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In from Lynn O'Shea(lynn@nationalalliance.org):
National Alliance of Families
for the Return of America's Missing Servicemen
World War II - Korea - Cold War - Vietnam - Gulf War
Dolores Alfond 425-881-1499
Lynn O'Shea 718-846-4350
Web site http://www.nationalalliance.org
email lynn@nationalalliance.org
February 8, 2003 Bits N
Pieces
The National Alliance of Families extends its deepest sympathy to the
families of Rick Husband, William McCool, Michael
Anderson, Kalpana Chawla, David Brown, Laurel Clark and Ilan Ramon, lost
aboard the Space Shuttle Columbia.
###################
As We Approach Gulf War II there is old business from Gulf War I that
requires resolution. What Happened to Navy Capt. Michael Scott Speicher
and where is he today? Unlike previous statements, recent statements
coming from both Washington D.C. and the U.N. make no mention of the Gulf
War Missing/Captured, or any of the Kuwait or other foreign nationals
unaccounted for as a result of Gulf War I.
We, at the National Alliance of Families, are deeply concerned over the
fate of Capt. Speicher, and the chances of his recovery. Unfortunately,
war seems inevitable. Unless Saddam backs down the question of war is not
"if" but "when." Another generation of Americans are poised to
fight. We offer our prayers for their success and safe return.
####################
Are We Heading For A Confrontation With North Korea there is old business
from the Korean War that also requires resolution. One must remember that
in 1996 I.O. Lee, while working for DPMO, prepared an "Information Paper"
which stated his belief, based on intelligence reports, that American POWs
were still held in North Korea. He referred to a group of "10 - 15
Americans." This figure does not include the 4 listed "deserters."
Mr. Lee concluded his "Information Paper" by stating: "There are too many
live sighting reports, specifically observations of several Caucasians in a
collective farm by Romanian and North Korean defectors eyewitness of
Americans in the DPRK to dismiss that there are no American POWs in North
Korea."
#####################
Missing/Captured we purposely used the U.S. governments terminology of
"Missing/Captured" when we referred to Capt. Speicher earlier, as the "Gulf
War Missing/Captured." Use of that status as required by DOD Directive is
no where near as compelling as the phrase "Gulf War POW." That was the
intention in changing the directive.
####################
New Book On POWs In Red China The following comes from former POW Steve
Kiba. "At the end of our past wars, many thousands of our fellow American
countrymen were indeed left behind, abandoned to a never-ending existence
of pain & misery in some far-off, filthy foreign hellhole, & all but
forgotten by the very same United States Government that sent them off to
fight our vicious, godless enemies."
"On November 10, 1992, I testified before the Senate Select Committee on
POW/MIA Affairs regarding the Caucasian prisoners whom I had seen in Red
China, & who, unfortunately, were never repatriated.."
"The gross ignorance of the vast majority of Americans, most notably that
of our young people & too many of our educators, regarding this horrible
act & their total lack of any knowledge what-so-ever about the Korean War
are disgracefully appalling."
"The Flag My Story: Kidnaped by Red China reveals & emphasizes this
disturbing, chilling message which ALL Americans, most especially our young
people, need to hear. With the prospect of war looming ever closer with the
passing of each day, it is imperative that our fellow American countrymen
know that NOT ALL MIAs/POWs came home from those previous wars, & it is
even more imperative that we NEVER AGAIN allow such an horrendous act to
happen!"
################
We're putting "The Flag - My Story: Kidnaped by Red China," by Steve Kiba
on our reading list. For more information on this book visit
http://www.1stbooks.com
#################
From The Good Guys We received the following information from the good
folks at the Joint Commission Support Directorate "In an effort to share
U.S. documents concerning American Citizens detained in the Gulag, we have
contracted with the Library of Congress to create the 'Gulag Study Support
Documents Database'. A user friendly database that allows the researcher
quick access to a wide range of Gulag related documents. This database is
designed to support ALL Gulag Research; a key part to this database will be
the availability of WRINGER reports. NOTE: This is just the beginning; we
will include hundreds more documents in the database over the course of the
next year! LOC Gulag Database: http://lcweb2.loc.gov/frd/tfr/tfrhome.html
#################
Check It Out, We Did We've checked out the new Library of Congress site
housing JCSD documents, including the Wringer Report and supporting
documents for the Gulag Site. Unlike the Vietnam POW/MIA Database, which
only give a brief summary of the document, the JCSD site allows access to
the full document. Downloading is easy, for off line reading. This
site is a valuable source of information and well worth the time.
#################
Was There A Second Tier Prisoner System in Vietnam The Vietnamese
admitted to holding Navy pilot Clemmie McKinney. Yet, no returned POW
reported him in their prison system. The Vietnamese say they captured
McKinney in April 1972 and held him until his death in November
1972. Forensic evidence indicates that McKinney died "no earlier than
1975."
The most important point here is that McKinney was held, out of the normal
prison system. Who else was held in that Second Tier System? One
possibility is Air Force Pilot Cleveland Harris. We first told you about
Cleveland Harris on Sept. 26, 1998.
At that time we used this case to illustrate a major effort, during the
mid- 70's, to reevaluate intelligence reports originally correlated to
unaccounted for POW/MIAs and correlate them to accounted for POWs. This
reevaluation of real time anyalsis helped to eliminate evidence of incident
survival and possible capture for many servicemen. One such report
originally correlated to Cleveland Harris described the capture of an
American Pilot. (For full details see Bits Sept. 26, 1998.) Harris,
along with Crossley J. Fitton, were shot down February 28, 1968.
On September 26th, 1974 the following information was reported to U.S.
Military Interrogation Division. The report was prepared by the
Liaison Officer and the approving authority was the Chief of the
Collection and Liaison Section.
"...Five min later, source then went to crash site where he observed a
group of armed Militia surrounding wreckage of Acft whose nose was deeply
buried in the ground. He learned from Villagers at the scene that the
pilot had bailed out and landed in VIC WJ972026 where he tried to hide in
nearby brush, but was spotted by a villager. The pilot fired on the
villager who fled for help. Approx five min later, local militiamen
arrived and captured the pilot. The villager was so angry at the pilot
that he beat him with a wooden stick. The Militiamen then intervened and
asked the villager to stop beating the pilot who was taken to a Match
Factory in Tan Chau (V), Khoai Chjua (D) Hai Hung (P). "
"Source then went to the factory where he observed the pilot sitting on
ground dressed in local grey pants and shirt, and blindfolded with his arms
and legs tied. Source also observed blood on PW's face but didn't notice a
wound. One hour later, a district secty agent armed with a K-54 pistol
arrived at scene by three wheeled motorcycle and talked to PW in English."
"Source could not understand conversation, as he did not know English. A
moment later, a jeep carrying seven armed scty agents from Khoai Chau (D)
unit arrived at the site and ordered the crowd to disperse for fear that
other US ACFT might return to rescue downed pilot. After the crowd
dispersed, the pilot was taken toward Hanoi by Jeep (NFI)."
"Source observed PW for approx one hr. form distance of 10M and provided
fol limited description: Name: Unk, Rank and Branch of SVC: Unk,
Nationality: American, Height: 5ft 7in, Weight: 165 lbs, Hair: Light Brown
Short Wavy, Eyes: Light Brown, Race: Caucasian, Complexion: Light, Nose:
Long Crocked, Build: Heavy, Age: Approx 23 yrs, Face: Long, Forehead:
Straight Hair Line, Cheekbones: Normal, Chin: Long, Eyebrows: Blond,
Footwear: Barefoot, Clothing Worn: NVN Grey Peasant Clothing, Health
Condition: Good."
Based on the above information, the following comments were added to this
report. "Records this office reflect that on 29 Feb 1968 Pers [data]
flying an F-105F was downed Vic 205300N, 1054600E and is listed
MIA. Source claimed he was unable to identify PW from Photo Album because
incident took place so long ago."
On Oct. 23, 1974, a Defense Information Report stated - "PW observed by
source was probably Lt. W.D. Key, USN (returnee) downed in this vicinity on
17 Nov 67. Key attempted to hide in a clump of trees, but the local
civilians and militia quickly located his hiding place. However, contrary
to sources comment that PW fired upon villager, Lt. Key, according to his
debrief, did not use his weapon. Key generally fits the description
provided by source 5'6" 153 lbs.; brown hair hazel eyes and was 27 years
old at date of shootdown. Harris was shotdown on February 29, 1968. Key
was shotdown November 17, 1967. Source reported incident as "approx June
68."
We contacted former POW Wilson Key, in September 1998, with the help of the
POW Network. In response to an e-mail request for confirmation that he
was the POW described, by the above intel report, Mr. Key wrote "The
shootdown story is not mine. Some of the events are similar to mine, but I
did not shoot my pistol, and I did not get beaten bloody. Also, I was not
taken to a match factory. GBU, Denver Key"
We don't know if Cleveland Harris died as a result of the beating at the
match factory, but if he did die from that beating he died in the custody
of the North Vietnamese government, and therefore died in captivity. Yet,
he was never listed as died in captivity. If he survived the beating, he
was held by the Vietnamese at an unknown location, as a POW, and died at
that location, as a POW.
We do not know how Crossley Fitton came into Vietnamese custody. We do
know that the Vietnamese "found" and returned his remains in December 21,
1975. At the time we first wrote about Cleveland Harris, we had no
information other than the fact that his remains were returned by
unilateral repatriation on March 20th, 1985.
During one of our many research trips to the Library of Congress, we
located a memo from the Dept. of the Army, United States Army Central
Identification Laboratory Hawaii, dated 28 July 1987. The memo was in
direct response to questions submitted by General Vessey. The subject of
the information paper attached was "Earth Burial vs Above Ground Storage of
Identified Remains Repatriated from the SRV 1981 thru 1986."
The purpose of the information paper was: "To provide the CILHI judgement
on how each of the Subjects remains were "maintained" during the interval
between death and repatriation." The information paper goes on to list
the criteria used in determining an "earth burial," "above ground storage"
or a "combination of earth burial and warehousing."
Among those listed, as warehoused, is Cleveland Harris, man, both alive and
dead, in the hands of the enemy. The only question is, how long was he
alive, and where was he held?
###################
Guess Who Signed The Memo - If it took you more than one guess, you're not
reading your Bits.
###################
Why Does Johnie Webb Still Have A Job??
##################
Blast From The Past - From Bits N Pieces, August 16, 1997.
"Lt. Gilbert L. Ashley Jr.-- ABANDONED Lt. John P. Shaddick --------
ABANDONED
Lt. Arthur R. Olsen, ------- ABANDONED Lt. Harold P. Turner --------
ABANDONED
Capt. Harold M. Beardall, ABANDONED Maj. Kassel M. Keene,------- ABANDONED
Airman Hidemaro Ishida, -------- ABANDONED
According to a recently declassified report, the servicemen listed at the
beginning of this Bits 'N' Pieces were thought to be alive in enemy hands
at the conclusion of the Korean War. The following is excerpted from an
Associated Press Article, dated August 5th, 1997, by Robert Burns:
"WASHINGTON (AP) -- The Air Force had indications that dozens of missing
American airmen were alive in Chinese or North Korean prisons two years
after the Korean War, according to a newly declassified report. The report
provides new details about how many men were left behind -- even after the
exchange of prisoners -- and who these Americans were. It also describes a
dramatic failed attempt to rescue five members of a B-29 bomber crew shot
down six months before the war ended in July 1953...."
"The report, labeled "secret," said the five "were known to be alive in
communist hands as of the close of the Korean conflict." The five never
returned. Their names -- and most of the others mentioned in the newly
released Air Force intelligence report -- are on a Defense Department list
of 389 men from all services who are unaccounted for from the war and about
whom the U.S. government believes China or North Korea had
information. Both China and North Korea maintain they withheld no
American POWs from the war...."
"China took control of the prisoner-of-war camps in North Korea in 1951,
and in some cases transferred U.S. POWs to China for
interrogations. Compelling but unsubstantiated reports have emerged in
recent months suggesting a small number of U.S. servicemen from the war may
still be in North Korea. For the first time since the end of the war, North
Korea has begun addressing the issue...."
"The declassified Air Force report, dated Oct. 19, 1955, and prepared by
the Escape and Evasion Section of the 6004th Air Intelligence Service
Squadron, offers no proof that any of the 137 men it mentions were still
alive then; most of the cases were based on sketchy information from
repatriated POWs, enemy propaganda broadcasts and intelligence sources in
North Korea...."
"The strongest statement in the report pertains to the case of the five
B-29 crew members: 1st Lt. Gilbert L. Ashley Jr., Airman 2nd Class Hidemaro
Ishida, 1st Lt. Arthur R. Olsen, 2nd Lt. John P. Shaddick and 1st Lt.
Harold P. Turner. Their B-29 was shot down about 10 miles south of
Pyongyang, the North Korean capital, on Jan. 29, 1953...."
"Although the site was behind enemy lines, a rescue attempt was made on May
24. It failed. The pilot of the rescue plane made radio contact with
Ashley on the ground as they prepared to pinpoint the airmen's location and
arrange a "snatch" pickup in which a harness and cord dropped to the men
would be hooked by a cable extended from the rescue aircraft, allowing the
men to be reeled in to safety. "The pilot reported that the voice was
definitely that of the American who had previously been identified as
Lieutenant Ashley," the report said. It said the rescue plane was damaged
by machine gun fire, forcing them to abort the mission."
"Ashley and four crew members (Turner, Olsen, Shaddick and Ishida) were
known to be alive in communist hands as of the close of the Korean
conflict, July '53," the report said. It does not say how the Air Force
knew this.
In his book "Soldiers of Misfortune," journalist Mark Sauter wrote that
U.S. intelligence officials received a message, apparently from Ashley's
North Korean captors, that was interpreted as confirmation the five were
alive as of Aug. 4, 1953....
"The Air Force report also describes the case of Capt. Harold M. Beardall,
who went down in North Korea aboard a B-26 bomber on May 21, 1951. It
mentions several sightings of Beardall by other American POWs months after
the shootdown. Beardall was said to have been "held separately from other
Air Force" POWs in North Korea. His name was on Chinese hospital records of
officers who were interrogated, it said. "Names of this type we feel are
alive," the report says.
An unidentified source is quoted in the report as saying Beardall was tried
as a war criminal, apparently by the Chinese. Such "trials" were held for
many U.S. officers, and their "convictions" used as grounds for refusing to
repatriate them.
Maj. Kassel M. Keene, for example, who went missing on Nov. 19, 1951, was
said to have been sentenced in July 1953 for assaulting a fellow prisoner.
"According to the sentence, he was not to be effected (sic) by
repatriation," the report said. Some men listed in the Air Force
intelligence report were described as having been seen by other American
POWs at Kaesong, North Korea, where U.N. prisoners were taken in
preparation to be repatriated shortly after the end of the war.
#############
The National Alliance Of Families Fourteenth Annual Forum is scheduled for
June 26th - 28th, 2003. Our forum is conducted to coincide with the
Governments annual POW/MIA Family Briefings. We urge all family members to
attend this years government briefings, for Vietnam family members. The
government will provide free airfare to two family members to attend the
briefings. There is no charge or registration fee to attend the government
briefings.
We are working on a hotel and will let you know where this year's meeting
will be held, as soon as possible.
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:
National Alliance Of Families
P.O. Box 40327
Bellevue, Wa. 98015.
Remember all contributions are tax deductible.