POW/MIA Update: August 31, 2007

[boardman]

NEWSLETTER:  August 31, 2007
 
 
AMERICANS RECENTLY ANNOUNCED AS ACCOUNTED FOR:  There are now 1,773 US personnel listed by the Department of Defense as missing and unaccounted for from the Vietnam War. Since the last newsletter (pre-38th Annual Meeting), 13 Americans previously missing and unaccounted for from the Vietnam War have been announced as accounted for. 
 

Lieutenant Colonel James H. Ayres, USAF, MIA, LA, 1-3-71, RR 12-11-01, TX
Sergeant First Class Ernest F. Briggs, Jr., USA, MIA, LA, 1-5-68, RR 3-15-02, TX
Sergeant First Class John T. Gallagher, USA, MIA, LA, 1-5-68, RR 3-15-02, CT
Chief Warrant Officer Dennis C. Hamilton, USA, MIA, LA, 1-5-68, RR 3-15-02, IA
Lieutenant Colonel Michael J. Masterson, USAF, MIA, LA, 10-13-68, RR 8-4-05, WA
Corporal Jim E. Moshier, USMC, KIA/BNR, SVN, 7-11-67, RR 8-15-05, CA
Lieutenant Michael R. Newell, USN, KIA/BNR, NVN, 12-14-68, RR 8-15-05, NY
Technician Chief Roland R. Pineau, USN, KIA/BNR, SVN, 10-8-67, RR 8-15-05, MI
Lieutenant Colonel Alton C. Rockett, Jr., USAF, MIA, NVN, 6-2-67,RR 7-31-89, AL
Chief Warrant Officer Sheldon D. Schultz, USA, MIA, LA, 1-5-68, RR 3-15-02, PA
Lieutenant Colonel Charles W. Stratton, USAF, MIA, LA, 1-3-71, RR 12-11-01, TX
Major Donald E. Westbrook, USAF, MIA, LA, 3-13-68, RR 9-3-98, TX
Sergeant First Class James D. Williamson, USA, MIA, LA, 1-5-68, RR 3-15-02, WA
 
The identification of the remains of these Americans brings to 810 the number of US personnel returned since the end of the VN War in 1975.  An additional 63 US personnel were accounted for between 1973 and 1975, for a grand total of 873.  These Americans were accounted for by unilateral US effort in areas where the US could gain access at that time, not due to government-to-government cooperation with the post-war governments of Vietnam, Laos or Cambodia.  Over 90% of 1,773 still missing and unaccounted for were lost in Vietnam or in areas of Laos and Cambodia under Vietnam’s wartime control.   
 
PRESIDENTS OF VIETNAM & U.S. MEET:   On June 22nd, the President of Vietnam met at the White House with President Bush and members of his Cabinet, including Secretary of Defense Bob Gates.  According to US officials, the President again raised the need for increased cooperation by Vietnam, including on incidents in Laos and Cambodia, and to allow the US Navy’s hydrographic ship to participate in underwater accounting efforts.  The Vietnamese President stated agreement to increase their efforts, as did Deputy Prime Minister/Foreign Minister Khiem in a separate session, held at Vietnam’s request, with Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for POW/MIA Affairs Ambassador Charles Ray.  That meeting was held at the Defense POW/MIA Office (DPMO) in Crystal City, very near the Hilton Crystal City Hotel, location of the League’s 38th Annual Meeting. 
 

Also during President Triet’s visit to Washington, League Executive Director Ann Mills Griffiths and Senior Policy Advisor Richard T. Childress attended a luncheon co-hosted by the US-ASEAN Business Council and the US Chamber of Commerce at the historic Willard Hotel where President Triet was staying with his 200-member, largely economic entourage.   The Master of Ceremonies at the luncheon introduced the honored guest with comments about how meaningful it had been to him, as a retired general officer, to be on Secretary of State Christopher’s first visit to Vietnam that focused primarily on POW/MIA accounting.  His initial mention of the issue brought significant applause from the audience of US corporate leaders.  The issue also figured prominently in President Triet’s remarks; the Vietnamese have long acknowledged the central role the issue played in normalizing bilateral ties with the United States, terming the issue their “bridge to normalization” of relations. 
 
US NAVY SHIP NOT INCLUDED IN UNDERWATER OPERATIONS:  Just before the President’s visit last November, and after more than a decade of consistent League efforts, reinforced by former Commanders of US Pacific Command, Vietnam’s leaders approved using US Navy vessels.  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 April-May operation or even most shallow-water recoveries, but it would have facilitated and maximized the opportunity.  Commitment from both governments to support the process was a significant, 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.  Despite high level emphasis and agreement, including during Minister Khiem’s June 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.
 

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, there are continued calls for unilateral actions by Hanoi, including by President Bush in November ’06 and June ’07.  Bilateral talks on archival research with Vietnam in late September will focus on renewing unilateral SRV cooperation, among other initiatives.  
 
LAOS AGREES TO ACCEPT U.S. DEFENSE ATTACHE:  During a recent visit to Washington, DC, a Ministry of Defense official long involved in the POW/MIA Issue conveyed his government’s agreement in principle to accept a US Defense Attaché (DATT) in Vientiane in 2008 and to post a Lao officer at their Embassy in exchange.  This is very positive development.  The League has sought this agreement for well over a decade, knowing there is much to gain for both governments and peoples.  The Stony Beach POW/MIA Team is an asset of the Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA), and two Stony Beach specialists are now assigned to the DATT in Hanoi and the DATT in Phnom Penh.  It is hoped that the two Lao specialists in Stony Beach will soon be permanently assigned in Vientiane to pursue POW/MIA-related information in Laos.
 
UPDATE ON OPERATIONS:  The 100th period of Joint Field Activities (JFA) in Laos, the fourth 30-day JFA this year, concluded July 31st.  Again comprised of a total of 50 US personnel, four teams focused on site excavations. A Change of Command occurred on July 2nd, during which LTC Brandt Deck, USA, replaced LTC Wade Owens, USA, as Detachment 3 Commander.  (Both are Special Forces officers, as is JPAC’s Detachment 2 Commander in Hanoi, LTC Jim Saenz, USA.)   The third recovery operations this year are ongoing in Cambodia and scheduled to end on September 17th. 
 

The 89th JFA in Vietnam also took place in June over a 45-day period that ended July 25th. The roughly 100 US personnel were dispersed among one Research/Investigation Team (RIT), one Investigation Team (IT), one Phase 2 Testing Team (P2TT, being used for preliminary excavation work) and five recovery Teams (RTs).  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 prior JFA, March 8th- April 21st, was extended to include an Underwater Investigation Team (UIT) that included the Navy’s Mobile Diving Salvage Unit #1 (MDSU1), operating along the coast of northern Vietnam, though without the US Navy ship as earlier agreed.
 

Annual POW/MIA Consultations with Cambodia were held in early August at JPAC Headquarters, Hickam AFB, Hawaii.  Semi-annual POW/MIA Consultations with Laos also took place in August at JPAC Headquarters.  Prior such talks were held early this year, and the Lao responded with flexibility to US requests, urging expanded efforts to build on successes and a review of the past several years’ cooperation at the August talks. 
 

Technical talks between the US and Vietnam occur often, in fact more often than necessary, but will again be held in September.  Frequent sessions were instituted before normal bilateral relations existed or JPAC Detachment 2 was established in Hanoi.
 

Executive Director Comment:  Once started, a bureaucratic process can be very hard to stop, as has also been the case with Joint Forensic Reviews (JFRs), once necessary, but only occasionally required in this era of joint excavations.  In reality, JFRs should be held only when remains are recovered and provided by indigenous personnel or one of the “host” governments, NOT as a result of joint recovery.  
 

Also in the Pacific Region, remains recoveries of World War II losses continue to expand.  An investigation on the island of Iwo Jima took place June 17-27th, and another occurred in South Korea (ROK) June 1-30th, during which the US team recovered possible remains and other evidence; therefore an immediate recovery operation was undertaken. A team also was sent to Vanuatu on August 26th.  In Europe, a JPAC historian briefly visited the Netherlands to observe salvage operations of a possible US aircraft and conduct interviews.  Finally, recoveries on WWII sites took place in Hungary, Austria, France (including an underwater investigation on the Island of Corsica), Germany and Luxembourg, with the last to conclude on September 29th.
 

US-RUSSIA JOINT COMMISSION ON POW/MIA AFFAIRS:  An important mission to Moscow planned for early October has been shelved.  Lt. General Vladimir Shamanov, named by President Putin as Russian Chairman, became the target of criticism from Human Rights Watch.  A May 2007 meeting between the US and Russian Co-Chairmen and President Bush was photographed and publicized, rather than handled as the quiet but necessary discussion intended.  As a result, Human Rights Watch publicly criticized President Bush for meeting with General Shamanov, expressing concern over his record while commanding Russian troops in Chechnya.  Having named General Robert H. Foglesong, USAF (Ret), as US Chairman in April of 2006, President Bush has been urging President Putin to restore the stature of the Russian side of the Joint Commission to the presidential level. The October mission was intended to reinforce the need for renewed focus and priority, but despite this crucial objective, the trip was postponed.  Reasons given cited only complications in the US Chairman’s schedule, with no mention of Lt. General Shamanov or Human Rights Watch. 
 

Executive Director Comment:  After concerned interagency discussion, it was decided that the Commission will continue, and hopefully, there will be effective coherent backing by the bureaucracy.   Lt General Shamanov’s record in Chechnya may or may not be all that Human Rights Watch alleges; however, it is clear that senior US officials are willing to meet with characters known to be disreputable when priority on an issue is sufficiently high to outweigh such concerns.  Either dismissing or ignorant of the potentially negative impact on a vital channel to obtain answers about missing Americans, Human Rights Watch seems to have little interest in the humanitarian effort to obtain answers about them.  Lt. General Shamanov came to Washington earlier this year, and in direct discussion with the League and other organizations, he appeared seriously interested in working with US officials, families and veterans.  Importantly, he has the full confidence of President Putin and, reportedly, may be in line for a significant promotion.  
 

ANOTHER SELECT COMMITTEE ON POW/MIA AFFAIRS – NOT!  With much experience in working to overcome negative results from prior congressional select committees and special commissions, the League is on record as strongly opposing H. Res. 111 (see separate 38th Annual Meeting Report).  Introduced again this year by Representative Peter King (R-NY), the measure is being pushed by some Korean War/Cold War and WWII families and some veteran organizations, focused not only on previously disproven claims of conspiracy and cover-up, but also the need for comprehensive investigations into what was and was not done by successive administrations from the Korean War to the present.
 

 
Executive Director Comment:  Past such investigations have completely tied up assets and resources.  Though DPMO had no reply to the League’s unanimous resolution to oppose another select committee, it is clear that the massive requirements of responding to inquiries from Congress will fall directly on DPMO (for DoD and DIA), JPAC/CIL, PACOM and all other POW/MIA support- related organizations.  There are legitimate questions that can and should be addressed, such as funding, operational priorities and the ID process, but the real answers to do not lie in US Government files, as was demonstrated in the last exercise by the Senate Select Committee in 1992.  Focus should be on motivating foreign governments to provide answers, not again whip-lashing ourselves. There are established congressional committees and subcommittees with jurisdiction for oversight and investigation; any questions that need to be addressed can and should be handled by this existing structure.  The League will continue to oppose another wasteful, time-consuming select committee unless and until there is nothing further that can be done constructively to account for our missing men.  In that event, the League could reconsider, but that time is NOT now!
 
FURTHER EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR CONCERNS:  Today’s bureaucratic environment is worrisome and very challenging, not only due to the need to protect scarce assets and resources, but to an obvious lack of communication and cooperation between DPMO/DoD and JPAC/CIL/PACOM.  The conscious effort to withhold information reveals a self-protectiveness that is resulting in less openness to those with the greatest need to know and the most at stake, namely the families.  This insular turn is generating mistrust, as is the lack of carefully considered integration of the issue into broader policy objectives, as well as higher level attention and support.  When fewer people and fewer organizations were involved, coordination was better, policy was well thought out, and US goals were clear to the world.  Anyone who has studied bureaucratic behavior can understand the cubicle mindset that is causing these problems.
 

For example, increasing the military-to-military relationship between the US and the countries of greatest relevance on the Vietnam War – Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia – is a DoD and PACOM objective that can be very helpful across the full range of US interests, including POW/MIA accounting.  Yet, officials who handle such military relationships are frequently ignorant of basic issue-related facts, even the historical record or expectations and accomplishments, or lack of same.  This absence of knowledge can be partially explained by the many years since the end of the Vietnam War and regular rotation of military personnel, but the far superior knowledge of foreign officials is striking.  Their advantage is continuity and knowledge.  It has been just as many years for them, but a smaller country without the “superpower” responsibilities has an advantage in being able to focus greater attention, including using bilateral and multilateral cooperation to advance their respective agendas. 
 

This is not said to disparage, but to recognize the failure of current US officials to integrate POW/MIA objectives more fully into the broader agenda, to implement the President’s stated priority in a way that creates opportunities.  That requires a public diplomacy strategy that must be based on historical reality at least equal to the knowledge-base of foreign officials.   It does not exist!  Its absence is even notable in official press releases on the issue and the DPMO Newsletter, THE TORCH, and foreign officials notice.
 

Increasingly, officials are making decisions in isolation, talking among themselves with no outside advice or input.  We have seen this in the past, and it forced us to publicly oppose destructive initiatives that looked fine internally to the bureaucracy.  We urge a return to constructive consultation before decisions are made.  
 

What is described above fortunately does not extend to State Department officials, nor to foreign governments or Members of Congress. In fact quite the contrary; with them there is good cooperation and comfortable, helpful and ongoing dialogue. Perhaps ironically, there is also good communication and support from the Defense Intelligence Agency, a notion that might alarm the conspiracy and cover-up theorists.    
 
LEAGUE REGIONAL MEETING TO BE HELD AT SCOTT AFB, ILLINOIS:  Liz Flick, Ohio State & Region IV Coordinator, has scheduled a Region IV Meeting at Scott Air Force Base, Belleville, Illinois, for October 27th, preceded by a meeting of the League’s Board of Directors on October 26th.  The League has met at Scott AFB on various occasions over the years.  Region IV spreads from Ohio to Nebraska, and Minnesota to Kansas; therefore, she selected a centrally located military facility most convenient for all family and associate League members, veterans and other supporters, as well as US officials who will be flying in from Hawaii, Washington, DC and Texas. 
 

Billeting arrangements have been made for quarters on base at only $30 per night.  Transportation to/from St. Louis International Airport must be arranged individually.  It is only some 28 miles from the airport to the base, about 40 minutes’ driving time, but if you do not wish to rent a car, there is a shuttle bus from the terminal right to the base gate.  The bus costs $2 or $3 per passenger and takes about one hour and fifteen minutes, departing every 10 minutes during the day.  Unfortunately, on-base lodging is not within walking distance from the base gate, so arrangements would have to be made for others to meet arrivals at the gate and transport them to lodging.  The St. Louis International Airport has flight connections for most airlines.   
 

The League’s Board of Directors and Executive Director will arrive on Thursday, October 25th, and hold sessions all day on October 26th.  The Region IV Meeting, with government and League presentations, plus a League business session, will run all day Saturday, October 27th, beginning with breakfast at 8:00 a.m.  The registration cost of only $30 per person includes breakfast, lunch and steak dinner at on-base dining facilities.  Deadline for registration is October 1st.  Contact Liz Flick by phone at 614-451-2405 or email at rflick@columbus.rr.com <mailto:rflick@columbus.rr.com> .  This meeting will be an excellent opportunity to hear from US officials in a smaller forum, including DPMO, JPAC/CIL and others who will be providing briefings on this occasion. These are the people actually working on the issue, and there will be opportunities to talk with them one-on-one.
 
DPMO UPDATE SCHEDULE:  2008 DPMO-hosted Family Updates are scheduled for January 12th – Houston, TX; February 7th – Atlanta, GA; March 15th – Portland, OR; April 19th – Hartford, CT; May 17th – Tulsa, OK; June 21-23rd – at the National League of Families’ 39th Annual Meeting, Washington, DC, area; July 26th – Chicago, IL; August 23rd – Salt Lake City, UT; October 16-18th – Korean/Cold War Annual Briefings, Washington, DC, area; November 15th – San Diego, CA.
 

Executive Director Comment:  Over 80% of attendees at the DPMO Updates are Korean War, Cold War and World War II-related.  It is critical that Vietnam War family members attend for the following reasons:  1) the smaller forum allows individual discussion with US officials about specific cases; 2) attendance demonstrates that Vietnam War families won’t be ignored due to our smaller numbers; 3) the ability to share your knowledge with family members from other wars without our many years of experience in dealing with US officials on whose efforts the issue depends; and 4) to help raise informed questions to US officials so that responses can be heard and absorbed by all family members, all wars.   
 

COMBINED FEDERAL CAMPAIGN (CFC) APPROVES LEAGUE FOR 2007:  The League was recently notified that all the stringent criteria were met, and our new (five digit) number is 10218, 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/BNRs and their families that is eligible for donations through CFC & United Way.   Due to the credibility that comes with acceptance by CFC, we are proud of our eligibility; however, there are many worthy causes and much competition for the funds available.  That is especially true in a time of war when we ALL want to support our troops and their families in every possible way.