Secretary of Defense William J. Perry sent a report to Congress on Friday, February 17, 1995, in compliance with the requirements of Fiscal Year 1995 National Defense Authorization Act, Public Law 103-337, Section 1034.

The report addresses the progress made by the Department of Defense in its POW-MIA work in the Socialist Republic of Vietnam and the Lao People's Democratic Republic under the Clinton Administration. It specifically addresses efforts in Vietnam and Laos in the four key areas emphasized by the Clinton Administration:

• Remains: Concrete results from efforts to recover and repatriate American remains;
• Discrepancy Cases: Continued resolution of the remaining discrepancy cases;
• Trilateral Investigations: Further assistance in conducting investigations along the Lao-Vietnam border;
• Documents: Accelerated efforts to provide POW/MIA related documents.

As the legislation requires, the report lists those personnel about whom it is possible that officials of Vietnam and Laos can produce additional information or remains that could lead to the maximum possible accounting. The listing for Vietnam is based on those names contained within the special remains cases, "photo-books" containing combat photos from Vietnamese files depicting deceased American personnel that were carried to Vietnam by American envoys in 1992 and 1993, and the priority discrepancy cases. The listing for Laos is based on the names contained within the priority discrepancy cases and Viet-Lao border cases. The Administration pursues information regarding these border cases with the governments of both countries.

As mentioned in the report, the administration cannot rule out the possibility that the governments of Vietnam and Laos may have additional information or remains associated with any of the 2,211 remaining unaccounted for Americans. For that reason, DPMO is conducting a comprehensive review of all cases involving Americans that never returned from Southeast Asia. As of the report date, nearly fifty percent of all Southeast Asia cases have been reviewed. Completion of the case-by-case review will take at least several additional months, at which time the findings will be reported to Congress and made available to family members.

Copies of the Department of Defense report to Congress can be obtained through the service casualty offices.

On February 14, 1995, United States officials debriefed retired First Lieutenant Cho Chang-ho, a former Korean War prisoner of war (POW) who escaped from North Korea to South Korea in March 1994. During the debriefing, Cho confirmed earlier reports that he did not observe any American POWs following his initial month of captivity in late May-mid June 1952. However, Lieutenant Cho did report he heard from South Korean POWs in late 1952 that there were large numbers of American POWs being held at various wartime POW camps.

Other significant comments from Lieutenant Cho concerned the location of POW burial sites. He stated that several POWs were buried at the foot of an unnamed mountain. This burial took place while South Korean and American POWs were marching away from the front lines to the rear POW camps.

Lieutenant Cho was captured alone by Chinese Army troops on May 18, 1951, in Hyon-ni, Inje-gun, Kangwon-do (east coast of South Korea). A week later, he was turned over to the North Korean Army's Fifth Corps headquarters at Changansa (a Buddhist monastery) in Kumgang-san, Kangwon-do (north of the DMZ on the east coast). When he arrived at Changansa, Lieutenant Cho observed approximately 700-800 South Korean Army POWs and approximately 70-80 American POWs at the Fifth Corps headquarters. Lieutenant Cho, who knew that the United States Army's 7th Division was deployed in that area, surmised that the United States POWs were members of the 7th Division. They were all young; approximately one-third were black. Later, all of these South Korean and American POWs were moved on foot from Changansa to Sinan, Kangwon-do (30-40 miles from Changansa).

En-route to Sinan, Lieutenant Cho observed several American POWs who died after suffering from malnutrition and diarrhea caused by eating raw corn. Fellow prisoners buried them at the foot of an unnamed mountain in shallow graves approximately one meter deep and placed a piece of straw mat over the bodies, and covered them with soil.

After arriving at Sinan, the American POWs were separated from the South Koreans and taken by truck to an unknown destination.

South Korean and American POWs were not permitted to talk to each other. Lieutenant Cho did not observe any American POWs other than those mentioned above. In the summer of 1951, still at Sinan, Lieutenant Cho was debriefed at military reception centers in Moranbong-guyok, Pyongyang and in Kaesong.

In May 1952, he attempted to escape but was captured and sent to a prison in Wonsan. Later, Lieutenant Cho was moved to different prisons in Hoechang, Tokchon, and Manpo.

In late 1952, while he was at the Manpo prison, many South Korean POWs were sent there from different POW camps to serve prison terms because they were North Koreans who served in the South Korean Army. At that time, Lieutenant Cho heard from South Korean POWs that there were large POW camps controlled by the Chinese in Usi, Ch'olma, Pyoktong, and Ch'olsan, all located in P'yongan-pukto. He also heard from South Korean POWs that there was a large number of American POWs, together with South Korean POWs, at the Usi and Ch'olma camps. However, the South Korean POWs did not specify how many American POWs they had observed.

Lieutenant Cho was released from prison on August 18, 1964. While working as a miner at the Hwapung lead mine in October 1964 in Chungp'ung-ni, Songwon-gun, Chagang-do, he heard from Chungp'ung-ni villagers on a number of occasions of a "United States POW mass burial site" in Chungpung-ni. They did not specify how many United States POWs were buried there. In July 1975, while Lieutenant Cho was a miner in a copper mine in Hoha-ri, Chunggang-gun, Chagang-do, he heard from Hoha-ri villagers on a number of occasions that there was a "United States POW mass burial site" in Chungdong-ni, Chunggang-gun, that was now a farming field. Again, they did not specify how many U.S. POWs were buried there.

Lieutenant Cho also heard from the villagers that during the Korean War, typhoid fever swept the country and many South Korean and American POWs, as well as North Korean populace, died as a result.

Lieutenant Cho commented that some old people in the northern provinces should have more information about the locations of the "POW mass burial sites."

The 11th Plenum of the United States-Russia Joint Commission on POW/MIAs met in Washington, DC from December 3-10, 1994. This plenum was noteworthy for identifying initiatives for future work rather than any single breakthrough or discovery. In this context, we expect the months ahead to be a busy period in which we expand our interview and record search programs both here and in Russia.

The United States-side of the Commission was led by Ambassador Malcolm Toon. Other members included Congressmen Sam Johnson and Pete Peterson -- both former POWs in Vietnam; James Wold, Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for POW/MIA Affairs; Denis Clift, President, Joint Military Intelligence College; Ambassador Peter Tomsen, Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for East Asian and Pacific Affairs; John Herbst, Department of State Director for Independent States and Commonwealth Affairs; and Dr. Trudy Peterson, acting National Archivist. Commission members Senators Bob Smith and John Kerry were unable to attend. The Russian delegation was led by Co-chairman General Dmitriy Volkogonov. Other Russian members included Professor Aleksandr Korotkov, Chief, Presidential Archives; Colonel Mukhin, Head of Military Archives; General Krayushkin, Federal Counter-Intelligence Service Archives; Major General Volkov, Director, Commission Secretariat; Dr. Rudolf Pikhoya; and Colonel Osipov, Executive Secretary of the Joint Commission.

During the Washington visit, the Joint Commission toured the United States equipment holdings of Russian material at Aberdeen Proving Grounds. This was the first time a Russian delegation had toured that facility. We believe that the visit challenged the Russians to look at serial numbers, markings, and other data of captured war materiel that could possibly provide clues to the origin of equipment and its users. Another objective was to encourage the Russian-side of the Joint Commission to grant American investigators access to Russian museums, technical institutes, and test facilities that may hold American equipment taken for technical exploitation or as trophies from World War II, Korea and the Cold War, or Vietnam. We hope that access to this equipment may eventually lead to resolution of open POW/MIA cases.

The Commission also toured the United States Naval Academy where they met with midshipmen. The visit was particularly meaningful to the Russian delegates because of their efforts in recovering remains believed to be those of a Naval Academy graduate, United States Air Force Captain John Dunham. Hopefully, the visit will continue to stimulate initiatives with our Russian counterparts that are expected to produce additional success in identifying additional witnesses, documents, and leads to information regarding our POW/MIAs.

Following the 3-day plenum, the Russian delegates participated in a two-hour family forum, broken down into working groups, to give family members maximum time to ask questions. An additional family session with the analysts provided more detailed answers and cleared up many misunderstandings.

Task Force Russia Visits Gulag

Task Force Russia - Moscow (TFR-M) members visited the site of the last Russian gulag, Perm-35, January 10-12, 1995, and reviewed names in the Perm Oblast Directorate of Internal Affairs (UVD) prison archives card file. Perm-35 was closed in 1992 and is now an active strict regime corrective labor colony (ITK) that holds about 400 felons. Selected American names were checked in the Perm Oblast prison archive card file with no indication that any Americans had ever been detained in the Perm prison system.

Kazakhstan Archival Research

TFR-M members traveled to Almaty, Kazakhstan January 22-25, 1995, to review progress on the archival project with the Kazakh Ministry of Internal Affairs. Name checks of 441 U.S. Korean War and Cold War MIAs were completed in the Central Archives, City of Almaty Archives, and in 11 of the 19 Oblast (district) Archives. Thus far, no matches have been noted. The Deputy Chief of the Kazakh SSR Prison System (1957-87) stated he was confident there were no American prisoners in Kazakhstan during his tenure. Research at the archives continues.

Joint Commission Visits Moscow and Uzbekistan

Ambassador Malcolm Toon, Co-chairman of the United States-Russia Joint Commission on POW/MIAs, and Dr. Trudy Peterson, Acting Archivist of the United States, recently led a 14-member delegation to Russia and Uzbekistan February 17-25, 1995, for technical talks. Their talks in Moscow focused on unresolved issues dealing with American servicemen who may have been taken to the former Soviet Union after their release from German detention camps. The delegation also addressed cooperative efforts to resolve the fate of Russian POWs from the Afghan War.

Ambassador Toon and fellow Commission members met with high-level government officials in the Uzbek capital of Tashkent to seek their assistance in locating information and individuals who may have knowledge of Americans held in the former Soviet Union. The delegation hopes its series of meetings, together with media appeals and visits to former detention sites, will result in close cooperation that will prove helpful to us in our search for the facts about missing American servicemen.

Joint Commission Prepares Interim Report

In commemoration of the 50th anniversary of the victory of World War II, the Joint Commission is preparing a joint statement of its accomplishments for the past three years. This statement recognizes American and Russian Commission members, reiterates Commission objectives, and summarizes accomplishments of the World War II, Korea, Cold War, and Vietnam War working groups.

A version was presented to the Russians by Co-chairman Malcolm Toon during the Moscow technical talks. The Russians are now reviewing the text. The report is expected to be released this spring in time for celebrations marking the 50th Anniversary of the Allied victory in World War II.

The Joint Commission recognizes that it can not incorporate all of the Commission's accomplishments in such a summary-type document. It, therefore, is in the process of preparing a more comprehensive document prior to the end of 1995 which will address specific accomplishments in more detail as well as focus on those areas requiring additional work.

Lieutenant Steve Shepard, USN

Research & Analysis Directorate

The Congress proclaimed February 2, 1995, as a National Day of Prayer with the goal of joining together people of all faiths to pray for our nation. DPMO recognized this as an opportunity to remember the sacrifices service members, particularly prisoners of war, have made for America and the free world in defense of freedom.

Rear Admiral Jeremiah Denton, United States Navy (Ret.), a former prisoner of war and United States Senator from Alabama, was the featured speaker.

The program opened with prayer, the Pledge of Allegiance, and singing of "My Country 'Tis of Thee." Admiral Denton was then introduced by Captain James Mulligan, United States Navy, his cellmate in Hanoi. During his remarks, Admiral Denton spoke of the significance of prayer and faith in sustaining him and the other prisoners through torture and adversity they endured as prisoners of war He also spoke of the founding fathers' belief in God in establishing principles for our democracy. Those principles, he said, were under attack and must be maintained if our country is to remain free.

In his remarks, Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for POW/MIA Affairs James W. Wold stated that it is difficult to understand why some people must endure pain and suffering while others do not. Perhaps, according to Wold, some people endure hardship because their experiences in faith and adversity serve as models for the rest of us in our life trials.

The program concluded with prayers for the Nation and the mission of accounting for our missing.

Former prisoners of war from World War II, Korea, and Vietnam attended. Other distinguished guests included the Honorable Herschel Gober, Deputy Secretary of Veterans Affairs, and Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for International Security Affairs Fred Smith. Leaders and representatives of veterans and family organizations also attended.

Policy & Plans Directorate

Delegations representing the United States, Laos, and Vietnam met in Hanoi on December 1, 1994, to discuss trilateral procedures for using Vietnamese witnesses to search for missing or unaccounted for Americans in Laos from the war in Southeast Asia. The delegations were led by Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for POW/MIA Affairs James Wold, Laos Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs Soubanh Srithirath, and Socialist Republic of Vietnam (SRV) Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs Nguyen Dinh Bin.

The three delegations decided to use the following agreement resulting from the August 1993 trilateral meeting as a basis for actions regarding future trilateral operations: "Witnesses from one country who may have information related to a case in another country will be made available by the government concerned for exchange of information between the joint teams. The three governments will approach the use of such witnesses as appropriate to assist the investigation in a spirit of flexibility and cooperation aimed at achieving the fullest possible accounting."

The following specific procedures were also agreed to by all three delegations at the meeting:

• After a witness has been interviewed by United States and SRV representatives and deemed credible, the witness will be interviewed in Hanoi by representatives of the Laotian government for credibility. Vietnamese witnesses determined to be credible by all three countries will be escorted into Laos by representatives of the Vietnam Office for Seeking Missing Persons and the United States Joint Task Force Full Accounting while assisting with investigations in Laos.
• All three countries agreed that Vietnamese witnesses must be given the necessary time to provide proper assistance during investigations. Due to the passage of time and possible changes in the terrain and environment at investigative sites, witnesses may require additional time to reestablish their bearings to successfully assist on-going investigations. Once the joint team determines a witness is no longer needed, the witness will return to Vietnam.
• The agreement reached during the December trilateral meeting provides the United States an excellent opportunity to help solve those cases where trilateral commitment and cooperative efforts are needed. The trilateral procedures were used during the December 1994 and January 1995 joint field activities in Laos. Future use of the agreement is a part of on-going and future technical talks between the United States, Laos, and Vietnam.

JTF-FA Public Affairs

Calendar year 1994 marked the busiest and most productive yet in the short history of Joint Task Force Full Accounting. JTF-FA investigators expanded their efforts to achieve the fullest possible accounting for Americans still unaccounted for from the war in Southeast Asia.

Vietnam

The Task Force conducted 6 joint field activities covering a period of nearly 200 days. JTF-FA and United States Army Central Identification Laboratory in Hawaii (CILHI) personnel investigated more than 340 cases and excavated 90 suspected crash or burial sites. Remains associated with and possibly representing 61 unaccounted for Americans were recovered or received and repatriated to the United States. Seven individuals already have been identified from these remains. The other remains are undergoing analysis at CILHI.

In addition to the field operations, Hanoi-based researchers continued their systematic review of Vietnamese museum artifacts and archival documents. The archival research project has been in operation for more than two years. Through December 1994, it has reviewed, documented, and catalogued nearly 28,000 items. Of these, more than 700 have been correlated to unresolved cases.

Also in Vietnam, investigations continue into the fate of individuals associated with remaining discrepancy cases. Since January 1992, 80 "fate determinations" have been made; 25 of these determinations were in 1994. These investigations and the resulting determinations have reduced the number of individuals associated with the Vietnam last known alive discrepancy cases to 55.

The Task Force formed its Special Remains Team in 1993. Its charter is to focus investigative efforts on the recovery of remains associated with cases about which the United States believes the Vietnamese should be able to provide additional information. These cases include Americans on the died in captivity list, Americans depicted in photographs discovered in Vietnamese archives, and selected others. Seventy-two cases involving 82 individuals have undergone this focused investigation. Seventeen of the investigations identified crash or grave sites for excavation; 11 of the sites have already been excavated. In two cases, remains which may be those of the unaccounted for individuals were recovered and are at CILHI for analysis.

The Oral History Program (OHP) also continues its efforts to capture the memories of Vietnamese who may have information about American prisoners and the fate of those still unaccounted for. The OHP has expanded its efforts beyond the originally identified list of individuals and is also interviewing other people identified through investigations and other means. Eighty-three of these interviews have been conducted.

Laos

Because of infrastructure and host-nation logistic limitations, task force operations in Laos have been somewhat less extensive, but encouraging. JTF-FA investigators and recovery specialists from CILHI conducted six operations in Laos during the past year. The teams conducted 133 investigations and excavated 23 sites. Remains associated with and possibly representing 25 unaccounted for Americans were recovered during the year and repatriated to the United States. Two individuals have been identified from these remains.

The Vientiane-based Laos archival research team reviewed, documented, and catalogued more than 2,000 artifacts from Lao archival holdings.

Cambodia

The continued unrest of Khmer Rouge insurgents, the extreme dangers poised by the massive amounts of unexploded ordnance and mines scattered around the countryside and the lack of sufficient material leads, combined to limit JTF-FA's operational pace in Cambodia.

The task force mounted only one Cambodian field investigation in 1994, during which its specialists investigated nine cases and excavated three sites. Remains associated with and possibly representing one unaccounted for American were recovered and repatriated to the United States. Plans to mount another Cambodian operation later this spring are underway.

China

JTF-FA conducted one operation in China in 1994. Task Force specialists investigated three cases and excavated one site during the April operation.

The men and women of JTF-FA remain committed to achieving the fullest possible accounting of Americans still unaccounted for from the Vietnam War. Their skills, dedication, and hard work are all aimed at giving families as much information as is possible about the fate of their loved ones.

CDR Mark Jensen, USN, Policy and Plans Directorate

Defense Science Board

On January 20, the Defense Science Board Task Force on the use of DNA Technology for Identification of Ancient Remains held its final meeting to formalize conclusions and review the draft report. With this meeting, the Task Force concluded its deliberations on the task set before it. Next for the Task Force comes the administrative portion. At the time of this writing, the report is being edited for changes discussed at the meeting and final approval by the Task Force members. Once the members approve the report, the Task Force chairman will sign and submit it to the chairman of the Defense Science Board -- the chairman will ensure the report addresses the issues set forth in the Terms of Reference. The Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and Technology is responsible for releasing the Task Force report once the complete study is ready for distribution.

Mitochondrial DNA and CILHI

The Armed Forces DNA Identification Laboratory (AFDIL) is now capable of conducting an average of 10 Mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) cases a month in support of the Army Central Identification Laboratory (CILHI) mission. AFDIL increased its output from 1 to 10 cases per month by hiring and training new teams and moving into greatly expanded laboratory facilities in Rockville, Maryland. Used as a tool to either confirm or exclude a tentative identification, this increased capacity for mtDNA analysis will add a significant new dimension to CILHI's forensic capabilities.

John A. Brown

Reference & Documents Directorate

Vietnam-era documents, files, records, and reports were collected by the Department of Defense (DoD) in response to Public Law 102-190 (the McCain Bill) and Executive Order (EO) 12812. Public Law 102-190, which applies only to DoD, directs that documents which pertain to the location, treatment, or condition of unaccounted for Vietnam-era personnel be placed in a library-like location in the National Capital area. The EO applies to all executive branch departments and agencies. Documents collected in response to the DoD's original call for data have been reviewed for declassification and released to the Library of Congress (LOC) where they are being indexed and microfilmed. Contemporary documents are being reviewed for declassification as they are created. These documents are being systematically turned over to the LOC to be indexed and microfilmed. Information on researching and obtaining documents from the Vietnam-era collection at the LOC is covered in the article on the following page, "Vietnam-Era Documentation Collection in Microform."

Senate Select Committee Records And Documents

The records of the Senate Select Committee on POW/MIA Affairs were amassed from multiple sources during its 15 month investigation into multiple aspects of the Vietnam War. Much of this material is classified and was provided to the Office of Senate Security for the Committee's use. The Committee released these records to the National Archives in 1993 as a discrete collection, and the Committee's chairman requested that the material be declassified. Much of this material may duplicate material that has been reviewed for declassification by the Department of Defense (DoD) and released to the LOC to be indexed and microfilmed.

The Senate Select Committee collection in the National Archives contains documents from agencies and departments other than the DoD. Those agencies and departments were required to declassify their own documents under EO 12812 and place them in the public domain. Only DoD has placed its documents in the LOC to be indexed and microfilmed for public access.

Therefore, the DoD collection at the LOC is larger, but does not contain all the documents from other agencies and departments that may be found in the Senate Select Committee collection.

The National Archives has advised that although some materials may have already been declassified during the DoD review, the files of the Committee, as a discrete collection, must be reviewed in their entirety for declassification. The National Archives is reviewing the material for declassification and, where necessary, forwarding documents to the originating agencies to complete the declassification review requirements. Agencies involved include the Departments of Defense and State, the National Security Council, the Central Intelligence Agency, the National Security Agency, and others.

Reference & Documents Directorate

The Photo duplication Service of the Library of Congress (LOC) publishes the "Guide To The Vietnam - Era Documentation Collection In Microform". The guide is designed to serve as a finding aid for the microfilm collection and may be requested from the Photo duplication Service for the cost of shipping. The collection consists of declassified documents containing information on Vietnam-era POW/MIAs that the Department of Defense began making available in May 1992 and continues to make available through the present.

Prior to being transferred to the LOC, all documents are reviewed, declassified, and indexed by the Defense Prisoner of War/Missing in Action Office (DPMO). The following categories of documents are contained in the collection: live sighting case (source) files, casualty files, policy papers, intelligence reports, and service files.

The collection is indexed from inventories prepared by the DPMO. File folders with appropriate inventory identification have been microfilmed to aid in the identification of specific document groupings within a microfilm reel.

Documents and reports from which the microfilm is produced vary in quality. All pages are copies with being the product of copying many times over; thus, some pages are illegible or appear to be blank. Nevertheless, all pages made available by the DPMO are included in this microfilm collection. The collection is located in the LOC's Jefferson Building, room LJ-107, the microform reading room.

The microform reading room is open to all researchers over high school age, and is a self-serve operation. However, reference librarians and supporting librarian technicians will assist researchers in person, by telephone, and by correspondence. The staff will also provide operating instructions for the microform reader/printers. "The Guide To The Vietnam-Era Documentation Collection In Microform" is on an open shelf in the microform reading room and is collocated with the Vietnam-era microfilm collection.

Hours for the microform reading room are Monday-Wednesday-Thursday 8:30 a.m. - 9:30 p.m.; Tuesday-Friday-Saturday 8:30 a.m. - 5 p.m. It is closed on Sunday. (Note: The Jefferson Building is under renovation, so it is easier to enter the building from Second Street through the stairwell entryway.)

Paper or microfilm copies of documents from the collection are available by request and subscription from the Photo duplication Service (see last paragraph for address and phone number). Inquires for copies should include the following: release date, reel number, folder number(s), file description, document date (if available), and any identifying numbers listed in the guide. Include the following microfilm shelf number on all requests: Microfilm (O)92/300 MICRR.

Current costs for paper copies are 10 cents per page; microfilm is available for $30 per reel. Additionally, copies may be made directly from the microform reader/printers for 20 cents per page. As an alternative to purchasing paper or microfilm copies, the LOC makes the microfilm available to local libraries through its free Interlibrary Loan System.

The LOC is compiling an on-line POW/MIA index that can be used by researchers to identify documents of interest using search terms such as last names, country of loss, and keywords. The current index contains more than 58,000 records with additional records being added monthly. Once a document is identified, it can be obtained through the LOC's Photo duplication Service or an inter-library loan to a local library. The database can be accessed through the INTERNET's World Wide Web using a "web browser" software program. The LOC's "Home Page" is http://lcweb.loc.gov.

All inquiries should be addressed to the Photo duplication Service, Library of Congress, Washington, DC 20540. Their phone number is (202) 707-5640 and the fax number is (202)707-1771.

Reference & Documents Directorate

The Defense Prisoner of War/Missing in Action Office's (DPMO) research efforts to locate Korean conflict and Cold War documents completed the fiscal year 1995's first quarter search with promising results. The initial quarter's research was conducted at the National Archives in Washington, DC, and the National Records Center at Suitland, Maryland. Federal Research Division personnel searched 13 record groups. A substantial volume of relevant information was found in 6 groups; 5,410 pages of documents were reproduced and transferred to the DPMO. Initial review of this material revealed the names of 986 personnel included in the National Battlefield Monuments List for Korea and 2 Cold War loss incidents. All material has been provided to DPMO's Joint Commission Support Directorate for analysis. Second quarter research has begun in Navy archival personnel records at the Washington Navy Yard. Research began in Army archival personnel records at Fort Meade, Maryland in mid-February. We solicit your recommendations and suggestions for candidate research sites.

Dr. Angelo J. Collura

In accordance with Section 1031 of the 1995 National Defense Authorization Act, the Defense Prisoner of War/Missing in Action Office (DPMO) will provide assistance to family members of the Korean Conflict and Cold War unaccounted for personnel, as follows:

Pursuant to these laws, and in concert with the Federal Research Division (FRD) of the Library of Congress, DPMO will search for documents currently held in federal and private repositories and special library collections which relate to the loss incidents of Korean Conflict and Cold War unaccounted for personnel. Documents, both classified and unclassified, which are specifically brought to the attention of DPMO and which reside in a particular repository, will be directed to the FRD for inclusion in their research efforts. A special collection of these documents, when retrieved, will be provided to the National Archives and Records Administration, where they will be available to the public. DPMO will maintain a duplicate file of those documents. As documents are received within DPMO, the Joint Commission Support Directorate assumes responsibility for analysis.

The Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense (DASD) for POW/MIA Affairs has been appointed the single point of contact to serve as the liaison between family members of unaccounted for Korean Conflict and Cold War personnel and the Defense Department and other Federal departments and agencies that may hold information relating to such personnel. The DASD has appointed a DPMO representative to serve on his behalf and to carry out the day-to-day duties associated with this effort. Two additional researchers have been assigned to this function. The primary function of this research group is to assist family members with the procedures they may follow in their search for information about unaccounted for personnel. In addition, they will assist family members in learning where they maylocate information about the unaccounted for and how and where to identify relevant classified records. They also will assist in the declassification of any records that are identified by family members and brought to the attention of DPMO.

Family research questions regarding Korean Conflict and Cold War archival research should be directed to the DASD's designated representative, Dr. Angelo J. Collura, at (703) 602-2202 (ext. 218). For matters beyond archival research assistance, families should maintain contact with the service casualty offices or the DPMO Family Support Division at (703) 602-2101 ext. 162. (Numbers for the casualty offices are on page 12.)

Family Support/Casualty Liaison Division

The Defense Prisoner of War/Missing in Action Office (DPMO) has revised the policy on family member access to the classified file, if one exists, of unaccounted for American servicemen from the Vietnam conflict. The major change allows the primary next of kin (PNOK) to designate another family member access to the file. This request must be in writing, submitted through the service casualty office. The designated family member must be in the PNOK line of succession.

DPMO will consider an exception to current policy by allowing both natural parents to view the classified file, providing one of them is the designated PNOK. DPMO also will consider exception to policy on a case-by-case basis to allow another immediate family member in the PNOK succession to accompany the PNOK in the event the designated primary next of kin is unable to conduct the review alone and requires assistance. This request must be in writing and submitted through the respective casualty office.

Prior to the file review, each file is reviewed and redacted for intelligence sources and methods. The small amount of restricted material in these files addresses how the intelligence was obtained, not what was obtained. No information describing the loss incident and the treatment, location, and condition of the casualty is removed. There are only minor differences between the classified file at DPMO and the declassified file that was sent to the Library of Congress (LOC). First, a file has been placed in the LOC only if the PNOK has granted permission for public release in accordance with Public Law 102-190 (McCain Bill). Second, in a classified file review, the PNOK is provided the DPMO (formerly DIA) file and the Joint Casualty Resolution Center (JCRC ) file. The file in the LOC is a compilation of the DIA, JCRC, and Service file. All files are redacted for sources and methods, McCain Bill considerations, and Privacy Act provisions. Privacy Act provisions include redaction of addresses, social security numbers, and other information considered to be an "unwarranted invasion of personal privacy." In the case of a multi-person incident, when a PNOK did not give permission with respect to the McCain Bill, all reference to that individual is removed from the file prior to the classified file review.

The casualty offices can provide additional information and details pertaining to the review of these classified files.

Family Support/Casualty Liaison Division

The first Family Update, sponsored by Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for POW/MIA Affairs Jim Wold, was held on January 28, 1995, in Los Angeles. The informal forum was attended by 50 family members of American servicemen missing or unaccounted for from Korea, the Cold War, and Southeast Asia. The informal format enabled Mr. Wold and other DPMO officials to provide brief updates on policy issues and current events while allowing time for individual family members to express their concerns and ask questions. As a result of this successful meeting, Mr. Wold plans to host additional meetings across the country.

The next Family Update is scheduled for May 6, 1995, in San Antonio, Texas. Representatives from the service casualty offices will attend this meeting to provide support. Please contact them to register and to obtain additional details. As in the first meeting, a no-host luncheon is planned.

Remains believed to represent 134 Americans were returned to the United States in 1994. These remains were recovered by joint American-host nation teams, unilateral efforts, and recovery by United States Army Central Identification Laboratory, Hawaii (CILHI) recovery efforts throughout the world. The total figure is depicted below by conflict; and for the Vietnam War, by country.

• WWII 31
• Cold War 1
• Korean War 14
• Vietnam War 88:
• Cambodia 2
• Vietnam 61
• Laos 25

Between 1973-1993, 737 remains were returned from Southeast Asia. Of these remains, 344 were identified between 1973-1993 and 20 were identified in 1994. In 1994, 88 remains were returned and of these, 8 were identified in 1994. Additionally, the discovery was made that the remains of an American civilian, previously listed as unaccounted for from Vietnam, had been identified in Vietnam in 1965. Thus, a total of 373 individuals, previously listed as missing or unaccounted for, have been identified as of December 31, 1994.

Thirty-nine Americans who gave their lives in service to our Nation during war and conflict were identified in 1994 by the United States Army Central Identification Laboratory, Hawaii. Seven individuals from WWII; 4 from the Korean War; and 28 from the Vietnam War were identified. Their names are listed by branch of service with the country and date of loss noted. The names of four individuals are being withheld in deference to family wishes.

ARMY

LTC Mack Brooks
MAJ Tracy Tinsley
1-800-892-2490
(703) 325-5305

NAVY

LCDR Jeff Manor
LT Michael Theres
1-800-443-9298
(703) 614-3338

AIR FORCE