POW/MIA

This is the latest information of the POW/MIA issue from the Vietnam War

VIETNAM WAR ACCOUNTING

Since 1973, the remains of more than 1,000 Americans killed during the Vietnam War have been identified and returned to their families for burial with full military honors.
Of the nearly 1,600 Americans still unaccounted-for from the Vietnam War, hundreds are believed to be in a “non-recoverable” category, meaning after rigorous investigation DPAA has determined that the individual perished but does not believe it is possible to recover the remains. On rare occasions, new leads can bring a case back to active status.
DPAA and our partners continue to build on nearly three decades of Joint Field Activities (JFAs) with the governments of Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia. Each year, DPAA plans multiple investigations in each country to collect evidence, investigate leads, and conduct excavations.

As of May 1, 2024 there are still 1,576 American service personnel still listed as missing from the war in Vietnam.

Registration for the 53rd Annual Meeting is Officially Underway!
We look forward to seeing you all starting on Wednesday, June 26th. To register and reserve your dinner, visit the 53rd Annual Meeting page on our website at: https://www.pow-miafamilies.org/53rd-annual-meeting

DEADLINE TO SUBMIT REGISTRATION FORMS - JUNE 17th
DEADLINE TO SUBMIT DINNER RESERVATIONS - JUNE 24th

We have many great things on our agenda, with the schedule below!

The latest info on the return from Laos and the meetings with officials from the DPAA and the Laotian government

    NATIONAL LEAGUE OF FAMILIES OF AMERICAN
PRISONERS & MISSING IN SOUTHEAST ASIA
5673 COLUMBIA PIKE, SUITE 100, FALLS CHURCH, VA 22041
  PH: 703/465-7432    www.pow-miafamilies.org FAX: 703/465-7433

ABBREVIATED LEAGUE DELEGATION TRIP REPORT
March 27, 2024
Ann Mills-Griffiths, Chairman of the Board

The League Delegation’s recent visit to Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia took place from February 25 – March 14, 2024. We deeply appreciated the incredible policy and logistics support provided by the Defense Intelligence Agency and their Defense Attachés and Stony Beach Specialists in each country. Especially commendable is Stony Beach Operations Director & Cambodia Specialist Eric Phillips who was with us at every turn, in Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia.

On the heels of upgraded bilateral relations with Vietnam to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, our visit to Hanoi was timely, as was the transition within the League and a new generation of leaders in Cambodia. The atmosphere and environment seemed to fall into place for utilizing League Advisor Dr. Jay Veith’s Intelligence Assessment to get the attention of Vietnam and DPAA. It did – positively with Vietnam’s Ministry of Public Security (MPS), Minister To Lam, his Deputy LTG Quang, and the Vietnam Office for Seeking Missing Persons (VNOSMP).

Not so with DPAA, though the League had requested such a study for years! Further, in-country DPAA personnel assigned to Detachments 1, 2 and 3 were instructed not to attend any League-scheduled meetings in Vietnam, Laos or Cambodia. This DPAA leadership decision undermined priority and visibility on the accounting mission, consistently recognized as foundational by the Vietnamese, and denied our on-the-ground DPAA personnel the opportunity to meet senior officials.

From MPS and VNOSMP, we obtained specific pledges of cooperation, including on our proposal of a three-man team (one each Stony Beach, VNOSMP and DPAA) working year-round to expand the planned quarterly Joint Field Activities (JFAs). This longtime DIA/League objective now has potential. During our very positive meeting on March 13th with MPS, Minister To Lam arrived unexpectedly and reinforced the positive pledges made. Until MPS’s pledge to consider our proposal, cooperation by Vietnam had been disappointing despite their known control of 85-90% of loss sites of all still missing and unaccounted-for Vietnam War Veterans.

In Cambodia, new Prime Minister Hun Manet indicated full cooperation will continue, as will direction by long-time POW/MIA Committee Chairman General Pol Saroeun, aided by another old friend and supporter, H.E. Sieng Lapresse. We couldn’t ask for more in Cambodia, including an ongoing underwater partnership recovery. We passed along our best wishes to PM Hun Manet’s father, former PM Hun Sen, and the other familiar fathers whose sons are now also designated Ministers.

A cordial, productive meeting on March 4th with Lao Deputy Prime Minister/Foreign Minister Saleumxay Kommasith brought his pledge to quickly issue a simple legal document to protect our DPAA and DIA/Stony Beach POW/MIA accounting specialists. This small corrective step has yet to be taken, likely due to too low-level staff policy attention, but we’re cautiously optimistic about positive results coming soon. New US Ambassador to Laos Heather Variava has meetings this week with Deputy Minister Saleumxay and the Lao Deputy Minister of Defense. Laos already has set ongoing Stony Beach investigations year-round to take advantage of opportunities that arise during DPAA-scheduled Joint Field Activities.

A fuller, more descriptive League Delegation Trip Report will be completed soon, posted online and distributed by USPS mail to all League members.

Copyright © *2023* *National League of POW-MIA Families*, All rights reserved.

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Below is the entire list of those still listed as missing from the state of Florida, date, assignment where member went missing
Current as of: 9/24/2023 Total Count: 54

Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency Report -
Vietnam War
Those missing from State of FL
Name, Rank, Date of loss and Location (54) Total

ADAMS, SAMUEL UNITED STATES AIR FORCE CMSgt FL Vietnam Unaccounted For 10/31/1965
ALLEN, HENRY LEWIS UNITED STATES AIR FORCE Maj FL Laos Unaccounted For 03/26/1970
BIXEL, MICHAEL SARGENT UNITED STATES NAVY LTJG FL South China Sea Unaccounted For 10/24/1972
BOGIAGES, CHRISTOS CONSTANTINE UNITED STATES AIR FORCE Col FL Laos Unaccounted For 03/02/1969
BUNDY, NORMAN LEE UNITED STATES NAVY LTJG FL Vietnam Unaccounted For 09/06/1966
BUSH, JOHN ROBERT UNITED STATES AIR FORCE Capt FL Vietnam Unaccounted For 07/24/1968
CARTER, GEORGE WILLIAMS UNITED STATES ARMY MAJ FL Vietnam Unaccounted For 04/24/1972
COLLINS, GUY FLETCHER UNITED STATES AIR FORCE Lt Col FL Laos Unaccounted For 03/13/1968
DECAIRE, JACK LEONARD UNITED STATES ARMY SP6 FL South China Sea Unaccounted For 11/03/1971
DUBBELD, ORIE JOHN UNITED STATES ARMY 1LT FL Vietnam Unaccounted For 03/03/1971
DUNCAN, ROBERT RAY UNITED STATES NAVY LCDR FL Vietnam Unaccounted For 08/29/1968
EBY, ROBERT GINO CIVILIAN FL Vietnam Unaccounted For 08/21/1967
FLEMING, HORACE HIGLEY UNITED STATES MARINE CORPS Maj FL Vietnam Unaccounted For 05/10/1968
FROSIO, ROBERT CLARENCE UNITED STATES NAVY CDR FL Gulf Of Tonkin Unaccounted For 11/12/1966
GALLANT, HENRY JOSEPH UNITED STATES ARMY MSG FL Vietnam Unaccounted For 07/13/1965
GARBETT, JIMMY RAY UNITED STATES ARMY SGT FL Vietnam Unaccounted For 10/09/1969
GASSMAN, FRED ALLEN UNITED STATES ARMY SGT FL Laos Unaccounted For 10/05/1970
GOMEZ, ROBERT ARTHUR UNITED STATES AIR FORCE Capt FL Laos Unaccounted For 04/23/1970
HALL, WILLIS ROZELLE UNITED STATES AIR FORCE TSgt FL Laos Unaccounted For 03/11/1968
HANSON, THOMAS PATTERSON UNITED STATES AIR FORCE Maj FL Vietnam Unaccounted For 09/05/1967
HARVEY, JACK ROCKWOOD UNITED STATES AIR FORCE Capt FL Vietnam Unaccounted For 11/28/1972
HOPPS, GARY DOUGLAS UNITED STATES NAVY LT FL Vietnam Unaccounted For 02/10/1966
JACKSON, JAMES TERRY UNITED STATES AIR FORCE Maj FL Laos Unaccounted For 03/23/1972
KERR, JOHN CREIGHTON GILLE UNITED STATES AIR FORCE Maj FL Laos Unaccounted For 08/22/1967
LAKER, CARL JOHN UNITED STATES ARMY SP4 FL Cambodia Unaccounted For 06/17/1970
LEDBETTER, THOMAS ISAAC UNITED STATES ARMY CPT FL Vietnam Unaccounted For 06/19/1964
MANOR, JAMES UNITED STATES AIR FORCE SSgt FL Cambodia Unaccounted For 03/27/1972
MARTIN, DAVID EARL UNITED STATES NAVY ENS FL Gulf Of Tonkin Unaccounted For 04/04/1967
MCANDREWS, MICHAEL WILLIAM UNITED STATES ARMY WO1 FL Vietnam Unaccounted For 12/23/1970
MCLAUGHLIN, OLEN BURKE UNITED STATES AIR FORCE MSgt FL South China Sea Unaccounted For 07/07/1967
MCLEOD, DAVID VANCE UNITED STATES AIR FORCE MSgt FL Cambodia Unaccounted For 06/14/1973
MILIKIN, RICHARD MERSHON UNITED STATES AIR FORCE Maj FL Vietnam Unaccounted For 08/20/1966
MURPHY, BARRY DANIEL UNITED STATES ARMY SP5 FL Cambodia Unaccounted For 03/18/1969
NEAL, DENNIS PAUL UNITED STATES ARMY MAJ FL Laos Unaccounted For 07/31/1969
NELSON, JAN HOUSTON UNITED STATES MARINE CORPS 1stLt FL Vietnam Unaccounted For 04/11/1970
NICHOLS, HUBERT CAMPBELL UNITED STATES AIR FORCE Col FL Vietnam Unaccounted For 09/01/1966
OLSON, GERALD EVERETT UNITED STATES AIR FORCE Maj FL Laos Unaccounted For 03/13/1966
OSBORN, GEOFFREY HOLMES UNITED STATES NAVY LTJG FL South China Sea Unaccounted For 09/24/1965
OSTERMEYER, WILLIAM HENRY UNITED STATES AIR FORCE Capt FL Vietnam Unaccounted For 05/12/1972
PARKER, JOHN JACKSON UNITED STATES NAVY LT FL Gulf Of Tonkin Unaccounted For 03/04/1970
PITTMAN, ROBERT EDWARD UNITED STATES ARMY SP4 FL Gulf Of Tonkin Unaccounted For 09/28/1966
READ, CHARLES HAROLD WICKLIFFE UNITED STATES AIR FORCE Col FL Vietnam Unaccounted For 08/24/1968
RICKEL, DAVID J UNITED STATES AIR FORCE Maj FL Vietnam Unaccounted For 05/16/1968
SCRIVENER, STEPHEN RUSSELL UNITED STATES AIR FORCE 1st Lt FL Laos Unaccounted For 03/17/1971
SIMPSON, ROBERT LEWIS UNITED STATES AIR FORCE Capt FL Vietnam Unaccounted For 08/28/1962
SPROTT, ARTHUR ROY UNITED STATES AIR FORCE Maj FL Vietnam Unaccounted For 01/10/1969
STONE, JAMES MARVIN UNITED STATES ARMY 1LT FL Vietnam Unaccounted For 01/07/1968
THOMAS, JAMES RICHARD UNITED STATES AIR FORCE TSgt FL Vietnam Unaccounted For 11/25/1971
TIMMONS, BRUCE ALLEN UNITED STATES NAVY RM3 FL Vietnam Unaccounted For 11/15/1966
TRAVER, JOHN GROVE UNITED STATES ARMY WO1 FL Laos Unaccounted For 03/22/1971
WEISSMUELLER, COURTNEY EDWARD UNITED STATES AIR FORCE Lt Col FL Laos Unaccounted For 02/12/1967
WILLIAMS, EDWARD WAYNE UNITED STATES ARMY SSG FL Vietnam Unaccounted For 04/03/1972
WILLIAMS, EDDIE LEE UNITED STATES ARMY SGM FL Laos Unaccounted For 10/03/1966
WILLIAMS, LEROY CHRISTOPHER UNITED STATES MARINE CORPS PFC FL Vietnam Unaccounted

The new Vietnam Memorial dedication was held on January 10, 2024 at the Bushnell, Florida National Cemetery. VVA Chapter 1036 was instrumental in supporting the memorial development with funding and the help of Chapter Members Doug Garner (Freedom Memorial Committee Chair), John Thomstatter (Memorial Design Team), and Pete Wagner (Freedom Memorial Committee). The Dedication was attended by many VVA Chapter 1036 members and other Vietnam Veterans from the region. The memorial is part of the Freedom Memorial Plaza at Bushnell with plans for up to 12 more monuments in addition to the existing Gold Star Families Memorial Monument

Mission: POW-MIA
Mission Driven.
Family Focused.

Mission Statement
We are pursuing our mission of achieving the fullest possible accounting of missing and unaccounted for Americans of past conflicts,through partnerships,research and outreach;by collaborating with like minded organizations,advocating for our familiesas the S.E.A.R.C.. for answers,conducting researchand investigations to aid in case resolutionto end uncertainty informing and educating current and future generations;honoring their service and sacrifices made by past generations and their families and ensuring our Nation fulfills its promise to leave no one behind.Click the link below see entire objectives

https//www.missionpowmia.org

National League of POW/MIA Families Social Media
Dear League members and other concerned Americans,

The League strives to maintain the most current, accurate POW/MIA information to help all of you and others stay informed on the latest developments. We do this through a variety of newsletters and postings. These include the League's website and Facebook page, but also Twitter, Instagram, and LinkedIn. Please follow us on these social media sites.

We also welcome you sending us pictures or announcements on local, state, and national POW/MIA-related events. With National POW/MIA Recognition Day rapidly approaching (September 15), we will be happy to post relevant information to help draw attention to your events. Please send any material to [email protected]

The League has a social media policy, which can be found here Social Media Policies - NATIONAL LEAGUE OF FAMILIES OF AMERICAN PRISONERS AND MISSING IN SOUTHEAST ASIA (pow-miafamilies.org).

Here are links to our social media pages. Please follow us!

https://www.pow-miafamilies.org/
https://www.facebook.com/powmiafamilies
https://twitter.com/POWMIAFamilies1
https://www.instagram.com/leaguepowmiafamilies/
https://www.linkedin.com/company/national-league-of-pow-mia-families/posts

Click the link below to be taken to
POW-MIA Families web site

https://www.pow-miafamilies.org

The National League of POW/MIA Families announced on June 14, 2023 the selection of Dr. Jay Veith as its new Executive Director. Dr. Veith is a recognized expert on the Vietnam War, successful author, lecturer and skilled analyst. He was formerly an Advisor to the League and has a wealth of experience within the POW/MIA community.

50 years later, peace treaty that was supposed to end Vietnam War still haunts my family. My father's fellow pilots were shot down a week after the Paris Peace Accords were signed 50 years ago. The crash fed his post-traumatic stress disorder and fed survivor's guilt endlessly.
Submitted by Pam Cain daughter of Col Oscar Mauterer MIA 15 Feb 1966

Double click the link to open the article

https://www.usatoday.com/story/opinion/voices/2023/01/21/vietnam-war-paris-peace-accords-remember-baron-52/11021128002/

The photo montage below displays an image of all those service personnel who are still missing and unaccounted for.

The Men are the Mission/Never Forget

One of the many prices of war is the loss of Armed Forces and government civilians as either POWs or MIAs. For those who return from battle after being held prisoner, they are heroes we celebrate and honor for what they endured and for their many sacrifices. For those still missing and unaccounted for, the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency (DPAA) is the federal agency whose mission is to “provide the fullest possible accounting for our missing personnel to their families and the nation”.

Veterans Service Organizations (VSOs) such as the VVA have strong positions on their POW/MIA advocacy. The National League of POW/MIA Families has been the leading family organization for seeking government action and funding to achieve the fullest possible accounting since 1970. Other Military Service Organizations (MSOs), veterans and the general public are also critical for insisting that the issue remain central to our nation’s obligation and promise. There are still 1,584 missing from the Vietnam War and 10s of thousands from other wars.

VVA members can contact their Congressional legislators to state their concern for the issue and to appeal for continued full-funding of DPAA. Our military and government civilians must have no doubt that should they become missing or taken prisoner, the United States will do all it possibly can to return them to their home and families.

Remembering Bracelets

In a news release, DPAA announced Thursday U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Sanford Finger, 29, of Miami Beach had been accounted for on Aug. 23.

On Oct. 26, 1971, Finger went missing in action after a helicopter he was flying on crashed into water due to bad weather during a flight from Tuy Hoa to Cam Ranh Bay in Vietnam, DPAA said. Remains of four of the 10 soldiers on board were recovered during later search-and-rescue operations, but Finger was not accounted for at the time, the release shows.

According to a Miami Herald article, Finger joined the Army when he was 16 years old, and he’d been living in a family home in Miami Shores before enlisting. Finger had been one month away from coming home when he disappeared, and a flag was later flown over the U.S. Capitol in his honor, the article said.
However, in June 2021, divers turned up remains belonging to Finger as part of a recovery mission, DPAA officials said.
Finger’s name was recorded on the National Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, D.C. and the American Battle Monuments Commission’s Courts of the Missing at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific in Honolulu, along with others who are unaccounted for from the Vietnam War.

HC3 Peter Bossman NY USN
Unaccounted For On September 25, 1966, a UH-34D Seahorse (bureau number 148776) with a crew of five took part in a medical evacuation mission in Quang Tri Province, South Vietnam. During the mission, the Seahorse was hit by enemy fire, causing it to burst into flames and explode before crashing in the vicinity of (GC) YD 031 563. The remains of two men from the crew were later recovered; however, the other three crew members remain missing.
Hospital Corpsman Third Class Peter Robert Bossman, who joined the U.S. Navy from New York, was attached to Helicopter Mine Countermeasure Squadron 363, Marine Air Group 13. He was a crew member aboard the UH-34D when it went down on September 25, 1966, and he was lost with the aircraft. He remains unaccounted-for. Today, Hospital Corpsman Third Class Bossman is memorialized on the Courts of the Missing at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific.
Based on all information available, DPAA assessed the individual's case to be in the analytical category of Active Pursuit.
If you are a family member of this service member, DPAA can provide you with additional information and analysis of your case. Please contact your casualty office representative.

Service Member
MGYSGT JOHN FRANCIS DINGWALL
Return to Service
Member Profiles

VIETNAM WAR
UNITED STATES MARINE CORPS
Unaccounted For

On July 8, 1965, two Marines departed Chu Lai Airfield, South Vietnam, for a hike. While following the trail to My Tan, the two Marines reached Nui Son Hamlet, where they encountered the Binh Nghia Village police chief. The police chief reportedly advised the Marines against continuing toward My Tan because there were Viet Cong in that area. The Marines were not seen or heard from again after leaving Nui Son, and searches failed to locate any sign of them.
Gunnery Sergeant (GySgt) John Francis Dingwall, who joined the U.S. Marine Corps from New York, was a member of Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 225, Marine Air Group 12, 1st Marine Air Wing. He was one of the men who went missing on the hike, and his remains have not been recovered. After the incident, the U.S. Marine Corps promoted GySgt Dingwall to the rank of Master Gunnery Sergeant (MGySgt). Today, Master Gunnery Sergeant Dingwall is memorialized on the Courts of the Missing at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific.
Based on all information available, DPAA assessed the individual's case to be in the analytical category of Non-recoverable.
If you are a family member of this service member, DPAA can provide you with additional information and analysis of your case. Please contact your casualty office representative.

James Fletcher, LtCol, US Army Retired
VVA Chapter 787 Tampa FL President
Served as the guest speaker of the opening of the Vet Center in Tampa, FL
Celebrated on 2 May 2023