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National League of POW/MIA Families

UPDATE: June 1, 2020
AMERICANS ACCOUNTED FOR:  The number missing (POW/MIA) and otherwise unaccounted-for (KIA/BNR) from the Vietnam War is still 1,587Of that number 90% were lost in Vietnam or in areas of Cambodia or Laos under Vietnam’s wartime control: Vietnam-1,246 (VN-443, VS-803); Laos-286; Cambodia-48; PRC territorial waters-7. Since chartered in 1970, the League has sought the return of all POWs, the fullest possible accounting for the missing, and repatriation of all recoverable remains.  The total accounted for since the end of the Vietnam War in 1975 is 996.   A breakdown by country of these 996 Americans is:  Vietnam – 672, Laos – 279, Cambodia – 42, and the PRC – 3.  In addition, 63 US personnel were accounted for between 1973 and 1975, the formal end of the Vietnam War, for a grand total of 1,059.  These 63 Americans, were accounted for by US-only efforts in accessible areas, not due to cooperation by post-war governments in Vietnam, Laos or Cambodia.  A total of 287 have been accounted for from Laos, 727 from Vietnam, 42 from Cambodia and 3 from the PRC.  No identifications of Vietnam War missing personnel have been announced since July 26, 2019. 
 
ACCOUNTING OPERATIONS/EVENTS CANCELLED; UNILATERAL SRV RECOVERIES ONGOING:  Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Defense Department ordered a ban on all DoD travel, initially until May 15th, now extended until June 30th.  DPAA pulled teams from the field to return them to the US and cancelled all field operations until further notice; however, the SRV agreed to conduct unilateral recoveries in Quang Binh Province, North Central Vietnam.  DPAA also canceled Family Member Updates previously scheduled for March, April and May. 
 
IMPORTANT OPPORTUNITY ALSO LOST DUE TO COVID-19 CORONA VIRUS:   In addition to future field operations in Laos and Vietnam being put on hold, the US-ASEAN Special Summit, scheduled to be held in Las Vegas on March 14th, was cancelled.  League Chairman/CEO Ann Mills-Griffiths was scheduled to meet with Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen on March 13th, and was awaiting confirmation from the Lao and Vietnamese Prime Ministers, when the cancellation was announced. 
 
LEAGUE 51ST ANNUAL MEETING NOT BEING HELD:  As previously announced, the 51st Annual Meeting will not take place June 24-28th, as scheduled.  Never before in the League’s history has an annual meeting been cancelled; however, no date has been yet determined to reschedule this meeting before the end of this year.  That is due to uncertainty over options available, including the previously contracted venue at the Hilton Crystal City Hotel which is one of the few hotels in the area still open; most are closed.  Of course, DPAA also cancelled annual government briefings that are provided during the League’s annual meeting.  This is all due to the COVID 19 virus and resulting DoD travel restrictions, plus DoD, DIA, State Department and other US agencies being under strict orders to telework to the extent possible.  It is also due to concerns over endangering the health of League members, as well as US and foreign officials who customarily attend and participate.   
 
POW/MIA FLAG TO BE DISPLAYED YEAR-ROUND:  On November 7th, President Trump signed into law the “National POW/MIA Flag Act.” The League-originated POW/MIA flag is now to be displayed whenever the American flag is posted on federal properties, including the White House, the US Capitol and all Senate and House Buildings, World War II Memorial, Korean War Veterans Memorial and the National Vietnam Veterans Memorial, every national cemetery, buildings containing the official offices of the Secretaries of State, Defense and Veterans Affairs, the Director of the Selective Service system, all major military installations, as directed by the Secretary of Defense, all VA medical centers and all offices of the US Postal Service.   The League is grateful for this tremendous support, a meaningful signal to all nations that America stands behind and with those who serve – past, present and future – and if captured or missing, all possible efforts will be made to recover and bring home our UNRETURNED Veterans.  


PRIOR FIELD OPERATIONS IN LAOS AND CAMBODIA, January/February 2020







 
U.S. Ambassador to Cambodia, Patrick Murphy, prepares to screen soil during a DPAA recovery  mission in Ratanakiri Province, Cambodia.  During his Feb. 1, 2020, visit, Ambassador Murphy spoke with recovery team members and local nationals, and he witnessed the recovery efforts for a missing U.S. serviceman lost during the Vietnam War. Ambassador Murphy continues to be a strident champion of the accounting mission, and for that we extend our deepest gratitude. (USAF photo by SSgt Rusty Frank)







 
Mr. Alexander Garcia-Putnam,above, a senior recovery expert assigned to DPAA, speaks to U.S. service members and Lao officials during a joint field activity (JFA) in Khammouan Province, Laos, February 2, 2020. During the JFA, a group of more than 70 personnel, both assigned to DPAA and augmented from military units around the globe, came together to help fulfill our nation's promise to provide the fullest possible accounting of our missing personnel to their families and the nation. (USMC photo by Sgt Jacqueline Clifford)







 
SSG Carter Caraker, USA, a supply non-commissioned officer assigned to DPAA, passes buckets to local workers during a JFA in Khammouan Province, Laos, February 10, 2020. During the JFA, a group of more than 70 personnel both assigned to DPAA and augmented from military units around the globe, came together to help fulfill our nation's promise to provide the fullest possible accounting of our missing personnel to their families and the nation. (USMC photo by Sgt Jacqueline Clifford)


THE LEAGUE OFFICE IS CLOSED AND ALL ARE TELEWORKING UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE.
 
SUPPORT THE LEAGUE:  Facebook Birthday Fundraisers:   Independence Day, National POW/MIA Recognition Day, September 18, 2020, and Veterans Day………..
 
You and your family, friends and colleagues can also support the League by shopping at AmazonSmile. It is simple and automatic, at no extra cost to you.  Just visit https://smile.amazon.com/ch/23-7071242, and you will find the exact same prices, vast selection and convenient shopping to which you are accustomed.  The added bonus? The Amazon Smile Foundation automatically donates 0.5% of the cost of your eligible purchases to the League.    
 

                                  
 
                 Donate today, 501(C)3, Fed Tax ID #23-7071242, at www.pow-miafamilies.org
 
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