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For Those Who Have Not Heard, We've Lost A True Friend
The National Alliance of Families mourns the passing of Col. Vincent J. "Budd" Donahue, father of POW/MIA Morgan J. Donahue, on July 10th. Col. Donahue or "Budd" as he told everyone to call him was a stalwart in the effort to bring our live POWs home and learn the truth about the missing. From the day Morgan went down, he never relented. He pursued every lead, making numerous trips to Southeast Asia. He fought both the Lao and U.S. governments, in his efforts to bring his son home. Neither government could stop his relentless efforts. In the end, it was illness that robbed him of his ability to continue the fight.
A memorial service will be held at the Chapel of Love at Florida Memorial Gardens, 5950 South U.S. Highway 1, Rockledge, Florida 32935, on Saturday July 13th, at 11:00. All are welcome. Those wishing to send cards or notes of condolences can send them to Mrs. Donahue at 7 Willow Green Drive, Cocoa Beach, FL, 32931. Personal Note from Lynn O'Shea - One of the first families members I got to know, when I started in this issue, were Budd and Shirley Donahue. Budd Donahue was a man on a mission. He was a fountain of knowledge on the POW/MIA issue and its players. He truly left no stone unturned in his effort to bring home a live POW. Whenever I was in Florida visiting my relatives, the Donahue's would invite me to their home, for lunch or dinner. They would talk about their sons, one missing the other doing everything he could to find his brother. We'd laugh and sometimes we'd cry. I'm going to remember the laughter.... Budd Donahue was the true definition of an officer and a gentleman. He served his country well, in and out of uniform, and he deserved better from it. To his wife Shirley and son Jeff, we offer our most sincere condolences.
We survived another Alliance Forum! - Normally, after the forum, we do one lengthy Bits N Pieces (as it turned out this is one lengthy Bits) to report on all the goings on. However, so much happened both in the meetings and outside the meeting, and with several developments relating to the Speicher case, we decided that this year we would split our reporting of the weeks events. Another factor in our decision is that several of our speakers made some very interesting comments, and we need time to transfer the digital videos to VHS and review them. We want to make sure we have exact quotes, when we quote our speakers.
If We Hadn't Seen It With Our Own Eyes - we could not possibly convey our shock at the event witnessed when Lynn O'Shea accompanied POW/MIA family member J.V. Visconti, wife of Major Francis Visconti, to review Major Visconti's Marine Corps casualty files at the Doubletree Hotel. Rather then try to describe the event ourselves, we will simply post the following letter, sent by Ms. Visconti, to Michael P. Wardlaw, the head of Navy Casualty.
[Letter begins]
Re: Major Francis Edward Visconti, U.S. Marine Corps, POW/MIA, 22 November 1965,
(incident USMC file review, 20 June 2002, Doubletree Hotel, Crystal City, Virginia,
National League of Families Meetings)
Dear Mr. Wardlaw;
As the wife of Major Francis Edward Visconti, a U.S. Marine Corps POW/MIA since 22 November 1965, I have endured the deceit and deceptions of the USMC for over 36 years. However, nothing could have prepared me for the blatant deception and attempt to withhold information from me, by Ms. Ann Hammers, assistant head of the USMC Casualty Office.
The event I am about to describe, occurred on 20 June 2002, between 1030 - 1100 hours, at the Doubletree Hotel, in Arlington VA. We were seated in a room designated for Marine Casualty File Review, during the recent government briefings on POW/MIA matters relating to Vietnam War losses. The purpose of my presence there, was to once again, review my husbands casualty file. I am forever grateful that I was accompanied to this file review by two friends, Lynn O' Shea and Rick Will Sr., one of whom witnessed the event I am about to describe. Without a witness, I am sure, I would be discredited, and labeled one of the crazy POW/MIA family members who believe various agencies within the government have, in the past, and continue to this day, to withhold POW/MIA related information, from family members. When we arrived, I was the only U.S. Marine Corps POW/MIA family member present. The usual social amenities and introductions were done and we were seated at one of the round tables, provided for family members, to review their cases. I was presented a CD and informed that it contained all the pre-loss records, such as fitness reports and medical records etc. Mr. Bob Wagner, acting head, U.S. Marine Corps Casualty, offered some brief instruction on how to use the CD with a lap top computer, even though I was acquainted with computer functions. In the meantime, Ms. Hammers brought 5 dark colored manila folders to the table, each an inch or two thick. The files were labeled 1 to 5 with file number 5 being on top. Ms. Hammers opened file number 5 and proceeded to tell us that these files represented post loss documentation. When she opened file number 5, it was noticed that two documents, one a single sheet, the other, a two page stapled document, were laying loose in the folder. As we spoke, Ms. Hammers appeared to be idly thumbing through the documents. However, her actions were not as innocent as they appeared. With a document in each hand, Ms. Hammers arms soon dropped to her sides and quickly disappeared behind her back. When one hand reappeared, ONLY ONE document (the single page) was returned to the file. The other document (two pages) remained behind her back. The following behavior, exhibited by Ms. Ann Hammers, was done to conceal information. Ms. Hammers excused herself, very carefully keeping the stapled two page document in her hand, hidden behind her back, making sure it was blocked from our view. Fortunately for me, she was not quite careful enough. Ms. Hammers then returned to the rectangular table, in front of the room, whereupon she thumbed through a stack of papers several inches high, and BURIED THE DOCUMENT that she had just removed from my husbands casualty file, within the stack of papers. I was stunned! Aside from the complete lack of respect shown for my husband, a United States Marine Corps Officer and Gentleman as well as an accomplished Vietnam War Helicopter Pilot, who served his country proudly, I have to question, does Ms. Hammers think I've become a stupid simpleton? I may be gaining in years and physically disabled, relegating me to the use of a wheelchair, but my faculties are and always have been, completely intact. Ms. Hammers actions, were, at the very least, a sign of the complete contempt in which the U.S. Marine Corps Casualty Office holds POW/MIA family members. At most, her actions were criminal. When Ms. Hammers re-joined us, at our table, I reminded her that I had previously requested three (3) complete copies of my husbands file, (a request she acknowledged by fax response) and asked her when I might be receiving them I then told her, (without making an issue of her deceptive maneuver) that I wanted a copy of the document that she had just removed from my husbands file and buried within the pile of papers on the front table. She stammered a moment and mumbled something about having to check the document because of the Privacy Act, for any information that should be redacted. Realizing she had been caught red handed, she went back to the table, retrieved the document from its hiding place and returned to the table. She continued to go on about third party information. In the end, a Marine Sgt. present in the room, was sent to make a copy of the un-redacted document for me. As it turned out, the document was inconsequential to the Major's loss incident, but important to me. However, that is not the point. The point, is the mindset to withhold information, the mindset to debunk exists to this day. The total disregard, in which all agencies, from the military branch casualty offices/officials, up to and including the Defense POW/MIA Office, hold our POW/MIAs and their families is clear to anyone forced to deal with those agencies. They continue to withhold information or evidence from POW/MIA family members. That is the mindset within the agencies charged with finding my husband and all our POW/MIAs. The actions within these agencies, through my own 36 ½ years experience with this issue, is truly a National disgrace comparable ONLY to the intentional pain of enemy terrorists, inflicted upon this Nation on "911." Only God in heaven knows what other truly important information has been withheld from the Visconti family and the families of other POW/MIAs. How many other casualty officers, investigators and analysts are removing documents from the records? Maybe they are not as blatant as Ms. Hammers, doing it right under a family members nose, but, the above described scenario proves, that it is done and probably done on a routine basis. In closing, the actions of Ms. Hammers, is a disgrace to my husband, Major Francis Edward Visconti, The United States Marine Corps, the men and women who are now serving this country at home and on the front lines of our nation. I sincerely hope and expect, the appropriate action be taken, against this much too powerful person, Ann Hammers and her ilk, to protect our family and other Marine Corps POW/MIA families from her deceitful ways and actions in the future Very truly yours,J.V. Visconti
wife of Major Francis Edward Visconti POW/MIA 22 November 1965[End Letter]
As we said, if we hadn't seen it with our own eyes......
Mrs. Visconti copied this letter to the following individuals, President George Bush, Mr. Jerry Jennings, Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for POW/MIA Affairs, Mr. Adrian Cronauer, Assistant to the Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for POW/MIA Affairs, Senator Bob Graham, Chairman, Senate Committee on Intelligence, Senator Bill Nelson, Senator Bob Smith, Brig General Stephen T. Johnson, U.S. Marine Corps, Director, Manpower Plans & Policy, Mr. Robert Wagner, Head United States Marine Corps Casualty, Ms. Dolores Alfond, Chairperson, National Alliance of Families, Ms. Ann Mills Griffiths, Executive Director, National League of Families.
We, at the National Alliance of Families are appalled by the action of Ms. Hammers and we endorse Ms. Visconti's request that the appropriate disciplinary action be taken against Ms. Hammers. It will be interesting to see if Ms. Visconti even gets a response to her letter.
Perhaps we should be asking -- Why does Ann Hammers still have a job?
As Ms. Visconti stated in her letter; "The total disregard, in which all agencies, from the military branch casualty offices/officials, up to and including the Defense POW/MIA Office, hold our POW/MIAs and their families is clear to anyone forced to deal with those agencies. They continue to withhold information or evidence from POW/MIA family members. That is the mindset within the agencies charged with finding my husband and all our POW/MIAs."
Briefings Every 90 Days - Senator Bill Nelson introduced legislation requiring the Pentagon to brief Congress every 90 days on progress made in the Speicher case. The following is excerpted from the Jacksonville Times-Union by Paul Pinkham - "A measure forcing the Pentagon to report to Congress every three months about its investigation into the fate of missing Jacksonville Navy pilot Scott Speicher was approved without opposition yesterday by the U.S. Senate."
"The amendment to the Defense Authorization Bill is designed to hold the Pentagon accountable for "a probe that has languished," said Sen. Bill Nelson, D-Fla. "A schedule of accountability puts the Defense Department squarely and clearly within the view of Congress and America, so that we can take the measure of their efforts and progress," Nelson said." "Our goal with this measure is to force those responsible for finding our missing in action to leave no stone unturned." "...Anything that can be done to cause the administration to take an aggressive role to free Scott is very favorable, and we think this does it," said Cindy Laquidara, attorney for Speicher's family in Orange Park." "Nelson and other senators gave impassioned speeches about Speicher and his family before yesterday's voice vote on the amendment. Sen. Bob Smith, R-N.H., detailed years of trying to get the Pentagon to act on a growing amount of intelligence information that Speicher survived and was captured." While we commend Senator Nelson for his commitment to the Speicher case, the thought of this legislation sends a cold shiver down our collective spines. Any time you give the folks concerned with POW/MIA matters an opportunity to talk when they should be acting, gives us cause for concern. Should we count on how many 90 day periods will pass.... and speaking of action the U.S. has finally responded to the Iraqi invitation to come look for Captain Speicher. Remember the invitation arrived in early April and here it is early July... gee that's about 90 days.... Maybe the first briefing to the Senate should be why it takes those charged with POW/MIA matters 90 days to even decide if they intend to respond to the invitation. More on this comes from the Washington Times "Inside the Ring" column by Bill Gertz and Rowan Scarborough, dated July 5, 2002 - " Speicher update - The Pentagon's Defense Prisoner of War/Missing Personnel Office is on the hot seat. Critics say the office is dragging its feet in responding to an Iraqi government offer to allow a delegation of U.S. officials to go to Iraq and investigate the case of missing Navy pilot Lt. Cmdr. Michael Scott Speicher." "Pentagon officials tell us the office, known as DPMO, has been put in charge of handling the Speicher case." "The Iraqi government announced on its official radio in March that it would allow a team of U.S. investigators to visit Iraq to resolve the case of Cmdr. Speicher. He was declared killed in action after his aircraft was shot down over Iraq in 1991. Then last year, Cmdr. Speicher was reclassified as missing in action based on new intelligence." "The White House and Pentagon both have said through spokesmen that they are interested in determining the fate of Cmdr. Speicher." "But three months later, the Pentagon, through DPMO, has not given any response to the Iraqis, we are told. Larry Greer, a DPMO official, said the Iraqi invitation "is still being evaluated" and the office is waiting to hear from senior Pentagon officials about what to do next." "Meanwhile, Congress is growing impatient. The Senate last week passed an amendment to the defense-authorization bill requiring written reports on the Speicher case every three months. "It's apparent that we, as a nation, haven't done all we can to find out what happened to Scott Speicher," said Sen. Bill Nelson, Florida Democrat, who sponsored the amendment."
Our Award For The Understatement Of The Year - to Senator Bill Nelson "It's apparent that we, as a nation, haven't done all we can to find out what happened to Scott Speicher."
If Senator Nelson only knew how many Scott Speichers there really are - World War II, Korea, Cold War and Vietnam
Pentagon Decides Not To Go To Iraq - The Pentagon has decided not to accept Iraq's offer to go to Baghdad to discuss the case of Navy Capt. Scott Speicher. We want everyone to know we are not so naive as to believe any delegation sent to Baghdad would actually find Speicher. We also realize that such a trip might even put the delegation in danger. However, the Pentagon suggestion that the State Department send a message to Iraq via the International Committee of the Red Cross is a waste of time.
Saddam has already said Speicher is dead. He said it in 2001, when Speicher's status was changed and he said it in March of 2002 when the live sighting report were made public. He would probably tell any delegation to Baghdad the same thing. So, why go to Baghdad? The answer is simple. A delegation sent to Baghdad sends a message to Saddam. A delegation shows we're serious, we're interested.... we want to know.... A message via the Red Cross says write when you can.... The following is excerpted from an July 11th Associated Press article, by Robert Burns - "The Bush administration is rejecting Iraq's offer to discuss the fate of Gulf War pilot Capt. Scott Speicher, missing for 11 years, and instead will ask Iraq if it has any new information." "The State Department plans to send a diplomatic note through the International Committee of the Red Cross asking whether the Iraqi government can offer new details about Speicher, who was shot down over central Iraq in his Navy F-18 fighter on Jan. 17, 1991, the opening night of the war...." "...In a July 8 letter to Secretary of State Colin Powell, Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld said he agreed with Powell's suggestion that a note be delivered ``to confirm Iraq's intention to provide new information.'' "At the State Department, Powell told reporters Thursday, ``We are in touch through various means'' with Iraq. ``We are anxious to follow every possible lead with respect to the fate of Commander Speicher,'' he said. Powell was chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff when Speicher was shot down." "In March, Iraq offered to meet with U.S. officials in Baghdad to discuss the case. The offer was made in a letter sent via the Red Cross...." "....`We're not going to send a team over there to go out in the desert to see what we've already seen,'' said Marine Corps Lt. Col. David Lapan, a Pentagon spokesman. But if the Iraqis indicated they have new information, then the Defense Department would like to hold the Geneva talks, he said...."
The above paragraph comes form a DIA memo, available at the Library of Congress and on the Alliance web site, dated 28 January 1981, and is signed by General Eugene Tighe. This paragraph is now classified material.
The memo had a two page chronological listing attached, with the subject line reading "Nhommarath Detention Facility." Only now the work Nhommarath is classified. So, what was redacted from the Chronological listing.... Warning... Warning... Warning... If you read any further, you will be reading what may be considered classified material and in violation of the law
Isn't about time the "fully cooperating" Vietnamese sent Rocky Versace home?
Imagine how long this Bits would be, if we included what went on inside the meetings. That's for next time...
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