H.Res 111 - As of this writing, the number of co-sponsors for H.Res 111 is 28, but many more are needed. Please if you haven't sent your letter, fax or email do it this coming week.

The following organizations have endorsed H.Res 111 –– the Korea-Cold War Families of the Missing, World War II Families for Return of the Missing, the POW Network, the Colorado POW/MIA Coalition, VietNow National and the National Alliance of Families.

We''ve set up a web page providing you with the text of H.Res 111, a contact list for Congressional Representatives, with email links and fax numbers. There is also a sample letter. Use it, change it or write your own letter. This information may be accessed from our website. Follow the links.

Make sure you contact your congressional representative, asking them to co-sponsor H.Res 111.

In January 2007, the Dept. of Defense misrepresented the loss of 4 soldiers saying they died while repelling an attack. In fact, the four were captured, transported miles from the site of the incident and executed.

Navy pilot Scott Speicher was shot down January 16, 1991, the first night of the first Gulf War. Within 24 hours, the Department of Defense declared him dead. Defense Dept. officials told his family an extensive search had been made, when no search was ever conducted. Had an actual search occurred, Speicher might have been among the pilots rescued during the first Gulf War.

Over the past 40 years Congress has become increasingly wary of Department of Defense (DOD) pronouncements. With each passing year the DOD has become more blatant in their manipulation of truth, to the point that the truth is all but unrecognizable.

Yet, as each DOD misrepresentation is dragged into the light, Congress past and present continues to accept DOD's word on the issue of American Prisoners of War. Without question, Congress past and present accepts, as gospel, DOD pronouncements that all the POWs came home.

DOD misrepresented to the Tillman family, the American public and Congress the facts surrounding the death of Army Ranger Pat Tillman, but they are telling the truth about Col. David Hrdlicka, photographed in Lao custody and interviewed by a Soviet journalist during the Vietnam War.

DOD misrepresented the actions of Jessica Lynch, prior to her capture, but they are telling the truth about Cpl. Richard Desaultes, and Roger Dumas. Desaultes was last seen alive by fellow POWs in North Korea on August 7, 1953 during Operation Big Switch and the Dumas story is well known. While the Dumas captivity is well documented in the statements of returned POWs, the DOD's POW/MIA Office wrote, to Senate Joseph Leiberman (D-CT) in 2000, "neither my agency nor any other Government agency has uncovered evidence, other than that which was solicited by Corporal Dumas' family, to indicate that he was ever captured and held prisoner by communist forces during the Korean War." Yet, returned POW Ciro J. Santo stated Dumas was last seen August 24th, 1953, "...He was to be repatriated on the same day I was, on August 25th. The Chinese took those guys away. But we don't know where they took 'em...."

DOD misrepresented the circumstances of death of 4 soldiers who were actually captured and executed, but they are telling the truth about the supposed deaths of American Prisoners known to be in captivity from World War II, Korea, Cold War, Vietnam and the two Gulf Wars, but never returned.

With all the DOD misrepresentations on record, and there are far, far, more than cited here, what would make Congress, past and present think the Department of Defense hasn't mislead Congress and the American public on the issue of Prisoners of War and Missing in Action from World War II, Korea, Cold War, Vietnam and the two Gulf Wars.

DOD isn't alone in its misrepresentation of facts. The CIA shares in the blame, along with other intelligence gathering agencies. CIA manipulated intelligence to support the conclusion of WMD's in Iraq, but we are expected to believe they have been honest and forthcoming on POW/MIA matters dating back to World War II.

Knowing the history of misrepresentations presented to the American Public and Congress by the DOD and various intelligence agencies within the Executive branch, how can Congress trust them on matters relating to our POWs and MIAs?

That past investigations did not produce the desired results is no reason to oppose H.Res 111. We know a lot more today than we did in 1975 when the Montgomery Committee began it's investigation. We know more then we did in 1991 when the Senate Select Committee on POW/MIA Affairs began its investigation.

Remember, in 1976 the Montgomery Committee concluded, no POWs survived after Operation Homecoming in 1973. The Senate Committee disagreed with that conclusion stating in their 1993 report:

"In 1976, the Montgomery Committee concluded that because there was no evidence that missing Americans had survived, they must be dead. In 1977, a Defense Department official said that the distinction between Americans still listed as "POW" and those listed as "missing" had become "academic". Nixon, Ford and Carter Administration officials all dismissed the possibility that American POWs had survived in Southeast Asia after Operation Homecoming."

"This Committee has uncovered evidence that precludes it from taking the same view. We acknowledge that there is no proof that U.S. POWs survived, but neither is there proof that all of those who did not return had died. There is evidence, moreover, that indicates the possibility of survival, at least for a small number, after Operation Homecoming:

Is this the progress we wanted? Of course not! That it took 20 years to conclude what was painfully obvious in 1973 is a disgrace and it highlights the vast amount of misrepresentation presented to Congress over the years.

North Korea Turns Over Remains –– The delegation led by New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson returned from North Korea with the remains of 6 servicemen lost during the Korean War. The remains were recovered from the Unsan region of North Korea. According to reports three sets of remains were accompanied by identification tags.

Sadly, the Associated Press reported that ""North Korea has no plans to resume the joint recovery operations, Richardson''s Asian affairs adviser, K.A. ""Tony"" Namkung said, citing comments by North Korean Gen. Ri Chan Bok Namkung said Ri had offered the six sets of remains as a gesture in return for Richardson''s reconciliation efforts.""

Punchbowl Remains Identified –– The remains of a Korean War Unknown exhumed from the Punchbowl National Cemetery have been identified. Army Cpl. Clarence Becker was buried in Indiantown Gap, PA, on April 25th.

Becker disappeared December 1, 1950. Returning POWs reported his captivity, in Camp 5, and death. Returned POWs said Becker died of malnutrition and disease and was buried near the camp in approximately May of 1951. His remains were returned to U.S. custody in 1954 during Operation Glory. Unidentifiable, at the time, the remains were buried as Unknown at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific.

Based upon a JPAC review of documents, the Unknown remains, believed to be Becker, were exhumed in 2005. According to a Department of Defense Press Release dated April 27th, ""Among other traditional forensic identification tools and circumstantial evidence, scientists from the JPAC also used dental comparisons in Becker's identification.""

X-656 - Hopefully, with the successful identification of Cpl. Becker, JPAC will now take another look at the case of Korean War MIA Cpl. Louis Mutta. Mutta''s family believe his remains rest at the Punchbowl, designated X646 and buried as Unknown. Their past requests for exhumation and mt-DNA testing have been denied.

What Is Not An ""Appreciable Number" –– We''ve heard of the "small number" referred to by the Senate Select Committee on POW/MIA Affairs when they concluded; "There is evidence, moreover, that indicates the possibility of survival, at least for a small number, after Operation Homecoming...."

We remember the 1981 State Department Memo that described a course of action to be taken to rescue POW''s, IF "the number of POWs was large."

Now we have an "appreciable number!" During a seminar at the John F. Kennedy Presidential Library held March 10 - 11, 2006, former President Jimmy Carter was interviewed by Brian Williams of NBC. During the interview Williams asked the former President about MIAs in Vietnam. Here is that exchange.

Brian Williams: "Mr. President, some of the people watching and listening to this, no doubt, are active in the MIA Movement, which was, of course active during your presidency. Talk about your efforts where POWs and MIAs are concerned, and looking back, are you satisfied that you did enough?"

President Carter: "I'm satisfied that I did everything I could. As you know, there were a number of Americans who erroneously believed their loved ones who were missing in action were still alive, and were moving around somehow in Northern Vietnam, either under restraint or voluntarily. And this was an exacerbating factor during the time that I was President. All the information that I had showed that these reports were non-subjective, that there weren''t any appreciable number of those missing in action who were still alive in Vietnam."

Small Number.... the number of POWs was large..... weren't any appreciable number.....

Our Thanks to the POW Network for bringing this interview to our attention.

Why does Johnie Webb still have a job?

The National Alliance of Families 18th Annual Forum is scheduled for June 21th - 23th, 2007. Our forum is conducted to coincide with the Government's annual Vietnam POW/MIA Family Briefings. We urge all family members to attend this years government briefings. The government will provide free airfare to two family members to attend the government briefings. There is no charge or registration fee to attend these briefings and you DO NOT have to belong to any organization to attend the government briefings.

This year the Alliance will meet at the Radisson Hotel located at 2020 Jefferson Davis Highway in Crystal City Va. Room rates for June 21 - 23 are $109.00 per night plus taxes. To make your reservations call 703-920-8600. Remember to make your reservations early.

The Alliance is an all volunteer organization. Our meetings are open to all, without charge. At this time of year, we actively seek contributions to finance our forum. If you wish to contribute, donations may be mailed to: