DOLORES ALFOND - National Chairperson (dolores@nationalalliance.org)
LYNN O'SHEA - NYS Director (lynn@nationalalliance.org)
National Alliance Of Families Home Page
http://www.nationalalliance.org
Bits 'N' Pieces
March 8, 1997
We sadly report the passing of former Prisoner of War, Lt. General John
Peter Flynn. To his family and the men who served with him in the Prison
Camps of North Vietnam, we offer our prayers and sympathy.
"No testimony, No Ambassador -- It's That Simple,"
so said Senator Bob
Smith (r.-NH) during a speech before the American Legion, Monday, March
3rd, 1997. Speaking publicly, for the first time on the Ambassadorship to
Vietnam, Senator Smith echoed the concerns of the majority of POW/MIA
family members, veterans and concerned citizens. The following is
excerpted from Senator Smith's remarks:
"I am frankly concerned, as you are, with reports that the goal of
obtaining the fullest possible accounting of POWs and MIAs in Vietnam may
not have been the driving force behind the President's decisions, despite
the reassurances that have been given in recent days by a couple of my
senate colleagues who actively encouraged the President to normalize
relations with Vietnam. As you have probably all seen from news reports in
recent months, the reasons for the President's foreign policy changes
toward communist Vietnam these last four years have become increasingly
suspect. The President's previous assertions, that each of his decisions
to normalize relations with the Hanoi government were made solely because
of the POW/MIA issue, can no longer be accepted at face value...."
Referring to questionable campaign contributions and their possible
influence on foreign policy decisions, Senator Smith said "...So again, the
most troubling part of all this apparent illegal campaign activity comes
back to the ethics issue of whether the President's foreign policy toward
Vietnam has been influenced by any of this, at the expense of the POW/MIA
accounting concerns of the families, and our nation's veterans...." "...It
is critical that we have a credible and thorough investigation of this matter..."
"As some of you know, the President now wants to send an Ambassador to
Hanoi. This would be the first time we've ever had a U.S. Ambassador in
communist Vietnam. It's another step in the normalization process with
Hanoi when so many of these other troubling questions are unanswered and unresolved...."
".. At a time when there are so many disturbing reports which cast doubt on
the administration's publicly-stated rationale for moving forward with
communist Vietnam over the last four years, I believe it would be
irresponsible for the Senate to just go ahead and approve the President's
request that we put a U.S. Ambassador in hanoi, and allow Hanoi to do the
same here in Washington.
Therefore, I am today announcing publicly that I support the position taken
by the American Legion on this matter. I will oppose any Senate action to
confirm an ambassador to Vietnam until the impact that illegal foreign
campaign contributions may have had on U.S. policy toward Vietnam has
been fully investigated by the appropriate congressional committees or an
independent counsel.
Let me be even clearer, since right now John Huang is refusing to testify
before Congress, No Testimony, No Ambassador -- It's That Simple. There
should be no misunderstanding of my position, if I have to use a
Filibuster, I will. I owe that to you, my fellow veterans, and to those
who are still missing in action, and their families. And because the
President's certification of Hanoi's Full Faith POW/MIA cooperation is not,
as the law requires, supported by all relevant information available to
the U.S. Government, such as the Russian Documents and the certain
existence of other records in Vietnam. This is one more reason that I will
oppose any Senate Action to Further normalize relations with Vietnam."
On Tuesday March 4th, the Senate Foreign Relations Committee sent the
nomination of an Ambassador to Vietnam to the full Senate for a vote. True
to his word, Senator Smith acting under Senate Rules put a "hold" on the
ambassadorship. Quoted in the New York Daily New Senator Smith said "We
need to know whether U.S. foreign policy toward Vietnam was compromised by
the activities of people like John Huang."
Vietnam Fumes Over U.S. Envoy Delay
The following is excerpted from a
Reuters article by John Chalmers.
"HANOI, Vietnam (Reuter) - Vietnam,
sneering at U.S. politicians who refuse to forget the past, lashed out at
Washington Friday for failing to clear hurdles blocking an exchange of
ambassadors between the two former enemies...." In an editorial, the
official Communist Party newspaper Nhan Dan "... poured scorn on Sen. Bob
Smith, a conservative New Hampshire Republican who has vowed to stall
confirmation of the first U.S. ambassador to post-war Vietnam...."
"Scorned" by the repressive Communists government of Vietnam, all we can
say is Senator Smith, keep up the good work!
Soviet Defector tells of Korean War POWs Moved to Siberia
Yuri
Rastvorov, 75 years old and living in the United States may have knowledge
of POWs moved to the former Soviet Union. Robert Burns, of the Associated
Press, reports on march 6th "... At least two former U.S. intelligence
officers say Rastvorov told them in separate conversations after his
defection that he knew U.S. troops captured in the 1950-53 Korean War had
been taken to Siberia and exploited by Soviet intelligence. One of those
conversations is summarized in a long-secret White House memo that was
declassified last spring. It quoted Rastvorov as saying in 1955 that he had
been told by colleagues at the Soviet mission in Tokyo -- where he was
based during the war -- that "U.S. and other U.N. POWs were being held in
Siberia." That is an allegation that has long been rumored but never
proved -- and always denied by Moscow."
"Publicity about the memo prompted the Pentagon to contact Rastvorov to see
what he would tell. At a private meeting last Oct. 10, Rastvorov denied
having any knowledge about
POWs in Siberia. Further, he said the statements in the White House memo
were not his and he did not recall that any of the many debriefings he
underwent with U.S. officials in the 1950s dealt with POWs. "He was
extremely emphatic" that he had no knowledge about American POWs, and was
"a bit miffed" that others were attributing such information to him, said
Jim MacDougall, a Pentagon investigator who conducted the Oct. 10 session
at a private home at an unspecified location in the Washington area."
"Philip Corso, an intelligence officer in Korea during the war and later a
National Security Council staff member in the Eisenhower White House, is
equally emphatic that Rastvorov told him in a Jan. 28, 1955, debriefing
that Americans had been taken to Siberia as part of a covert Soviet
intelligence operation. "He told me he knew (this) for a fact," Corso said
in an interview this week. Rastvorov told him he got this information from
Soviet intelligence officers posing as diplomats at the Soviet mission in
Tokyo, Corso said."
"Separate from Corso's assertions, Donald Jameson, a retired CIA officer,
has said he recalls Rastvorov telling him in the 1950s that U.S. POWs had
been taken to the Soviet Union and that Rastvorov had estimated it was 10
to 15 aviators. Jameson helped handle the Rastvorov debriefing process
after his defection. MacDougall said that in their 90-minute talk,
Rastvorov made clear he had read Associated Press accounts in 1996 of the
statements by Corso and Jameson. He also was shown a copy of the
declassified 1955 memo that summarized Corso's meeting with Rastvorov. He
told MacDougall, "someone is putting words in my mouth"
"Rastvorov is no stranger to intrigue. He served in Soviet military
intelligence from 1941-43, specializing in the Far East, and then was
transferred to the secret political police -- the KGB -- and served two
tours in Japan. Rastvorov told MacDougall he had firsthand knowledge of
Soviet intelligence exploitation of Japanese POWs held in the Soviet Union
in the 1940s, and "felt certain" that similar use was made of U.S. POWs in
Korea. But Rastvorov said he doubted the Americans were moved from Korea to
the Soviet Union. The CIA denied an AP request under the Freedom of
Information Act to declassify those portions of its Rastvorov files dealing
with the POW question.
Unlike many other Soviets who defected during the Cold War, Rastvorov has
chosen to remain under CIA protection. He testified before congressional
committees on Soviet intelligence operations shortly after he arrived in
the United States, but he did not allow his picture to be taken."
March 7, 1997 - U.S. and North Korean Officials met to discuss problems
facing the two nations. Among the topics discussed was the POW/MIA issue.
We welcome these talks and commend the North Koreans for their willingness
to discuss the subject of Prisoners of War and Missing in Action.
Legislation Introduced: The General Assembly of Pennsylvania has before it
legislation to "require the display of the official POW/MIA flag from the
flagpoles of [any] all public [building or ground] buildings or grounds in
this Commonwealth." Thanks to our supports in Pennsylvania who pushed
this legislation. Wouldn't it be wonderful to see this type of legislation
in all 50 states?
Remains identified: The government announced the remains identification of
Navy Cmdr Roger G Emrich of MIAmi, Fl. missing since November 17th, 1967
and Marine Capt. William Clay of Henderson, N.C. missing since April 12th,
1967. Also identified were three members of the U.S. Army. Their names
and hometowns were withheld at the request of the families.
To the families we offer our prayers and support during this difficult time.
No Wrong doing - From the Associated Press - "SAN JOSE, Calif. (AP) --
The Defense Department found no evidence of financial mismanagement in its
program to look for Americans still missing in Vietnam, the San Jose
Mercury News reported Thursday. The Pentagon's finding, released
Wednesday, was prompted by an investigation by the newspaper. The Mercury
News reported last spring that the Vietnamese government was overcharging
the U.S. for its help and keeping money intended for laborers. Vietnam has
denied those allegations. The Defense Department, which conducted a
five-month probe, said it found "no evidence of program mismanagement." It
said it found "reasonable management controls" and adequate documentation
of expenses.
"It's what we've been saying all along," said Lt. Col. Jon Chase, commander
of the program's detachment in Hanoi. But the report did not account for
U.S. money once it is paid to Vietnam. The Pentagon said it has no control
over how the Vietnamese government spends millions of U.S. taxpayer dollars
to help the search for missing soldiers' remains..."
If our memory serves wasn't one of the allegations that Vietnam used U.S.
property such as cars and trucks as rental vehicles, for tourists, when not
in use by JTF-FA. Only inside the Beltway is the accused allowed to
investigate themselves.
It's a Drag -- From the Associated Press - "HANOI, Vietnam - The Ho Chi
Minh Trail, the fabled supply line that helped bring victory to the North
in the Vietnam War, may be transformed into a speedway running the length
of the country. A Vietnamese tourism agency is trying to organize an
international car rally that follows the Ho Chi Minh Trail from Hanoi to
southern Vietnam, the state-controlled Youth newspaper reported today...."
"...The race would follow the famous supply line's route, through northern
Vietnam, into neighboring Laos, and back into southern Vietnam, Youth reported."
How many Vets are now shaking their heads and thinking "Been there, done that!"
Looking For: The 240th Assault Helicopter Company is searching for the
families of the following MIA's, for an invitation to the company reunion,
to be held in Washington D.C. May 23 to May 27, 1997, 1LT Peter John
Russell and SP4 Donald Randall Fowler, missing August 1, 1968. Thanks to
the efforts of John Pagel, the family of the third crewmember, Steven
Hastings has been located.
The National Alliance of Families Eighth Annual Forum is scheduled for June
19th - 21st, 1997. Once again, we will meet at the Sheraton City Centre
Hotel in Washington D.C. Room rates are $99.00 per night double occupancy.
To make reservations, call 800-526-7495.
In order to make this Forum a reality, funds are needed. Please consider a
contribution to The National Alliance of Families. The Alliance is
registered with the Internal Revenue Service as a charitable organization.
All donations are tax deductible. Contributions may be mailed to The
National Alliance of Families, P.O. Box 40327, Bellevue Washington
98015-4327.
Contact us here!
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Bits 'N' Pieces Index 1997