The National Alliance of Families Mourns the Passing of - Jo Patterson, mother of POW/MIA James Kelly Patterson, shot down over North Vietnam May 19, 1967. To the Patterson family, her husband Bob and son "Luck" we offer our deepest sympathy. Cards may be sent to the family at Madrid Mannor #224, 1401 El Norte, San Marcos CA. 92069.

A Message from Artie Muller, President of Rolling Thunder Inc.,

"In their weekly update of February 28^th 2001, DPMO reported on a February 16^th meeting with myself, as President of Rolling Thunder Inc., John Mendes, National Vice President, National Legislative Represent Ted Shpak and Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for POW/MIA Affairs, Robert Jones and his staff.

We thank Mr. Jones and his staff for meeting with us. However, the tone of the weekly update might lead some to believe that Rolling Thunder Inc. was satisfied with both the answers to our questions, and the current operations at DPMO. That is not the case.

With regard to our concerns over live sighting investigations, we do not accept the DPMO statement that they are able to conduct a live sighting investigation, with no notice or within 24 hours. Even if true, someone could be moved around the world, or three villages away, in 24 hours. This belies DPMO's statement that "Vietnamese continue to be fully forthright on the issue."

Rolling Thunder Inc., does not believe maintaining the current leadership, at DPMO, is in the best interest of our Prisoners of War and Missing in Action. If we ever want the truth on our Prisoners of War and Missing in Action from all wars, leadership changes need to be made and the first place to start is at DPMO."

Did The U.S. Fail To Act On Reliable Information on POWs Held In China, In Order to Protect An Ongoing Intelligence Gathering Operation - Documents in our possession seem to indicate just that. Most of the information contained in the three documents cited is redacted.

We don't know what information the source reported, other than what is contained in the Subject line of one of the messages. However there is enough information available to raise the question.

We do know that the source was "highly reliable" and involved in some ongoing operation, an operation that no one wanted to jeopardize. Most telling is the fact that these documents are generated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI).

The following information is contained on a Department of Justice, Federal Bureau of Investigation Communication Message Form. While the heading is redacted on pages one and three of the message traffic, it does appear on page two.

212237Z Jun 85

Fm Director FBI

To Secretary of State Attn: China Desk - [redacted redacted ]

Director Defense Intelligence Agency

"Foreign Political Matters - People's Republic of China [redacted redacted ]

This Communication Is Classified SECRET/WNINTEL/ORCON/LIMDIS In Its Entirety."

The remainder of the page is redacted. However, there is one interesting handwritten note on page one that reads "POW/MIA Special." Page two is redacted in its entirety.

Page three contains the following information.- "This provides USDS - China Desk and Vietnam Desks with

[ redacted redacted redacted redacted redacted redacted redacted redacted redacted redacted redacted

redacted ]

WFO has expressed considerable reluctance as disclosure of this report, fearing that it will jeopardize the on going [redacted redacted redacted redacted ] However, the report, as it appears in this teletype was the subject of an oral presentation given at the China Operations Conference, 6/13/85, at Milwaukee. [redacted redacted ] political officer, China Desk, USDA was present and has subsequently requested Bureau authority to brief Vietnam Desk [redacted redacted redacted ] (NSC) and possibly higher officials."

This communication has been written in consultation with [redacted redacted redacted redacted redacted redacted redacted redacted redacted ] all of whom were present during the oral presentation at Milwaukee, and telephonically with WFO supervisor [redacted redacted ] who concurs with its content."

03 Dec 1991 - From FBI WMFO to Director FBI/Routine

"Warning: Foreign Intelligence Information. All Markings, notations and items of information contained in this communication are classified "Secret" unless otherwise noted."

"Date of Information: 11/26/91"

"Country: Peoples Republic of China (PRC)"

"Subject: American Prisoner of War (Vietnam) In Beijing, China (PRC)."

Page Two

"Source: A highly sensitive source of continuing value who has provided reliable information in the past."

Now we're sure our readers are anxiously waiting to read the information the source provided and so are we. Unfortunately the remainder of "Page Two" is redacted, as is all of "Page Three"

The following information appears on "Page Four"

"Source mentioned is [ redacted redacted redacted redacted redacted redacted ] He is a highly sensitive and reliable source of continuing value. This information is being furnished for analysis and any dissemination as deemed appropriate."

"Extreme caution must be exercised in the handling of information provided by [ redacted redacted ] and should be properly paraphrased in all communications."

01 Feb 1992, A third message from FBI WMFO to Director FBI is almost identical to the December 1991 message with the following exceptions:

1) the date of information reads "1/28/92, and"

2) Page three ends as follows:

"The source mentioned is [redacted ] a proven and reliable source of continuing value."

"Subject: American Prisoner of War (Vietnam) In Beijing, China (PRC)." "..... A highly sensitive source of continuing value who has provided reliable information in the past...." "...A proven and reliable source of continuing value..." "....He is a highly sensitive and reliable source of continuing value...."

Did The U.S. Fail To Act On Reliable Information on POW's Held In China, In Order to Protect An Ongoing Intelligence Gathering Operation? The documents raise the question.....

Senators Call For Investigation Into Fate of Gulf War Pilot - From the Associate Press, March 9^th, by Libby Quaid - "Republican lawmakers requested on Thursday a Senate investigation into the fate of the only American armed forces member still missing from the Persian Gulf War and into the handling of the case by the CIA and the Pentagon."

"Lt. Cmdr. Michael S. Speicher of Jacksonville, Florida, flying a Navy F-18 Hornet from the aircraft carrier USS Saratoga in the post-midnight hours of Jan. 17, 1991, the first night of the war, was shot down in a dogfight with an Iraqi jet. The Pentagon originally said he was dead, but without explanation the Navy announced in January it had changed Speicher's status to missing in action. He was the first American lost in the war, and is the only one still unaccounted for."

"Sen. Pat Roberts, a Republican and a member of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence, said he was not satisfied with a report by CIA and Defense Department inspectors general crediting the intelligence community with "noteworthy" performances in the Speicher case."

"He and fellow Republican Sens. Bob Smith of New Hampshire, James Inhofe of Oklahoma and Mike DeWine of Ohio asked Thursday for a full intelligence committee investigation."

"Its self-congratulatory tone, Roberts said, contrasts sharply with information gathered by the intelligence committee and with an assessment from the CIA director George Tenet. "It is vital that government reports on the fate of American men and women sent into battle has the complete and unquestioning confidence of the American public," said Roberts, whose interest in the case is that Speicher spent his early years in the Kansas City area of Kansas."

"Pentagon officials testified before the panel in January that the Navy's decision to change Speicher's status was based on intelligence information from several different sources. Also in January, Iraq's deputy prime minister, Tariq Aziz, said a 1995 search of the crash site in Iraq's western desert showed the pilot was killed without

ejecting from the cockpit, but his remains were never found. Aziz rejected American suggestions that the flier might have survived and could still be alive. "All the indications were that he was killed while he was still in the cockpit," Aziz said."

Our Thanks To - Senators Pat Roberts, James Inhofe, Mike DeWine and of course our good friend Senator Bob Smith, who along with former Senator Rod Grams, led the charge on the Speicher case.

Psst.... Senator Roberts, if "self-congratulatory" tones for jobs well done when they are not well done, bother you.... you should spend a day at DPMO.... and CILHI. Talk about not having the "complete and unquestioning confidence of the American public..."

Why does Johnnie Webb still have a job?

Can Anyone Verify - A World War II MIA by the name of William Thompson. Send information to Lynn O'Shea by fax at 718-846-4350 or email at lynnpowmia@prodigy.net

One Day Too Long - Ok, we stole the title from Dr. Timothy Castle and his excellent book. If you haven't read "One Day Too Long" we urge you to get a copy. As a way of explaining the title, we offer the following:

9 March 1968 - From the Central Intelligence Agency, Intelligence Information Cable - "Since 25 February 1968, when [redacted redacted redacted redacted redacted] was prepared to appraise the security of the guerrilla base at Phou Pha Thi (UH6663 - 6860) the enemy has methodically continued to prepare the battlefield for his attack on the summit of Phou Pha Thi. In a series of penetrations of the 12 kilometer defensive perimeter around Phou Pha Thi the enemy has focused primarily on bringing more troops into the area and in so doing to consolidate his breach of the perimeter. As of 9 March the enemy has a total estimated force equivalent of seven battalions that could be brought the bear in a ground attack on Site 85....."

"...The enemy is now in position with sufficient strength to launch his attack at any time. The enemy is delaying the launching of his final assault until he has sufficient ammunition stores on hand to permit him to maintain steady pressure after he attacks. Thus, in view of the current enemy advances, Site 85 is now vulnerable to a major artillery mortar barrage followed up by a ground assault and a possible air attack at any time...."

10 March 1968 - From the Central Intelligence Agency, Intelligence Information Cable dated - "By about 1835 hours on 10 March Site 85 at Phou Pha Thi (UH 6860) was under heavy enemy mortar fire. Tacan Personnel reported that their commo shack had received a direct hit and they were going into their bunker"

" [ redacted redacted redacted redacted redacted redacted redacted redacted redacted redacted redacted redacted redacted redacted redacted ] about 40 rounds of heavy mortar fire landed on or near the 105 Howitzer position and UH 668603, 400 yards south of his pisition. All personnel at Phou Pha Thi were in bunkers, and the defense effort at Phou Pha Thi was well organized...."

By the morning of March 11^th, the "defense effort"had failed leaving the "civilian" airmen at Site 85 on their own. When the smoke cleared, that March 11^th, 33 years ago eleven of the "civilian" airmen were unaccounted for. They are Clarence Blanton; James Calfee; James Davis; Henry Gish; Willis Hall; Melvin Holland, Herbert Kirk; David Price; Patrick Shannon; and Donald Springsteadah.

"One Day Too Long" says it all. Read the book.

Remains of World War II Pilot Recovered In France - From Reuters, March 8^th, "A French news magazine said on Thursday it had identified a World War Two American pilot whose remains were found in north France last month as a veteran flyer who survived Pearl Harbour and shot down three Japanese planes."

"Paris-Match said the body was that of Lieutenant William Patton who went missing in action in January 1945 when his P-51 Mustang became separated from a formation escorting bombers from England for a raid over Nazi Germany. Patton was on the ground when the Japanese bombed a military airfield near Pearl Harbour, Hawaii, in 1941. He then shot down three Japanese planes at the battle of Midway the following year, the magazine said. Paris-Match said its reporters went to his home town, Granby, Missouri, and published a letter from U.S. authorities to his family in 1946 saying Patton was last seen over Roubaix, France, near the Belgian border."

"The wreckage of a Mustang was discovered in the same area last month during drainage work. A body found amid the wreckage had military identification discs in Patton's name. The remains were flown to the United States on March 1 for forensic tests to ensure positive identification before being given to the family.

Patton's niece, Joyce Montez, told Paris-Match that the family had long hoped that Patton had survived, possibly having lost his memory, and would return home one day."

"Photos showed that items recovered from the crashed Mustang, including a "Mae West" life jacket and parachute, were in remarkably good condition."

How Many South Korean POWs Is North Korea Holding - The answer is 351, according to the Korea Times, in an article published March 2^nd, the Korea Times states "The government has a list of 351 South Korean soldiers who have been detained in North Korea since the 1950-53 Korean War, a recently issued government report said."

"According to the 2001 Unification White Paper published by the Unification Ministry, the figure was confirmed as of the end of last year, based on testimonies by 17 South Korean prisoners of war, who have returned home from the North, and North Korean defectors now residing in South Korea."

"Given the related situations and documents, a total of 19,409 South Korean soldiers are presumed missing during the war," a ministry official said. Meanwhile, the figure of 351 is eight more than the ministry reported to the main opposition Grand National Party's special committee on POWs in the communist country last July."

Update On the Dumbest Piece of Legislation Ever Introduced - As of 7:00 PM, Friday March 9^th, H.R. 62 has Zero Cosponsors. The fact that this legislation still has no co-sponsors indicates to us, that there are at least 434 congressional representatives who would like to be re-elected. We will keep an eye on this legislation, but at this point, we don't think there is anything to worry about. For more information on this legislation see Bit Feb. 24, 2001.

National Alliance of Families Twelfth Annual Forum is scheduled for June 21st - 23rd, 2001. Our Forum is conducted to coincide with the governments annual POW/MIA Family Briefings. We urge all family members to attend this years government briefings, for Vietnam family members. Remember the government will provide free airfare to two family members to attend the briefings. There is no charge or registration fee to attend the government briefings. It is important that family members attend these briefings. We do not want to give DPMO reason to implement their "dead" Strategic Plan and end active investigations by 2004.

Our meeting will be held at the Crown Plaza Hotel, 1489 Jefferson Davis Highway, Arlington Va. Room rates are $106.00 single or double, plus tax. To make reservations call 703- 416-1600 Remember to say you want the National Alliance of Families Group Rate. The deadline for reservations is May 29th, 2001. The hotel is ½ mile from Reagan National Airport. If you plan to drive to D.C. hotel parking is $5.00 per night.

The Hotel is convenient to the Metro, and has three types of eating facilities, from nice to fast food. The Hotel is walking distance to the Government briefings. For those not inclined to walk, transportation will be provided.

Remember, the Alliance is an all volunteer organization. Our meetings are open to all, without charge. At this time of year, we actively seek contributions to finance our Forum. If you wish to contribute, donations may be mailed to: