POW/MIA Affairs Committee Update November/December 2023

BY GRANT T. COATES, CHAIR

As of October 27, 1,578 Americans remain unaccounted-for from the Vietnam War: Vietnam, 1,238; Laos, 285; Cambodia, 48; and in territorial waters of the People’s Republic of China, 7. These numbers can change due to ongoing investigations and revisions in the locations of loss.

Congress passed a temporary funding measure, a Continuing Resolution, on October 1, just before the new fiscal year began. However, this measure only guarantees federal funding up to November 17. The $46-million increase for FY 2024, compared to the 2023 budget, awaits the approval of the Defense Appropriations Bill by Congress and the President.

During President Biden’s visit to Vietnam in September, there was an exchange of personal effects and archival documents between the U.S. and Vietnam. This involved 14 artifacts related to three MIA cases involving five U.S. servicemembers. A senior Vietnamese representative praised the POW/MIA mission as a bright spot in U.S.-Vietnamese relations and pledged continued support for the Defense Prisoner of War/Missing in Action Accounting Agency’s efforts, especially with the expected increase in operations in the next fiscal year.

September also saw DPAA officials traveling to Laos and Cambodia for important talks about the POW/MIA issue. Back in Washington, D.C., the first-ever Technical Talks with Vietnamese counterparts took place. Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia have shown strong support for DPAA’s upcoming plans.

The U.S.-Russia Joint Commission on POW/MIAs is another front being closely monitored. Due to Russia’s ongoing war in Ukraine, the commission’s efforts are somewhat restricted. Nevertheless, discussions continue about potential future collaborations.

October saw the conclusion of a Joint Field Activity in Laos, led by Stony Beach. This mission was made up of two Recovery Teams and one Investigative Team-Light.

For the first time ever, DPAA employed aerial drone technology for surveys in Vietnam. The drones used advanced photography, videography, and light-detection sensors. This breakthrough comes after years of negotiations, and its success promises enhanced efficiency for future missions.

National POW/MIA Recognition Day on September 15 included a moving ceremony at the Pentagon’s River Parade Field. Air Force Col. Michael Brazelton, a former Vietnam War POW, delivered the keynote address. Attendees included families of the missing, veterans, military personnel, and international representatives. The event culminated with an F-16 missing man formation flyover.

Fifty-four years after his plane crashed while serving in Vietnam, U.S. Air Force Capt. Fredrick M. Hall’s remains arrived at Greenville-Spartanburg (S.C.) International Airport and then were escorted by a motorcade to his hometown of Waynesville, N.C., where he was honored by his community and laid to rest on October 10 with his family.

President Jack McManus and South Carolina State Council President Sam Brick were among the VVA members in attendance at the repatriation ceremonies.

VVA’s Veterans Initiative Program needs your help. Objects taken from the battlefields of Vietnam are more than souvenirs or war trophies. Maps, stories, after-action reports, pictures, and military items may have a story that could result in finding the location of missing war dead.

Contact the Veterans Initiative at:
Veterans Initiative Program
Vietnam Veterans of America
8719 Colesville Rd., Suite 100
Silver Spring, MS 20910
vi@vva.org

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