The National Alliance of Families mourns the passing of Frances Kirkpatrick, aunt of POW/MIA Donald "Butch" Carr and Mildred Malcolm, Step-Mother of Jean Fallon, wife of Col. Patrick Fallon. To the Kirkpatrick-Carr and the Malcolm-Fallon families, we offer our deepest sympathy.

Is there anybody who didn't know the probable identity of the Vietnam Unknown? - On Thursday evening March 12th, CBS reported that Americans on the recovery operation, in late 1972, knew immediately the remains recovered were those of Michael J. Blassie.

The handling of the Blassie Case is one, in a long, long line of mis-identifications, non-identifications or in the Blassie case the elimination of an identification to suit the needs of the moment. How long is the Pentagon going to wait before they return Michael Blassie to his family? The more we look the more we find!

Clinton Certifies "Vietnamese Cooperation" on the POW/MIA issue -- From Reuters - "President Clinton said Wednesday Vietnam was fully cooperating in trying to account for U.S. servicemen still missing in Southeast Asia. Issuing a formal assessment of Hanoi's cooperation, as is required by U.S. law, Clinton said Vietnam "is fully cooperating in good faith with the United States" in the effort."

Clinton Waive$ Jackson Vanik - from Reuters March 10th - "President Bill Clinton has signed a waiver exempting Vietnam from a law that restricts business with communist countries that limit emigration, a White House spokesman said on Tuesday. The official declined to elaborate on the decision to waive the so-called Jackson-Vanik amendment, saying the White House had not yet transmitted Clinton's decision to Congress and would not discuss the matter until Wednesday...."

"...Sen. Jesse Helms, the North Carolina Republican who chairs the influential Senate foreign relations committee, issued a statement before the White House said Clinton had signed the waiver sharply criticizing the president's decision. "This ignores the dire need for a marked improvement in terms of democracy and human rights (in Vietnam)," Helms said. "I can't avoid the conclusion that the administration has abandoned the Vietnamese people once again."

Peterson Delighted - from Reuters - " Pete Peterson, Washington's envoy to Hanoi, said on Thursday he was delighted with President Clinton's decision to waive a Cold War law that restricted business and trading activities with Vietnam. "If I were to tell you that I am happy about this day that would be a gross understatement," Peterson told a news conference. "(We) are incredibly happy, delighted and enthusiastic as to the impact of the waiver of Jackson-Vanik to Vietnam and to America-Vietnam relations," he added."

Senator Smith expresses outrage over Jackson Vanik Waiver -- In a statement issued March 11th, Senator Bob Smith (R-NH) stated: "Once again, the President has put profit over principle. Today's announcement that the President is moving ahead with the Jackson-Vanik waiver was really about clearing the way for the extension of U.S. taxpayer - financed trade benefits for communist Vietnam's consumption. If the President was truly concerned about freedom of emigration for the Vietnamese people, and gaining more cooperation on U.S. POW/MIA accounting and human rights, then he would have insisted on more progress from Hanoi. This is a slap in the face the the Vietnamese- Americans who fled communist persecution and to those Vietnamese who are still prohibited from leaving. It is also an affront to our nation's veterans and the POW-MIA families. I urge closer Congressional scrutiny of the President's flawed Vietnam policy in the coming weeks and months."

Korean Peace Talks Resume - From - "BERLIN (Reuters) - Senior officials from North Korea and the United States will meet in Berlin this week ahead of a new round of four-party Korean peace talks, the U.S. embassy office in Berlin said Tuesday. A spokesman said a U.S. delegation led by deputy assistant secretary of state Charles Kartman would meet a group of North Korean officials headed by deputy foreign minister Kim Gye Gwan in the German capital Friday..."

"...A new round of four-party Korean peace talks is scheduled to begin next Monday in Geneva. The Swiss city will also host a preliminary meeting to finalize the agenda for those talks on Saturday. Historic four-way negotiations -- the first since the 1950-53 Korean War ended in a truce -- opened in Geneva in December. The first round failed to produce a breakthrough." #

Please contact your Senators and Congressman! Repatriation of the live American's from North Korea, China, and the former Soviet Union, must be part of the peace negotiations. Call your Senators and Congressman at (800) 522-6721. Send letters to senators at U.S. Senate, Washington, D.C. 20510. send Letters to your congressman at House of representatives, Washington, D. C. 20515.

Remembers the LA Times article "Issue of MIA's in Vietnam Losing Steam," by David Lamb. POW/MIA family member Chris Lafrate received the following, from Mr. Lamb, in response to her letter. " Dear Ms. LaFrate: Thanks for your letter re: my story on MIA's. You raise a very valid point, I don't think anyone favors abandoning while there is any hope, but virtually everyone agrees now that no Americans alive are in Vietnam from the war. Sincerely , David Lamb"

In Chris's words " I just wonder in David's mind who " virtually everyone is??????????"

They just don't get it! A small number... the Senate Select Committee on POW/MIA's Affairs referred to a small number of POWs left behind at the end of the War. Former Charge 'd Affairs to Vietnam, Desaix Anderson wrote about actions to be taken "under extraordinary circumstances, in which the number of POWs was large..."

In the most recent edition of Stars & Stripes staff writer Dick Maggrett quotes Pentagon DPMO spokesperson Larry Greer. The recently declassified report shows American POWs from the Korean War were moved to China. In the article titled "Declassified Army Reports Show U.S. Korean War POWs were in China" Mr. Greer states: "Reports analyzed by us have only been able to confirm the movement of small numbers of prisoners, not the so-called large numbers that are rumored in some circles," said Greer. "The deeper you get into these raw intelligence reports the more opinions and estimates you begin to see, based not on direct observation but on sometimes second- and third-hand information."

"Greer said, "We have the documents, and they do not point to movements of large numbers of POWs, but of small numbers."

"They moved our people in small numbers up and down the Yalu River on the Korean side," Greer said. "They did the same thing on the China side of the river. Again, in small numbers."

Small Numbers -- What is the Pentagon definition of "small numbers?" What is the cut off number when abandoned POWs are not worth the effort to recover? Is it one, six, ten, fifty, one hundred, three hundred, five hundred, a thousand? How many is a "small number?" Give Larry Greer a call at (703) 602-2102 ext. 169 and ask him what a small number is?

Clinton heads for China - Reuters reports "...Clinton is expected to move up his planned trip to China to late June instead of November to build on the momentum of improving U.S.-China relations, U.S. officials said on Thursday. "A trip to China in the late June-early July time frame is something that's seriously under consideration," White House spokesman Mike McCurry said."

Is there any chance we can get Clinton to ask for Korean War POW Richard Desautels. No fewer than 19 former Korean War POWs saw Richard Desautels alive during captivity or at the time of repatriation. Many saw him in the hands of the Chinese.

"The above mentioned POW was taken into China... He returned to Camp No. 5, in March 1952, at that time he mentioned if he should disappear to make inquires concerning his whereabouts with the proper military authorities...." Statement of former POW Joseph [last name unreadable] - 16 June 1954.

"He was taken away cause he could speak Chinese... So they took him away and when I was released I saw him in Pyoktong village. He must of been held." Statement of former POW Richard Grenier - 12 June 1954

Marine Corp, CIL-HI, AFDIL... we keep looking and we keep finding! Do you really want this to continue? We know what you have known all along.

Serviceman Accounted For - Army Sgt Douglas A. Ross has been declared identified by the United States Government. According the the Defense POW/MIA Weekly Update, dated March 11, 1998, "On January 22, 1969, Sgt. Ross's unit came under heavy enemy sniper and grenade attack in South Vietnam. He was reportedly struck in the head by enemy fire and died on the battlefield. The other members of his unit were forced to take cover in nearby caves and did not rejoin friendly forces until the following day. At that time a search of the battlefield did not locate his remains."

"... In 1997, Vietnamese villagers were searching a wooded area for scrap metal near the battlefield and discovered the remains of a U.S. soldier..."

"These remains and some personal artifacts were passed to U.S. officials." A Joint U.S./SRV team searching the area in 1994 found "evidence of defensive positions, but no other pertinent information. The investigators had no further leads to pursue."

To the Ross family, we hold you in our hearts and prayers during this difficult time. It is our hope you now have the answers you have waited so long for.

The National Alliance of Families Ninth Annual Meeting is scheduled for June 18 - 20th, 1998 in Washington, D.C. Once again, we will meet at the Sheraton City Centre Hotel in Washington D.C. Room rates are $103.00 per night double occupancy. To make reservations, call 800-526-7495.

Remember our meetings are open to all, at no charge. 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.

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