POW/MIA Update: Feb. 2010

[boardman]

DYING FOR FREEDOM ISN'T THE WORST THAT COULD HAPPEN.... BEING FORGOTTEN IS! Susie Stephens-Harvey

President, Georgia Committee for POW/MIA Inc.

State and Region 1 Coordinator

National League of Families for POW/MIA's In Southeast Asia

5673 Columbia Pike, Suite 100

Falls Church, VA 22041

703-465-7432

www.pow-miafamilies.org

UPDATE: February 4, 2010

AMERICANS RECOVERED: 1,720 Americans are now listed by Defense POW/MIA Office (DPMO) as missing and unaccounted for from the Vietnam War. On January 19th, DPMO posted the name of Colonel Elton L. Perrine, USAF, from New York, listed as MIA on May 22, 1967 in North Vietnam. His remains were jointly recovered July 25, 2007 and identified December 7, 2009. Recently, DPMO also posted the names of Major Russell C. Goodman, USAF, of Utah, KIA/BNR in North Vietnam on February 20, 1967, his remains were recovered December 15, 1993 and identified September 14, 2009. Also announced were Staff Sergeant Melvin C. Dye, USA, of Michigan, and Sergeant First Class Douglas J. Glover, USA, of New York, both MIA in Laos February 19, 1968. Their remains were recovered November 21, 2007 and identified February 4, 2009. The number of Americans accounted for since the end of the Vietnam War in 1975 is now 863, though another 63 US personnel were recovered post-incident and identified before the end of the war, bringing the total to 926. To the family and friends of these three men, the League offers understanding and the hope that these concrete answers bring long-awaited peace of mind. Of the 1,720 unreturned veterans still missing and unaccounted for, 90% were lost in Vietnam or in areas of Laos and Cambodia under Vietnam’s wartime control.

JPAC LEADERSHIP CHANGE: PACOM Commander ADM Robert Willard, USN, presided at the January 29th Change of Command from retiring JPAC Commander RADM Donna Crisp, to MG Stephen Tom, USAR.

The Change of Command was held on Heroes Green at JPAC Headquarters. League Executive Director Ann Mills Griffiths attended and met with General Tom, Admiral Crisp and several JPAC officials while in Hawaii, as well as with ADM Willard and his Foreign Policy Advisor Daniel Piccuta.

MG Tom is an experienced US Army Reserve officer, recalled to active duty in 2006 to serve as the PACOM Chief of Staff, a position that will serve him well as JPAC Commander, already knowing many foreign officials in countries involved in the POW/MIA accounting mission. In addition, he is a respected attorney, practicing for years in Honolulu, thus broad experience in working with the civilian and military communities. Due to his vast experience and qualifications, he was personally selected by PACOM Commander Admiral Willard after expressing interest in what he termed his “dream job” as JPAC Commander.

JPAC OPERATIONS: The 111th Joint Field Activity (JFA) is now ongoing in Laos. One Investigation Team (IT) and two Recovery Teams (RTs) are continuing operations in Xepon and Savannakhet Provinces. These field operations began January 13th and will conclude February 16th. Field operations are also ongoing in Cambodia, the 43rd JFA. One Underwater Investigation Team (UIT) and one RT arrived in Cambodia on January 14th, and the missions in Kam Pong Cham and Kracheh Provinces and Sihanoukville will continue for several weeks.

Joint operations in Vietnam and India ended in early December and JPAC field teams were not deployed during the Christmas Holidays. Recent visitors to JPAC and its Central Identification Laboratory included the National Commanders of the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the U. S. and The American legion, as well as the Presidents of the Legion and VFW Auxiliaries, along with staff.

THE RIDE HOME – ANDERSONVILLE NATIONAL HISTORIC SITE (NHS): Rolling Thunder®`s 2010 Ride Home - a multi-day annual activity held in conjunction with the National Park Service`s Andersonville National Historic Site and Georgia Southwestern State University to recognize and honor the nation`s Prisoners of War (POW) and those Missing in Action (MIA). The Vietnam Traveling Memorial Wall and the Some Gave All Moving Tribute will be at Andersonville NHS from September 17-26. The three-day Ride Home 2010 will once again be held in conjunction with National POW/MIA Recognition Day during the 3rd weekend of September. Ceremonies and services, a dinner, a motorcycle ride (invited guests are provided bus transportation!) and other tributes are scheduled. This year, there will be a greater number of MIA families to represent their missing loved ones, and the League wants to be sure you know what is planned. Along with ceremonies and other functions for guests, the Vietnam Traveling Memorial Wall will be in place at the National Prisoner of War Museum in Andersonville. Please visit www.theridehome.com for all the details. Many of you who live in the southeastern U. S. will receive invitations by mail. The League forwarded these on behalf of The Ride Home organizers. If you do not receive one but would like to consider attending, please contact League Board member Pam Cain at pamcain@cox.net or 703-798-8550.

LEAGUE NATIONAL OFFICE MOVING: The planned move to new office space was postponed until February 13th due to weather conditions (SNOW). Our new office address is National League of POW/MIA Families, 5673 Columbia Pike, Suite 100, Falls Church, VA 22041.

41ST ANNUAL MEETING SCHEDULED: To enable all to arrange schedules, the 41st Annual Meeting will be held July 22-25, 2010, at the Hilton Crystal City Hotel, Arlington, VA. Start planning now to attend.