China admits taking, burying US POW from Korea

"History of the POW/MIA Flag"

In 1971, Mrs. Michael Hoff, an MIA wife and member of the National League of Families, recognized the need for a symbol of our POW/MIAs. Prompted by an article in the Jacksonville, Florida Times-Union, Mrs. Hoff contacted Norman Rivkees, Vice President of Annin & Company which had made a banner for the newest member of the United Nations, the People's Republic of China, as a part of their policy to provide flags to all United Nations members states. Mrs. Hoff found Mr. Rivkees very sympathetic to the POW/MIA issue, and he, along with Annin's advertising agency, designed a flag to represent our missing men. Following League approval, the flags were manufactured for distribution.

On March 9, 1989, an official League flag, which flew over the White House on 1988 National POW/MIA Recognition Day, was installed in the U.S. Capitol Rotunda as a result of legislation passed overwhelmingly during the 100th Congress. In a demonstration of bipartisan Congressional support, the leadership of both Houses hosted the installation ceremony.

The League's POW/MIA flag is the only flag ever displayed in the U.S. Capitol Rotunda where it will stand as a powerful symbol of national commitment to America's POW/MIAs until the fullest possible accounting has been achieved for U.S. personnel still missing and unaccounted for from the Vietnam War.

On August 10, 1990, the 101st Congress passed U.S. Public Law 101-355, which recognized the League's POW/MIA flag and designated it "as the symbol of our Nation's concern and commitment to resolving as fully as possible the fates of Americans still prisoner, missing and unaccounted for in Southeast Asia, thus ending the uncertainty for their families and the Nation".

The importance of the League's POW/MIA flag lies in its continued visibility, a constant reminder of the plight of America's POW/MIAs. Other than "Old Glory", the League's POW/MIA flag is the only flag ever to fly over the White House, having been displayed in this place of honor on National POW/MIA Recognition Day since 1982. With passage of Section 1082 of the 1998 Defense Authorization Act during the first term of the 105th Congress, the League's POW/MIA flag will fly each year on Armed Forces Day, Memorial Day, Flag Day, Independence Day, National POW/MIA Recognition Day and Veterans Day on the grounds or in the public lobbies of major military installations as designated by the Secretary of the Defense, all Federal national cemeteries, the national Korean War Veterans Memorial, the National Vietnam Veterans Memorial, the White House, the United States Postal Service post offices and at the official offices of the Secretaries of State, Defense and Veteran's Affairs, and Director of the Selective Service System.

The House Resolution:

H.R.1119 National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 1998 (Passed by the House)

SEC. 1054. DISPLAY OF POW/MIA FLAG.

(a) REQUIRED DISPLAY- The POW/MIA flag shall be displayed at the locations specified in subsection (c) each year on POW/MIA flag display days. Such display shall serve (1) as the symbol of the Nation's concern and commitment to achieving the fullest possible accounting of Americans who, having been prisoners of war or missing in action, still remain unaccounted for, and (2) as the symbol of the Nation's commitment to achieving the fullest possible accounting for Americans who in the future may become prisoners of war, missing in action, or otherwise unaccounted for as a result of hostile action.

(b) DAYS FOR FLAG DISPLAY- (1) For purposes of this section, POW/MIA flag display days are the following:

(A) Armed Forces Day, the third Saturday in May.

(B) Memorial Day, the last Monday in May.

(C) Flag Day, June 14.

(D) Independence Day, July 4.

(E) National POW/MIA Recognition Day.

(F) Veterans Day, November 11.

(2) In the case of display at United States Postal Service post offices (required by subsection (c)(8)), POW/MIA flag display days in any year include, in addition to the days specified in paragraph (1), the last business day before each such day that itself is not a business day.

(c) LOCATIONS FOR FLAG DISPLAY- The locations for the display of the POW/MIA flag under this section are the following:

(1) The Capitol.

(2) The White House.

(3) The Korean War Veterans Memorial and the Vietnam Veterans Memorial.

(4) Each national cemetery.

(5) The buildings containing the primary offices of--

(A) the Secretary of State;

(B) the Secretary of Defense;

(C) the Secretary of Veterans Affairs; and

(D) the Director of the Selective Service System.

(6) Each major military installation, as designated by the Secretary of Defense.

(7) Each Department of Veterans Affairs medical center.

(8) Each United States Postal Service post office.

(d) COORDINATION WITH OTHER DISPLAY REQUIREMENT- Display of the POW/MIA flag at the Capitol pursuant to paragraph (1) of subsection (c) is in addition to the display of that flag in the Rotunda of the Capitol required by Senate Concurrent Resolution 5 of the 101st Congress, agreed to on February 22, 1989 (103 Stat. 2533).

(e) REQUIREMENTS CONCERNING DISPLAY AT SPECIFIED LOCATIONS- (1) Display of the POW/MIA flag at the buildings specified in paragraphs (1), (2), (5), and (7) of subsection (c) shall be on, or on the grounds of, each such building.

(2) Display of that flag pursuant to paragraph (5) of subsection (c) at the buildings containing the primary offices of the officials specified in that paragraph shall be in an area visible to the public.

(3) Display of that flag at United States Postal Service post offices pursuant to paragraph (8) of subsection (c) shall be on the grounds or in the public lobby of each such post office.

(f) POW/MIA FLAG DEFINED- As used in this section, the term `POW/MIA flag' means the National League of Families POW/MIA flag recognized officially and designated by section 2 of Public Law 101-355 (36U.S.C. 189).

(g) REGULATIONS FOR IMPLEMENTATION- Within 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the head of each department, agency, or other establishment responsible for a location specified in subsection (c) (other than the Capitol) shall prescribe such regulations as necessary to carry out this section.

(h) PROCUREMENT AND DISTRIBUTION OF FLAGS- Within 30 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Administrator of General Services shall procure POW/MIA flags and distribute them as necessary to carry out this section.

PROTOCOL:

If flying the flag from ONE FLAG POLE, the POW/MIA flag is flown directly below the National Colors and above any state flag.

* If flying National, POW/MIA and State flags from TWO poles, the POW/MIA flag should be flown from the same pole as the National Colors, and beneath the American Flag, with the state flag flying from the pole to the left.

* If flying flags from three poles, the National Colors occupy the place of prominence (the right), with the POW/MIA flag immediately to the left of the US Flag, and the state flag to the left of the POW/MIA flag.

"Designer glad that POW flag lifts hopes
By Terri Cotten
Special to The Denver Post

Sunday, September 22, 2002 - COLORADO SPRINGS - As a World War II pilot, Newton Heisley covered vast stretches of the Pacific Ocean in frightening isolation. During those trips, he sometimes found himself imagining what it would be like to be shot down and taken prisoner.

He hoped he would not be forgotten.

Nearly 30 years later, Heisley drew on those memories when he was commissioned to design a flag that would rally support for the efforts of the National League of Families of American Prisoners and Missing in Southeast Asia.

He sketched three different designs, but the one chosen in 1971 now graces the banner that is the country's second-fastest-selling flag, behind only the Stars and Stripes. Beneath the emaciated silhouette of a man's head, the black and white POW/MIA flag bears the motto: "You Are Not Forgotten."

"I'm no hero," Heisley said Friday from his Colorado Springs home as people gathered throughout the country for National POW/MIA Recognition Day ceremonies, an annual event that began in 1979.

"I didn't do it for personal gain or acclaim. I did it for the men who were prisoners of war or missing in action. They're the real heroes."

Initially, Heisley's design was used to rally support for bringing home those held prisoner or missing in Vietnam. Today, it is used to fight for an accounting of more than 89,000 soldiers who remain missing from all wars since World War II.

Historians and flag experts call the proliferation of the POW/MIA flag unprecedented in the history of the United States and perhaps the world. The POW/MIA flag is the only flag that flies continuously in the U.S. Capitol's rotunda and is the only flag, besides Old Glory, that has flown above the White House.

It has flown at the Super Bowl, the New York Stock Exchange and at every post office nationwide. Heisley's drawing, which was never copyrighted, can be found on everything from ball caps to mugs.

The idea began when Mrs. Michael Hoff, the wife of a soldier missing in action and a member of the National League of Families, recognized the need for such a symbol. She sought help from flag manufacturers Annin & Co., which, in turn, went to Heisley, who was then creative director for a New Jersey advertising firm.

About the time his father began working on the project, Jeffrey Heisley, then 24, was struck with hepatitis during a Marine Corps training program. His shrunken condition inspired his father to draw him in silhouette for the flag.

David Winn, a retired Air Force general, was a prisoner of war at the "Hanoi Hilton" when Heisley sketched the POW/MIA symbol.

Winn, one of those who gathered for Friday's observance of National POW/MIA Recognition Day at the University of Colorado at Colorado Springs, said he was shot down over North Vietnam in August 1968. He spent the first 22 months of captivity in isolation and shrunk from 175 pounds to less than 120 pounds, he said.

Two events gave him hope, he said. One was the Son Tay raid in November 1970, which prompted the Viet Cong to move all their prisoners to Hanoi and effectively ended solitary confinements.

The second came in 1971 at the Paris peace talks when the National League of Families flooded the North Vietnamese delegation with 3 million letters demanding the return of their loved ones. The prisoners found their conditions again improving.

Winn and his fellow prisoners were liberated in March 1973, but he said those who fly the POW/MIA flag today remain committed to a full accounting.

"It's impossible, the way we live such normal lives in this country, to conceive of a violent death," Winn said. "The average guy ought to be reminded that people are paying an awful price for his freedom."


Copyright 2002 The Denver Post"

" PO

W

POW-MIA Ribbon: A Brief History"

Virtually every culture and society has a history of adorning one's person or place with ribbons to denote allegiance, mourning or association with a campaign.

Through the centuries black mourning bands and wreaths with bows hung on doors were often seen. During the French Revolution, tricolor Red, White and Blue bunting hung everywhere, cockades and rosettes were worn on hats, lapels and shifts. During the Russian Revolution, white or red armbands were worn to denote political support... white flags and armbands have been worn to show truce or neutrality... liberation crews at sea boarded ships with armbands flapping in the sea breezes... Kamikaze pilots during WW II wore headbands with the Rising Sun... AIM members showed their colors and commitment with their windbands as they faced the adversity of the US government during standoffs at Wounded Knee II, Alcatraz and the BIA Building takeover.

Even the military has carried ribbons upon their unit and company colors... campaign ribbons fluttering from the staff as troops marched into and back from battle.

During the Indian Wars, War of 1812 and the Civil War, it was not unusual for a lady to plait a ribbon into her hair until her soldier or sailor returned from battle. Sometimes it was the regimental colors, more often than not, it was whatever was available. But the message was the same...

I will wait for you.

In the beginning of the POW MIA issue, when the only roots was grassroots, the official color ribbon worn was red. Red ribbons adorned lapels, were tied on bracelets, flags and some ladies even wore all red on POW MIA Recognition Day, as unofficial as the day then was. And then most people stopped caring. As bracelets came off and flags came down, the ribbon was retired and only a handful of the old time family members, activists and veterans maintained the red ribbons.

Then in 1980 something happened that catapulted the concept of a ribbon campaign back into the consciousness of the nation. American hostages were captured and held in Iran and it didn't look good. People rallied, the media ran rampant and hostage fever grew. To show solidarity with the hostages and their families, people took a cue from a recently popular song, 'Tie A Yellow Ribbon 'Round The Old Oak Tree' and started tying ribbons on anything that stood still. The song was recorded several times through the years but had become a resounding hit when Tony Orlando and Dawn recorded it in 1973... and it played for years, playing on in the heads of the public. The song, written by Irwin Levine and L. Russell Brown, referred to a man coming home after a stint in prison. It didn't matter, the message was quickly picked up by Human Rights organizations, Amnesty International and other hostage support groups, and yellow ribbons were to be found virtually everywhere.

Once the hostages were released, the human rights campaigns continued but it was not until Operation Desert Storm, The Persian Gulf War, that the ribbons came out again. With troops overseas during the holidays, people began tying yellow ribbons on the flags, fences and trees and wearing them to show support of US troops so far away. Pins, patches and bumper stickers by the millions were made and sold and soon the yellow ribbon was synonamous with troop support.

POW MIA organizations, supporting the troops and still working to resolve the POW MIA issue, began to adopt ribbons once again. But as the red ribbon, the traditional and original POW MIA issue color, had been hijacked by AIDs activists, the yellow ribbon showing troop support and signifying 'until the boys and gals come home' was adopted by some.

Odd that yellow should be picked, as during many a military campaign, a yellow ribbon denoted cowardice. Yet, it has prevailed as a popular symbol of support by the public and 'leaving a light in the window.' Although yellow is generally used by the public for POW MIA awareness, all POW MIA Dining-In Ceremonies still use a RED ribbon tied around the vase that holds the single red rose.

Today, with so very many organizations and so few colors to choose from, the yellow ribbon is used regularly by a vast number of organizations to show solidarity with their cause.

Updated 2/9/08

LASTEST POW-MIA NEWS

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Concerned Citizens for Known But Abandoned POWs
                            PO Box 305 Moores Hill IN 47032
                  Email: knownbutabandonedpows@yahoo.com

2008 POW/MIA Weekend Demonstration

scheduled for 19, 20 & 21 September 2008

 

 

Dear Friends,

Several weeks ago I wrote a letter to You All, referring to something ‘BIG’ coming in the near future.  Well, the future is here and the proposed plans for this something ‘BIG’ are laid out in this letter.

For the past forty years or so we have been trying every thing under the sun to awaken the American People to the National Disgrace that is the POW/MIA Issue, but to no avail.  One of the principal reasons for this lack of interest must be placed at the feet of the American News Media, which has, for more than sixty years, made no effort to make an in depth investigation of this Issue.  The Media reports each incident or report as an individual item and never makes an effort to ‘connect the dots’ and thus never gets the full story told.  Several incidents have occurred where individual reporters have made an effort, on their own, to investigate and fully report on the Issue.  Each of these people became ostracized by the publishers, editors, and senior journalists who, apparently, actively participate in a cover up of the Issue.  In these nefarious actions do we see our ‘Free Press’ colluding with the US Government against the will of the People, rather than keeping the People informed of the actions of the government?  We believe that by shirking their duty, as given by the US Constitution, the media not only endangers their Freedom of the Press, but they truly endanger all of the liberties we, as a nation, enjoy.

If the Media is one of the culprits, the biggest ‘sick fish in this polluted pond’ is the United States Government.  We all know that corporations, the media, and governments cannot, of themselves, be guilty of anything.  It is the people who control them who are the guilty parties!  With that fact in mind, we can clearly state that there are many guilty parties in the media, as well as those who are, or who were, employees of the United States Government.  These people vary from US Presidents and publishers to lowly file clerks who put their positions and livelihood ahead of the lives of our Abandoned Service Personnel.  Our POWs, who were known to be held after WW II, The Korean War, The Vietnam War, and other engagements never had their absences properly investigated nor explained, because our laws during this long period did not demand, nor even allow, further investigations.  (See the Missing Persons Act of 1942)   

We activists and our supporters have held rallies, signed petitions, had marches, and hunger strikes, in our effort to bring the government’s attention to the Issue.  We have been stymied at every turn by a government that is not only unwilling to listen to our pleas, but a government that has actively hindered our efforts.  We have had Congressional and Senate hearings where it was found that POW’s had been left behind, but no actions were ever taken to learn ’Why’, nor was any action taken to bring them home.  We have had investigations that found the personnel in the elements of our government responsible for handling this Issue were not only inefficient, but were, seemingly, immune from correction or punishment.


WE MUST FIND OUT WHY THIS CRIMINAL DISCGRACE HAPPENED, AND WHO WERE THE PEOPLE RESPONSIBLE FOR ABANDONING THE MISSING SERVICE PERSONNEL WHO WERE KNOWN TO BE, OR SUSPECTED OF BEING, HELD AS PRISONERS OF WAR, BUT WHO WERE NOT RELEASED.

                          IF ANY ARE STILL ALIVE WE MUST BRING THEM HOME                                                                     

EVEN IF NONE ARE ALIVE, THOSE GUILTY FOR THEIR ABANDONMENT MUST BE BROUGHT BEFORE THE AMERICAN PEOPLE FOR JUDGEMENT.  THE CULPRITS WHO HAVE DIED SINCE COMITTING THESE CRIMES MUST HAVE A FOOT NOTE ADDED TO THEIR BIOGRAPHY AND ANY AWARDS THEY RECEIVED, DURING THE TIME THEY WERE INVOLVED IN THIS ISSUE, MUST BE REVOKED.  THOSE CULPRITS WHO ARE LIVING MUST FACE JUDGEMENT.            .


THERE IS ONLY ONE WAY OPEN TO US, AND IT IS THE ONLY ONE THAT HAS NOT BEEN TRIED.

                                      WE MUST HAVE AN INDEPENDENT COUNSEL
                                                                                          
THE COUNSEL WHO INVESTIGATES THE POW/MIA ISSUE, FROM THE DATE THAT THE MISSING PERSONS ACT OF 1942 BE CAME LAW TO THIS VERY DAY, MUST HAVE FULL SUBPEONA  AND PROSECUTORIAL POWERS SO NO STONE WILL BE LEFT UNTURNED. NO MAN FORGOTTEN.

To say that we need an Independent Counsel and to actually get one are definitely two different objectives.  We will have to convince the American People of the need, and then we will have to lead the People in their insistence for this Independent Counsel.  The only way we can do this is to start a nationwide movement insisting that an Independent Counsel be appointed to investigate the POW/MIA Issue.  This movement can be successful only if organized and coordinated throughout the entire country.  These organized demonstrations must be reinforced by strong legislative support at both the national and state levels.

WE BELIEVE THERE ARE ENOUGH POW/MIA ACTIVISTS, SUPPORTERS, AND OTHER INTERESTED AMERICANS WHO WILL PUT FORTH ENOUGH EFFORT TO SUCCEED IN THIS ENDEAVOR.


In keeping with the above considerations, we have applied for Demonstration Permits to demonstrate for three days in Washington, DC

                scheduled for 19, 20 & 21 September 2008 (POW/MIA Weekend).
Please note that this weekend is approximately six weeks before the National Elections. 

That gives us about a year to work to work on the incumbents and their challengers in Congress (House and Senate) and also state elected officials. 

In addition, we must pressure the President and his Administration to accept the idea of appointing an Independent Counsel for the POW/MIA Issue.

We have a lobbyist working on House and Senate Resolutions for an Independent Counsel., and a member of each house has agreed to introduce them..  As soon as these Bills are introduced, we will send a copy to who ever accepts the responsibility of having a supporting Bill introduced in their state legislatures.  We need at least one individual from each state.

In addition to having supporting Bills introduced, in each state legislature, we would also like to have satellite demonstrations.  As near as possible we would like to have them at approximately the same time, in every state Capitol City, in every state in the country.  We would also like to have them simultaneously in other large cities in the state.  We realize that every one cannot come to DC, but we want as many as possible to participate in the movement, and we believe that this will allow nearly every one to participate.

                                      THIS MUST BE A STRONG NATIONWIDE EFF0RT

We in this new small organization realize that we cannot do this on our own.  We can manage to lead the Demonstrations in DC, but any other demonstration is up to those who will do it locally.  If we all do it together we all shall be successful, and very possibly end our National Nightmare.                                                          



As presently planned, the three days of demonstration in DC will consist of :

Day One:    A Candle Light Ceremony at the Vietnam Veterans Memorial and a Light & Drum March to The White House and a Drum Rally in Lafayette Park and simultaneously on the south side of the White House.

Day Two:    A protest March from the Vietnam Veterans Memorial to the Capitol Building (or the Mall) with a program of speeches and music.      

Day Three:  A Motorcycle Run (Route to be announced) and a Rally at the Vietnam Veterans Memorial.

For the first two days at each satellite demonstration we will need a group to volunteer to organize and conduct these demonstrations

In that the third day of the demonstration will be a motorcycle run we need a motorcycle group to accept responsibility for organizing and directing the satellite  runs through out the country.

Very close coordination between these two groups will be required.

Organizations interested in organizing and leading these satellite demonstrations can contact us at the E-mail
And telephone number noted in the Heading of this letter.

TOGETHER WE CAN DO IT!!                                                                                                                            



                                     & nbsp;                                       JOHN (TOP) HOLLAND
                                                                                              President

CONCERNED CITIZENS FOR KNOWN BUT ABANDONED POWs

P.O. Box 305, Moores Hill, Indiana 47032

Email: knownbutabandonedpows@yahoo.com

SUBJECT: How the American People Will Demand (And Have!) An Independent Counsel

Appointed to Investigate the POW/MIA Issue.

This nation has been shamed since The Missing Persons Act of 1942 became law. This flawed law was used for more than fifty years. This misbegotten law allowed the U.S. Government to trample on the Individual Rights of our Missing Service Personnel (and thus our ABANDONED POWs!) solely for the benefit of our National Government. That is a direct violation of the U.S. Constitution, which was written to protect the people from the government, NOT to protect the government at the expense of the people.

After much thought and consideration, we have a plan that we believe will bring the full power of the American People to bear on the U.S. Government encouraging appointment of an Independent Counsel to investigate this National Disgrace. The basis of our plan is:

1. To have the U.S. House of Representatives and the U.S. Senate each pass a bill stating that it is the ‘Sense of the Congress’ that an Independent Counsel, with full subpoena and prosecuting powers, should be appointed to investigate the POW/MIA issue.
2. To have the State or Territory Legislation of the fifty states, and each U.S. territory, pass, and have signed, such legislation as is here suggested. This legislation will state that it is the ‘Sense of the State or Territory’ that an Independent Counsel, with full subpoena and prosecuting powers, should be appointed to investigate the POW/MIA issue.
3. To conduct a National Demonstration in support of this legislation in Washington, DC on National POW/MIA Recognition Weekend September 19, 20, & 21, 2008 (one of the demonstrations will be a motorcycle run).
4. To simultaneously conduct the same type of demonstration in each State or Territory Capitol.

To conduct this operation successfully, we will need organizations in each State or Territory to plan and conduct these demonstrations. We shall also need a person, or an organization, in each entity that can get the legislation introduced in the Legislature and then shepherd it through to signature. Any person or organization that is interested in volunteering to assume these responsibilities in your State or Territory, please contact:

Danny "Greasy" Belcher

1206 Planck Rd.

Flemingsburg, KY 41041

E-mail: tfogreasy@alltel.net Webpage: www.greasyonline.com

Any person or organization that is interested in volunteering to help with the demonstration and legislative effort in Washington, DC, please contact:

John Holland

P.O. Box 305

Moores Hill, IN 47032

E-mail: knownbutabandonedpows@yahoo.com

 

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Unit pushes on as search for 2 missing soldiers continues


By Joseph Giordono, Stars and Stripes
Mideast edition, Friday, June 29, 2007

While U.S. units continue to search for two soldiers missing south of Baghdad since May 12, the soldiers’ parent unit has kept up other military operations in the area.

Spc. Alex R. Jimenez and Pvt. Byron W. Fouty were among three soldiers captured after an ambush near Yusufiyah, Iraq. The body of the third soldier, Pfc. Joseph Anzack Jr., was found about 10 days after the pre-dawn attack.

Identification cards belonging to Jimenez and Fouty were shown on an insurgent video posted to the Internet weeks later, but no definite word on their fate has been found.

All of the soldiers belong to the 4th Battalion, 31st Infantry Regiment, 2nd Brigade, 10th Mountain Division.

On Thursday, the U.S. military issued a news release detailing a police recruiting drive led by the “Polar Bears,” as the Fort Drum, N.Y.-based unit is known. Working with the 23rd Military Police Company and the 4th Brigade, 6th Iraqi Army Division, the troops registered more than 1,200 Iraqi men who came to apply during a three-day police recruitment drive, which ended on June 25.

According to the military, the initial goal was to find 200 qualified officers. But more than 575 applicants showed up on the first day alone. The police garnered from the drive will be used in part to staff the Yusufiyah Joint Security Station, where U.S. and Iraqi troops have been working together.

The top U.S. commander in Iraq, Gen. David Petraeus, visited the recruiting drive and spoke to some of the recruits.

Applicants included Sunni and Shiite tribe members from the area, officials said.

And while U.S. military officials were optimistic over the recruiting drive, they are still working toward a resolution in the search for Jimenez and Fouty.

On Wednesday, The Associated Press printed an interview with the 4th Battalion, 31st Infantry Regiment commander, who was returning to Iraq from the U.S. after a short midtour leave.

Lt. Col. Michael Infanti was quoted as saying, “I’m gonna continue to search until they kill me or they send me home. That’s just the bottom line.”

“And when I find [the missing soldiers], I’m gonna keep running down the guys that did it like dogs — until they kill me or send me home … The bad guys know I’m coming. And they’re gonna put up a fight. And that’s OK.”

The Islamic State of Iraq, an umbrella group of insurgents that includes al-Qaida in Iraq, has claimed responsibility for the attack and capture.

 

*********************************************************************

From: Danny Belcher

Subject: House Select Committee on POW/MIA Affairs We need everyone to call Representative Peter King's office  at (202) 225-7896and ask for Carol Danko. Ask her or leave the message in her voice mail to ask Representative Peter King to ask the Chairwoman on the House Rules Committee, Louise McIntosh Slaughter to pass H. Res. 111. out of the Rules Committee. Also call Representative Louise McIntosh Slaughter at (202) 225-3615 and leave the message that you want her to pass H.Res. 111 out of the House Rules Committee.This piece of legislation will die if we cannot move it out of committee. Do not expect anyone else to make the two calls for you.

Danny "Greasy" Belcher, Executive Director Task Force Omega of KY Inc. Vietnam Infantry Sgt. 68-69 "D" Troop 7th Sqdn. 1st Air Cav ----- Original Message ----- From: RHall8715@aol.comTo: tfogreasy@alltel.net Sent: Thursday, March 15, 2007 9:34 AMSubject: 2

SELECT COMMITTEEON POW AND MIA AFFAIRS Co-sponsor H.Res.111

Dear Colleague:   Over 88,000 American military personnel are still unaccounted for from military conflicts during the 20th century including: 1,788 in Vietnam, over 8,100 in the Korean Conflict, 124 from Cold War missions, over 78,000 from World War II, and 3 airmen from the Gulf War. Now as we begin the 21st century with Operation Iraqi Freedom, 2 American soldiers - Sgt. Keith "Matt" Maupin and Spec. Ahmed Altaie - have become POWs. It is imperative that the accounting of each and every one of our POWs and MIAs be given the highest priority by our government and this Congress.   Finding new information on American POWs and MIAs can help thousands of families who only want to find the truth about their loved ones.  I am writing to ask you to cosponsor H.Res.111 establishing a House Select Committee on POW and MIA Affairs.  The courage and sacrifice of these brave men and women must never be forgotten, and our efforts to acquire a full account of all missing armed forces personnel must never stop.  This is the very least we owe these patriotic and courageous Americans.   Please call Carol Danko of my staff at 5-7896 if you have any questions or would like to add your name as a cosponsor of this resolution.                                                                          

Sincerely,       PETER T. KING Member of Congress  

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CAMDEN COUNTY POW/MIAS NEWS

DEDICATION TO LINDENWOLD MEMORAL PARK
Great job folks. We played a part in promoting our cause in a big way again. The Boro of Lindenwold is now home to the Camden County POW-MIA Memorial. Right in our own back yard! Following a shaky year with a few local individuals who profiled us as trouble makers because of our bikes it was great to hear Mayor Frank DeLuca say he was proud to have us located in his community.
During the ceremony DeLuca said of The Last Patrol, "People were worried that a group of bad ass bikers were moving in to take over our town. They have turned out to be a great group of people and an asset to our community and I am proud to have them here!!"

Our dedication helped this project to become a reality. Keep up the good work. The photo to the right is Karl Sherrer of Rolling Thunder National portraying a POW in the tiger cage at the ceremony. Below is a list from the memorial. Bob Henderson-President Last Patrol

*********************************************

The Camden County POW/MIA Memorial lists the names of the following soldiers from Camden County:

World War I: Benjamin J. Sandlow and Samuel W. Wilbraham.

World War II: Charles M. Adams, Norman E. Albinson, William E. Aron, Robert G. Bogan, William H. Bovell Jr., James W. Bramen, Edward P. Carey, Frederick G. Corbett, William Cummings, Andrew Dancoe, Calvin L. Davis, Edward K. Davis, Benjamin Dyl, Wilbert Epley, Charles J. Fay, Edward L. Golden, Samuel E. Goldy, Walter J. Haines, Paul F. Heck, Leslie A. Holtzapfel, Solomon A. Kantor, Francis J. Knox, John A. Lofland, William R. McKee, John S. MacLaughlin Jr., William J. Montague, Charles R. Morrissey, Charles D. Powell, William T. Saunders, George W. Schlam, Francis E. Senseman, George C. Sherman, Leon Skabicki, Harry L. Straub, Bruno S. Ulak, Robert E. Watkins, William C. Wieland and David A. Young.

Korean War: William L. Clifton, Robert H. Cope, Leo N. DiCicco, John B. Evering, Jay W. Frisbey, Adrian A. Hackney, Raymond W. Hamilton, Howard R. Harbridge, Calvin H. Kitzmiller, Jay Mann, Warren E. O'Brien, Ralph H. Schooley, George G. Shecklen, Frank J. Stevenson, John R. Sweeney and Joseph F. Toner.

Vietnam War: Ronald L. Bond and James E. Kennedy.
* The Camden County POW-MIA Memorial is located at Lindenwold Park on United States Ave in Lindenwold.

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Vietnam War Facts:
Facts, Statistics, Fake Warrior Numbers, and Myths Dispelled

9,087,000 military personnel served on active duty during the official
Vietnam era from August 5, 1964 to May 7, 1975.
2,709,918 Americans served in uniform in Vietnam
Vietnam Veterans represented 9.7% of their generation.
240 men were awarded the Medal of Honor during the Vietnam War
The first man to die in Vietnam was James Davis, in 1958. He was with
the 509th Radio Research Station. Davis Station in Saigon was named for
him.
58,148 were killed in Vietnam
75,000 were severely disabled
23,214 were 100% disabled
5,283 lost limbs
1,081 sustained multiple amputations
Of those killed, 61% were younger than 21
11,465 of those killed were younger than 20 years old
Of those killed, 17,539 were married
Average age of men killed: 23.1 years
Five men killed in Vietnam were only 16 years old.
The oldest man killed was 62 years old.
As of January 15, 2 004, there are 1,875 Americans still unaccounted
for from the Vietnam War
97% of Vietnam Veterans were honorably discharged
91% of Vietnam Veterans say they are glad they served
74% say they would serve again, even knowing the outcome
Vietnam veterans have a lower unemployment rate than the same non-vet
age groups.
Vietnam veterans' personal income exceeds that of our non-veteran age
group by more than 18 percent.
87% of Americans hold Vietnam Veterans in high esteem.
There is no difference in drug usage between Vietnam Veterans and
non-Vietnam Veterans of the same age group (Source: Veterans
Administration Study)
Vietnam Veterans are less likely to be in prison - only one-half of one
percent of Vietnam Veterans have been jailed for crimes.
85% of Vietnam Veterans made successful transitions to civilian life.
Interesting Census Stats and "Been There" Wanabees:
1,713,823 of those who served in Vietnam were still alive as of August,
1995 (census figures).
~ During that same Census count, the number of Americans falsely
claiming to have served in-country was: 9,492,958.
~ As of the current Census taken during August, 2000, the surviving
U.S. Vietnam Veteran population estimate is: 1,002,511. This is hard to
believe, losing nearly 711,000 between '95 and '00. That's 390 per day.
During this Census count, the number of Americans falsely claiming to
have served in-country is: 13,853,027. By this census, FOUR OUT OF FIVE
WHO CLAIM TO BE Vietnam vets are not.

The Department of Defense Vietnam War Service Index officially provided
by The War Library originally reported with errors that 2,709,918 U.S.
military personnel as having served in-country. Corrections and
confirmations to this errored index resulted in the addition of 358
U.S. military personnel confirmed to have served in Vietnam but not
originally listed by the Department of Defense. (All names are
currently on file and accessible 24/7/365).

Isolated atrocities committed by American Soldiers produced torrents of
outrage from anti-war critics and the news media while Communist
atrocities were so common that they received hardly any media mention
at all. The United States sought to minimize and prevent attacks on
civilians while North Vietnam made attacks on civilians a centerpiece
of its strategy. Americans who deliberately killed civilians received
prison sentences while Communists who did so received commendations.
From 1957 to 1973, the National Liberation Front assassinated 36,725
Vietnamese and abducted another 58,499. The death squads focused on
leaders at the village level and on anyone who improved the lives of
the peasants such as medical personnel, social workers, and school
teachers. - Nixon Presidential Papers

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Common Myths Dispelled:

Myth: Common Belief is that most Vietnam veterans were drafted.
Fact: 2/3 of the men who served in Vietnam were volunteers. 2/3 of the
men who served in World War II were drafted. Approximately 70% of those
killed in Vietnam were volunteers.

Myth: The media have reported that suicides among Vietnam veterans
range from 50,000 to 100,000 - 6 to 11 times the non-Vietnam veteran
population.
Fact: Mortality studies show that 9,000 is a better estimate. "The CDC
Vietnam Experience Study Mortality Assessment showed that during the
first 5 years after discharge, deaths from suicide were 1.7 times more
likely among Vietnam veterans than non-Vietnam veterans. After that
initial post-service period, Vietnam veterans were no more likely to
die from suicide than non-Vietnam veterans. In fact, after the 5-year
post-service period, the rate of suicides is less in the Vietnam
veterans' group.

Myth: Common belief is that a disproportionate number of blacks were
killed in the Vietnam War.
Fact: 86% of the men who died in Vietnam were Caucasians, 12.5% were
black, 1.2% were other races. Sociologists Charles C. Moskos and John
Sibley Butler, in their recently published book "All That We Can Be,"
said they analyzed the claim that blacks were used like cannon fodder
during Vietnam "and can report definitely that this charge is untrue.
Black fatalities amounted to 12 percent of all Americans killed in
Southeast Asia, a figure proportional to the number of blacks in the
U.S. population at the time and slightly lower than the proportion of
blacks in the Army at the close of the war."

Myth: Common belief is that the war was fought largely by the poor and
uneducated.
Fact: Servicemen who went to Vietnam from well-to-do areas had a
slightly elevated risk of dying because they were more likely to be
pilots or infantry officers. Vietnam Veterans were the best educated
forces our nation had ever sent into combat. 79% had a high school
education or better.
Here are statistics from the Combat Area Casualty File (CACF) as of
November 1993. The CACF is the basis for the Vietnam Veterans Memorial
(The Wall): Average age of 58,148 killed in Vietnam was 23.11 years.
(Although 58,169 names are in the Nov. 93 database, only 58,148 have
both event date and birth date. Event date is used instead of declared
dead date for some of those who were listed as missing in action)
Deaths Average Age
Total: 58,148, 23.11 years
Enlisted: 50,274, 22.37 years
Officers: 6,598, 28.43 years
Warrants: 1,276, 24.73 years
E1 525, 20.34 years
11B MOS: 18,465, 22.55 years

Myth: The common belief is the average age of an infantryman fighting
in Vietnam was 19.
Fact:: Assuming KIAs accurately represented age groups serving in
Vietnam, the average age of an infantryman (MOS 11B) serving in Vietnam
to be 19 years old is a myth, it is actually 22. None of the enlisted
grades have an average age of less than 20. The average man who fought
in World War II was 26 years of age.

Myth: The Common belief is that the domino theory was proved false.
Fact: The domino theory was accurate. The ASEAN (Association of
Southeast Asian Nations) countries, Philippines, Indonesia, Malaysia,
Singapore and Thailand stayed free of Communism because of the U.S.
commitment to Vietnam. The Indonesians threw the Soviets out in 1966
because of America's commitment in Vietnam. Without that commitment,
Communism would have swept all the way to the Malacca Straits that is
south of Singapore and of great strategic importance to the free world.
If you ask people who live in these countries that won the war in
Vietnam, they have a different opinion from the American news media.
The Vietnam War was the turning point for Communism.

Myth: The common belief is that the fighting in Vietnam was not as
intense as in World War II.
Fact: The average infantryman in the South Pacific during World War II
saw about 40 days of combat in four years. The average infantryman in
Vietnam saw about 240 days of combat in one year thanks to the mobility
of the helicopter. One out of every 10 Americans who served in Vietnam
was a casualty. 58,148 were killed and 304,000 wounded out of 2.7
million who served. Although the percent that died is similar to other
wars, amputations or crippling wounds were 300 percent higher than in
World War II ....75,000 Vietnam veterans are severely disabled. MEDEVAC
helicopters flew nearly 500,000 missions. Over 900,000 patients were
airlifted (nearly half were American). The average time lapse between
wounding to hospitalization was less than one hour. As a result, less
than one percent of all Americans wounded, who survived the first 24
hours, died. The helicopter provided unprecedented mobility. Without
the helicopter it would have taken three times as many troops to secure
the 800 mile border with Cambodia and Laos (the politicians thought the
Geneva Conventions of 1954 and the Geneva Accords or 1962 would secure
the border).

Myth: Kim Phuc, the little nine year old Vietnamese girl running naked
from the napalm strike near Trang Bang on 8 June 1972.....shown a
million times on American television....was burned by Americans bombing
Trang Bang.
Fact: No American had involvement in this incident near Trang Bang that
burned Phan Thi Kim Phuc. The planes doing the bombing near the village
were VNAF (Vietnam Air Force) and were being flown by Vietnamese pilots
in support of South Vietnamese troops on the ground. The Vietnamese
pilot who dropped the napalm in error is currently living in the United
States. Even the AP photographer, Nick Ut, who took the picture, was
Vietnamese. The incident in the photo took place on the second day of a
three day battle between the North Vietnamese Army (NVA) who occupied
the village of Trang Bang and the ARVN (Army of the Republic of
Vietnam) who were trying to force the NVA out of the village. Recent
reports in the news media that an American commander ordered the air
strike that burned Kim Phuc are incorrect. There were no Americans
involved in any capacity. "We (Americans) had nothing to do with
controlling VNAF," according to Lieutenant General (Ret) James F.
Hollingsworth, the Commanding General of TRAC at that time. Also, it
has been incorrectly reported that two of Kim Phuc's brothers were
killed in this incident. They were Kim's cousins not her brothers.

Myth: The United States lost the war in Vietnam.
Fact: The American military was not defeated in Vietnam. The American
military did not lose a battle of any consequence. From a military
standpoint, it was almost an unprecedented performance. General
Westmoreland quoting Douglas Pike, a professor at the University of
California, Berkley a major military defeat for the VC and NVA.

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THE UNITED STATES DID NOT LOSE THE WAR IN VIETNAM, THE SOUTH VIETNAMESE
DID. Read on........

The fall of Saigon happened 30 April 1975, two years AFTER the American
military left Vietnam. The last American troops departed in their
entirety 29 March 1973.

How could we lose a war we had already stopped fighting? We fought to
an agreed stalemate. The peace settlement was signed in Paris on 27
January 1973. It called for release of all U.S. prisoners, withdrawal
of U.S. forces, limitation of both sides' forces inside South Vietnam
and a commitment to peaceful reunification. The 140,000 evacuees in
April 1975 during the fall of Saigon consisted almost entirely of
civilians and Vietnamese military, NOT American military running for
their lives. There were almost twice as many casualties in Southeast
Asia (primarily Cambodia) the first two years after the fall of Saigon
in 1975 then there were during the ten years the U.S. was involved in
Vietnam. Thanks for the perceived loss and the countless assassinations
and torture visited upon Vietnamese, Laotians, and Cambodians goes
mainly to the American media and their undying support-by-misrepresentation
of the anti-War movement in the United States.

As with much of the Vietnam War, the news media misreported and
misinterpreted the 1968 Tet Offensive. It was reported as an
overwhelming success for the Communist forces and a decided defeat for
the U.S. forces. Nothing could be further from the truth. Despite
initial victories by the Communists forces, the Tet Offensive resulted
in a major defeat of those forces. General Vo Nguyen Giap, the designer
of the Tet Offensive, is considered by some as ranking with Wellington,
Grant, Lee and MacArthur as a great commander. Still, militarily, the
Tet Offensive was a total defeat of the Communist forces on all fronts.
It resulted in the death of some 45,000 NVA troops and the complete, if
not total destruction of the Viet Cong elements in South Vietnam. The
Organization of the Viet Cong Units in the South never recovered. The
Tet Offensive succeeded on only one front and that was the News front
and the political arena. This was another example in the Vietnam War of
an inaccuracy becoming the perceived truth. However, inaccurately
reported, the News Media made the Tet Offensive famous.

Please give all credit and research to:
Capt. Marshal Hanson, U.S.N.R (Ret.)

Capt. Scott Beaton, Statistical Source

National Alliance of Families
For The Return of America's Missing Servicemen
World War II - Korea - Cold War - Vietnam - Gulf Wars

Dolores Alfond - 425-881-1499
Lynn O'Shea --- 718-846-4350
Web Site http://www.nationalalliance.org
email lynn@nationalalliance.org

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They Are Not Pow's?

From an article in the National Alliance Web Site
Dept. of Defense Directive 1300.18 issued December 18, 2000 eliminated the status/designation Prisoner of War (POW) for captured American Service Personnel, replacing it with the ambigious designation Missing/Captured or MIA-C.

When two reporters asked Dept. of Defense representatives about this, they were told the POW status still exists.

So, we asked representative of the Department of Defense's POW/MIA Office (DPMO) to provide us with the controlling directive, as DOD 1300.18 dated 12/18/00 DOES NOT provide for a Prisoner of War or POW status.

We've been asking for almost a year now, and they still have not provided the conrolling directive governing a POW status.

It is hard to produce what has been eliminated. But, don't take our word for it.

In his memo of October 11, 2002, Former Navy Secretary Gordon England wrote: "If the government of Iraq is holding Captain Speicher he is entitled to Prisoner of War status under international law and the Geneva Convention..... Although the controlling missing persons statute and directives do not use the term "Prisoner of War," the facts supporting a change in Captain Speicher's category from Missing in Action to Missing/Captured would also support the conclusion that, if alive, he is a Prisoner of War."

In other words if the status existed, the Secretary of Navy would have designated Capt. Speicher a POW."

On April 9th 2004, PFC Keith "Matt" Maupin was captured while serving in Iraq. One week later his captors provided video footage, shown around the world, of the captured serviceman.

Who Wants To Tell These Servicemen,
They're Not POWs?

How You Can Help

Congress and the media are either unaware of this insult to our service personnel or simply don't care. We're asking you to help us make Congress and the media aware of this and force the Dept. of Defense to either produce the controlling POW directive or amend DOD 1300.18 to include a Prisoner of War Status.

We've posted a list of Senators with addresses, fax numbers and email. We've also prepared a form letter for you to use, as is, or as a guideline. We are asking you to fax your Senator's asking why the Senate and the media remain silent with regard to the Defense Departments elimination of the Prisoner of War status for our own service personnel.

Follow the links, and send the letters!

List of Senators

Senate Form Letter

List of Congressional Representatives

Congressional Form Letter

Press Release Jan. 2, 2005

Captured Not Listed As 'POWs' - Atlanta Journal Constitution July 3, 2004

Prisoner-of-war group condemned the Pentagon for classifying the 20-year-old reservist as "missing-captured" as opposed to "Prisoner of War. -- Washington Times July 2004

Press Release Jan. 9, 2004 -- Pentagon Affords Saddam Moral Dignity It Denies Captured U.S. Service Personnel

What An Expert Says – We contacted Professor Michael Noone, the former Air Force Judge Advocate General (JAG) and current Professor of Law at the Catholic University in Washington DC. We forwarded the full text of our press release and asked him about the status Missing-Captured. Here is his response:

"I share your concern over the status of missing service personnel. My quote was in response to an inquiry regarding the term "enemy prisoner of war" which is not in the Geneva Conventions but is in a DoD Directive. In response to your inquiry, I would make the same response: that "missing/captured" is not a Geneva Convention term. As you know, the Third Convention is intended to protect captives - POWS - , so it's not surprising that it's silent on MIAs. The fact that neither term used by DoD is found in the Convention, doesn't make the term illegal, but does raise the kinds of concerns your organization expresses in the press release."

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National Alliance Home Page

POW-MIA SELECT COMMITTEE REPORT
POW/MIA's
Report of the Select Committee on POW/MIA Affairs
United States Senate

On August 2, 1991, the United States Senate approved a resolution introduced by Sen. Robert Smith providing for the creation of a Select Committee on POW/MIA Affairs to serve during the remainder of the 102nd Congress. In October, 1991, a Chairman (Sen. John Kerry), Vice-chairman (Sen. Robert Smith), and ten additional Members were appointed to the Committee. A resolution providing funding was approved. The hearings began on November 5, 1991. The Committee’s Final Report was issued on January 13, 1993.
The Committee's task was to investigate the events, policies, and knowledge that guided U.S. Government POW/MIA-related actions over the previous 20 years and to do so in order to advance the following goals:

to determine whether there was evidence that American POWs survived Operation Homecoming and, if so, whether there was evidence that some may have been alive in captivity;
to ensure the adequacy of government procedures for following up on live-sighting reports and other POW/MIA related information;
to de-mystify the POW/MIA accounting process so that the families and the public can better understand the meaning behind the numbers and statistics used in discussions of the issue;
to establish an open, comprehensive record, and to provide for the broad declassification of POW/MIA materials in order to enable both the Committee and the public to make informed judgments about questions of policy, process, and fact;
to lend added weight to Executive branch efforts to obtain cooperation from foreign governments in Southeast Asia and elsewhere in accounting for missing Americans;
to review the activities of private organizations who participate in fundraising and educational efforts related to the POW/MIA issue; and
to examine, to the extent time and resources permit, unresolved issues pertaining to missing Americans from World War II, Korea, and the Cold War.

To view complete Report
Contents V
Acknowledgements III
Executive Summary 1
Chapter 1: Introduction 44
Chapter 2: The Paris Peace Accords 59
Chapter 3: Accounting for Missing Servicemen 127
Chapter 4: Intelligence 166
Chapter 5: Government Policies and Actions 232
Chapter 6: Private Efforts 301
Chapter 7: Families 346
Chapter 8: Gauging Cooperation of Governments of Southeast Asia 370
Chapter 9: Information from Russia, North Korea and China 394
Chapter 10: Conclusions and a Look Ahead 447
Annex: Committee Members' Floor Statements 450
Appendices 503
Appendix 1: Chronology 504
Appendix 2: Individual POW, MIA, and KIA-BNR Cases 574
Appendix 3: Prior Investigations 826
Appendix 4: Witnesses 865
Appendix 5: Excerpts from Selected Documents 879
Appendix 6: Selected Excerpts from Hearing Testimony 894

See our links section below for a detailed list of POW-MIA Legislation

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POW-MIA NEWS



Senator: Military Has No Hope Speicher Is Alivelive

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. __ The U.S. military has given up any hope that a Navy pilot shot down over Iraq more than 13 years ago is still alive, Florida Sen. Bill Nelson said Friday.
The two_star general leading the U.S. search for Cmdr. Michael Scott Speicher (pictured, right) told Nelson the military has reclassified it from a rescue mission to a recovery mission.

"They have just informed the family in Jacksonville that (there) is nolonger any hope that he is alive," Nelson said.

Speicher's F/A_18 Hornet flying off the USS Saratoga was apparently shot down by an Iraqi fighter jet during a bombing run over west_central Iraq on Jan. 16, 1991 __ the first night of the Persian Gulf War. Then Defense Secretary Dick Cheney announced at a press conference that he was killed__ the first American casualty of the war.

Five years later, the Navy changed Speicher's status to "missing in action." Then, two years ago, they changed it again, to "missing/captured."

But 10 years after his jet crashed 125 miles southwest of Baghdad, a senior U.S. military advisor came across the wreckage and evidence that suggested that Speicher had ejected, and, perhaps, survived. This, combined with a flight suit believed to be Speicher's was found in another part of Iraq, an informant reported a captive American pilot was seen, and the initials MSS were found etched into the wall of a Iraqi prison, gave hope that he could still be alive.

Family and friends who attended Forrest High School with Speicher were hoping that Americans in Iraq for the past year would find Speicher __ or at least answer what happened to him. In June, a team of military experts was assigned to search for the missing pilot.

Nelson Calls News 'Heartbreaking' While a lengthy preliminary report on the result of those efforts has not been made public, Nelson said the results are clear. "On the one hand, you know, my heart is broken that he's apparently not alive," Nelson said "On the other hand, the family needs closure. They need to know, and have the evidence, how he died, when he died and where he's buried." "Our best hope is they will be able to find the Bedouin tribe that would have been in the area when he crashed on the first night of the Gulf War 13 years ago, and find out where they buried the body," Nelson said during a visit to Gainesville.

But Nelson said that getting the local tribe's cooperation will be difficult because they fear reprisals for giving information to the United States. A spokesperson for "Friends of Scott Speicher" told Channel 4's Scott Johns Friday that they weren't surprised that the military will stop their active rescue search for the missing pilot, but are surprised that gave up so quickly. And they're not giving up. The group just developed a poster with a sketch of what Speicher might look like now to distribute to U.S. soldiers in Iraq.

"It looks like our next mission is to raise money to offer our own reward, because we are going to proceed with the flier, whether they chance his status or now," Miriam Novelly said.