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Press Center
Joint POW/MIA Accounting Command POW/MIA RECOVERY & INVESTIGATION TEAMS SEARCH FOR MISSING AMERICANS JOINT BASE PEARL HARBOR-HICKAM, Hawaii (Oct. 20, 2010) – Several archeological recovery teams and investigation teams from the U.S. Joint POW/MIA Accounting Command (JPAC) recently deployed to the Socialist Republic of Vietnam, the Lao People’s Democratic Republic, and the Republic of Korea searching for MIA’s from the Vietnam and Korean War. Recovery teams will search for human remains, life support items, and other material evidence (personal and military issued items) that may further the identification of Americans missing from past U.S. conflicts. Investigation teams will authenticate leads from eyewitnesses, conduct field research, and gather information throughout the various provinces to determine whether or not there will be a return visit for excavation at a later date. Socialist Republic of Vietnam: Approximately 60 JPAC team members will investigate and excavate several sites associated with Vietnam War losses. Three recovery teams will search the Yen Bai, Dien Bien, and Kon Tum provinces at sites where six Americans may have perished. Two investigation teams will authenticate eyewitness leads and conduct field research throughout 12 provinces, searching for information for 21 unsolved cases. The approximately 40-day long undertaking marks the 101st Joint Field Activity in Vietnam. Lao People’s Democratic Republic: More than 45 JPAC recovery team members will excavate three aircraft crash sites and one ground site in search of 12 missing Americans at sites in the Khammouan, Savannakhet and Xekong provinces. The approximately 35-day deployment marks the 116th Joint Field Activity in Laos. Republic of Korea: A JPAC investigation team will investigate eight case sites located throughout the Kangwon and Kyonggi provinces. The 10-member team will spend approximately 30 days gathering information to further qualify cases for future excavation. Falling directly under the U.S. Pacific Command, the jointly-manned organization of more than 400 military and civilian specialists has investigated and recovered missing Americans since the 1970’s. To date, close to 1,700 Americans are still listed as Missing in Action from the Vietnam War, 8,100 from the Korean War, approximately 125 from the Cold War, and 74,190 are missing from World War II. The ultimate goal of the Joint POW/MIA Accounting Command, and of the agencies involved in returning America’s heroes home, is to achieve the fullest possible accounting of Americans lost during the nation’s past conflicts. "Until They Are Home" -END- |