The National Alliance of Families mourns the passing of Col. Phillip Corso, aide to President Dwight Eisenhower. Col. Corso provided valuable information regarding Korean War POWs taken to China and the former Soviet Union. Much of his information, once scoffed at by the United States government, is now accepted as fact. Col. Corso was a good friend to our POW/MIAs. He will be missed. To his family, we extend our deepest sympathy.

Get Well to Diane Van Renselaar, wife of POW Larry Van Renselaar, and Erma Hasenbeck, mother of POW/MIA Paul Hasenbeck. Both are recovering from very serious illnesses. They need your good wishes. Cards may be sent to Diane at: 2 Endeavor Drive, Corte Madera Ca. 94925. Cards for Erma may be sent to: 1010 Linden Way, Jefferson City Mo. 65109. We wish them both speedy recoveries.

The Deed Is Done -- From the Associated Press July 30th by Jim Abrams -- "Agreeing with the administration that Vietnam is making progress in human rights and emigration policy, the House on Thursday backed President Clinton's decision to promote trade with the former Asian enemy."

"By a 260-163 vote, the House rejected a motion to overturn a presidential waiver issued last March opening the way for Vietnam to get U.S. government credits and investment guarantees."

"Supporters of the administration policy argued that Vietnam's human rights record is improving, and that increased U.S. trade can only foster that trend. "Their continued exposure to U.S. values on human rights and religious freedom will promote progress in Vietnam in these objectives that we all share," said Rep. Bob Matsui, D-Calif."

"Opponents questioned Vietnam's commitment to reform and the wisdom of extending U.S. government credit to a communist government. "What we are going to be doing is spending tax dollars with this waiver to guarantee American businessmen to go in and use cheap slave labor under a dictatorship to manufacture goods to export to the United States to put our own people out of work. That's immoral," said Rep. Dana Rohrabacher, R-Calif."

"The waiver is necessary to grant Vietnam exemption from the 1974 Jackson-Vanik law that imposed trade restrictions on communist governments as a penalty for limiting emigration."

"Since both chambers must disapprove a presidential waiver to block it, Thursday's House action cancels the need for a Senate vote. The Senate Finance Committee earlier this month did endorse the administration policy in a 14-1 vote."

" The administration said the waiver was justified because Vietnam, while still repressive in its policies, since 1979 has allowed more than 480,000 of its citizens to leave Vietnam legally for the United States."

"Based on every shred of evidence we have, we've seen a dramatic improvement in the cooperation of the Vietnamese government with the United States," said Rep. David Dreier, R-Calif."

"The waiver for government credits is not the same as Clinton's decision, upheld by the House recently, to extend normal trade relations to China for another year. Vietnam is one of six countries in the world that do not have normal trade status with the United States that would allow them to receive low tariff rates. To obtain that status, Hanoi first would have to sign a bilateral commercial agreement with the United States."

Big Busine$$ waged an all out effort, lobbying Congre$$ to uphold the Pre$idential waiver of Jackson Vanick. Ignoring the wishes of the two major POW/MIA family organizations, the majority of veterans groups, and Vietnamese refugee groups, 260 Congre$$men voted to uphold the Waiver.

Everyone should find out how their congressman voted and remember that vote this election day. Remember all 435 congressmen and women are up for re-election this November.

MFN For China - By a vote of 264 - 166, the House of Representatives approved most favored nation status for china. The following is excerpted from an associated press article by jim abrams: "Though complaining vigorously about China's human rights and weapons policies, the House once again went along with the president's policy of maintaining normal trade relations with the Beijing government...."

"...The odor of money and influence-peddling is hanging over this debate," said Rep. Gerald Solomon, R-N.Y., a leader in the move to deny China its current low tariff rates...."

"...Under a 1974 law, the president must seek an annual waiver to extend normal trade status to totalitarian states. Since 1980 every president, both Republican and Democrat, has extended that status to China. Since China's military cracked down on the democracy movement in 1989, Congress has challenged the decision every year, always failing to revoke it..."

"... China, said Rep. Dana Rohrabacher, R-Calif., is "the worst human rights abuser on the planet and a dangerous potential enemy for the United States...."

"...But the enthusiasm of Congress for economic sanctions has cooled somewhat recently, as business leaders are telling lawmakers that they are losing out to European and Japanese rivals and farmers battered by low prices are saying they are losing crucial markets.

Is There Anyone Who Still Doesn't Believe that members of the U.S. government including the head of CIL-HI, Johnie Webb did not know Michael Blassie was the Vietnam Unknown? On March 21, 1984, the commander of CIL-HI, Major Johnie Webb, certified the remains designated X-26 as unidentifiable.

On April 4th, 1984, then Major Webb signed a "Memo For Record." The subject of the memo was "Documents to be Removed from X-26 File and Placed in the Blassie File." The memo stated: "At 1045 hours on the above date, I received a phone call from LTC David Peixotto, Office of the Assistant Secretary of the Army for Civil Works. He informed me that three specific documents should be removed from the X-26 file and placed in the file for Blassie, Michael J. (1853-0-01). LTC Peixotto and I mutually agreed that the three documents listed below should be removed from the X-26 file and placed in the Blassie file.

ASGRO Board Finding dated 7 May 1980

Statement by Cpt Hess

G2/G3/ Daily Journal HQ TRAC, Long Binh, RVN (31 Oct 72)

These documents have been placed in the Blassie file with the exception of the statement by Cpt Hess. LTC Peixotto is sending the original statement to CIL at which time it will be placed in the Blassie file."

[Note: the October 31, 1972 date, is the date of the remains recovery of Lt. Blassie.]

Nine days later on April 13th, Garold D. Huey, of Mortuary Affairs wrote " Mr. Manning, DAAG-PED called. He wanted to know what information we might have on Lt. Blassie concerning personal effects that may have been recovered with the remains or may have been turned over to a NOK. I told him I would check and see what we may have and get back to him."

On April 22, 1981, the Air Force issued its' position regarding the "Selection of Unknown from the Vietnam War." That memo stated in part: "Remains must be located with some personnel effects such as clothing, equipment or other media which would establish that the remains are those of a member of the Armed Forces of the United States."

"Personal effects must not have identifying clues which may later be used to establish identity, such as initials on a right." (Like an ID card)

"Circumstances surrounding recovery of remains must be without significance as far as providing information which may make later identification probable; for example, remains located at the point that a platoon was ambushed and where the body of one individual was not recovered." (Like remains could only be one of nine.)

The memo concluded "...the remains presently located in the Central Identification Laboratory, Hawaii (CILHI) do no meet the prescribed criteria. Of the remains I have viewed at the CILHI not one comes close to the criteria due to the paucity of recovery (10-30%), anthropological inconsistencies, lack of absolute anonymity and the actual certification of remains as an American Serviceman."

These new documents will be added to our web site at: Http://www.nationalalliance.org

North Korea Returns Remains - From Reuters July 24th - "North Korea on Friday returned the remains of three people thought to have been U.S. troops killed in the 1950-53 Korean War."

"The remains were handed over to a U.N. Command (UNC) honour guard in a solemn, 20-minute ceremony in the border village straddling the two Koreas. The ceremony was attended by the UNC's top brass, including commander-in-chief General John H. Tilelli and deputy chief of staff Major General Michael V. Hayden, the UNC said in a statement...."

"A UNC chaplain said a prayer of thanks when the transfer was complete. The remains are believed to be those of troops who belonged to the U.S. Army's 24th Infantry Regiment, 25th Infantry Division, and were thought to have died in battle in 1952, the UNC said."

"The remains, unearthed during the current North Korea-U.S. joint search operation, were found in North Korea's Pyongan province, about 100 km (62 miles) south of the North Korean-Chinese border."

"...They are expected to leave North Korea on Saturday and another joint search team will begin work on August 11, the UNC said...."

Videos Available - 6 Copies of "Nameless Heroes - North Korean Propaganda film with Americans used as actors. This film was shown at the 1996 meeting of the National Alliance of Families. Cost $10.00 each plus $3.00 postage.

1 Set of November 11, 1992 Hearing of the Senate Select Committee on POW/MIA Affairs - Topics World War II, Korea, and Cold War. 2 tapes - $10.00 each plus $4.00 postage.

Orders being taken for "Prisoners of War in Communist Hands" U.S. army training film. Film contains footage of American POWs in Korea. Film also contains Russian footage predating the Korean War. Cost is estimated between $10.00 to $13.00, depending on number of orders received, plus $3.00 postage.

To order contact Dolores Alfond at: The National Alliance of Families, P.O. Box 40327, Bellevue, Washington 98015-4327.

Going Fishing -- It's that time, again. Bits 'N' Pieces is going on vacation. We will be back on Saturday, September 12th. See you then.

Contact us here!