POW/MIA Update: May 23, 2008

[boardman]

POW/MIA Update: May 23, 2008

AMERICANS ANNOUNCED AS ACCOUNTED FOR: There are still 1,761 US personnel listed by the Defense POW/MIA Office as missing and unaccounted for from the Vietnam War. The remains of Staff Sergeant James K. Caniford, USAF, and Captain Barclay B. Young, USAF, both listed as MIA in Laos on March 29, 1972, were the two most recently announced as identified. Their remains were recovered November 21, 2006. Though many others have reportedly been identified, but are not yet announced, this brought to 822 the number of US personnel accounted for 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.

JPAC HOLDS COMMANDERS CONFERENCE: New JPAC Commander, RADM Donna Crisp, USN, recently CALLED A Commanders Conference, attended by the three Detachment Commanders in Thailand, Vietnam and Laos, and by the Detachment 4 Commander for worldwide operations. Also visiting for the one-day conference at Hickam AFB, Honolulu, Hawaii, were Ambassador Charlie Ray and his Principal Deputy Colonel Dave Ellis, USAF.

UPDATE ON JPAC OPERATIONS: The two JPAC recovery teams that began operations May 1st at two sites in Xekong and Attapu Provinces are continuing their work and expected to conclude on June 4th. Three JPAC teams – one recovery, one investigation and one underwater investigation – are continuing operations in South Korea and are expected to conclude June 15th. The underwater team is investigating two cases in the Han River, near Seoul, until May 30th. Two JPAC recovery teams and one investigation teams just concluded operations in Papua New Guinea. US Ambassador to PNG, Leslie V. Rowe, visited the two recovery teams in Kokopo Province on April 29th, reinforcing the importance of the work being accomplished to recover WWII losses, and the JPAC Commander recently visited to lend her support. Research and survey operations in Japan were concluded this week, but archival research and interviewing continues in Europe, plus a pre-deployment site survey team completed operations inGermany, for later excavation by a full JPAC recovery team.

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.

NATIONAL POW/MIA RECOGNITION DAY – SEPTEMBER 19, 2008: This year’s official date will again be on the third Friday in September, and the national ceremony will be held on that date. The posters for 2008 will be unveiled at the League’s 39th Annual Meeting and will be available shortly thereafter, by calling 703-699-1131. A recording will tell the caller what information is needed for a shipment of posters. The second way is to visit the DPMO web site at www.dtic.mil/dpmo <http://www.dtic.mil/dpmo> and look at the link on the home page with instructions on how to order posters. There are still some 2007 posters left, and when the 2008 poster is available, the ordering info will be the same. Per DPMO, it is not yet known whether the posters will again be ordered in large and small sizes.

COMBINED FEDERAL CAMPAIGN (CFC): The League was just notified that the stringent criteria for the 2008 campaign were met, and our official number is the same, 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 and is in urgent need of tax-deductible donations, FEIN #23-7071242.

39TH ANNUAL MEETING: Registration and hotel reservation forms for the League’s 39th Annual Meeting, June 19-21st, Hilton Crystal City Hotel, Arlington, VA, were sent to all League members, and some Service Casualty Offices sent them out with the COIN Assist and other Service-related information. 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). Deadline for Hilton reservations is May 31st; deadline to register for the League’s 39th Annual Meeting is June 6th. For most, the arrival date will be Wednesday, June 18th, to ensure availability for early Thursday morning, June 19th, when the sessions actually begin. The 39th Annual Dinner will be that evening. The Service-hosted luncheons will be on Friday, June 20th and a concert will be held that evening at the new Air Force Memorial, following by a visit to the National Vietnam Veterans Memorial. A lengthy Q & A Session will be on Saturday morning, June 21st, followed that afternoon with a League business session.

You can help the League raise funds by bringing items for the Silent Action; however, due to restrictive limits on luggage allowed on flights, you may wish to bring very small items, easily packed and lightweight.

You can also honor a missing loved one or friend by taking an ad to be published in the official program for our 39th Annual Meeting, per the rates listed below. AD deadline: June 1, 2008


39TH ANNUAL MEETING PROGRAM AD RATES

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 <mailto:powmiafam@aol.com>
Deadline: June 1, 2008

*Donors at this level receive League Membership, Newsletters, Updates
and registration for the 39th Annual Meeting.

**Donors at this level receive League Membership, Newsletters and Updates.

The League is a 501(c)3 tax-exempt, non-profit organization; Federal Tax ID #23-7071242

CHECK THE LEAGUE’S UPDATED WEB SITE
www.POWMIALeague.org <http://www.powmialeague.org/>

www.POWMIALeague.com <http://www.powmialeague.com/>

www.pow-miafamilies.org <http://www.pow-miafamilies.org/>