POW/MIA Update: April 24, 2008

[boardman]

POW/MIA Update:   April 24, 2008
 
AMERICANS ANNOUNCED AS ACCOUNTED FOR:  There are now 1,761 US personnel listed by the Defense POW/MIA Office as missing and unaccounted for from the Vietnam War.. Staff Sergeant James K. Caniford, USAF, and Captain Barclay B. Young, USAF, both listed as MIA in Laos on March 29, 1972, have now been accounted for.  Their remains were recovered November 21, 2006 and recently identified. The most recent identifications, though many others are not yet announced, brought to 822 the number of US personnel returned since the end of the Vietnam War in 1975.   90+% of the 1,761 still listed as missing and unaccounted-for were lost in Vietnam or in areas of Laos and Cambodia under Vietnam’s wartime control.  
 
SECRETARY OF DEFENSE VISITS JPAC:  During a visit to the US Pacific Command in February, Secretary of Defense Bob Gates visited JPAC, receiving briefings on JPAC’s vast worldwide operations, and touring the Central Identification Laboratory. 
 
PACOM COMMANDER SUPPORTS JPAC:  Admiral Tim Keating, USN, Commander of the U.S. Pacific Command (PACOM) testified before Congress in mid-March that PACOM’s budget for Fiscal Year 2009 (FY09) included funding to complete design of the long-sought new headquarters building for the Joint POW/MIA Accounting Command (JPAC).  He also pledged that PACOM’s request for FY10 would include authorization and funding for construction, estimated currently to be just over $100M dollars. 
 

That welcome news is long overdue.  Expanding JPAC’s capabilities will help them meet increased demands for recovering remains of those lost before the Vietnam War, back to WWII. This is also an important signal to those serving today in the global war on terrorism, but especially in Iraq and Afghanistan.  They must be able to depend on all of us here at home should they be captured or become missing in action while serving our country and defending our freedom. 
 
JPAC COMMANDER TRAVELS:  New JPAC Commander, RADM Donna Crisp, USN, has just visited Laos on her first visit to that country and is going on to Vietnam for a second visit.  Shortly after returning, she will go to Papua New Guinea then on to Cambodia for a second visit to that country.  Just before her first Southeast Asia trip, she visited the Republic of Korea (South Korea) to discuss ways to expedite solving Korean War losses.  On that trip, RADM Crisp went on to Beijing to meet with PRC officials in an effort to restore recovery operations in that country.  Most recently, RADM Crisp visited India to pursue plans to conduct WWII recovery operations there. 
 
UPDATE ON JPAC OPERATIONS:  The JPAC teams operating in Vietnam and Laos have now concluded operations and returned to headquarters in Hawaii.  JPAC Commander RADM Donna Crisp, USN, has just visited Laos, holding her first consultations with Lao officials.  US Ambassador to Laos Ravic Huso participated in the talks, as did Detachment 3 Commander LTC Brandt Deck, and DPMO, Stony Beach and JPAC staff. Ambassador Huso also arranged for RADM Crisp to meet the Vice Ministers of Foreign Affairs and Defense while in Vientiane.  She went on to Hanoi where technical talks were being held with the VNOSMP to discuss results from recent joint field operations and plans for upcoming activities.
 
FAMILIES OPPOSE ANOTHER SELECT COMMITTEE ON POW/MIA AFFAIRS:  With a unanimous vote of the League’s Board of Directors preceding a unanimous membership vote at the 38th Annual Meeting last June, the League is on record as strongly opposing H. Res.111.  Previously disproven claims of conspiracy and cover-up are again being raised, but past investigations have completely tied up assets and resources and the accounting was put on hold to allow time and attention to respond to Congress.  The League will continue to oppose another wasteful, time-consuming special committee or commission unless and until there is nothing further that can be done constructively.  In that event, the League would then reconsider.  That time is NOT yet here. 
 
We urge Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi and Members of the Rules Committee to stop this resolution from being attached to another measure coming to a vote in the full House.  If that happens, the League will do its best to prevent the negative impact that historically has occurred.     
  
COMBINED FEDERAL CAMPAIGN (CFC):  Though technically now concluded, the League was notified that the stringent criteria for the 2007 campaign were met; 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 American POW/MIAs, KIA/BNR’s 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.  We have also applied for the 2008 Combined Federal Campaign and, if again successful, our eligibility number will remain the same:  #10218.
 
39TH ANNUAL MEETING SCHEDULED:  Plan now to attend the League’s 39th Annual Meeting, June 19-22nd, again being held at the Hilton Crystal City Hotel, Arlington, VA.  The Defense Department has again authorized commercial flights for two family members to represent each missing Vietnam War serviceman or civilian.  The two persons authorized travel must be designated by the primary next-of-kin (PNOK). For most, the arrival date will be Wednesday, June 18th, to ensure availability for early Thursday morning when the sessions actually begin. The 39th Annual Dinner will be that same evening, and the Military Services will again host luncheons on Friday.
 
39TH ANNUAL MEETING PROGRAM AD RATES
 
INSIDE BACK COVER - $1,000*
 
FULL PAGE (8 ½” x 11”) - $500*
 
½ PAGE (8 ½” x 5 ½”) - $250*
 
¼ PAGE (4 ¼” x 5 ½”) - $125**
 
BUSINESS CARD - $50
(As submitted)
 
“IN HONOR OF” - $25
(Submit Name of POW/MIA with Your Name)
 
PATRON - $10
(Your Name Listed)
 
Send camera-ready ads by email; mail text with payment to:
 
National League of POW/MIA Families
1005 North Glebe Road, Suite 170
Arlington, VA  22201
703-465-7432
powmiafam@aol.com
Deadline:  June 1, 2008

*Donors at this level receive League Membership, Newsletters, Updates
and registration for the 39th Annual Meeting. 
 
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The League is a 501(c)3 tax-exempt, non-profit organization; Federal Tax ID #23-7071242
 
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www.POWMIALeague.org
www.POWMIALeague.com
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