can, and clearly mark your donation.   The League is a nonprofit, 501 3 humanitarian organization, Federal Tax ID #23-7071242. 

UPDATE ON OPERATIONS:    The 37 ^th joint recovery operations in Cambodia recently concluded, and an extended period of joint investigations is ongoing.  The 98 ^th period of joint field operations in Laos , the second such period this year, began on March 6 ^th and will continue until April 8 ^th.   Two POW/MIA relatives who are part of the League's family member delegation will visit excavation sites in the northern provinces of Xiengkhoang and Houaphan during this time.   The 87 ^th joint operations in Vietnam will begin March 8 ^th and extend until April 21 ^st.  Such operations in Vietnam are on a much larger scale and for a longer period than the other two Indochina countries.  Again, two POW/MAI relatives participation in the League's family member delegation will visit an excavation site in Vietnam .  US-Vietnam Technical talks were held in late February, resulting in some positive movement, in particular preliminary steps to implement recent high level agreement to use a US Navy ship for underwater survey/investigation operations along Vietnam 's coastline.   

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 have been completed in Thailand and nearing continuing in Papua New Guinea and Palau .  Planning continues for scheduled and proposed missions on WWII loss incidents, including Pagan Island in the South Pacific, Iwo Jima, South Korea (March 14 ^th - April 15 ^th), and two-person teams are conducting 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. 

38^TH ANNUAL MEETING DATE & LOCATION SET:  Many have asked about the date and location of the League's 38 ^th Annual Meeting, now set for 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 Candlelight Service and League business session wrap-up on Sunday morning, June 24 ^th.

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 38 ^th Annual Dinner will be on Friday, June 22 ^nd, and a combined Casino and Bingo Night will take place on Saturday, June 23 ^rd.   On Thursday before the 38 ^th 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

Ann Mills Griffiths
Executive Director
National League of POW/MIA Families
1005 North Glebe Road, Suite 170
Arlington , VA 22201
(PH) 703-465-7432 (FX) 703-465-7433
www.pow-miafamilies.org