At the end of the Vietnam War, there were 2,585 unaccounted for American prisoners, missing in action or killed in action/body not recovered.

1,948 Americans are still missing and unaccounted for from the Vietnam War, though 459 were at sea/over water losses: Vietnam - 1,469 (North, 524; South, 945); Laos - 411; Cambodia - 60; Peoples Republic of China territorial waters - 8.

American MUST seek the return of all US prisoners, the fullest possible accounting for those still missing and repatriation of all recoverable remains.

Our highest priority should be resolving the live prisoner question. Official intelligence indicates that Americans known to have been alive in captivity in Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia were not returned at the end of the war. In the absence of evidence to the contrary, it must be assumed that these Americans may still be alive. As a matter of policy, the U.S. Government does not rule out the possibility that Americans could still be held.

Unilateral return of remains by the government of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam (SRV) has been proven an effective means of obtaining accountability, as have joint field operations in recent years, though the first in northern Vietnam occurred in 1985. A comprehensive wartime and post-war process was established by Vietnam to collect and retain information and remains; thus, unilateral efforts by Vietnam to locate and return remains and provide records continue to offer significant potential. Hanoi's decision to establish a Special Research Cell to support their government's unilateral efforts was encouraging. Archival research in Vietnam has produced thousands of items, documents and photos, but to date all except 1+% pertain to returned POWs and Americans previously accounted-for.

Joint field operations in Laos are very productive. The Lao recently agreed to increase the number of US personnel permitted in-country and allow greater flexibility during field operations. Agreements between the U.S. and the Indochina governments now permit Vietnamese witnesses to participate in joint operations in Laos and Cambodia when necessary. POW/MIA research and field activities in Cambodia have received excellent support. Over 80% of US losses in Laos and 90% of those in Cambodia occurred in areas where Vietnamese forces operated during the war, but Vietnam has not yet responded to countless US requests for case-specific records on loss incidents in these countries. Records research and field operations are the most likely means of increasing the accounting for Americans missing in Laos and Cambodia.

U.S. intelligence assessments and other evidence indicate that many Americans can best be accounted for by unilateral Vietnamese efforts to locate and return remains and provide relevant documents and records. Despite this reality, former President Clinton regularly certified to Congress that Vietnam was "fully cooperating in good faith" to resolve this issue. I disagree, and support steps by the US to respond to concrete results, not advancing political and economic concessions in the hope that Hanoi will respond. The Clinton administration lifted the trade embargo, established the US Embassy in Hanoi, normalized diplomatic relations, posted a US Ambassador to Vietnam, signed a bilateral trade agreement and advocated normal trade relations. President George W. Bush has also now certified that Vietnam is "fully cooperating in good faith," and is likely again to avoid reversing the status of relations. However, I am confident that President Bush, Vice President Cheney and senior officials from the Departments of State and Defense will press Hanoi for answers.

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What can YOU do to help? WRITE! Write as to as many as you can, as often as you can!

Write to Congress and the Senate, urging bipartisan support for U.S. Government priority on accounting for America's missing:

The Honorable (Name)
U.S. House of Representatives
Washington, DC 20515

The Honorable (Name)
United States Senate
Washington, DC 20510

Write to the Editor of your local paper drawing responsible public attention to the need for answers on America's POW/MIAs.

Write to the Vietnamese and the Lao, urging fulfillment of their pledges to cooperate fully in accounting for missing Americans:

Embassy of Vietnam
1233 20th Street, NW, Suite 400M
Washington, DC 20036

Embassy of Laos
2222 S. Street, NW
Washington, DC 20008

The National League of POW/MIA Families has a 24-hour, 7 day a week update line. Please call 703-465-8444 to find out the latest detailed information regarding the POW/MIA issue, or contact the League at:

National League of POW/MIA Families
1005 North Glebe Road, Suite 160
Arlington, Virginia 22201
TEL 703-456-7432
Update Line 703-465-8444

Click on the photo below to read about my adopted POW, Douglas D. Ferguson:

       

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