In keeping with the President and First Lady’s commitment to honor the sacrifices of all who serve - veterans, their families, caregivers, and survivors - the League's POW/MIA flag was restored to its globally recognized position on top of the White House. This action reaffirms our Nation's commitment to account as fully as possible for American Prisoners-of-War and Missing-in-Action, as well as other US personnel still unaccounted-for from the Vietnam War and wars and conflicts further past, thus ending the uncertainty of their families.
The League (EIN #23-7071242) is a tax-exempt 501(c)(3) nonprofit, also eligible for donations through the Combined Federal Campaign (CFC), #10218
As of May 6th, 2024 the number of Americans Missing and Unaccounted-for from the Vietnam War is still 1,576.
Vietnam War Veteran Accounted For - April 2024
The Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency (DPAA) recently announced that U.S. Air Force Maj. John C.G. Kerr, 35, reported missing during the Vietnam War, was accounted for April 24, 2024.
On Aug. 22, 1967, Kerr was piloting an A-26A Invader attack aircraft on a solo nighttime armed reconnaissance mission over the Plain of Jars, Lao People’s Democratic Republic. After Kerr failed to check in via radio and didn’t return from the mission, U.S. forces undertook an extensive electronic and visual search of the estimated area, in which extensive enemy defenses were present, but could not find Kerr or the aircraft. Likely related to this incident, a New China News Agency broadcast reported the Aug. 22 shootdown of an American aircraft near Ban Ban and the deaths of its crewmembers. Kerr was declared Killed in Action on June 4, 1971.
To Help Spread the League's Accounting Mission
Attached below is the League's most up-to-date brochure. Please print (double-sided) and fold into thirds in order to distribute widely/spread the word about the League's accounting mission!
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.
Membership renewal
Exploring the Archives
Current National League of Families Brochure 3-1-2024.pdf
Accounting for all of the missing will never be possible, but working together, we can and will achieve the fullest possible accounting for America's Vietnam War POW/MIAs. This message reaches those serving today in Iraq, Syria, Afghanistan and at bases, posts and stations around the world. They NEED TO know if captured or missing while serving, our nation will be there for them.
Click below to access our National League of POW-MIA Families Facebook page.
A Reintroduction to The National League of POW/MIA Families
Ann Mills-Griffiths, leader of the National League of POW/MIA Families, discusses her many years of advocacy to account for U.S. personnel missing from the Vietnam War, reflects on the challenges ahead, and outlines her continuing optimism to achieve the fullest possible accounting. The League thanks long-time fellow-advocate, The American Legion, for sharing our accounting goals and hosting this Tango Alpha Lima Podcast!
The League is always seeking photos of POW/MIA flag, monuments, Missing Man Honors Tables, and POW/MIA empty chairs from your community to feature on our social media pages and website.
Sharing with us is easy, just message your photos to the League Facebook page or nationalleague@pow-miafamiles.org with a brief description of when & where the photo was taken. All proper credits will be given.