"The failure of our Vietnam war adversaries to account for these "last know alive" Americans meant that families who had had (sic) good reason to expect the return of their loved ones instead had cause for renewed grief. Amidst their sorrow, the nation hailed the war's end; the President said that all our POWs are "on the way home"; and the Defense Department, following standard procedures, began declaring missing men dead. Still, the government in Southeast Asia did not cooperate and the answers that these families deserved did not come. In 1976 the Montgomery Committee concluded that because there was no evidence that missing Americans had survived, they must be dead. In 1977, a Defense Department official said that the distinction between Americans still listed as "POW" and those listed as "missing" had become academic. Nixon, Ford and Carter Administration officials all dismissed the possibility that American POWs had survived in Southeast Asia after Operation Homecoming."

"This Committee has uncovered evidence that precludes it from taking the same view. We acknowledge that there is no proof that U.S. POWs survived, but neither is there proof that all those who did not return had died. There is evidence, moreover, that indicates the possibility of survival, at least for a small number after Operation Homecoming:

First, there are the Americans known or thought possibly to have been alive in captivity who did not come back; we cannot dismiss the chance that some of these known prisoners remained captive past Operation Homecoming.

Second, leaders of the Pathet Lao claimed throughout the war that they were holding American prisoners in Laos. Those claims were believed - and, up to a point, validated - at the time; they cannot be dismissed summarily today.

Third, U.S. defense and intelligence officials hoped that forty or forty-one prisoners captured in Laos would be released at Operation Homecoming, instead of the twelve who were actually repatriated. These reports were taken seriously enough at the time to prompt recommendations by some officials for military action aimed at gaining the release of additional prisoners thought to be held.

Fourth, information collected by U.S. intelligence agencies during the last 19 years, in the form of live-sightings, hearsay, and other intelligence reports, raises questions about the possibility that a small number of unidentified U.S. POWs who did not return may have survived in captivity.

Finally, even after Operation Homecoming and returnee debriefs, more than 70 Americans were officially listed as POWs based on information gathered prior to the signing of the peace agreement; while the remains of many of these Americans have been repatriated, the fates of some continue unknown to this day....."

The above quote was taken from the Report of the Senate Select Committee on POW/MIA Affairs, dated January 13, 1993. The report was signed by all members, including John Mc Cain and John Kerry. It is important to remember that the Committee concluded; "We acknowledge that there is no proof that U.S. POWs survived, but neither is there proof that all those who did not return had died. There is evidence, moreover, that indicates the possibility of survival, at least for a small number after Operation Homecoming.."

Evidence indicates the possibility of survival.... after Operation Homecoming, survival.... after Operation Homecoming, survival....after Operation Homecoming,

Yet, today DPMO speaks only of the missing and remains. The MIA question & the recovery of remains.... The MIA problem.... That is what they talk about. They ask the Vietnamese about remains.

We ask - What About The Live POWs?

During President Clinton's upcoming trip to Asia, he is scheduled to go to Vietnam. He will visit Hanoi, Hue and Saigon. During his Vietnam visit Mr. Clinton is also scheduled to visit the site excavation of an F105D, which crashed outside Hanoi. While the recovery of remains is extremely important, we ask.....

Mr. President, What About Our POWs, Last Know Alive?

During Your Visit To Hanoi, Will You Ask The Vietnamese About Our Last Known Alive POWs.?

A fairly reliable source has told the National Alliance of Families that remains will be found at the site. This high profile visit to a crash site excavation will, once again, re-enforce the myth of Vietnamese "full cooperation" on the POW issue.

Until the Vietnamese deal honestly with the issue of the "Last Know Alive" POWs, any reference to Vietnamese "full cooperation" is a lie. Until representatives of the U.S. government, challenge the Vietnamese on the "Last Known Alive" POWs, any reference to the POW issue being this nations "highest national priority" is a lie. It is a lie that mocks our missing men and their families.

Mr. President: It is the "Last Known Alive" POWs.

Mr. President: Ask about David Hrdlicka, photographed in captivity. Ask about Charles Shelton - known POW. Ask about John Mc Donnell and Victor Apodaca, both on the original Vessey "Last Known Alive" list. Ask about the 5 Americans, held with Mc Donnell at Ba To in late February 1973. Ask about John Graf. The Four Party Joint Military Commission, asked and asked in 1973. They never got an answer, maybe you can. Ask about Eugene DeBruin, also photographed in captivity. Ask about Burt Small, Barton Creed, David Demmon, Bennie Dexter, Dallas Pridemore, James McLean, Walter Schmidt, Elenore Viettie, Archie Mitchell, Daniel Gerber and James Mc Lean. Ask about the men at Kham Duc. The Vietnamese now admit to capturing more than one. Were are they? There are so many..... Where are they?

Mr. President - JUST ASK!!!

Mr. President - give the phrase "highest national priority" true meaning.

It'$ All About Bu$ine$$ - From The Saigon Times Daily by Nguyen Ha - "Vietnam and the U.S. will likely sign an agreement on cooperation in science and technology during the upcoming Vietnam visit by U.S. President Bill Clinton, the U.S. ambassador said yesterday...."

"Speaking at a press briefing in Hanoi, Douglas Peterson said the agreement, which was being drawn up by the Ministry of Science, Technology and Environment, would be signed if the two sides had the same voice on the issue. According to the ambassador, the visit would focus on reviewing diplomatic policies over past times to work out directions for bilateral relations. Issues relating to economic reforms and assistance for Vietnam in AIDS prevention were also covered."

"There would also be discussions on the Agent Orange defoliant, demining operations and the searching for American soldiers missing in action in Vietnam, he said. Peterson said the upcoming visit would be the last abroad by President Clinton and Vietnam was his choice in his efforts to boost bilateral relations and open

up a new chapter of cooperation before ending his second term in office."

"The U.S. president will be accompanied by 50 to 100 entrepreneurs in different sectors to seek business deals in Vietnam. There will also representatives of big corporations and businesses having rep offices in Vietnam. The U.S. president will have meetings with Vietnamese senior officials including President Tran Duc Luong, said the ambassador. No plans had been made on a meeting between President Clinton and Party Secretary General Le Kha Phieu, he noted, but added he hoped it would take place."

"As planned, President Clinton and his entourage will arrive here on November 16 and have meetings with President Tran Duc Luong and other Vietnamese officials the following day. He will fly to Hue on November 19 after attending a ceremony to hand over the remains of some American soldiers and will leave there for HCMC on the same day for talks with senior leaders here. He will leave Vietnam on November 20."

How To Handle That Sticky Photo Op - From Reuters Hanoi - By David Brunnstrom "Scheduling a historic visit by Bill Clinton to Hanoi in November has conveniently skirted the touchy issue of whether a U.S. president should follow protocol and pay respects at the tomb of war hero Ho Chi Minh...."

"...It is normal protocol on official visits for a visiting head of state to pay respects to Ho, Vietnam's independence hero and war leader, who lies embalmed inside a Soviet-designed marble mausoleum in the city's Ba Dinh Square. While the mausoleum closes every year between October and December to treat Ho's fragile remains, which have lain in state since his death in 1969, the monument to the unknown soldier is a solid granite structure built only a few years ago."

"Diplomats said the prospect of being expected to lay a wreath at either monument could have been a great embarrassment for Clinton, who holds the title commander-in-chief of U.S. forces but avoided service in Vietnam."

"It was a potential embarrassment," said one diplomat. "I think it's just convenient that this work coincides with his visit, so they can brush it under the carpet. "There are elements in the United States who don't want Clinton to come and would certainly not like to see him with Ho Chi Minh, but then again, there are those who would like to see him make some kind of act of contrition."

"...The trip is likely to be highly emotional and controversial as the young Clinton had his conscription into the U.S. armed forces deferred and he took part in anti-war protests. As president, he has been a champion of reconciliation, abolishing a trade embargo with Hanoi in 1994 and establishing diplomatic ties in 1995. In the latest act in the normalization of ties, the countries signed a landmark trade pact in July."

North Korea Has To Wait - From Reuters - Chappaqua, N.Y. (Reuters) - "North Korea will not be on President Clinton's itinerary during his upcoming trip to Asia although he may go before he leaves office in January, a White House official said on Saturday. "The president has not made a decision on whether he will go to Korea before the end of his term. He will, however, not go to Pyongyang at the end of his upcoming trip to Brunei and Vietnam," White House spokesman Jake Siewert said."

"Missile talks in Kuala Lumpur helped to clarify respective positions and expand areas of common ground, but significant issues still remained to be resolved, he said. "That's one of a number of factors that a decision will be based on. With the Brunei and Vietnam trip so close, it's just a practical matter that he's not going to travel ... (to Pyongyang) at the end of that trip," Siewert said."

"A Clinton visit to North Korea, founded under a communist government following World War II, became a possibility after Secretary of State Madeleine Albright traveled to Pyongyang last month to meet North Korean leader Kim Jong-il. The two countries, on opposite sides in the 1950-1953 Korean War, had no regular contacts until a crisis over North Korea's nuclear program led to a 1994 accord in which the nation agreed to halt the development of nuclear weapons."

"Clinton is slated to leave next weekend for the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit in Brunei and then will travel to Vietnam, the first visit to that country by a U.S. president since the late Richard Nixon visited Saigon in 1969 at the height of the Vietnam War."

The Bring Him Home Alive Act Passes - That right. The Bring Him Alive Act passed both the Senate and the House of Representatives. It now awaits the Presidents signature. Once signed, it is the law!

Our most sincere thanks to Senator Ben Nighthorse Campbell, who spearheaded this legislation. We also thank Larry Vigil, of Senator Campbell's staff for his devotion to this legislation. A special thanks must go to Rolling Thunder who pushed this bill. Finally, to all who wrote letters and made phone calls in support of "The Bring Him Home Alive Act" - THANK YOU!

Vietnam War MIAs Identified - From the Department of Defense - October 26, 2000 - "Eleven U.S. Air Force servicemen missing in action from the Vietnam War have been identified and are being returned to their families for burial. They are identified as Col. Charles P. Claxton, Chicago, Ill.; Col. Donald E. Fisher, Halfway, Ore.; Lt. Col. Edwin N. Osborne, Jr., Raiford, Fla.; Lt. Col. Gerald G. Van Buren, Toledo, Ohio; Lt. Col. Gordon J. Wenaas, Mayville, N.D.; Maj. Frank C. Parker III, Bridgeport, Pa.; Chief Master Sgt. Jack McCrary, Madison, Tenn.; Chief Master Sgt. Wayne A. Eckley, Enterprise, Ore.; Chief Master Sgt. Gean P. Clapper, Altoona, Pa.; and Chief Master Sgt. James R. Williams, Charlotte, N.C. The name of the eleventh crewmember is not being released at the request of his family...."

"...In October and November 1992, a joint U.S./Socialist Republic of Vietnam team interviewed five witnesses who had knowledge of the crash site. Two of the witnesses had visited the area of the crash in 1967 or 1968 and provided information about the site. Some of the witnesses turned over identification cards or tags that contained the names of some of the crew members. The team visited the site and recovered some human remains. In February 1993, the government of Vietnam turned over additional remains and a photocopy of more identification media. In October and November a joint team led by Joint Task Force-Full Accounting excavated the suspected crash site where they recovered aircraft wreckage, personal effects and human remains. In 1994 and 1995, Vietnamese citizens and government officials turned over additional remains."

"Department of Defense analysts concluded from the distribution of the aircraft wreckage that the C-130 hit a mountainside and that the crew was unaware of the impending crash. Nine parachutes were accounted for among the artifacts recovered, and there are no unresolved live sighting reports associated with this incident..."

Remains To Be Interred - On November 7^th, 2000, the remains of Cmdr. Richard Rich, shot down over North Vietnam on May 17^th, 1967, will be interred in Arlington National Cemetery. The following is from the Associated Press - Augusta Ga. (AP) - "After more than 33 years of waiting, Chris Rich will finally attend his father's funeral Tuesday at Arlington National Cemetery. Navy Cmdr. Richard Rich was shot down in Vietnam in May 1967, just 15 days before he was scheduled to return home. Chris Rich has been notified that scattered remains found last spring were identified as those of his father. He will accompany the remains to the burial site.

"As hard as it is to live with these bone fragments as him, to hold and to touch them is almost the same thing as being able to go to the casket," Chris Rich said. "I'll be able to close this chapter of my life." The remains - 30 bone chips and a tooth - were studied at the Army's Central Identification Lab in Hawaii..."

"...Chris Rich's wife, Dianne, is the daughter of Air Force Tech Sgt. Thomas Moore, who is listed as missing in action. "Three decades is a long time to wait to have to bury someone," Dianne Rich said. "It's something we wait for - you live for the day to come so you can say goodbye."

To All Of These Families - we hold you in our hearts and prayers during this difficult time and hope you now have the truth, you have waited so long for.

Rumor - We've heard, indirectly, that a casket in a recent burial contained only a uniform, no remains. In the mom's words, "I couldn't fight it anymore."

Why does Johnnie Webb still have a job?

Laos Turns Over Possible MIA Remains - from the Associated Press - Bangkok Thailand -- "Laos has given the United States what are believed to be the remains of four Americans listed as missing in action during the Vietnam War, the state news agency reported Monday."

"The remains were handed over to U.S. officials Saturday in a ceremony at Wattay Airport in the Laotian capital, Vientiane, the KPL news agency said. They will be taken to the U.S. Army's Central Identification Lab in Hawaii for forensic tests."